Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) energy coupling apparatus for electromagnetic interference (EMI) susceptibility testing of a device. The apparatus includes a ground-plane, a micro-strip, a first dielectric layer, a coupling-strip, and a second dielectric layer. The micro-strip overlies the ground-plane. The first dielectric layer is interposed between the ground-plane and the micro-strip. The combination of the ground-plane, the micro-strip, and the first dielectric layer cooperate to form a micro-strip transmission line configured to propagate RF energy from a RF generator to a termination load. The coupling-strip overlies the micro-strip opposite the first dielectric layer. The coupling-strip is configured to couple RF energy from the micro-strip to a harness wire connected to the device. The second dielectric layer is interposed between the coupling-strip and the micro-strip.

Abstract: A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to activate a vehicle function when an activation signal is received. The system includes a nomadic device configured to detect a change of a magnetic field relative to the nomadic device, and emit an activation signal only if the change corresponds to walking by an operator carrying the nomadic device.

Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel assembly configured to determine an orientation angle of a stepper motor actuated pointer of the assembly. The assembly includes a pointer, a stepper motor, a magnet, and a sensor. The pointer is movable about an axis to point to indicia on a display surface of the assembly. The stepper motor is coupled to the pointer via a reduction gear arrangement. The magnet is fixedly coupled to the pointer such that a magnetic field direction generated by the magnet corresponds to an angle of the pointer. The sensor is configured to determine the magnetic field direction of the magnet and output a signal indicative of the angle of the pointer.

Abstract: A compressor assembly for compressing a working fluid and lubricated with an oil, including a housing having a suction plenum and a discharge plenum that defines a discharge chamber and an exhaust chamber in fluid communication through a discharge chamber outlet, and a compression mechanism disposed in the housing. A baffle member proximate the discharge chamber outlet and against which a compressed admixture of working fluid and oil expelled from the discharge chamber is impactable for separating oil from the impacting admixture. The baffle member has an oil-impingement surface for collecting oil separated from the impacting admixture and directing the flow of oil separated from the impacting admixture. Working fluid substantially at a discharge pressure and devoid of the oil collected on the oil-impingement surface is exhaustible from the exhaust chamber through the discharge port.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.

Abstract: A human machine interface (HMI) for an automotive vehicle comprises an instrument cluster and at least one head-up display for displaying information. The HMI includes at least one picture generation unit, each of which includes a laser for generating a modulated laser beam and a micro-electromechanical scanning minor arranged in the optical path of the laser beam for sweeping the laser beam over a diffuser in a two-dimensional Lissajous pattern. The HMI further comprises a central control unit that may be interfaced with a vehicle's on-board computer and/or another on-board device. A processor of the central control unit is configured to determine the pictures to be generated by the at least two picture generation units and to calculate, for each picture generation unit, the two-dimensional Lissajous pattern and the modulation of the at least one laser beam, the combination of which results in the respective picture to be displayed.

Abstract: A control panel including a cover which is provided with at least one tactile pressure detection zone forming a control button, in which a force sensor is arranged between the cover and a support, behind the detection zone, in which a spacer made of elastically compressible material is mounted between the force sensor and the cover so as to take up the mechanical plays between the force sensor and the cover, characterized by the fact that the spacer is at least partially translucent and by the fact that the control panel includes at least one main light source and a light collector which permits injection of the light produced by the said main light source into the thickness of the spacer so that the spacer produces a backlighting beam directed towards a zone to be illuminated of the detection zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a connector assembly to a case. The case includes an inside surface defining an inside of the case, an outside surface defining an outside of the case, and an aperture therethrough providing communication from the inside surface to the outside surface. The connector assembly includes an outer connector having a body with a passage therethrough, an electromagnetic shield, and an inner connector with a terminal therein with a conductor extending from the inner connector in electrical communication with the terminal. The method includes positioning the outer connector on the outside of the case to align the passage of the outer connector with the aperture of the case. The method also includes positioning the inner connector on the inside of the case. The method also includes inserting the inner connector into the passage of the outer connector from the inside of the case.

Abstract: A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to thwart a relay attack on the system. The system includes one or more ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on a vehicle and configured to transmit a request pulse at a request time. A mobile UWBX, possibly installed in a nomadic device such as a smart phone, is configured to transmit a reply pulse in response to the request pulse. A controller is configured to determine a distance between each UWBX and the mobile UWBX based on a time interval between the request time and a time that corresponds to when the reply pulse is received by the each UWBX. The controller may also be configured to unlock doors of the vehicle only if the distance is less than an unlock threshold.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center assembly having a connector including a plurality of terminals and a terminal stabilizer plate engaging the tips of the terminals to hold the terminals in position and resist bending prior to inserting a mating connector into the electrical distribution center assembly. The terminal stabilizer plate is held in a ready position by a releasable latch means until an axial force applied to the releasable latch means by the mating connector body exceeds a force threshold, whereby the terminal stabilizer plate is released from the ready position and is moved to a seated position. The releasable latch means may include a flexible beam or other resilient member to hold the terminal stabilizer plate in the ready position until it is released.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor includes first and second electrodes spaced from each other with a bias resistor connected between the first and second electrodes. The particulate matter sensor allows an open circuit fault condition in the sensor or in the connectors or wiring to the sensor to be detected. A sensing system using the particulate matter sensor and a method for diagnosing faults in a sensing system are also provided.

