Abstract: A parallel parking assistant system integrated with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, the parking assistant system including a first sensor configured to determine a first distance, a second sensor configured to determine a second distance, and a controller configured to provide commands as a function of the first and second determined distances. The commands include a first command configured to command a steering system to be in a clockwise position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a first reversing distance, a second command configured to command the steering system to be in a substantially straight position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a second reversing distance, and a third command configured to command the steering system to be in a counter-clockwise position while the vehicle is a moving in a reverse direction for a third reversing distance.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a knurl pattern disposed along at least a portion of an interior surface of the electrical contact. The portion receives a lead of a wire cable along a longitudinal axis and is attached thereto to form a crimp connection. The knurl pattern includes a plurality of recessed elements and each recessed element has a rhombus shape that includes inner corners. An orientation of a first pair of opposing, generally axial inner corners define an axial minor distance therebetween and an orientation of a second pair of opposing, inner corners define a major distance therebetween. The axial minor distance is less than the major distance. The recessed elements of the knurl pattern are especially suitable for engagement with an aluminum wire cable to form the crimp connection. A wire assembly that includes the crimp connection is associated with a cable harness disposed in a motorized vehicle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a pair of manifolds. An inlet is disposed on one of the ends of the first manifold. A core extends between the manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and a stream of air. A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds to divide the associated one of the manifolds into an upstream section and a downstream section. The cross-over plate presents a plurality of orifices defining a cross-over opening area for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. The cross-over opening area continuously increases along an axis away from the inlet. The total cross-over opening area is 30% to 300% of the upstream cross-sectional area of the tubes of the core.

Abstract: A method of measuring a chemical vapor concentration is provided. A chemical vapor sensor measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectable level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A planar magnetic structure has an electrically insulating carrier made up of a base portion and opposed upstanding sidewalls. A plurality of planar primary windings and planar secondary windings are interstitially disposed within the carrier with planar dielectric spacers located between each adjacent pair of windings. A ferrite core envelopes the assembly to magnetically couple the windings. The carrier and windings form at least two spaces-apart sets of cooperating registration features which maintain the windings in fixed alignment with the carrier.

Abstract: A system for separating and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine. The system uses a scrubber tank containing a carbon dioxide absorbent fluid to capture CO2 in the exhaust. The system also includes a carbon dioxide storage means configured to temporarily store the captured CO2, and a CO2 recovery facility to refine the captured CO2 for future use or prepare the CO2 for permanent storage. The system is intended for installation on vehicles such as automobiles to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by automobiles into the environment, but could also be used for other applications such as stationary power generators.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly having an insertable distributor tube retainer tab configured to position and retain a distributor tube disposed within a first manifold extending along an axis Amanifold. The first manifold includes a manifold wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber, an exterior surface opposite of the interior surface, and a retainer slot connecting the interior surface and the exterior surface. The retainer slot extends substantially transverse to the manifold axis Amanifold. The retainer tab is inserted through the retainer slot and includes a first tab portion disposed within the interior chamber and a second tab portion 104 engaged to the wall of the first manifold, and may also include a third tab portion engaged to a width surface of the retainer slot. The retainer tab includes a tab opening configured to engage and maintain the distributor tube within the predetermined position.

Abstract: A method for producing a single-layer diffractive combiner for a head-up display having a projection unit with n light sources of ?i wavelength(s), where i=1 to n sending light towards the combiner at an angle ?p. The method includes forming interference fringes for each ?i wavelength on a photosensitive layer with an interference of two light beams from a single laser source of wavelength ?e, where the forming step is repeated n times, and each time the forming step is repeated an angle ?i between the two beams is determined according to ?i=arcsin ((?e/?i)*sin(?p)), one of the interfering beams being divergent and having a spherical wave front and the other being a plane wave, the interference of the beams generating a diffractive network with an adjustable pitch and curved contour fringe lines.

