Abstract: An awareness detection system and method are provided. The system includes an imaging device positioned to obtain a plurality of images of at least a portion of a subject's head, and an awareness processor in communication with the imaging device. The awareness processor receives an image from the imaging device and performs the steps including conducting a two-point head pose analysis when two eyes of the subject are located, conducting a one-point head pose analysis when only one eye of the subject is located, and conducting a zero-point head pose analysis when zero eyes of the subject are located. The awareness processor further performs the steps of detecting at least one point of interest in the image, conducting a motion analysis of the image to estimate a head pose of the subject, and determining a state of awareness of the subject.

Abstract: The empty vs. non-empty status of a cargo container is detected based on boundary analysis of a wide-angle image obtained by a monocular vision system. The wide-angle image is warped to remove distortion created by the vision system optics, and the resulting image is edge-processed to identify the boundaries of the container floor. If package boundaries are detected within the floor space, or a large foreground package is blocking the floor boundaries, the cargo status is set to non-empty. If floor boundaries are detected and no package boundaries are detected within the floor space, the cargo status is set to empty.

Abstract: A pump piston assembly for use with a high-pressure pump includes a first section extending axially from a first end, a second section positioned adjacent to the first section and extending axially towards a second end, and an attenuation feature disposed within the piston bore such that the attenuation feature is part of the second end. By integrating the attenuation feature directly into the pump piston, pressure spikes, such as pressure peaks and valleys of an oscillatory pressure wave originating from the reciprocating motion of the piston, may be compensated directly in a supply pressure chamber. By providing a variety of attenuation features, such as a ball/spring assembly, an elastomer insert, an elastomer insert/internal piston assembly, and an elastomer insert/spring/ball assembly, attenuation for applications with a variety of frequencies and pressures can be utilized.

Abstract: A vehicle collision sensing system having sensor modules distributed about the vehicle configured to receive initialization signals for coordinating communication with a control module over a time multiplexed communication network that is part of the control module. The control module has a switch that is open when a first sensor module is initialized and closed when a second sensor module is initialized so that each sensor module can be individually initialized or programmed after installation in the vehicle. By individually initializing each sensor module after the sensor modules are installed in the vehicle, identical sensor modules can be installed at various locations about the vehicle and thereafter initialized to make each sensor module unique.

Abstract: A band-gap reference voltage is developed by a phase-clocked band-gap circuit including a single PN junction through which first and second constant currents are alternately directed. A current proportional to absolute temperature is selectively added to one of the first and second constant currents to curvature-compensate the developed band-gap reference voltage. The band-gap circuit is calibrated at any desired temperature by interrupting the curvature compensation current and trimming the one constant current to bring the un-compensated band-gap reference voltage into correspondence with a nominal band-gap voltage functionally related to the calibration temperature and circuit component values.

Abstract: A database system and method for obtaining and communicating data is provided, wherein the system includes a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein at least a first mobile node has an environmental data collection device, a location determination device configured to determine a geographical location that is associated with environmental data obtained by the environmental data collection device, and a memory device configured to store the environmental data and the associated geographical location. The first mobile node further includes a processor, and a communication device configured to transmit the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a database, wherein at least one of the database and the processor is configured to categorize the environmental data and the associated geographical location, and communicate data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a second mobile node of the plurality of mobile nodes based upon the categorization.

Abstract: A magnetorheolgical (MR) damper includes a piston assembly having a primary channel disposed along a longitudinal axis and contained in a cylinder. MR fluid is also contained in the cylinder. The piston assembly having a primary channel, or primary channel MR piston assembly, includes a piston body having a first end axially spaced from a second end and defining a hole therethrough. The primary channel is defined in an outer body surface of the piston body from the hole at the second end to a coil groove in the outer body surface about the axis. A secondary channel is defined in the outer body surface from the coil groove towards the first end to improve MR damper force performance at low primary channel MR piston assembly velocities.

Abstract: A system and method for scrolling through a list uses control and display algorithms for scrolling through a long list of text strings. The control algorithm interfaces to the user via a rate-based scheme to switch the display through various levels of abstraction where higher levels of abstraction are displayed “in-situ” on the single-line display. These higher levels of abstraction display as starting characters or words that are common to a group of entries in the alphabetized list. Multiple levels of abstraction are supported, where lower levels of abstraction are displayed as longer strings of characters, representing smaller groups of entries in the given list of text strings. Higher levels of abstraction are displayed as shorter character strings. The rate of user movement is detected for the display to change to a previous or next item in the list if below a predetermined threshold while increasing the abstraction level if the user rapidly selects different options.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising a nozzle body being provided with a nozzle bore and at least one set of one or more outlets for fluid, an outer valve member received within the nozzle bore and being engageable with a first seating region of the nozzle body to control the flow of a first fluid from a first delivery chamber, the outer valve member being provided with an outer valve bore, and an inner valve member received within the outer valve bore and being engageable with a second seating region of the nozzle body to control the flow of a second fluid from a second delivery chamber. In various embodiments, the fuel injector can be arranged to allow the first and second fluids to be injected separately and/or together. In one embodiment, the first and second fluids can be mixed within the injector before injection.

