Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator comprises a co-fired stack of piezoelectric elements formed from a piezoelectric material and a plurality of positive internal electrodes interdigitated with a plurality of negative internal electrodes throughout the stack to define active regions of the piezoelectric material which are responsive to a voltage applied across the internal electrodes, in use. An external positive electrode connects with the positive internal electrodes and an external negative electrode connects with the negative internal electrodes. The actuator is characterised in that the stack further comprises means for deliberately creating artificial cracks within the stack at a location at which the artificial cracks do not give rise to a short circuit between the internal electrodes but serve to relieve stresses within the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A coupling for suspending a fuel injector from a fuel rail assembly of an internal combustion engine includes a collar that mates with the fuel injector and a retainer clip that engages with the collar thereby mechanically connecting the fuel injector to the fuel rail assembly. The retainer clip includes windows to enable even load distribution upon the socket flange when assembled. Features are integrated in the collar to facilitate correct alignment of the injector relative to the fuel rail. Paired together, the retainer clip and the collar enable a secure, and a keyed fuel injector-to-fuel rail connection that is able to withstand high pressure separating loads.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a change of temperature of a SBT pixel element are provided. The method includes determining a first value indicating an amount of surface charge of the SBT pixel element due to a spontaneous polarization of the SBT pixel element at a first time. The method further includes determining a second value indicating an amount of surface charge of the SBT pixel element due to a spontaneous polarization of the SBT pixel element at a second time. The method further includes determining a third value proportional to a difference between the first value and the second value. The method further includes determining a fourth value indicative of the change of temperature of the SBT pixel element based on the third value. The method further includes storing the fourth value indicative of the change of temperature of the SBT pixel element in a memory device.

Abstract: A method of determining the available energy of a battery provides for measuring first and second open circuit voltage of the battery with a change of energy level occurring therebetween. The two open circuit voltages are correlated to a state of charge level and the measured amount of change of energy is divided by the change of the state of charge.

Abstract: A pedestrian impact sensor system includes a first plate and a second plate both connected to an outer surface of a vehicle such that a capacitance between the first plate and the second plate is dependent upon whether a body proximate the vehicle is animate. A crush sensor senses a force exerted by the body on the vehicle. A monitoring circuit monitors the capacitance between the first plate and the second plate and an output signal of the crush sensor. The monitoring circuit issues a safety countermeasure signal dependent upon the capacitance between the first plate and the second plate and the output signal of the crush sensor.

Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower assembly for use in conjunction with a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the camshaft has at least one first lobe and at least one second lobe. The roller finger follower assembly comprises a follower body for engaging the first cam lobe and having a central aperture, a follower pivotably disposed on the follower body in the central aperture for engaging the second cam lobe, and a limiting stop disposed on the follower body for engaging a feature on the follower to limit travel of the follower body with respect to the follower. The limiting stop prevents overtravel of the follower body during valve-deactivation mode of the assembly, thus preventing excessive leak down of an associated hydraulic lash adjuster.

Abstract: A method of poling a ferroelectric sample suitable for use in a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising providing a ferroelectric sample having a stack of ferroelectric layers, wherein adjacent layers are separated by internal electrodes, forming a first group and a second group of electrodes; applying a multiaxial pressure to the ferroelectric sample; and generating an electric field between the first and second group of electrodes to pole the ferroelectric sample. The multiaxial pressure is ideally applied by means of a fluid, and the fluid may be an dielectric fluid or fuel.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property of the fuel is a dielectric constant. A pair of sensing plates are placed on opposite sides of the tube leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near to and is connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the capacitance indicative signal to an engine controller or the like.

Abstract: A vehicle personalization system and method that includes a cell phone and a vehicle. When a vehicle user prepares to use a vehicle, personalization data such as a preferred seat position is quickly transferred from the cell phone to the vehicle and used by the vehicle to adjust a vehicle feature to correspond to the preferences of the vehicle user. The cell phone and the vehicle are both equipped with near field communications (NFC) transponders to facilitate the transfer of personalization data. The vehicle also has a processor coupled to the vehicle NFC transponder to input the received personalization data that is also adapted to personalize the vehicle device in accordance with the received personalization data when the personalization data is downloaded from the cell phone to the vehicle.

