Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the percentage of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen monoxide in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of injecting a hydrocarbon compound and optionally hydrogen into the exhaust gas stream; passing the exhaust gas through a first catalyst for selective reduction of a portion of the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen, ammonia, and N-containing species; passing the exhaust gas through a second catalyst for selective reduction of a portion of the nitrogen oxides with ammonia to molecular nitrogen; sensing ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas stream after passage through either or both of the first and second catalysts; and controlling by a controller in a feedback loop the injecting to an amount of hydrocarbon that will produce a predetermined concentration of ammonia and nitrogen oxides at the sensor that will lead to high NOx conversion.

Abstract: A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items.

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 detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected, and then cooling the substrate back down and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected. If resistance varies as expected during both heating and cooling, then a validation is diagnosed that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate.

Abstract: An assembly for fastening a fitting to a hole in a tubular manifold having a hole. A plurality of refrigerant tubes extend into the manifold transversely to the hole. The assembly includes a fitting that extends along an axis and defines an opening to provide clearance for the refrigerant tubes extending into the manifold. The fitting also presents a pair of slots in spaced and parallel relationship with one another. The assembly further includes a semi-cylindrical shaped mounting plate including a bracket. The bracket presents a pair of legs which extend in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engage the slots of the fitting to limit rotary movement of the fitting about the axis relative to the bracket before and during brazing of the fitting to the manifold to maintain a clearance between the lower section of the fitting and the refrigerant tubes.

Abstract: A first connector is matable to a second connector in an electrical connection system. The first connector has a connector body that contains a primary and a secondary latch. The respective latches and the connector body of the first connector are molded to form a single unitary piece. The single unitary piece is constructed to define a space intermediate the primary latch and the connector body. The space is adapted to fit a latch position assurance lock to prevent displacement of the primary latch. The primary and the secondary latch respectively communicate with at least one primary and at least one secondary latch ramp disposed on the second connector when at least the first connector is unmated from the second connector. A method to assemble an electrical connection system using the single unitary piece of the first connector is also provided.

Abstract: A method for enshrouding an actuator for use in a fuel injector, comprising the steps of providing an actuator having a body section, a first end piece and a second end piece; providing a shroud having first and second ends; applying a sealant material to at least one portion of an exterior surface of the end pieces, and/or to at least one part of the shroud; and enshrouding the actuator with the shroud, such that the sealant material provides an intermediate layer between the end pieces and the shroud and forms a fluid-tight seal between them.

Abstract: An occupant detection system includes an electrode in communication with a detector circuit that detects the impedance of the electrode and compensates for environmental conditions, such as humidity or moisture, based on the impedance measurement. Such environmental conditions may interfere with the occupant detection system's ability to detect the presence and/or size of an occupant. Typically, environmental conditions change the impedance of the electrode. The impedance is determined by measuring a frequency response of the electrode. The measured frequency response is compared to predetermined frequency response values that correspond to known environmental conditions. The environmental condition may be detected by matching the peak frequency response or average frequency response to in a lookup table.

Abstract: A first connector is matable to a second connector in an electrical connection system. The first connector has a connector body that contains a primary and a secondary latch. The respective latches and the connector body of the first connector are molded to form a single unitary piece. The single unitary piece is constructed to define a space intermediate the primary latch and the connector body. The space is adapted to fit a latch position assurance lock to prevent displacement of the primary latch. The primary and the secondary latch respectively communicate with at least one primary and at least one secondary latch ramp disposed on the second connector when at least the first connector is unmated from the second connector. A method to assemble an electrical connection system using the single unitary piece of the first connector is also provided.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate 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 detecting whether water vapor condensate may be present between the electrodes and if it is, then measuring resistance between the electrodes while subjecting the sensor to conditions sufficient to evaporate any water vapor condensate and diagnosing a validation that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed including a non-fuel cell cassette having temperature sensing elements disposed therein. The temperature sensing elements are disposed in one or more void spaces in the non-fuel cell cassette, which void spaces are connected to openings in the side of the non-fuel cell cassette for lead wires to communicate information from the temperature sensing elements to components outside of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining bearing and distance measurements between a mobile device and an object using Rf based measurements. The mobile device communicates with a control in the object to determine the relative bearing between the mobile device and the object with respect to magnetic north and, optionally, the distance between the mobile device and the object. An indicator on the mobile device aid in directing s the user of the mobile device toward the object as the mobile device is moved relative to the object. The mobile device can be a key fob and the object can be a vehicle.