Abstract: A connector includes an electromagnetic shield formed of conductive material with at least two depending, conductive, reinforcement sidewalls that each have a plurality of conductive depending sidewall legs distributed about a periphery of the shield and extending upwardly. The shield includes at least one conductive ground tab extending from an edge such that the shield provides a ground path directly from a circuit board to a connector housing. The shield defines at least one opening for receiving an alignment post and at least one additional rectangular opening to permit access to an electrical terminal positioned below the sheet. The rectangular opening may be aligned with terminals positioned within connector housing.

Abstract: A windshield assembly that includes a fluorescent electrowetting cell and an opaque electrowetting cell overlying a windshield and configured so the opaque electrowetting cell cooperates with the fluorescent electrowetting cell to contrast an image displayed by the fluorescent electrowetting cell with respect to a field of view beyond the windshield assembly. The ability to contrast the image makes the image easier to see when bright sunlight is present.

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 windshield display system for installation into a vehicle that includes a windshield, a transparent display overlaying the windshield, and an array of electrowetting lenses overlaying the transparent display. Each lens of the array is operable to a flat-state where light passes through the lens substantially undistorted, and a shaped-state where emitted light from an underlying portion of the transparent display is directed in order to increase an apparent brightness of the emitted light. The array selectively magnifies pixels or portions of the transparent display, while maintaining vision clarity for the operator in regions of the windshield where images are not being displayed. The array may also outline or highlight images being displayed with a region of distortion of surrounding the image to distort the view of the scene outside the vehicle to help the operator discern the image when the outside lighting conditions are less than ideal.

Abstract: A method is presented to extend a frequency lock range of a received RF signal in a satellite receiver. One step in the method includes analyzing data information of a preamble associated with the received satellite RF signal. Another step includes determining an estimated frequency value that is a function of the analyzed data information that further includes at least a portion of the frequency error formed therein. A further step includes comparing the determined estimated frequency value to a predetermined threshold value. Another step includes using the determined estimated frequency value when the determined frequency value is greater than the predetermined threshold value to operatively control tracking mode electronic circuitry disposed in the satellite receiver to attain frequency lock on the received satellite RF signal.

Abstract: An encapsulated microelectronic package includes a fluid conducting cooling tube directly coupled to one or more semiconductor chips, with the encapsulant being molded over the semiconductor chips and portions of the cooling tube in proximity to the semiconductor chips. The encapsulant immobilizes the cooling tube with respect to the semiconductor chips, and the cooling tube and encapsulant are designed to minimize differences in their coefficients of thermal expansion relative to the semiconductor chips.

Abstract: A method for operating a camshaft phaser in an internal combustion engine is provided. The camshaft phaser is used to control the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft of the internal combustion engine. The method includes determining that the internal combustion engine will be placed in an automatic stop mode. The camshaft phaser is then controlled to establish a predetermined phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. The internal combustion engine is then placed in automatic stop mode and the predetermined phase relationship is maintained by substantially blocking oil flow between the camshaft phaser and the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising an injector body, a capnut, and a pressure sensor exposed to pressure changes in a combustion chamber in use, wherein the pressure sensor is accommodated within the capnut. Optionally, the fuel injector further comprises a signal cable external to the injector body to connect with the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A system for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes a chargeable energy storage device, a single dynamo (motor/generator combination) an internal combustion engine, and a torque coupling device configured to variably couple the engine to the dynamo. The torque coupling device is such that using only a single dynamo, the system is able to operate in different modes expected of hybrid vehicles, such as: electric drive only, engine drive only, electric and engine drive combined, and charging of the chargeable energy storage device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injector for use in a fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a supply passage for high pressure fuel and an injection nozzle. The injection nozzle includes a valve needle which can engage with a valve needle seating to control fuel delivery from the fuel injector. A first control valve is provided for controlling fuel pressure within a control chamber to control the valve needle. The fuel injector also includes a second control valve for controlling fuel pressure within a low pressure drain. The invention also relates to a control valve for controlling fuel pressure within a low pressure drain.

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.