Abstract: Multiple receivers may be enabled to receive satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) services under a single subscription. For example, an SDAR service provider can enable multiple vehicles, a home-based digital radio, or a portable digital radio, singly or in any combination. Multiple receivers transmit information to each other. One receiver is designated as a primary receiver, and the other receivers are designated as secondary receivers. The SDAR service provider transmits a list of associated secondary receivers to the primary receiver. The primary receiver enables the associated secondary receivers to receive SDAR services by placing them in an authorized state. The secondary receivers must periodically communicate with the primary receiver to remain authorized. A secondary receiver that fails to communicate with the primary receiver within a prescribed time period is switched to an unauthorized state. In this unauthorized state, the secondary receiver no longer performs as an authorized receiver.

Abstract: A cooling fan assembly for cooling a heat exchanger includes a shroud having a plurality of stators extending radially to support a hub. A flow-guide including an outer rim and inner rim surrounds the shroud and extends to the heat exchanger. The outer rim extends from the heat exchanger to the stators. The inner rim extends annularly about the axis and curves convexly from the outer rim. A fan unit includes a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a motor supported by the hub. Each fan blade includes a leading edge facing the stators and a trailing edge facing in the opposite direction with a blade tip extending therebetween. A fan section extends from the inner rim and axially about the fan blades. The stators are disposed between the heat exchanger and the fan blades. The stators have a front edge facing the heat exchanger and a back edge facing the fan blades. Each stator is connected to the inner rim with the front edge extending radially outward and farther than the back edge.

Abstract: A thermopile-based thermal detector is provided by a thermocouple, formed from a single sheet of material, which is made dissimilar with a P-doped and an N-doped junction electrically isolated via a naturally forming depletion region. The thermopile P-N sheet is uniform and planar, addressing stress and manufacturing issues. The usual non-active area of a conventional thermopile is significantly reduced or eliminated, and thus the output signal per unit diaphragm area of the detector is substantially increased, without the typical reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio. Also, a significant reduction in size of the thermal detector area is provided without a reduction in signal or signal-to-noise ratio. In an aspect, a second layer of thermocouples is axially positioned over, and connected with, a first layer of thermocouples. Additional axially stacked thermopiles can be provided within the same fabrication process. Signal processing circuitry may be electrically interconnected with the thermocouple.

Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of components having electrically-conductive mating surfaces therebetween, the surfaces are sealed by an electrically insulating gasket that include a mineral composition comprising about 66 mol % MgO and about 33 mol % SiO2, the mineral composition being known mineralogically as forsterite. A brazing alloy may be applied to enhance bonding of the gasket into place. The gasket composition may include additions of Al2O3 to enhance electrical resistivity while having little to no impact of matching expansion coefficients of the gasket and metal mating surfaces. Also, additions such as titania or zirconia to inhibit glassy phase grain boundaries and the formation of impurities and pores in the ceramic grain boundaries may be used. A recommended particle size distribution of precursor powders is disclosed that leads to an optimum microstructure of the sintered gasket.

Abstract: A method of controlling combustion in an internal combustion engine with exhaust after treatment device is proposed, wherein upon detection of a request for a regeneration event of the exhaust after treatment device, a regeneration combustion mode comprising a pilot injection and a retarded main injection is operated. During the regeneration combustion mode the injection timing of the main injection is controlled so that its retard is not later than a retard threshold that is determined as the maximum timing retard to provide the desired torque, but with an injected fuel quantity not exceeding a maximum fuel quantity given by a stored smoke-limit map.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating component including a heat-generating device such as a power semiconductor chip and a mounting structure is provided with coolant channels having a stair-stepped internal geometry that enhances cooling performance with both single-phase and two-phase cooling modes without unduly restricting coolant flow or significantly increasing manufacturing cost. The stair-stepped geometry enhances both single-phase and two-phase cooling modes by increasing the surface area of the channels, and further enhances the two-phase cooling mode by providing numerous high-quality bubble nucleation sites along the length of the channels. The stair-stepped channels are formed in the heat generating device and/or the mounting structure, and the stepped sidewalls may extend toward or away from the center of the channel.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect for a solid-oxide fuel cell stack assembly, including a novel sintering paste and an improved manufacturing process for an anode and cathode electrical contacts is disclosed. On the anode side, the paste contains a metallic oxide such as NiO, and an amount of sacrificial pore-forming particles, such as carbon particles or polymer spheres, which are vaporized during sintering of the paste, resulting in a very porous connection having good electrical conductivity and good adhesion. A preferred level of pore-former in the paste is about 40 volume percent. On the cathode side, the paste contains a noble metal such as for example, gold, platinum, palladium or rhodium, and an amount of the sacrificial pore-forming particles. The paste may be applied to the surfaces in a grid pattern or, because the resulting contact is porous after sintering, it may be applied as a continuous layer.

Abstract: A combination heat exchanger comprising of a heat exchange core having a plurality tubes, wherein the core having at least one core end; an end tank having two side walls and two end walls, two bulkheads the cavity defining a least a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, a perimeter edge defined by exterior edges of said side walls, exterior edges of said two end walls, and exterior edges of said two bulkheads; a header plate engaged between said end tank and said core end; and a gasket between said perimeter edge and contact surface of said header plate, wherein the compression ratio of the gasket is varied along the contact surfaces of the perimeter edge and contact surface of the end plate.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a terminal and a connector body. The terminal has one or more tabs. The connector body has a cavity that is constructed and sized to receive the terminal. The connector body has one or more rails, and has one or more knobs. When the terminal is received in the cavity, the tab bears against the rail and bears against the knob.