Abstract: An integrated liquid cooling unit comprising a liquid pump and a U-shaped flat tube. An adapter rigidly connects and establishes fluid communication between the pump and the tube creating an integrated unit for cooling an electronic chip via a closed loop. Heat is rejected from the coolant through cooling fins disposed between the legs of the U-shaped tube to passing air being propelled by a blower assembly.

Abstract: A thermal-protection apparatus disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing enveloping a chamber in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device is received, a thermoelectric module mounted in a wall of the housing, and a remote electronic controller and power source coupled to the housing via an electrical cable for activating the thermoelectric module, and optionally the consumer electronic device, in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device.

Abstract: The union includes a cylindrical hollow body having at a rear end means for connection to a pipe, and at a front end a tubular nozzle able to be received in a housing formed in a bore on the periphery of an injector, the body bearing means for retaining the tubular nozzle in the housing. The retaining means include two elastic tabs in an arc of circle extending on the periphery of the body concentrically with the axis (A-A) of this. Each of the tabs defines with the periphery of the said body a slot in an arc of circle open on one side. The tabs are able to co-operate with a groove provided inside the bore of the injector. The union in accordance with the invention is used to connect an injector of an internal combustion engine to a fuel return pipe.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center has a power cable for feeding electrical power to the bussed electrical center. A printed circuit board subassembly is interposed between a first housing member and a second housing member that are connectable together. An electrically conductive connector has a prong end and a distal end. The prong end is operably connected to the printed circuit board subassembly. A first fastener and a second fastener are positioned on opposite sides of the first and second housing members. When the first and second fasteners are tightened together to a draw the first and second housing members together to mechanically fasten the bussed electrical center together, the distal end and the terminal end are pressed against each other for electrical connection to each other to electrically connect the power cable to the printed circuit board subassembly.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a continuous reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack. First and second sulfur traps are disposed in parallel between a hydrocarbon reformer and the fuel cell stack. The ends of the sulfur traps are connected to conventional four-way valves such that either trap may be selected for trapping sulfur from the reformate stream, while the other trap is undergoing regeneration by backflushing the accumulated adsorbed sulfur deposits. Thus, the sulfur traps may be used and stripped alternately, permitting continuous supply of desulfurized reformate to the fuel cell assembly. In a currently preferred embodiment, the hot cathode air exhaust is used to assist in stripping the out-of-service trap. In an alternative embodiment, two reformers are provided and the reformers are alternately regenerated along with their respective traps.

Abstract: A method for triggering a new regeneration event in a soot-trapping particulates filter disposed in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of determining instantaneous engine speed and engine load; determining instantaneous mass fractions for wet soot and for dry soot in the exhaust gas stream for the instantaneous engine speed and load; determining instantaneous concentrations of wet and dry soot particles in the exhaust gas; determining the rates of accumulation of wet soot and dry soot in the particulates filter; determining the total amounts of wet soot and dry soot accumulated in said soot-trapping device during all engine operation conditions since the latest previous regeneration event; and triggering the new regeneration event when the total amount of wet soot and dry soot exceeds a permissible value.

Abstract: An object detection system is provided for detecting a thermal emitting object in a blind zone proximate to a host vehicle. The system includes a thermal radiation detector located on a host vehicle and configured to sense temperature of multiple coverage zones proximate to the host vehicle. A processor processes temperature sensed by an infrared detector. The processor determines a change in thermal temperature sensed by the infrared detector and determines the presence of an object in the coverage zone based on the change in the sensed temperature. An output provides a signal indicative of an object sensed in the coverage zone based on the determined change in temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector assembly comprising a connector unit mounted in a housing. The connector unit has a mounting portion, at least one electrical terminal and a body portion having a locking tab. The housing has a first longitudinal axis X1 and the body portion has a second longitudinal axis X2. The first longitudinal axis X1 and the second longitudinal axis X2 are offset from each other to enable the tip of the locking tab to be radially inset. An axial press tool can be used to mount the connector unit mechanically in the housing. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling a connector assembly.

Abstract: A technique of realizing a termination circuit using coupled resonators in stripline configuration of a circuit presented. The circuit absorbs RF energy incident on its input over a frequency band of interest, and dissipates it in to the dielectric substrate, thereby acting like an effective termination in the frequency band. The resonant elements may be constructed in edge-coupled or broad-side coupled stripline configuration. The technique may be extended to build microstrip line termination with edge-coupled resonators. The technique may further be extended to realize attenuators over a narrow band.

Abstract: A fuel module for a vehicle has a fuel tank opening cover pivotably coupled to a module housing that holds multiple components including a fuel pump, filter, etc. The housing can be advanced lengthwise through the opening of a shallow fuel tank then turned horizontally to rest on the bottom of the tank, with the cover remaining parallel to the opening such that when the housing is in place in the tank the cover blocks the opening.

Abstract: A communication plate extends along and is sandwiched between cylindrical communication manifolds of a first heat exchanger assembly and a second heat exchanger assembly. The communication plate includes a saddling surface arcuate in one direction and a saddling surface arcuate in the opposite direction for engaging in saddle-like fashion the cylindrical shape of the manifolds. The communication plate defines a plurality of communication plate orifices disposed along the communication plate and aligned co-axial with a plurality of communication orifices disposed along the manifolds to seal the communication orifices of the manifolds and establish distributed and sealed fluid communication between the heat exchanger assemblies.