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: An ignition coil includes a central core, a primary winding, a spool, a secondary winding, and a case outward of the core, spool, primary winding, and secondary winding. The secondary winding is wound on the spool and includes a high voltage end. The ignition coil also includes a cup formed of a metal material in electrical communication with the high voltage end of the secondary winding and is configured to be contacted by a conductive connector that is suitable for connection to a spark plug. The cup includes a generally cylindrical first sidewall press fit with the case and defining a press fit area at the interface of the first sidewall and the case, a generally cylindrical second sidewall spaced radially from the first sidewall, and an annular space defined between the press fit area and the second sidewall.

Abstract: A method and a system on a vehicle for activating a pedestrian protection device that has one or more sensors coupled to a fascia of the vehicle and activates the pedestrian protection device if the signal from a sensor is greater than a minimum threshold and less than a maximum threshold. Coupling the one or more sensors to the fascia improves sensitivity for detecting a collision with a pedestrian when compared to systems that do not couple the sensors to the fascia. Comparing the sensor signal to a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold helps avoid inappropriate or ineffective deployment of the pedestrian protection device. When multiple sensors are used, the location of the pedestrian collision on the fascia may be determined.

Abstract: An injection device for administering a reagent into an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, the injection device having an axis along its length and comprising an outwardly opening valve member having a seating surface which is engageable with a valve seating region. A seating member provided with an internal bore which defines the valve seating region, wherein the internal bore further defines a flow re-directing region downstream of the valve seating region. The seating member has an end face provided with a feature which intersects with at least a portion of the flow re-directing region to define, together with the flow re-directing region, a spray path for reagent exiting the injection device when the valve member is moved outwardly from the bore away from the valve seating region. The spray path has a variable spray angle, relative to the axis, around the circumference of the valve seating region.

Abstract: An engine control module and method configured to correct an engine crank sensor signal for errors in an apparent location of a tooth edge on a crank wheel is provided. A correction factor is determined based on a first formula if a comparison of adjacent pulse intervals to predetermined thresholds indicates that a tooth edge appears to be abnormally late, and determined based on a second formula if a comparison of adjacent pulse intervals to other predetermined thresholds indicates that a tooth edge appears to be abnormally The correction factor is set to a null value if the correction factor is not determined based on the first formula or the second formula; and operating an engine based on the correction factor.

Abstract: A system, a controller, and a method for controlling a fuel injector during start-up of a fuel injected internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a heater element configured to heat liquid fuel, such as gasoline, ethanol, gasoline/alcohol blends, diesel, or JP-8 within the fuel injector and indicate heater temperature. The controller is configured to estimate a fuel temperature based on the heater temperature, determine a crankshaft angle at which to initiate an injection event based on the fuel temperature, and initiate the injection event at the determined crankshaft angle. The controller is further configured to determine injection duration based on the fuel temperature and operate the fuel injector according to the determined injection duration. The controller may delay the injection event until the fuel temperature reaches a fuel temperature threshold. The injection event may be a priming injection event, cranking injection event, or running injection event.

Abstract: A method of determining fuel quality in an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: a) sampling a signal representative of the revolution speed of said engine during a sampling window, thereby obtaining an array of samples; and b) computing a Fourier component corresponding to a predetermined index in the frequency domain and determining a fuel quality indicator therefrom. The fuel quality indicator is representative of a magnitude of the Fourier component of this predetermined index.

Abstract: A planar device includes a heating circuit that is disposed between ceramic layers in a planar device and co-fired with the ceramic. The heating circuit material and geometry are controlled so as to provide a targeted resistance characteristic as a function of temperature that allows interchangeability in an engine management system that was designed for a heater circuit based on a material system that cannot be co-fired with the planar device.

Abstract: A method of detecting a crank signal error that includes incrementing a crank tooth counter in response to detecting a crank signal, comparing the crank tooth counter to an expected value when a cam signal is detected, and indicating a crank signal error if the crank tooth counter is not substantially equal to the expected value. This method is advantageous because a cam interval used to determine when to start and stop counting crank tooth pulses is automatically adjusted for variations in engine speed, while the prior art time based methods must adjust the time interval for variations in engine speed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling communication modes of a personal communication device traveling in a vehicle. The system includes a communication center configured to provide communication services, a personal communication device (PCD) configured to communicate with the communication center, and a controller installed in a vehicle. The communication center is configured to selectively disable any of the PCD communication modes when the PCD is residing or traveling in the vehicle. Which communication modes are disabled may be based on a customer profile. The system and method provide a way for a parent to limit the communication modes of PCD used by their child, especially when the child is traveling in and presumably operating a particular vehicle such as the family car. The system and method may also be used by employers to limit the PCD communication modes available to employees operating company vehicles.

Abstract: An outlet plate of an impeller pump is provided, the outlet plate having an outlet port disposed in the outlet plate, the outlet port being defined by a first outlet port and a second outlet port each extending through the outlet plate; a separator wall located in the outlet port, the separator wall separating an inlet of the first outlet port from an inlet of the second outlet port; and a groove located only on a first surface of the outlet plate, the groove having a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end terminating at the first outlet port, wherein the separator separates the groove from the second outlet port.