Abstract: A fuel injector control system including a fuel injector, a sensing device configured to provide a transition signal indicative of a fuel injector transition from the closed-state to the open-state, and a controller configured to determine an injector control signal based on the transition signal. The injector control signal closing time can be adjusted base on the transition signal and so compensate for injector opening delay due to, for example, a stuck closed fuel injector, cold temperatures, or low injector drive voltages.

Abstract: An Anode Protection Systems for a SOFC system, having a Reductant Supply and safety subsystem, a SOFC anode protection subsystem, and a Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem. The Reductant Supply and safety subsystem includes means for generating a reducing gas or vapor to prevent re-oxidation of the Ni in the anode layer during the course of shut down of the SOFC stack. The underlying ammonia or hydrogen based material used to generate a reducing gas or vapor to prevent the re-oxidation of the Ni can be in either a solid or liquid stored inside a portable container. The SOFC anode protection subsystem provides an internal pressure of 0.2 to 10 kPa to prevent air from entering into the SOFC system. The Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem provides a catalyst converter configured to treat any residual reducing gas in the slip stream gas exiting from SOFC stack.

Abstract: A valve train system includes a camshaft with a camshaft lobe that is rotatable about a camshaft axis. A control shaft is rotatable about a control shaft axis and includes an eccentric control shaft slot. An input rocker engages the camshaft lobe and has a rocker slot. An output rocker engages a valve actuation member which is engaged with a combustion valve. A rocker pivot shaft has a rocker pivot shaft axis and is fixed to the output rocker and extends through both the control shaft slot and the rocker slot. Rotation of the camshaft causes the input rocker and the output rocker to pivot about the rocker pivot shaft axis and rotation of the control shaft changes the magnitude that the input rocker and the output rocker pivot about the rocker pivot shaft axis and also changes the magnitude of opening the combustion valve.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger portion configured to receive a refrigerant flow and a hot side coolant flow having a lower temperature than the refrigerant flow, a second heat exchanger portion configured to receive the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion and a cold side coolant flow having a higher temperature than the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion, and an internal heat exchanger portion sandwiched between the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion. The refrigerant flow through the plate type heat exchanger is in non-contact thermal communication with the hot side coolant flow and the cold side coolant flow. The cold side coolant flow transfers heat energy to the refrigerant, which in turn transfer that heat energy to the hot side coolant flow.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft includes stator having a plurality of lobes. A rotor rotatable about a camshaft axis is disposed coaxially within the stator and has a plurality of vanes interspersed with the lobes to define advance chambers and retard chambers. A lock pin is slidably disposed along a lock pin axis within the rotor for selective engagement with a first lock pin seat and for selective engagement with a second lock pin seat. The lock pin has a lock pin width in a circumferential direction relative to the camshaft axis and a lock pin length perpendicular to the lock pin width and to the lock pin axis such that the lock pin width is less than the lock pin length.

Abstract: A refrigerant storage device that arranges two end plates to form a cavity and includes a turbulator plate within the cavity. The turbulator plate is arranged within the cavity to reinforce the cavity by providing a plurality of reinforcement portions between the end plates. The cavity is sized and the turbulator plate is configured so a liquid portion of refrigerant flowing through the cavity collects onto the turbulator plate. The device has a rectangular shape that simplifies vehicle packaging and allows the device to be readily integrated into a plate-type refrigerant-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger. The device is formed by a stacking arrangement of parts that provides for a readily scalable design.

Abstract: An assembly for fastening a fitting to a hole in a tubular manifold having a hole. A plurality of refrigerant tubes extend into the manifold transversely to the hole. The assembly includes a fitting that extends along an axis and defines an opening to provide clearance for the refrigerant tubes extending into the manifold. The fitting also presents a pair of slots in spaced and parallel relationship with one another. The assembly further includes a semi-cylindrical shaped mounting plate including a bracket. The bracket presents a pair of legs which extend in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engage the slots of the fitting to limit rotary movement of the fitting about the axis relative to the bracket before and during brazing of the fitting to the manifold to maintain a clearance between the lower section of the fitting and the refrigerant tubes.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector includes a housing having spaced apart sidewalls and first and second slides slide slideably supported in the housing. The first and second slides each include at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of the mating connector and slideable with respect to the housing between a pre-staged position where the electrical connector is removable from the mating connector and an engaged position where said electrical connector assembly is locked to said mating connector. A slide assist lever is pivotally interconnected with the housing and each of the slides to move the slides between the pre-staged position and the engaged position such that recesses are formed in the housing with the slides when said slides are in the engaged position. The electrical connector assembly also includes an environmental cover positionable to substantially prevent debris from entering the recesses.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine includes an intermediate locking pin and seat for locking the camshaft phaser at a position intermediate of its full advanced and retard positions. A feature is provided for radially orienting the locking pin with the seat.