Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine fuel control wherein a single oxygen sensor responsive to the combined exhaust gas flow of several engine cylinders is used both to control the overall or average air/fuel ratio, and to trim the air/fuel ratio in the individual engine cylinders. The oxygen sensor output is sampled in synchronism with the engine firing events, but at twice (or higher) the frequency, and filtered by an engine speed dependent high-pass filter to form a measure of the air/fuel ratio imbalance with respect to time. The imbalance signal, in turn, is parsed into an array of imbalance values that are associated with individual engine cylinders based on engine operating conditions, and the imbalance values are then used to develop correction factors for the respective engine cylinders that reduce the imbalance while preserving the overall or average air/fuel ratio of the engine.

Abstract: An improved method of detecting evaporative emission system leaks, wherein first and second changes in closed-system fuel tank pressure due to vapor generation are measured respectively prior to and after the leak testing, and wherein the larger of the first and second pressure changes is used to adjust the pressure measurements taken during leak testing, or to invalidate the diagnostic if the vapor generation exceeds a threshold. The first vapor generation test occurs at the beginning of the driving cycle when there has been no significant disturbance of the vapor equilibrium in the fuel tank, and thereby provides an indication vapor generation due to volatility of the fuel. The second vapor generation test occurs well into the driving cycle, and provides an indication of vapor generation due to fuel heating and sloshing.

Abstract: An MR fluid damper having a damper body tube containing a volume of MR fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the damper body tube to form a flow gap between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the damper body tube. An external coil surrounds a portion of the damper body tube. The external coil is capable of generating a magnetic field across at least a portion of the flow gap. In another aspect, the piston assembly includes a bearing in contact with the, inner surface of the damper body tube. The bearing maintains the piston assembly concentric within the damper body tube while permitting a flow of the MR fluid through the flow gap.

Abstract: Hydraulic mounts which include a body member, a partition, a diaphragm and a base member are placed on an apparatus for supporting the body member loosely assembled with the partition, diaphragm and base member. A head member engages the body member and the base member in temporary fluid sealing relationship while air is evacuated from internal chambers of the mount and hydraulic fluid is flowed into the chambers. The head member may then be moved away from the base member and a final assembly of the mount provided by crimping a peripheral upper edge of the body member in forcible engagement with the base member, the partition and the diaphragm. The mount may include spaced apart projections to allow fluid to flow between the partition and the body member during the air evacuation and fluid fill process.

Abstract: A pulse generator for indicating a change in the magnitude of an input signal includes a comparator, a first network connected to one input of the comparator for receiving the input signal, and a second network connected to the other input of the comparator for receiving the input signal. Both the first and second networks provide output signals to the comparator which transition in response to a magnitude change of the input signal from their respective baseline magnitudes to respective peak magnitudes, and back to their respective baseline magnitudes. The component values of the networks are selected such that one of the first or second network output signals is positive relative to the other network output signal over some period of time during the transition to the peak magnitude and return to the baseline magnitude to cause the comparator to generate a pulse indicating a change in the magnitude of the input signal.

Abstract: A vehicle closure has a deck lid latch that includes a disabling lever that is automatically engaged to disable the deck lid latch when the deck lid latch is unlatched. The disabling lever must be reset manually to restore normal latching operation of the deck lid latch. The disabling lever is reset manually by a control knob that is difficult to operate to avoid inadvertent resetting.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a toothed rack and channel track type of power liftgate attaches the liftgate lift rod to the toothed rack indirectly, through a shoe-yoke assembly that transfers axial loads, but isolates the rack from non axial reactive loads transferred through the lift rod. A rigid yoke fits closely within axially spaced ends of a notch in the rack, but has a clearance elsewhere from the outside of the rack. The outside of the yoke is closely surrounded by a shoe, which provides a close fitting, slidable bearing layer with the inside of the channel track, maintaining the yoke to rack clearance. The maintenance of the yoke-rack clearance prevents the transmission of undesired reactive loads back to the rack through the yoke.