Abstract: A weight based occupant detection device that includes a weight sensing device installed in a vehicle seat in a manner effective to sense weight on a seating surface. The weight sensing device is configured to output a weight signal indicative of an occupant weight of a seat occupant residing on the vehicle seat. The occupant detection device also includes a seat orientation angle sensing device that is configured to output an orientation angle signal indicative of a seat orientation angle. The occupant detection device may also include an accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle seat, and a seat backrest angle device for measuring the angle of the seat backrest. The occupant detection device compensates a signal from the weight sensing device for errors caused by seat orientation, seat vertical acceleration and seat backrest angle.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a pair of prongs that extend from a base of the electrical contact spaced apart by a gap disposed therebetween. The gap is configured to receive a mating electrical contact that mechanically and electrically communicates with the pair of prongs. A plane defined along respective exterior surfaces of the pair of prongs is such that a portion of one prong of the pair of prongs is bisected by the plane. A method of making an electrical contact includes a step of stamping out a piece from a sheet of electrically-conducting material and another step of folding one or more portions of the piece to at least produce the pair of prongs of the electrical contact spaced apart by the gap. An electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board and at least one electrical contact that contains the pair of prongs.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser controllably varies the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes an input member rotatable by the crankshaft. The input member is connected through a gear drive to an output member which is fixed to the camshaft. A rotational actuator acting on the gear drive unit causes relative rotation between the input member and the output member. A first stop member is rotatable with the input member in a one-to-one relationship. A second stop member is rotatable with the output member in a one-to-one relationship to limit relative angular travel between the input member and the output member. A torque absorption means is provided for limiting the rate at which torque is applied from the rotational actuator to the gear drive unit when the second stop member makes contact with the first stop member.

Abstract: A fuel injector that includes a flying armature movable relative to a pintle stop, and an electromagnetic circuit configured to move the flying armature away from the pintle stop prior to accelerating the armature toward the pintle stop as part of moving the pintle to open the fuel injector. The flying armature increases the total force applied to the pintle to open the fuel injector by supplementing the static force imparted to the armature by a magnetic field with an impact force imparted by the armature being in motion toward and impacting with the pintle stop. The arrangement of magnetic circuit devices and materials used to make the magnetic circuit devices cooperate to provide a reversing force that urges the armature away from before urging the armature toward the pintle stop, and increases the rate at which the force that urges the armature toward the pintle stop increases.

Abstract: A planar device includes a heating circuit that is disposed between ceramic layers and co-fired with the ceramic. The heating circuit comprises palladium, and the co-firing of the palladium and ceramic is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere. The formation of defects in the planar device that would otherwise be induced as a result of the palladium oxidizing during the co-firing process is prevented by control of the firing profile, by the geometry of the pattern of the heating circuit, and/or by modifying the palladium to reduce its tendency to oxidize.

Abstract: A heads-up display system is configured for use in a vehicle. The system includes a standard vehicle window (i.e. no special coatings), an image projector, and a vehicle dashboard equipped with a faceted reflective surface. The image projector is configured to project an image onto the faceted reflective surface. The faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect the image from the image projector onto a window surface of the standard vehicle window. The window surface is oriented to reflect the image from the faceted reflective surface toward an occupant. The faceted reflective surface may be disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions. The plurality of troughs may be configured to shield the occupant from extraneous reflections. The faceted reflective surface may include a plurality of electrically controlled facets. The plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets may be an array of electrowetting cells.

Abstract: A method of authenticating an automotive device connected to an engine control system that stores an authentication code in memory of the automotive device that is generated by an encryption algorithm using an identification code of the automotive device as a seed value. The engine controller determines a verification code using a complementary encryption algorithm that also uses the identification code received from the automotive device as a seed value. The engine controller compares the authentication code to the verification code, and indicates that the automotive device is not authentic if the authentication code does not correspond to the verification code. Advantageously, authenticating the automotive device will be done autonomously by the engine controller without prompting by a technician using special equipment such as a laptop computer.

Abstract: Haptic control device that includes a tactile panel mounted movably relative to a support including a peripheral wall, characterized by the fact that a seal is arranged on the periphery of the tactile panel in an annular space situated between the tactile panel and the peripheral wall of the support, the seal including: an inner portion in tight contact with the tactile panel, an outer portion in tight contact with the peripheral wall of the support, and a connecting portion that extends between the inner portion and the outer portion and is elastically deformable so as to absorb the relative displacements of the tactile panel relative to the peripheral wall of the support without removing the haptic effect produced by the movements of the tactile panel.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of a sensor that comprises a heater is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a voltage to the heater and measuring the voltage applied to the heater and the current through the heater during a first time interval, and removing the applied voltage from the heater and leaving the heater unpowered for a second time interval. The method further includes the steps of calculating the resistance of the heater using the measured voltage and current, and determining the temperature of the sensor from the resistance using a predetermined relationship. The first time interval is selected to be sufficiently short in duration and the second time interval is selected to be sufficiently long so as to not significantly raise the temperature of the heater. The sensor temperature so determined can be used to perform diagnostic functions for a system that includes the sensor.