Abstract: A coupling is provided for attaching an evaporative emission device having a housing to a mounting surface of a motor vehicle. The coupling includes a pair of tracks fixed the mounting surface and a pair of matching rails fixed to the housing. The rails are sized to slide within the tracks until reaching a predetermined seated position within the rails. An aperture is fixed to the mounting surface and includes a shoulder with a manufacturing tolerance defined about a nominal location at the predetermined seated position. A resilient latch is formed on the housing and located so as to snap into the aperture at the predetermined seated position. The latch includes a inclined engaging surface to engage the shoulder over the entire tolerance range of the shoulder.

Abstract: A system for executing a high-reliability application and a third party application is provided. The system includes an application module and a second module. The application module has control logic for executing the high reliability application and the third party application. The high reliability application generates a message sequence. The application module includes a normal operating mode, a high reliability mode, and a high reliability boot. The second module is in communication with the application module, and includes a first control logic for monitoring the message sequence when the application module is operating in the normal operating mode. The second module also includes control logic for initiating the high reliability boot in the application module.

Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft and a variable cam phaser connected to the camshaft for driving the camshaft. The variable cam phaser includes an input shaft rotationally coupled to a crankshaft drive member; and an output shaft rotationally coupled to the camshaft and coaxial with the input shaft. Electrically operated adjusting means drivingly connect the input and output shafts enabling the input and output shafts to be selectively, angularly adjusted while maintaining driving engagement therebetween. The input and output shafts are coupled to the drive member and camshaft via respective, rotationally stiff, flexible couplings.

Abstract: A multi-pass heat exchanger having a return manifold with a partition, a front wall, and a rear wall is provided. The partition separates the return manifold into a collection chamber and a distribution chamber. The front and rear walls define a fluid channel. The front wall has a plurality of perforations placing the fluid channel in separate fluid communication with the collection chamber and the distribution chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly comprising an injector body having a leading end, a fuel inlet passage, a backleak passage and a trailing end that terminates in an end surface; a cap that fits over the trailing end of the injector body to define therebetween a chamber for receiving fuel from said backleak passage; and a seal for sealing said chamber to prevent the flow of fuel therefrom, wherein said seal is disposed between said end surface of the trailing end and an inlet end of said fuel inlet passage.

Abstract: A soot sensor and method for detecting soot is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a sensing element for a soot sensor is disclosed herein, the sensing element having a pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes each having a portion disposed on a peripheral edge of a non-conductive substrate of the sensing element; a first pair of side sensing electrodes disposed on a first side of the sensing element, the first side having a first area partially bounded by the peripheral edge, wherein a resistance between the pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes decreases as soot accumulates on portions of the pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes and a resistance between the first pair of side sensing electrodes decreases as soot accumulates on portions of the first pair of side sensing electrodes.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor is provided for sensing particulate matter present in exhaust gases in a conduit. The particulate matter sensor includes a sensing element with a sensing face which extends into the exhaust conduit and provides a signal indicative of the amount of particulate matter detected in the exhaust conduit. An inner shield is provided to surround the sensing face and includes an inner shield inlet for admitting exhaust gases therein to be sensed. An outer shield surrounds a portion of the inner shield and defines an outer shield chamber extending axially beyond the inner shield. The outer shield has an outer shield inlet passage to receive exhaust gasses from the conduit. Exhaust gases enter the inner shield from the outer shield chamber through the inner shield inlet.

Abstract: A method is provided to determine a quality acceptance criterion using force signatures measured on a first and a second set of elements. The first set has no quality defect and the second set has a deliberate quality defect. Selection of an initial subset of time points is based on statistical analysis of the force data on the force signatures in the two sets. The quality acceptance criterion includes a quality threshold established using Mahalanobis Distance (MD) values and the MD values are produced from force data at a selected initial subset of time points for each element in the two sets. An output of the determined quality acceptance criterion is using the defined quality threshold to separate an element having a force signature into a group of elements having no quality defect or into a group of elements having a quality defect like the deliberate quality defect.

Abstract: A collision sensor module configured to be attached to a surface of a vehicle. The module includes a collision sensor circuit board configured to detect acceleration indicative of a vehicle collision event. The exterior of the module is defined by a housing that includes a rigid part and a flexible part. The rigid part is configured to define a wing portion for attaching the rigid part to the surface, provide an underside surface of the rigid part to couple the collision sensor circuit board to the surface in a manner effective for the circuit board to detect when the vehicle is involved in a collision event. The flexible part is configured to sealingly contact the rigid part and the collision sensor circuit board in a manner effective to seal the protective cavity when the rigid part is attached to the surface and thereby protect the collision sensor circuit board.