Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. 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. An oil passage is provided for receiving oil from an internal combustion engine for lubricating the harmonic gear drive unit.

Abstract: An optical sensor system adapted for use on a vehicle including a plurality of optoelectronic devices and a single high efficiency first lens. The optical sensor system is positioned on the vehicle to view a field of view about the vehicle. The optical sensor system may provide multiple independent video signals to multiple vehicle warning and control systems. Each video signal that is generated by each optoelectronic device may be optimized for a specific vehicle warning or control system by using additional second lenses to change the field of view, optical filters to change the spectral sensitivity, and/or independent exposure times to change the light sensitivity or dynamic range. The optoelectronic devices may be optoelectronic dies or cores, such as those used in wafer level cameras.

Abstract: An assembly for heating, ventilating and conditioning air in an automobile including an air inlet case chamber for receiving air. The air inlet case has a recirculation air inlet for receiving recirculation air from the passenger compartment of the automobile and an ambient air inlet for receiving ambient air from outside of the automobile. The air inlets are disposed adjacent to one another. An inlet valve plate is pivotally supported between the air inlets for rotation between a recirculation position, an ambient air position, and a partial recirculation position therebetween. The assembly further includes a check valve disposed in the recirculation air inlet adjacent the inlet valve plate. The check valve allows recirculation air to flow from the passenger compartment to the air inlet case chamber and prevents air from flowing from the air inlet case chamber to the passenger compartment when the valve plate is in the partial recirculation position.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling personal communications. The system includes a transmitter configured to emit a transmitted signal suitable for intrabody transmission, and a receiver configured to determine if a received signal exhibits a characteristic that corresponds to a received signal that would arise from the transmitted signal being coupled to the receiver via intrabody transmission. The system also includes a controller configured to control personal communications such as text messaging based on the received signal characteristic. In one example, the system uses intrabody transmission or intrabody communication to determine if an operator of a vehicle is touching or trying to use a personal communication device while driving the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle security system for securing a vehicle equipped to determine that a valid radio frequency identification tag is proximate to the vehicle when there is an attempt to start the vehicle. The system includes an authorization device configured to determine that vehicle operation has been authorized, and an interference device configured to receive an authorization signal from the authorization device. The interference device is configured to interfere with the determination that a valid radio frequency identification tag is proximate to the vehicle when the authorization signal does not indicate that vehicle operation has been authorized. The system is readily installed in a vehicle as no electrical connections are required, except for an optional power connection.

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: A system and in-vehicle communication module for relaying a remote keyless entry command from a cellular network to a vehicle keyless entry receiver. The module include a cellular network receiver configured to receive a remote keyless entry command from a cellular network; and a keyless entry transmitter located in the vehicle and in communication with the cellular network receiver. The keyless entry transmitter is configured to transmit a remote keyless entry signal to a vehicle keyless entry receiver in the vehicle in order to execute a vehicle operation. By sending a remote keyless entry signal to a vehicle remote keyless entry system, installation and engineering costs can be reduced.

Abstract: A method to fit a contact portion in a plug housing by a robot is presented. Steps in the method include attaching a plug housing to a holder and gripping the contact portion by a gripping device of the robot. Other steps in the method include taking at least one spatially resolved picture by at least one optical detection device such that the plug housing and the contact portion are contained in the picture, determining a respective position of the plug housing and the contact portion in the picture by a control unit of the moveable robot, calculating a robot movement by the control unit that is a function of the determined positions, and performing the calculated movement by the robot to fit the contact portion in the plug housing. An apparatus to perform the method and another method to calibrate the control unit of the robot are also presented.

Abstract: An electronic control valve having a valve stationary portion defining a substantially central bore extending along an axis of the valve, and a valve train including a movable member of the valve. The valve train moveable member is disposed in the central bore, and the valve train is adapted for reciprocal movement along the axis. A mass is engaged is with the valve train and adapted for reciprocal movement along the axis. A biasing means is disposed between the valve train and the mass. Reciprocal movements of the mass along the axis induced by forces exerted along the axis by the valve train are transmitted through the biasing means, whereby reciprocal movement of the valve train along the axis is dynamically reduced by the mass.

