Abstract: A break away trim panel assembly for a panel in an occupant compartment of a vehicle includes a trim panel having an inner side and an outer side and a reinforcement attached to the outer side of the trim panel. The reinforcement includes a channel. The break away trim panel assembly also includes a fastener disposed within the channel for attaching the trim panel to the panel, such that application of a force from a predetermined angle pushes the fastener through the channel to break away the trim panel from the panel in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A fuel rail has a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet. The high pressure inlet feeds pressurized fuel to a plurality of injectors along the fuel rail. A fuel return line, which is connected with the low pressure outlet, is positioned substantially centrally of and coaxial with the fuel rail. The fuel return line is non-circular in configuration having a width to height ratio greater than one. The configuration of the return fuel line and the flexibility of the walls thereof provide a damper that reduces the pressure pulsations in the high pressure fuel.

Abstract: 16 A thick-film circuit (10) includes an electrically conductive substrate (12), such as stainless steel, and a first layer of a gold-rich conductor (15) applied directly thereon. The gold layer is fired in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such as nitrogen, to ensure a solid mechanical and electrical connection between the gold and the substrate. A next layer of a silver composition (20) containing a first proportion of silver to a conductive metal is directly applied to the gold layer (15). Preferably, the composition (20) includes palladium in equal parts with the silver to achieve a secure mechanical and electrical contact with the gold layer with a minimum resistivity. A silver-rich layer (23) is then applied directly onto the intermediate layer. This silver-rich layer (23) is a composition of silver and the conductive metal in a second proportion greater than the first proportion. In one embodiment, this second proportion is three parts silver to one part palladium by weight.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system that provides a modular arrangement for power and signal distribution in a motor vehicle includes a power distribution circuit board connected to a power supply and to at least one electrical load, switch and control circuit boards electrically connected with the power distribution board via fuses or circuit breakers, and signal distribution devices mounted on the switch and control boards for transmitting control signals between the switch and control boards. The power distribution board includes switching devices for electrically coupling the power supply to the electrical load, the control board has a processor for controlling the operation of the switching devices based on signals received via an external connector.

Abstract: An improved individual cylinder fuel control method based on sampled readings of a single oxygen sensor responsive to the combined exhaust gas flow of several engine cylinders. The oxygen sensor output is sampled in synchronism with the engine firing events, a stored non-volatile table of offset values is used to correlate the sampled oxygen sensor values with individual engine cylinders, and a new offset value is determined and stored in place of a current offset value when the current offset value fails to reduce a measure of air/fuel ratio maldistribution among the engine cylinders. In systems having an oxygen sensor of the switching type, the measure of air/fuel ratio maldistribution is determined by filtering and integrating the oxygen sensor signal, and the new offset value is determined by repeatedly incrementing the stored offset value, and fueling the individual cylinders of the engine based on the incremented offset value, until the measure of air-fuel ratio maldistribution decreases.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for disposition between a rocker arm and a valve stem of an internal combustion engine comprises a body having an axially extending neck depending from a lower end thereof. An enlarged head portion extends from the terminal end of the neck and has a semispherical lower surface. A foot assembly includes a disk shaped foot with an upper surface, a lower surface and a cylindrical sidewall defining an outer perimeter. The upper surface has a socket configured to receive the enlarged head. The foot assembly further includes an inverted cup shaped retainer having a cylindrical wall and radial leaves extending inwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical wall, defining a central opening. The axially extending neck extends through the central opening and the opening has a diameter smaller than the enlarged head.

Abstract: A module (16) for mounting in an aperture (14) in the inner panel (12) of a door (10) of a motor vehicle includes a structural member (18) having a central portion (20) and arms (22) extending away from the central portion in different directions. Each arm has a free end (26) secured to the inner panel such that the arms extend across the aperture when the structural member is mounted on the inner panel. A support panel (28) is secured to the structural member and at least one door component (34-40) is mounted on the support panel and/or the structural member.

Abstract: An improved occupant position detection system and method in which a periodically updated position output of an occupant recognition system (ORS) is dynamically augmented for purposes of determining if the occupant is out-of-position (OOP) so as to inhibit or allow deployment of occupant restraints in a timely manner. Vehicle acceleration data developed by an accelerometer of the restraint system is double integrated to form an incremental occupant displacement value. The incremental displacement value is reset to zero each time the ORS updates its position output, and between updates is used to modify the last position output to provide a dynamic position value for OOP determination. If the occupant is not wearing a seat belt, the incremental displacement value is combined with the last ORS position output both prior to and during the crash event.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing range and range rate data obtained by a vehicle obstacle detection system to determine whether the dynamic situation justifies alerting the vehicle operator of reducing the speed of the vehicle. Assumed values of vehicle and obstacle deceleration are used with known and assumed values of their velocities to calculate limiting warning distances that in turn are used to calculate an estimated warning distance. The estimated distance is compared with the range value as a basis of determining whether an alert is made.

Abstract: A vehicle air outlet assembly having a sliding shutoff door for blocking and unblocking air therethrough. The assembly includes a housing having a tubular form including inlet and outlet ends and defining an air passage between the ends. The shutoff door is movable between an open position along one side of the housing and a closed position across the inlet end of the housing to block air flowing through the housing. The door is made from a plurality of panels hingedly connected together. Followers such as pins are disposed along laterally opposite edges of the panels. Guides or tracks are formed on opposite sides of the housing and receive the pins for guiding sliding movement of the door between open and closed positions, respectively, unblocking and blocking the inlet end of the housing. Actuating means are connected with one of the door panels for sliding the door panels between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A new and improved rack and pinion steering gear including a housing, a rack bar having a rack gear thereon, and pinion head having a pinion gear thereon. The pinion head is supported on the housing for rotation as a unit with a steering hand wheel. The rack bar is supported on the housing for back and forth linear translation by a sleeve bearing and by a thrust bearing behind the rack bar opposite the pinion gear. The rack and pinion gears cooperate in converting manual effort applied at the steering hand wheel into linear thrust on the rack bar.

