Abstract: A damper piston assembly includes a rod, a piston, a rivet disk, and a spring. The piston surrounds the rod between a riveted end and a longitudinal stop of the rod. The piston includes a valve assembly having a valve body with an orifice extending therethrough. The rivet disk surrounds the rod and has an opening for fluid communication with the orifice. The rivet disk is longitudinally secured between the piston and the riveted end of the rod. The spring is positioned in compression longitudinally between the rivet disk and the longitudinal stop of the rod.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The exhaust treatment system includes a parallel plate, monolithic plasma reactor for reducing nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas from the engine, an electric power source for providing an electrical signal to the electrodes of the plasma reactor, and a controller interconnected between the electric power source and the plasma reactor for modulating the electrical signal to the plasma reactor. More specifically, the electric power source provides an alternating current electrical signal and the controller modulates the electrical signal off in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle, thereby achieving uniform barrier discharge in the plasma reactor.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least three fins arranged radially around the spreader plate and an array of porous reticulated foam blocks that fills the space between adjacent fins.

Abstract: An end fitting for a fiber optic cable for connection to a mating connector, said end fitting comprising a connector body surrounding an end of at least one fiber optic cable and an element movable relative to said connector body from the first position covering an end of said at least one fiber optic cable to a second position in which said end of said fiber optic cable is aligned with said mating connector and in which said movable element prevents separation of said end fitting and said mating connector.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir system (10) for a master cylinder (12) having first and second fluid chambers each with associated pistons, the system comprising a main reservoir (16); a first secondary reservoir (18) for mounting on the master cylinder to supply fluid to the first fluid chamber; a second secondary reservoir (18) for mounting on the master cylinder to supply fluid to the second fluid chamber; a first fluid pipe (22) fluidly connecting the main reservoir with the first secondary reservoir; and a second fluid pipe (24) fluidly connecting the main reservoir with the second secondary reservoir; wherein the first secondary reservoir has a fluid capacity which is substantially equal to, or greater than, the capacity of fluid required by the first fluid chamber during full stroke of the associated master cylinder piston; and wherein the second secondary reservoir has a fluid capacity which is substantially equal to, or greater than, the capacity of fluid required by the second fluid chamber during full stroke of

Abstract: A magneto-rheological (MR) damper provides a higher than minimum level of damping when a power source to the MR damper is not supplying a control current. The present invention damper includes magnets positioned to direct a magnetic flux across a MR fluid path. The fluid path is created when a rod and piston assembly stroke the fluid though a control valve assembly attached to a damper chamber causing a resistance to MR fluid flow. An electric coil cancels an affect of the permanent magnets when the control current is available to allow a control circuit more operating range. The permanent magnets allow for damping when no control current is available.

Abstract: A distributed computer-implemented diagnostic system for determining a diagnostic state of a component. The component exhibits measurable characteristics. The system includes a database that stores reference component characteristic data. A computer server is connected to the database, and a computer client is connected to the computer server via a network. The client computer provides data requests to the server computer in order to retrieve the component characteristic data from the database. A portable computer is connected to the computer client in order to have data access to the retrieved component characteristic data and to provide the component characteristic data for performing diagnosis. The diagnostic state of the component is determined based upon the retrieved component characteristic data as provided by the portable computer and upon at least one of the measurable characteristics of the component.

Abstract: A magnetorheological damper includes a cylinder and a magnetorheological piston. The magnetorheological piston is located within and slideably engages the cylinder. The magnetorheological piston includes a magnetically energizable passageway and a magnetically non-energizable passageway spaced apart from the magnetically energizable passageway. The magnetorheological piston also includes a pressure and flow control valve disposed to allow pressure-dependent fluid flow in the magnetically non-energizable passageway when the magnetorheological piston slides towards the first end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A method and circuit for determining the health of a microcontroller is a bus having a data line and instruction line. A first CPU is coupled to the bus. A reference memory stores a reference signature. A shift register is coupled to the bus and generates a second signature in response to the data line and instruction line. A controller is coupled to the register and the reference memory for controlling reading of the data line and instruction line. The controller compares the reference signature to the second signature. The controller generates a fault signal when the reference signature is unequal to the second signature.

Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator for use in an air conditioning system having a delivery tube that has an unobstructed free end for drawing in vaporized refrigerant and an oil pickup tube for drawing in oil and liquid refrigerant into the hollow delivery tube. The hollow delivery tube includes a venturi portion, which creates the draw necessary to pull the oil and liquid refrigerant into the hollow delivery tube. An equalization hole is also provided to prevent a liquid slug from migrating to the compressor, thereby damaging the compressor.

