Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid formulation in which the base liquid is optimized to exhibit an acceptable viscosity, a low volatility, improved low temperature flow properties, and an improved elastomeric compatibility. The fluid formulation includes a base liquid containing a mixture of 1-dodecene polyalphaolefin and a diester, such as dioctyl sebacate. The diester is added to the mixture in an amount effective to produce seal swelling and to lower the pour point. The viscosity of the fluid formulation is suitable for diverse vibration damping applications that require a vibration damping device to operate in the temperature range of about −40° C. to about 100° C. The low volatility and seal swelling properties of the fluid formulation reduce, inhibit or eliminate fluid loss about the seals of the vibration damping device.

Abstract: A tamper proof electrical connector has a plug which inserts into a receptacle housing. A leading portion of the plug resides within the receptacle housing and a unitary trailing portion of the plug projects outward from the housing. A tab projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing and snap locks to a cantilevered member engaged unitarily to the trailing portion of the plug. A barrier wall projects laterally outward from the receptacle housing and substantially surrounds the cantilevered member and tab. A hood has a perimeter wall and a resilient hinge engaged to a base of the cantilevered member. When assembled, the perimeter wall of the hood surrounds the barrier wall of the receptacle housing. Two prongs project downward from a top portion of the hood snap locking to opposing first and second walls of the barrier wall disposed on either side of the tab. The first and second walls are disposed between the perimeter wall and the respective first and second prongs of the hood.

Abstract: A pressure sensor connector (10) for use with a pressure sensor element (12) that includes a plurality of pressure sensor terminals (13). The pressure sensor connector (10) includes a housing (18), a plurality of connector terminals (20) and a flexible circuit (22). A plurality of electrical pathways (24), formed on the flexible circuit (22), connect each of the plurality of connector terminals (20) to a corresponding pressure sensor terminal (13).

Abstract: A rotary damper for use in motor vehicle suspensions comprising a rotor disposed within damping fluid in a fluid chamber of a case to form fluid volumes, with valves for flow control and an accumulator for fluid fill variation and thermal expansion mounted internal to the rotor. A first check valve and first control valve mounted in a first flow passage within the rotor allow flow from second fluid volume to first fluid volume, but restrict flow from the first fluid volume to the second fluid volume. Similarly, a second check valve and a second control valve mounted in a second flow passage within the rotor allow flow from the first fluid volume to the second fluid volume, but restrict flow from the second fluid volume to the first fluid volume. Thus, the valves are configured to provide independent control of damping for each direction of rotation.

Abstract: A multi-layer conductor system including: a base layer having an electrically insulative top portion including alumina; an electrically conductive intermediate layer formed on the top portion of the base layer; and an electrically conductive top layer formed on the intermediate layer; wherein the intermediate layer includes alumina and a precious metal alloy consisting of silver and a precious metal other than silver; wherein the top layer comprises a precious metal selected from the group consisting of silver and a silver alloy such that the difference between the percentage weight of silver in the precious metal of the top layer and the percentage weight of silver in the precious metal alloy of the intermediate layer is limited to thereby provide advantages in use.

Abstract: The evaporative emission treatment device comprises a monolith concentrically disposed within a shell, and having one or more sealing agents concentrically disposed about the monolith and in between the monolith and housing. The shell comprises a first shell portion having an inlet portion at one end and a connection element disposed at the opposing end, and a second shell portion having an outlet portion at one end and a connection element disposed at the opposing end. The shell can also include structural features to prevent fluid leakage, enhance fluid flow, enable attachment to other evaporative emission system components, enable mounting to a vehicle, and internally seal the monolith and sealing agents.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a vapor canister includes a partition adapted to be disposed in an interior chamber of the vapor canister and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve connected to the partition and covering the at least one opening and being movable to provide variable flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: An angular position sensor assembly for a vehicle generator shaft includes one magnet and three magnetic field sensors placed within a housing. The sensors are disposed on a circuit board that is parallel to the end of a generator shaft. The sensors are configured so that signals from the sensors are out-of-phase by predetermined angles. The generator shaft alternatingly forms plural slots and plural teeth. As the shaft rotates, the slots and teeth cause a change in a magnetic field around each sensor. By sensing the changes in the magnetic field, the position of the shaft can be determined from the out of phase signals received from the sensors.