Abstract: A backlite antenna system for a vehicle that includes a separated AM/FM antenna grid and a defogger grid. The backlite antenna system includes a defogger grid grounding system having an RF grounding strip that is capacitively coupled to the vehicle body through a urethane seal that seals the window to the vehicle body. The grounding strip and an end bar of the defogger grid create an FM slot gap therebetween and provide grounding at AM frequencies. An AM grounding line is connected to the grounding strip and to an element of the defogger grid. The grounding line has a length one-quarter of the wavelength of the FM transmission band to provide a high impedance path for FM frequencies, but a low impedance path for AM and DC frequencies. The grounding strip provides a high impedance path at DC, but a low impedance path at AM and FM frequencies.

Abstract: An improved method of making a multiple print thick film circuit wherein the alignment between successive conductor print steps is both optically inspectable and electrically testable. The first of two or more successive conductor print layers includes a pair of adjacent alignment features with a non-conductive gap therebetween, and the successive conductor print layer includes a pair of identical alignment features which are printed directly on top of the alignment feature pair of the first print layer. When the successive print layer is properly aligned with the first print layer, the non-conductive gap between the alignment features of the first print layer will be preserved, and test probes brought into contact with the features or associated probe pads will reveal a high or open-circuit impedance therebetween.

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle frame and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a bracket that is secured to the vehicle body for supporting several parts including a reversible electric motor, a gear train, a rack and a cradle that are mounted on the bracket. The electric motor drives the rack via an the output gear of the gear train that has an axis. The rack slides in the cradle which is pivotally mounted on bracket so that cradle pivots about the axis of the output gear to hold the teeth of the rack in engagement with the teeth of the output gear to accommodate rocking movement of rack as it moves from a retracted position to an extended position. An arcuate track that is fixed to the vehicle body, and an arcuate link slides in the arcuate track.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having an alignment member extending outwardly from the first connector and having an aperture extending vertically therethrough. The first connector also includes a locking mechanism disposed within the alignment member. A second connector is interconnected with the first connector and includes a connector receiving cavity for cooperatively receiving the first connector. The second connector includes an alignment channel extending vertically along an inside surface of the connector receiving cavity for cooperatively receiving the alignment member. The second connector also includes a lock stop positioned within the alignment channel for cooperatively engaging with the locking mechanism to lock the first connector into the second connector.

Abstract: In the method of the invention, plasticizer is extracted from a polymeric film electrode, electrolyte or laminated film structure thereof, by contacting the film, with an extraction solvent mixture comprising a polar co-solvent, and carbon dioxide which is in a solvent fluidic state, at a temperature greater than or equal to 31.degree. C. and less than 35.degree. C. The pressure of extraction is sufficient to maintain the fluidic state at the temperature range stated. The co-solvent is present in an amount up to about 10% by weight of the extraction solvent mixture. The co-solvent is characterized by having a liquid state at the temperature and pressure of extraction.

Abstract: A switch array (10) comprising a housing (12) having a front face (14), a rear face (16), and a number of through bores (18) extending from the front face to the rear face; a resilient switch card (30) having a front face (34) directed towards the rear face of the housing, a rear face (36) directed away from the housing, and a number of contact areas (38) on the front face associated with each through bore, wherein the number and position of the contact areas associated with each through bore is identical; a switch cap (20) slidably mounted in, and removable from, one of the through bores, the switch cap having a front face (22) adjacent the front face of the housing, a rear face (24) adjacent the rear face of the housing, and one or more pins (28) projecting from the rear face of the switch cap, wherein the number and position of the or each pin is predetermined, and wherein the or each pin can exert pressure on one of the contact areas associated with the through bore on pushing the switch cap from a rest p

Abstract: A high power connection system adapted for automotive environments which provides environmental and EMI shielding includes a female connector, a male connector, and a panel mount. The female connector includes a female connector base and a snap fitted female connector cover. The male connector includes a male connector base and a snap fitted male connector cover. The female connector base has at least one female power terminal cavity for seatably receiving a respective female power terminal. The male connector base has at least one male power terminal cavity for seatably receiving a respective male power terminal. The female connector is covered by a cover seal and a conductive shroud. A pair of lock arms protrude outward from the front end of the male connector base, pass through the panel mount and interface with a lever of a lever rotatably connected to the shroud to thereby mechanically assist mating of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: An electric caliper for a brake system includes a cylindrical housing having a bore, a bridge extending from the housing, and a pair of friction elements operatively disposed under the bridge. The electric caliper also includes a motor disposed within the bore and a planetary gear system disposed within the bore and operatively connected to the motor. The electric caliper further includes a ball screw disposed within the bore and positioned around the motor and operatively connected to the planetary gear system. The electric caliper includes a piston operatively connected to the ball screw. Displacement of the piston causes the friction elements to operatively engage a disc disposed between the friction elements.

Abstract: A horizontal-mount bracket system for holding sensor position with respect to a horizontal-mount bracket, wherein facial interaction between the bracket and the sensor body provides automatic setting of the air gap which setting is preserved such that if the sensor is ever reinstalled, the air gap is precisely reset to its original value. A multi-component bracket has first and second bracket components which lay juxtaposed, one atop the other. The first bracket component has a first sensor opening and the second bracket component has a second sensor opening wherein initially the first and second sensor openings are mutually communicating and aligned just sufficiently so that the sensor body is free to vertically move therein. The sensor body is placed into a sensor port of an engine block so that the tip of the sensor body rests upon a surface of a reluctor.