Abstract: A battery, more specifically a battery cell for a lithium polymer battery, is made using a method that includes the lamination step of applying isostatic pressure to battery cell components. The method further includes the step of heating the components of the battery cell at least prior to the step of applying isostatic pressure. The components of the battery cell should also include a binder material that includes a polymer that softens when heated, thus allowing the components named above to laminate.

Abstract: The vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment and a telescope adjustment. The adjustment mechanism includes a compression bracket with a telescope slot, a rake bracket with a rake slot and a rake bolt that passes through the telescope slot and the rake slot. A wedge lock is mounted on the rake bolt and positioned in the rake slot and the telescope slot. Rake and telescope teeth on the wedge lock are held out of engagement with a rake tooth rack and a telescope tooth rack during rake and telescope adjustment. The rake bolt is tightened to hold a selected adjustment position and the telescope teeth on the wedge lock engage the telescope tooth rack. During a collision the rake teeth on the wedge lock are moved into engagement with the rake tooth rack to fix the rake and telescope adjustments.

Abstract: An electronic device having an enhanced attachment to a surface mount lamp (106) includes a circuit board (100), at least two conductive pads (102), at least two adhesive pads (104), and the surface mount lamp (106). The conductive pads (102) and the adhesive pads (104) are integrally formed within the circuit board (100). Preferably, each section of the circuit board (100) allotted for one surface mount lamp (106) has two conductive pads (102) and two adhesive pads arranged in a grid-like pattern such that similar pads are in opposing corners of the grid. The surface mount lamp (106) has two electrical leads (108), each protruding from opposing corners of a base (110) of the surface mount lamp (106). These electrical leads (108) are soldered to the conductive pads (102) in the circuit board (100). The unobscured opposing corners (112) of the plastic base (110) are partially melted and adhered to the adhesive pads (104) in the circuit board (100).

Abstract: A vehicle bumper system is shown to include a vehicle bumper component, a main electrical connector integrated with the vehicle bumper component, a second electrical connector integrated with the vehicle bumper component, and an electrical communication path integrated with the vehicle bumper component. The electrical communication path extends between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector. The vehicle bumper component is designed to permit mounting of an electrically controlled device at a mounting area. The second electrical connector is at or in close proximity to the mounting area to permit the electrically controlled device to electrically couple therewith when it is mounted at the mounting area of said vehicle bumper component. Another electrical communication path electrically couples the second electrical connector with bumper mounting holes used to permit mounting of the bumper component with a vehicle chassis/frame.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological (MR) damper provides a higher than minimum level of damping when a power source to the MR damper is not supplying a control current. The present invention damper includes magnets positioned to direct a magnetic flux across a MR fluid path. The fluid path is created when a rod and piston assembly stroke the fluid though a control valve assembly attached to a damper chamber causing a resistance to MR fluid flow. An electric coil cancels an effect of the permanent magnets when the control current is available to allow a control circuit more operating range. The permanent magnets allow for damping when no control current is available.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting injection events in a piezoelectric actuated fuel injector. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a piezoelectric element for actuating the injector valve; (b) applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element, thereby actuating the injector valve; and (c) monitoring at least one of the voltage or current associated with the piezoelectric element, wherein changes in voltage or current are indicative of injection events in the fuel injector.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological damping device comprises a core element capable of acting as a magnetic circuit which carries a magnetic flux, and a case element surrounding a portion of the core element. A passage exists between the case element and core element, and an amount of magneto-rheological fluid is positioned between the core element and case element to flow within the passage.

Abstract: A cam phaser wherein the stator is integral with either the back plate or the front cover plate. The integral stator may be formed by any desired forming technique, such as, for example, by machining, casting, welding, or injection molding. Preferably, however, the integral stator is formed in a single molding step by powdered metal forming using powdered aluminum. Cap seals are provided for sealing the hydraulic chambers of the cam phaser.

Abstract: A storage unit is provided for selectively heating and/or cooling items placed therein. The storage unit has a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment. A thermoelectric module is positioned in between the first and second storage compartments. The thermoelectric module regulates and maintains various desired temperatures within the storage compartments. Particularly, the thermoelectric module is capable of heating the first storage compartment and cooling the second storage compartment.

Abstract: A filtered electrical connector has a die cast aluminum housing that is mounted to a printed circuit board for attaching wiring harnesses to the printed circuit board for transmitting electrical signals to and from the circuitry of the printed circuit board. The die cast housing has six compartments that have a socket on the bottom of the housing for receiving the end connector of one of the wiring harnesses. A plastic retainer that holds several contact pins is secured in the lower portion of each compartment. A plated plastic filter insert having an anistropic substrate and surface mounted capacitors is encapsulated in an enlarged upper portion of each compartment. The contact pins extend through the filter insert and a ferrite block that is embedded above the filter insert. The ferrite block is covered by an insulation sheet to avoid short circuits in the printed circuit board and protect against bent pins.