Abstract: A diffractive head up display device that includes a projection unit that uses a display to project an image through a projection window of an image mask, and towards a diffractive combiner. The display and the mask are moveable at right angles to the axis of the projection light beam, so that the adjustment of the position of the virtual image in the field of view of the observer, for example the driver of a vehicle, is obtained by translation of the display and of the mask.

Abstract: An actuator includes a motor operated by a controller through a pulse width modulation drive signal applied to a drive circuit that drives the motor. The actuator has an output shaft connected to a coupling structure for manipulating a device such as a variable geometry turbine (VGT) or an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The device has a range of motion limited by first and second mechanical stops located at opposing low and high ends of the range. The controller learns the location of the mechanical stops during calibration. An external control unit transmits a desired position to the actuator. A protocol allows the external control unit to implicitly request a positioning mode by virtue of what value range the desired position falls into. The controller is configured to limit the drive signal to a non-harmful level when one of the positioning modes calls for pushing the device against one of the stops.

Abstract: A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided having a trailer mode. The system includes an imager capturing images of a roadway forward of a vehicle and an input receiving a towing signal indicative of whether the vehicle is towing a trailer. The system also includes a processor for processing the captured images and determining whether the vehicle or trailer is expected to be departing from a lane on the roadway based on the captured images and a threshold width value. The processor selects the threshold width value based on the input towing signal such that an enhanced threshold width value is employed when the vehicle is towing a trailer. An output is provided for outputting a lane departure warning signal based on the processed images and selected threshold width value.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, Relect. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and using the resistance between the electrodes to determine detecting whether contamination is present on the surface of the sensor. Heat may be maintained on the sensor to attempt to burn off a detected contaminant, and a subsequent resistance reading may be used to determine if the contaminant was successfully burned off.

Abstract: A method and system is described for removing contamination from a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with two electrodes on the substrate configured to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes. The method includes heating the sensor to a first temperature for a first duration of time, wherein the first temperature and first time are sufficient to remove collected particulate matter from the sensor. The method further includes heating the sensor to a second temperature for a second duration of time, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, to remove contaminants that cannot be removed by heating to the first temperature for the first duration of time.

Abstract: An interposer for connecting two or more circuit boards is a circuit carrying substrate with two or more solder pads on each of two sides. Each of the solder pads are connected to an electrically conductive via in the substrate, providing electrical interconnection from one side to the other side. One or more solder pads have a solder ball on it. The interposer has a contact area suitable for the interposer to be picked up and placed by an automated part placement machine. An electrical assembly is made by soldering the solder balls on one side of the interposer to corresponding solder pads on a circuit board. The solder balls on the other side of the interposer are likewise soldered to the corresponding solder pads of a second circuit board.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel supply passage and a valve arrangement for controlling fuel pressure within the fuel supply passage. The valve arrangement includes a valve member movable between an open position in which the fuel supply passage communicates with a low pressure fuel drain and a closed position in which communication between the fuel supply passage and the low pressure fuel drain is prevented. The valve arrangement comprises damping means for controlling and/or damping movement of the valve member between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: A control methodology for a two-stage PWM DC-DC conversion system, with transformer-isolation, in which the converter circuit input voltage is compared to a set voltage calibrated as a function of the desired output voltage and the maximum voltage conversion ratio provided by the second-stage converter. When the input voltage is above the set voltage, the second-stage converter is controlled to provide both output voltage regulation during normal operation and output current limiting during over-current conditions. However, when the input voltage is below the set voltage, the first-stage converter is controlled to provide output voltage regulation with minor output current limiting, and the second-stage converter is controlled to provide extended output current limiting independent of the input voltage.

Abstract: A method to electrically and mechanically connect at least one wire conductor to a terminal includes the steps of cutting and stripping a portion of an insulation outer layer along an end section of the at least one wire conductor to expose a lead of the at least one wire conductor. A further step includes applying a bonding process to the exposed lead to break down oxides disposed on the lead. A further step in the method is crimping the lead having the applied bonding process to the terminal to form a crimp connection connecting the at least one wire conductor to the terminal.

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: A self-circulating heat exchanger apparatus for dissipating heat from an electronic assembly. An enclosure defines a closed-loop circulation path for coolant. An electronic assembly capable of generating heat is installed into a vertical portion of the enclosure such that heat from the electronic assembly causes coolant in the vertical portion to rise, thereby inducing self-circulation of the coolant in the enclosure. The electronic assembly is coated with a combination of silicon nitride and PARYLENE® in order to protect electronic components from water based coolants such as a mixture of ethylene glycol and water.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus and methods are provided that apply a press force and a part of the press force is separately applied as a core crimp force for crimping a terminal to a wire conductor. A die assembly includes a die defining a cavity that includes an independently moveable core plate and a ram assembly includes a ram in force connection with a load pin and a core plate. When the ram applies the press force, the core crimp force will be separately applied from the ram through the load pin and core plate to produce a core crimp portion that connects the wire conductor to the terminal. The applied core crimp force is subsequently transferred from the core crimp portion to the core plate to the load pin and into the ram.