Abstract: A suspension damper system is provided. The damper system includes a damper with a damper rod, a portion of which extends from the proximal end of the damper. The damper rod includes a bore and an electrode disposed within the bore. A fastener for securing the damper rod to a vehicle is also provided. The fastener is disposed over the damper rod and includes a circumferential groove. An electrical connector which includes an electrically conducting terminal is connected to the electrode. The connector includes a lock which mates with the groove in the fastener and includes a ground terminal which is connected to the damper rod.

Abstract: Method for measuring a fluid flow, in particular an air flow (L), flowing in a flow canal to an engine (VM) or from an engine (VM), by means of a fluid mass measuring means (3) connected to an evaluation means (2), wherein in a regularly performed cycle an operational parameter (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) characterizing the operating status of the engine (VM) is recorded, the data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) supplied by the fluid mass measuring means (3) are recorded, at least one extreme value (Ep, En) is determined from the data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) recorded since the beginning of a time period (t1, t2, . . . , tn), an average value (Wma) is determined from the recorded data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn), a pulsation amplitude (P1, P2, . . . , Pm) is determined by dividing the extreme value (Ep) by the average value (Wma), and the average value (Wma) is corrected by multiplying it by a correction factor (K11, K12, . . . , Kmn) which is selected in dependence on the operational parameter (D1, D2, . . .

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diagnosing the condition of an automotive HVAC refrigerant compressor based on information contained within the signal produced by a high-side pressure sensor provided for system control purposes. The output signal of the pressure sensor is divided into its DC and AC components, with the DC component being used for system control purposes, and the AC component being used for diagnosing the condition of the compressor. Pulsations of the AC component (which conventionally are removed by filtering for control purposes) correspond to individual piston stroke cycles. The pulsations indicate compressor operation and are counted for purposes of determining the actual compressor speed. Since existing pressure sensor information is utilized to verify compressor operation and to determine compressor speed, the system cost impact due to the diagnostic evaluation is minimal.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body defining a bore within which an outer valve member is slidable, the outer valve member being engageable with a first seating to control fuel injection from a first outlet opening provided in a nozzle body. The outer valve member is provided with a through bore within which an inner valve member is slidable, the inner valve member being engageable with a second seating to control fuel injection through a second outlet opening provided in the nozzle body. The fuel injector further comprises first and second control chambers for fuel whereby, in use, movement of the inner and outer valve members away from their respective seatings is controlled by controlling fuel pressure within the first and second control chambers so as to permit fuel delivery from a selected outlet opening.

Abstract: A crank driven VVT mechanism includes single or dual cranks for actuating oscillating cam drive mechanisms. The crank drive positively actuates the mechanisms in both valve opening and valve closing directions and thus avoids the need to provide return springs as are generally required in cam driven mechanisms to bias the mechanisms toward a valve closed position. However, the crank driven mechanisms of the invention require the oscillating cams to pivot onto the base circle portion during a dwell period in order to provide periods of valve closed engine operation even when the valves are set for maximum opening stroke. Thus, increased motion of the actuating mechanism or a smaller angular extent of the valve lift portions of the oscillating cams is required as compared to a cam driven mechanism.

Abstract: A method for determining a dimension in a motor is described. By applying Fourier analysis, a sequence of terms is obtained. Since the fifth harmonic is the most undesirable term, the minimization of the fifth harmonic term will make resultant waveform closer to sine wave. Based upon the above, a determination of an angle &dgr; is described, wherein the fifth harmonic term of the sequence of terms is minimized. An electric motor having a rotor and a set of slot on said rotor surface having a set of magnets with a width &dgr; along the circumference of said rotor surface is described. The width &dgr; is determined by a method that includes applying Fourier analysis thereby a sequence of terms is obtained. Since the fifth harmonic is the most undesirable term, the minimization of the fifth harmonic term will make resultant waveform closer to sine wave. Based upon the above, a determination of an angle &dgr; is described, wherein the fifth harmonic term of the sequence of terms is minimized.