Abstract: A converter and method for converting wirelessly streamed data to USB compatible data is provided. The converter includes a USB connector for interfacing with a first electronic device that is USB ready to provide USB compatible data, such as file and directory data structure. The converter also includes a wireless communication link that is adapted to receive wirelessly streamed data from a second electronic device. The converter further includes control circuitry for processing the wirelessly streamed data and converting the streamed data to USB compatible data that is compatible with the USB ready first electronic device such that the streamed data from the second electronic device may be used by the first electronic device.

Abstract: A voltage tap apparatus functions as both a voltage tap and a cell isolator for conductive case battery cells that are joined end-to-end in a series chain. The apparatus includes conductive leadframe elements partially encased in a plastic frame that engages the joined cells about their juncture, with portions of the lead-frame elements exposed to electrically contact the conductive cases of the cells. In a first embodiment, the plastic frame is in the form of a hinged clamp that closes about the juncture of the cells, and the lead-frame elements are routed to terminals formed on one end of the frame. In a second embodiment, the plastic frame and a connector are mounted on a printed circuit board and the leadframe elements in the plastic frame couple the battery cells to the connector.

Abstract: A vehicle audio system 30 reconfigures with a PDAD 32 device by sending a series of queries through a supported channel, preferably a UART channel to the PDAD with the PDAD sending back requested control information 42 and meta-data housing information 46.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a transformer having a central core, a primary winding disposed thereabout, a secondary winding disposed outwardly of the primary winding, and an outer core or shield disposed outwardly of the secondary winding. The central and outer cores and the primary and secondary windings define a magnetic circuit through which magnetic flux flows during various phases of operation. An end-of-spark natural ringing of the secondary voltage is suppressed and limited by a control winding disposed in relation in the magnetic circuit. The control winding has a pair of terminals across which is connected a diode. The diode is oriented so that during a spark event, it is reverse biased but after the spark event it becomes forward-biased when the secondary voltage is positive so as to selectively facilitate dissipation of any residual electrical charge.

Abstract: A device for electrically interconnecting two relatively rotating members, such as a vehicle steering wheel and steering column assembly, has a stationary housing portion carried with the steering column assembly and a moving housing portion carried with the steering wheel. A plurality of flexible, electrically conductive wires are spirally wound around the device between the two housing portions. Each conductive wire is guided in a direction-reversing loop formed therein. Each conductive wire is affixed at each of its two respective ends at electrical terminals.

Abstract: Medium-range and global network information and control for a vehicle is achieved with a portable wireless key fob, a user-provided nomadic device, and a vehicle-installed telematics unit including a medium-range RF transceiver and a wireless network transceiver. The fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit, and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the nomadic device. The fob communicates with the telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the nomadic device. If a communication initiated via the fob cannot be completed because the fob is out of range, the communication is sent to the nomadic device for network transmission to the telematics unit. If a communication initiated via the nomadic device cannot be completed due to inadequate signal reception, the communication is sent to the fob for RF transmission to the telematics unit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for actively illuminating and monitoring a subject, such as a driver of a vehicle. The system includes a video imaging camera orientated to generate images of the subject eye(s). The system also includes first and second light sources offset from each other and operable to illuminate the subject. The system further includes a controller for controlling illumination of the first and second light sources such that when the imaging camera detects sufficient glare, the controller controls the first and second light sources to minimize the glare. This is achieved by turning off the illuminating source causing the glare.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable flow mixing valve for use in a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning module. The module is particularly suited for use in a vehicle. The variable flow mixing valve includes drive means which drive a mixing door and a baffle between various positions in order to allow a relatively warm flow of air, from a first chamber, to mix with a relatively cool flow of air from a second chamber. The baffle and door are linked in such a way as to provide an aperture therebetween through which, in use, the first and/or second flows of air pass. A parking area is also provided for the baffle and is shaped in order to reflect airflow back toward the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A collision detection system and method of estimating a crossing location are provided. The system includes a first sensor for sensing an object in a field of view and sensing a first range defined as the distance between the object and the first sensor. The system also includes a second sensor for sensing the object in the field of view and sensing a second range defined by the distance between the object and the second sensor. The system further includes a controller for processing the first and second range measurements and estimating a crossing location of the object as a function of the first and second range measurements. The crossing location is estimated using range and range rate in a W-plane in one embodiment and using a time domain approach in another embodiment.

Abstract: A ceramic connector body for a high temperature electrical connector, such as those used in high temperature gas sensors, incorporates a pair of opposing ceramic body portions which are operative for pivoting engagement and to be fixed in a connector body retainer which also enables their pivoting, hinged movement. The pivoting engagement permits the ceramic body portions to hinge open to receive a gas sensor with a low insertion force and a hinge close to provide the desired contact force. The ceramic body portions are also operative to house conductive terminals which provide electrical contact for power and signal communication with a gas sensor.

Abstract: A urea strainer includes a mesh for removing impurities from urea passing therethrough and heatable wires to heat the urea as it passes through the mesh. The urea is provided to an emission control system of a diesel engine.