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 major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured for use in a vehicle to provide a perceived comfortable thermal environment to an occupant seated in a rear portion of a vehicle cabin. A heat exchanger provides a first airstream characterized as having a first temperature to an air moving device configured to generate a second airstream characterized as having a second temperature. The second airstream comprises a mixture of the first airstream and cabin air drawn from the rear portion of the vehicle cabin. The air moving device may be disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle. The HVAC system further includes a nozzle that may be configured to direct the second airstream toward an occupant in the rear portion of the vehicle cabin to provide spot conditioning.

Abstract: A radome for a radar sensor that includes a first and second section. Each section is formed of layers that have an electrical thickness substantially equal to an integer multiple of a guided half-wavelengths of the radar beam. Each of the sections are configured such that, at a location spaced apart from the radome, a first phase angle of the first portion of the radar beam differs from a second phase angle of the second portion of the radar beam by an amount substantially corresponding to an integer number of three hundred sixty degrees (360°) of phase angle shift.

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 exhaustable from the exhaust chamber through the discharge port.

Abstract: A head-up display system having a diffusing image plane or diffuser. The light output of a relatively small image source is imaged on the diffuser by way of imaging optics. A mirror is used to image light from the diffuser onto a windshield and correct for distortion caused by the windshield. The diffuser is advantageously used when a large field-of-view is desired, or sun load characteristics need to be addressed. The diffuser may be flat or curved in order to optimize the system for different applications. The magnification of the mirror may be made relatively low, and the solar emergency density that is made incident on the image source is reduced, providing for a low cost, high performance, color head-up display system. A drive mechanism allows selective operator controlled repositioning of the image source and imaging optics with respect to diffuser to vary image size, position and/or intensity.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat such that engagement of the lock pin with the lock pin seat prevents relative rotation between the circular spline and the dynamic spline.

Abstract: A method of detecting particulate matter on a particulate matter sensor includes the steps of measuring an electrical characteristic associated with the sensor, determining a value corresponding to the impedance across the sensor, and compensating the impedance for the temperature at which it was determined. The method further includes determining an estimate of the total amount of particulate matter accumulated while limiting the effects of large particles captured on the sensor or blown off the sensor. The information produced by the method may be used to provide diagnostic information regarding a particulate control system.

Abstract: An electrical camshaft phaser arrangement for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting gear drive unit formed as a three shafts transmission having a drive shaft connected with the crankshaft, an output shaft connected with the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected with the control shaft of an electrical machine. The electrical machine allows phasing the camshaft with regards to the crankshaft by increasing or decreasing control shaft speed, the control shaft being spinning during phase holding modes. The adjusting gear drive unit is configured such that an energy recovering mode is provided wherein a braking torque is applied to the control shaft in order to generate electrical energy.

Abstract: A method is provided for brazing a metal leadframe clip to an electrical resistance heating tip for an electrical resistance igniter, wherein the electrical resistance heating tip includes silicon carbide. The method includes forming a layer of SiO2/Al2O3 on a surface of the electrical resistance heating tip; applying a braze alloy paste between the layer of SiO2/Al2O3 and the metal leadframe clip; and heating the braze alloy, the metal leadframe clip and the electrical resistance heating tip to fuse the braze alloy.

Abstract: A surface mountable transition block for perpendicular transitions between a microstrip or stripline and a waveguide. The transition block configuration allows for a reduction in the overall cost of a microwave circuit assembly because the circuit board to which the transition block is attached can be an FR-4 type circuit board as opposed to more expensive microwave circuit board materials.

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 major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing the position of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft, the camshaft phaser being actuated by an electric motor and having a gear reduction mechanism with a predetermined gear reduction ratio and a sensor for determining the rotational position of the electric motor. The method includes generating a rotational position signal indicative of the rotational position of the electric motor by using the sensor to determine the rotational position of the electric motor and calculating the position of the camshaft based on the rotational position signal and the gear reduction ratio of the gear reduction mechanism.

Abstract: An in-vehicle communication system configured to receive signals from a transmitter configured to transmit periodically a time-reference signal and receiver specific information. An information transmission time of receiver specific information is timed relative to a reference transmission time of the time-reference signal. The system includes a receiver characterized as having a receiver identification value. The receiver is configured to operate from an off-state to an on-state during an information-expected time interval to receive receiver specific information. The information-expected time interval is determined based on a reception time of the time-reference signal and the receiver identification value. This provides a way to ensure that the transmitter only transmits messages when it knows the intended receiver is on. It also ensures that the receiver is on only when messages that for that receiver are expected to be received.

Abstract: A remote keyless entry (RKE) system for a vehicle. The system includes a RKE receiver configured to be installed on a vehicle, and a nomadic device equipped with an RKE transmitter configured to transmit autonomously a RKE message repetitiously in response to an initiation command. The nomadic device is able to be pre-armed the nomadic device while outside of the communication range of the vehicle to transmit periodically, repeatedly, or continuously the RKE message. Then, an operator can put the nomadic device in a pocket and proceed to within the communication range and, for example, have the trunk open without having to manually operate the nomadic device while within the communication range.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes an outlet for discharging fluid from the fluid pump, a housing, and a motor with a shaft that rotates about an axis. The fluid pump also includes an impeller having a first array of blades radially surrounding the axis and a second array of blades radially surrounding the first array of blades. The fluid pump also includes an inlet plate adjacent to the impeller and has an inlet for introducing fluid into the fluid pump, a first inlet plate flow channel aligned with the first array of blades and having a first inlet plate flow channel cross-sectional area, and a second inlet plate flow channel aligned with the second array of blades and having a second inlet plate flow channel cross-sectional area. The second inlet plate flow channel cross-sectional area is synchronized with the first inlet plate flow channel cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an acoustic database for a particular narrator that does not require said narrator to recite a pre-defined script. The system and method generate an acoustic database by using voice recognition or speech-to-text algorithms to automatically generate a text script of a voice message while simultaneously or near-simultaneously sampling the voice message to create the acoustic database. The acoustic database may be associated with the narrator of the voice message by an identifier, such as a telephone number. The acoustic database may then be used by a text-to-speech processor to read a text message when the narrator is identified as the sender of the text massage, providing an audio output of the contents of the text message with a simulation of the sender's voice. The user of the system may be provided an audio message that sounds like the originator of the text message.

Abstract: A vehicle software update system for updating software in vehicle modules coupled to a vehicle communication network. Software updates are processed through an entertainment unit (e.g. vehicle radio) configured to be coupled to the vehicle communication network. The entertainment unit is equipped with a software input means configured to receive a software update for a vehicle module, and transfer the software update to the vehicle module via the vehicle communication network. Software updates may be provided to the entertainment unit using a USB memory device plugged into a USB port in the entertainment unit, or communicated wireless via a WI-FI® or BLUETOOTH® transceiver.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling fuel pressure in a fuel delivery system. The system includes a fuel pump and an inlet control valve. The inlet control valve is operated to a closed state by an electrical signal applied to the inlet control valve. The electrical signal includes a pull-in portion of the electrical signal that is applied to the inlet control valve having a pull-in time interval that is varied based on the fuel pressure. By varying the pull-in time interval to control fuel pressure, electrical energy consumed and acoustic noise generated by the fuel delivery system are reduced.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. Pressurized oil disengages the lock pin from the seat while oil is vented for engaging the lock pin with the seat. A phase relationship control valve is coaxial with the rotor and controls the flow of oil into and out of the chambers. A lock pin control valve is coaxial with the phase relationship control valve and controls the flow of oil to and from the lock pin. The control valves are operational independent of each other.

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.