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: A sideview vision system in a vehicle and a method for operating the system. The sideview vision system has a camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle for capturing an image alongside and extending rearward the vehicle, and a display for displaying a view to a driver of the vehicle. The method includes capturing an image using the camera, the image having a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion, displaying a first view corresponding to the first portion in response to the vehicle transmission being in a forward gear, and displaying a second view corresponding to the second portion in response to the transmission being in a reverse gear.

Abstract: An RF connector assembly has a first connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a terminal end for a first coaxial cable and a second connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a complementary terminal end for a second coaxial cable. The terminal end and complementary terminal end are complementarily constructed for engagement to each other. The first and second connector housing are constructed at their respective second ends to connect to one another. The first connector housing receives a tubular shield mounted about and connected to the respective terminal end. The tubular shield has a set of resilient radially inwardly extending contact fingers for electrically connecting about the complementary terminal end when the second connector housing is connected to the first connector housing.

Abstract: A stacked array of channeled semiconductor chips defining a power electronic circuit is mounted in a sealed container provided with inlet and outlet passages for liquid coolant. Leadframe terminals supported by the container engage selected terminals of the semiconductor chips and form leads for mounting the container on a circuit board having electrical and fluid interconnects.

Abstract: A compression-ignition internal combustion engine system having an exhaust passage and an exhaust gas treatment arrangement, wherein the exhaust gas treatment arrangement comprises a three-way catalytic converter.

Abstract: A user-manipulated door mechanism is mounted on the faceplate of an electronic module for allowing user access to an electrical socket disposed inboard of a faceplate aperture. An inwardly extending rectangular shoulder formed along one edge of the door is rotatably mounted about an axis inboard of the faceplate, and is resiliently engaged by the free end of a cantilevered spring blade inboard of the faceplate. The spring blade engages a first face of the shoulder that is substantially parallel to the door when the door is in a closed position covering the socket, and a second face of the shoulder that is substantially perpendicular to the door when the door is in an open position uncovering the socket.

Abstract: A stand-off mounting apparatus includes an insulative carrier for off-board mounting of leaded or surface-mount components, particularly large temperature-sensitive discrete components such as capacitors. The carrier has a component-mounting surface that is elevated relative to the circuit board, and is positioned with respect to the circuit board such that the circuit board area under the mounting surface of the carrier is available for the placement of smaller non-temperature-sensitive components. The off-board components are mounted on the component-mounting surface of the carrier, and the carrier may include support features for providing additional mechanical support for the components. Electrical leads for electrically coupling the elevated components to the circuit board may be insert-molded in the carrier, or may be inserted into plated through-holes in the carrier.

Abstract: The thermosetable composition incorporating organo-iodine compounds that provide improved x-ray contrast are prepared by reacting an epoxy resin with crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include compounds having iodo-phenyl functionalities, and wherein the iodine atoms include iodine-127 isotope. The resulting thermoset material includes sufficient iodine-127 isotope covalently bound to the polymer matrix to impart excellent x-ray contrast. The cured polymer materials of this invention may be utilized as underfill material for electrical components, thereby facilitating use of x-ray analysis to detect problematic voids in the underfill.

Abstract: Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling boost pressure in various turbo-charged engine configurations as well as variable geometry turbine (VGT) arrangements includes an electronic controller programmed to receive a predetermined desired boost pressure PBoostdes. A desired pressure delta ?PWGdes across a waste-gate valve is determined using the desired boost pressure PBoostdes. A control signal is generated for controlling the waste-gate valve so as to achieve the desired pressure delta ?PWGdes. In boost pressure and vacuum pneumatically-actuated waste-gate valve arrangements, the respective solenoid duty cycles are obtained through use of various data structures. Where a waste-gate valve position is controlled by an electrical motor, the valve position is determined using a data structure as a function of desired waste-gate valve flow at sonic standard conditions.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for a compression ignition internal combustion engine, the injection nozzle comprising: a nozzle body provided with a bore, within which a unitary valve needle is movable along a primary valve needle axis, the valve needle being engageable with a valve seating defined by the bore to control fuel delivery through first and second outlets, and including a first valve region, a second valve region and a first seat region defined by a transition between the first and second valve regions that seats against the valve seating when the nozzle is in a non-injecting state, wherein the valve needle comprises a third valve region, a relieved region defined by a transition between said second and third valve regions, the relieved region defining a first exit volume between the valve needle and the bore adjacent to the first outlet when the valve needle is lifted from the valve seating into an injecting state, and a fourth valve region having at least a part in closer proximity to the bore than said re