Abstract: A method of glass frit bonding wafers to form a package, in which the width of the glass bond line between the wafers is minimized to reduce package size. The method entails the use of a glass frit material containing a particulate filler material that establishes the stand-off distance between wafers, instead of relying on discrete structural features on one of the wafers dedicated to this function. In addition, the amount of glass frit material used to form the glass bond line between wafers is reduced to such levels as to reduce the width of the glass bond line, allowing the overall size of the package to be minimized. To accommodate the variability associated with screening processes when low volume lines of paste are printed, the invention further entails the use of storage regions defined by walls adjacent the glass bond line to accommodate excess glass frit material without significantly increasing the width of the bond line.

Abstract: A hybrid electrical machine generator having a permanent magnetic rotor field in addition to an electrically excited rotor field is disclosed. The generator rotor (120) has a wound field coil (124) mounted on the rotor shaft (122) between two opposing claw segments (126, 128). One or more permanent magnets (130) maybe provided about the periphery of the first and/or second claw segments.

Abstract: A voice-interactive docking station is provided for use with a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes at least one information management application and a corresponding database for storing the data associated with the information management application. The docking station generally includes a speech input device for receiving speech input, a speech recognizer for translating the speech input into voice command data, and an interface application for interacting with the applications residing on the portable computing device. In particular, the interface application, in response to voice command data, accesses the data associated with the information management application residing on the portable computing device. The docking station may further include a text-to-speech synthesizer for converting output data from the interface application into speech output data, and an audio system for generating audio output from the speech output data.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a leak down land and a support land that are substantially cylindrical. The support land is substantially coaxial relative to the leak down land, and at least a portion of the support land is disposed radially opposite the leak down land.

Abstract: An improved solenoid for providing linear actuation. The outer polepiece of the solenoid is provided with a plurality of radially-dispersed labyrinthine passageways in communication between the exterior of the solenoid and an interior region including the armature and the interior of the windings. The polepiece is further provided with at least one passageway in communication between the exterior of the solenoid and an outer periphery of the windings within the housing. The two sets of passageways impede particles and droplets of moisture from entering the solenoid, while simultaneously permitting moisture such as condensation within the solenoid to evaporate and escape.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing solenoid valve includes a plunger tube that forms an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. A plunger that forms a fluid chamber is slidably disposed within the plunger tube. The plunger is movable between a fluid fill configuration, wherein the fluid chamber communicates with the inlet orifice to allow the fluid chamber to be filled and a fluid dump configuration, wherein the fluid chamber communicates with the outlet orifice to allow the fluid chamber to be emptied. The fluid dispensing solenoid valve is used to dispense a very accurate quantity of fluid in very controllable manner.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The non-thermal plasma reactor element includes cells defined by a single structural dielectric barrier comprising a “conductor-single structural dielectric barrier-exhaust passage-conductor” arrangement, wherein individual cells of the reactor element are defined by a single structural dielectric barrier.

Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator assembly for use in an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a compressor. The accumulator-dehydrator assembly also includes a canister with an upper portion, an inlet, an outlet and a delivery tube with a first tube end positioned in the upper portion of the canister and a second tube end connected to the outlet. A baffle is disposed within the canister that includes a first end connected to the canister and a second end positioned to define a partition between the first tube end of the delivery tube and the inlet. The purpose of the baffle is to reduce pulsations that result from pressure fluctuations in the air-conditioning system.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer race, cage, and inner race where the opening of the cage is sized to be equal to or greater than the minimum projected height of the inner race to allow the inner race to transitionally slide through the opening and rotate within the cage to be installed therein. The lobes of the inner race are thicker than the length of the windows of the cage. All the windows have the same length.

Abstract: A compact constant velocity joint includes outer and inner joint members having surfaces to provide articulation of the joint. The surfaces are formed with aligned grooves to receive torque-transmitting balls. A ball retainer is provided axially adjacent the balls, adjacent an open end of the outer joint member to retain the balls in the grooves during operation. The ball retainer articulates on the same center point as that of the outer and inner joint members.

Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle subsystem comprises a reference model and a feedforward controller. The reference model computes desired states of the subsystem. The feedforward controller computes a first control value based on input from the reference model, and computes a second control value based on yaw rate of the vehicle and a control variable for the subsystem.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an instrument panel having an instrument panel cover including a hidden deployment region integrally formed within an inner surface thereof by an ultrasonic embossing process is provided. More specifically, the deployment region comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of scores or cuts formed in the inner surface according to a predetermined pattern. The scores represent weakened portions of the instrument panel cover designed so that the force of an inflating air bag cushion causes the instrument panel cover to separate along the scores to thereby provide an opening for the inflating air bag cushion to deploy therethrough and be directed into the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The deployment region may be defined by any number of scores and therefore may have a variety of patterns, including but not limited to “H” pattern, “U” pattern, and “I” pattern.