Abstract: A complex wave spring, or Beer Spring™, for electrically coupling opposed electrical contact surfaces or generating a relatively constant force. The spring includes a first wave portion shaped to define a first upward undulation and a first downward undulation, and a second wave portion fixedly arranged relative to the first wave portion. The second wave portion is shaped to define a second upward undulation proximate to the first downward undulation, and a second downward undulation proximate to the first upward undulation. The spring may be formed of electrically conductive material suitable for electrically coupling electrical contact surfaces when the spring is in contact between the surfaces. The complex spring provides unusually constant spring forces over a relatively wide range of compression distances.

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 and includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A primary lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a primary lock pin seat for limiting rotation between the rotor and stator to a range between full advance and full retard. A secondary lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a secondary lock pin seat for preventing rotation between the rotor and the stator at a predetermined position within the range. A cap is disposed axially adjacent the rotor to define a bridging lock pin oil passage therebetween. The bridging lock pin oil passage provides fluid communication between the primary lock pin and the secondary lock pin.

Abstract: A system for controlling an infrared light distribution pattern that includes an electrowetting lens arranged proximate to an infrared light source, and operable to vary a distribution pattern of infrared light from the infrared light source into an area; an electrowetting shutter overlaying the electrowetting lens, and operable to an opaque state where infrared light from the infrared light source is blocked from projecting into at least a portion of the area, and operable to a transparent state where infrared light passes through the electrowetting shutter; an object detector configured to detect an object in the area; and a controller configured to receive a detection signal from the object detector, and operate the electrowetting lens and the electrowetting shutter in order to control the infrared light distribution pattern based on a location of the object. The pattern may be uniform or may be customized for the object being heated.

Abstract: An occupant detection system that includes an electrode arranged proximate to an expected location of an occupant for generating an electric field between the electrode and the occupant proximate thereto. An electrical network coupled to the electrode forms a resonant circuit that includes the occupant as part of the resonant circuit. A controller coupled to the resonant circuit is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit indicative of an occupant presence, and a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency indicative of a humidity value proximate to the electrode.

Abstract: A control valve, for use in controlling fuel pressure within a control chamber, comprises a control valve member, first flow restriction and second flow restriction. The control valve member is movable between a first position, and a second position. The first flow restriction is arranged to maintain a first pressure upstream of the first flow restriction when the control valve member is in transition between the first position and the second position. The second flow restriction is positioned downstream of the first flow restriction and is arranged to maintain a second pressure upstream of the second flow restriction. The second flow restriction is dimensioned and located relative to the first flow restriction such that in transition between the first and second positions the net force exerted on the control valve member by the first pressure balances the net force exerted on the control valve member by the second pressure.

Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a heat exchanger assembly including the steps of extruding a plastic and an adhesive from a co-extrusion die into a plurality of tubes spaced from each other with each tube having an adhesive disposed on its exterior surface. A plurality of corrugated air fins are serially fed into the co-extrusion die and spaced from each other by a predetermined space and ejected between adjacent tubes with the corrugations extending transversely between the tubes. The adhesive is then cured to secure the tubes to the air fins. The method proceeds by cutting the tubes at each predetermined space with a guillotine shear to produce a plurality of unified heat exchanger cores. The ends of the tubes of each core are inserted into tube slots in manifolds, and the tubes and manifolds are adhesively secured together to define a heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: A terminal is used in an electrical connector and receives a matable contact member. The terminal has a receptacle contact section has a bottom wall, an upper wall, and a primary and a secondary spring beam, or member. The primary member extends from a bottom wall and is bent back into the receptacle contact section. The primary member has an upper surface facing the upper wall and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. The primary member includes a free end that is spaced from the upper wall a distance less than a thickness of the matable contact member. The secondary member is formed from the bottom wall that extends into the contact section and includes a free end disposed beneath the lower surface of the primary member in an overlapping, spaced relationship thereto remote from the free end of the primary member.

Abstract: A ganged electrical connection system includes an arrangement having a spring including a plurality of engagement portions. A plurality of first connectors is receivably coupled in a plurality of receptacles in the arrangement and a plurality of second connectors is matable to the coupled first connectors along mating axes. The plurality of coupled first connectors have floatable movement in the plurality of receptacles. The floatable movement is in at least an axial direction in relation to the plurality of receptacles and the axial positional mating tolerance variation of each second connector in the plurality of second connectors in relation to each first connector in the plurality of coupled first connectors that manifests at each receptacle in the plurality of receptacles is assimilated by each respective spring engagement portion when the plurality of second connectors mate to the plurality of coupled first connectors.