Abstract: Improved motor position detection circuitry based on commutation pulse counting, including a pulse recognition circuit, a pulse counting circuit, and a start pulse rejection circuit for rendering the position detection circuitry insensitive to start-up pulses associated with motor turn-on. The start pulse rejection circuit detects an off-to-on transition of a motor controller, and renders the position detection circuitry insensitive to start-up pulses generated in a predefined time window coinciding with the detected off-to-on transition. In a first mechanization, the start pulse rejection circuit maintains a nominal bias voltage at an input of the pulse recognition circuit for the duration of the predefined time window. In a second mechanization, the start pulse rejection circuit renders the pulse counting circuit insensitive to pulses produced by the pulse recognition circuit for the duration of the predefined time window.

Abstract: A potentiometer position indicator for an automotive HVAC system belt drive has a means that passively realigns the turning wiper and fixed ring of the potentiometer if the potentiometer wiper becomes misaligned relative to the belt. A slip clutch interposed between the final gear of a gear reduction mechanism and the potentiometer wiper contacts a hard stop and is shifted back to an aligned position as the belt is shifted to either of its limit positions, thereby automatically realigning the two.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil coupled to a spark plug in a combustion chamber of the engine, and a switch responsive to an ignition control signal for causing a primary current to flow through a primary winding (16) of the ignition coil. A control circuit is configured to generate the ignition control signal so as to produce a plurality of sparks at the spark plug during a combustion event in the cylinder. A secondary current trip circuit in sensing relation to the secondary winding is configured to generate secondary current trip signal when the secondary current decays down past a secondary current trip threshold. The control circuit is further configured to trigger a recharge event of the multicharge operation in response to the secondary current trip signal, thereby minimizing variability in terms of the amount of energy delivered to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fuel pump comprising a pumping plunger reciprocable within a bore, and a drive arrangement for driving the pumping plunger. The drive arrangement includes a compressible load transmission arrangement for transmitting movement of the drive arrangement to the pumping plunger. The load transmission arrangement comprises first and second surfaces which define, therebetween, a chamber for fluid. The fuel pump also comprises supply means for permitting the chamber to be supplied with fluid, in use, and control means for controlling the flow of fluid from the chamber.

Abstract: An electric power steering assist mechanism with an isolated output shaft for a motor vehicle. An output shaft has a steering hand wheel disposed on an upper end and has an opposing lower end ultimately operably connected to the steerable wheels of the motor vehicle. The output shaft is concentrically received and rotatably supported within a tubular speed reducing gear, which is driven by a worm gear connected to an electric motor. An elastomeric isolator is disposed within an annular space between the speed reducing gear and the output shaft to provide compliance in the steering assist mechanism between the gears and the output shaft thereby reducing vibrations.

Abstract: A process for preventing the formation of a copper precipitate in a copper-containing metallization on a die, wherein the process includes the steps of: identifying each manufacturing step after metallization which exposes the die to a temperature of greater than 100° C.; and after performing such post-metallization step, cooling the die down to a temperature of at least 100° C. at a cooling rate in a range of 0.6° C. per second to 1.0° C. per second, and more specifically in a range of 0.59° C. per second to 1.00° C. per second. The step of cooling the die can be achieved by utilizing any of numerous means including an air conditioning system with a thermocouple for monitoring the cooling rate, a substantially closed manufacturing environment housing having a ventilation port with an electrically operable fan system mounted proximate the ventilation port, a cooling rack having artificial ventilation, and/or a chiller plate.

Abstract: A rotary position transducer and method of mounting the same. The transducer includes a housing having a disc-shaped end plate, a guide in a main aperture in the end plate, a plurality of frangible coupling elements rigidly supporting the guide on the end plate, a stator rigidly supported on the transducer housing behind the end plate, and a rotor rigidly attached to the guide and supported inside of the stator with an annular gap therebetween. The transducer is mounted on a structural member around a shaft rotatably supported on the structural member by first mounting the guide on the shaft, then rigidly clamping the transducer housing to the structural member, and then applying torque to the shaft to fracture the frangible coupling elements and release the rotor for rotation with the shaft relative to the transducer housing and the stator.