Abstract: A ganged electrical connection system includes a plurality of first connectors matable to a plurality of second connectors along mating axes, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member. The CPA member includes a plurality of tabs and a plurality of release fingers. The plurality of first connectors include a plurality of lock arms and the plurality of second connectors include a plurality of inclined ramps. The plurality of tabs receive the plurality of lock arms and the plurality of inclined ramps deflectingly engage said plurality of release fingers to allow movement of the CPA member in to a position of the CPA member, that when disposed in the position, keeps the plurality of second connectors from unmating from the plurality of coupled first connectors. Methods of fabricating an electrical connection system and a ganged electrical connection system that include the CPA member are also presented.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially 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 radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A first arcuate input stop member is rotatable with one of the circular spline and the dynamic spline and is received within a first arcuate output opening defined by at least a first arcuate output stop member rotatable with the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline.

Abstract: A transmission clutch position sensor includes two Hall sensors located at opposite ends of a flux concentrator outside the casing of the transmission to sense a magnetic field generated by a magnet attached to the clutch piston. To reduce sensitivity to magnet-to-sensor gap tolerances, a ratio of the voltage of one Hall sensor to the sum of the voltages from both Hall sensors is used to correlate to the piston and, hence, clutch position.

Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for circumventing the use of live MDNs and nongeographic prefixes in new vehicle-hosted telematics devices, while allowing the purchaser/user convenient use of the vehicle-hosted telematics device. The telematics unit is programmed or configured from the manufacturer with the same parameters as a cancelled or deactivated unit, with a cleared number for re-acquisition. A geographically specific MIN/MDN is later programmed into the device based on one or more preset locational and other VDU triggers.

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.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser attachment system is provided for attaching a camshaft phaser to a camshaft of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser attachment system includes a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and the camshaft. The camshaft phaser attachment system also includes a camshaft phaser installation tool having a handle with a head sized to be inserted through an opening of a cover of the camshaft phaser. A plurality of notches formed on a rotor of the camshaft phaser interfit with a plurality of tangs of the head. The head includes a recess on the periphery to provide clearance relative to a bias spring capture flange extending radially inward from the opening. The head also includes a central passage extending through the head to allow a tightening tool to tighten a bolt used to hold the camshaft phaser to the camshaft.

Abstract: A ganged electrical connection system includes a plurality of first connectors matable to a plurality of second connectors along mating axes, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member. The CPA member includes a plurality of tabs and a plurality of release fingers. The plurality of first connectors include a plurality of lock arms and the plurality of second connectors include a plurality of inclined ramps. The plurality of tabs receive the plurality of lock arms and the plurality of inclined ramps deflectingly engage said plurality of release fingers to allow movement of the CPA member in to a position of the CPA member, that when disposed in the position, keeps the plurality of second connectors from unmating from the plurality of coupled first connectors. Methods of fabricating an electrical connection system and a ganged electrical connection system that include the CPA member are also presented.

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: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit 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. A coupling adapter is disposed coaxially within the housing bore and fixed to the wave generator and supported in the housing by a bearing which is press fit onto a bearing surface of the coupling adapter. The coupling adapter has a coupling adapter bore with opposing drive lugs extending radially inward therefrom which are axially coincident with the bearing surface. A coupling of the rotational actuator is disposed within the coupling adapter bore and has opposing drive slots which receive the opposing drive lugs, thereby transmitting motion from the coupling to the coupling adapter.

Abstract: In a dual intake valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine, a variable valve lift system controls two intake valves for one or more engine cylinders. In each cylinder, one of the intake valves includes an associated two-step actuation device, and the other includes an associated valve deactivation device. To improve in-cylinder air flow turbulence, one valve may be operated in a high-lift or low-lift state while the other valve may be deactivated.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal housing (14) includes providing a first passage (10) through the metal housing (14) and providing a second passage (12) through the metal housing (14), wherein the second passage (12) includes a region of intersection (20) which intersects the first passage (10) to define an opening (22, 122, 222) into the first passage (10). The method further includes subjecting the metal housing (14) to a heat treatment process to carburise an internal surface of the first and/or second passage (10, 12) and, subsequent to the carburization process, applying a hard stage electrochemical machining process to the carburised internal surface of the first and/or second passage (10, 12) to improve surface finish. Another aspect of the invention includes providing a second passage (12) through the metal housing (14) by means of a tool (46), such as an electrochemical machining electrode, having an active region without rotational symmetry about its axis (Y-Y).