Abstract: A battery clamp includes a collar cooperating with opposing compression plates to engage a battery terminal. The clamp further includes a locking mechanism adapted to apply a compression force between the collar and the battery terminal. A method of securing a battery clamp to a terminal includes positioning a clamp around a terminal of a battery, wherein the clamp includes a collar and opposing compression plates. The method further includes engaging the collar to the terminal of the battery by applying a force to the compression plates.

Abstract: A connecting device arranged between a steering wheel and a pitman module of a motor vehicle encompasses a stator part and a rotor part accommodated therein for enclosing a flexible line comprising several individual electrical conductors, is taken up with its two wide sides via a U-shaped turning section with several windings onto the axially aligned inner wall of the rotor part and spaced apart, and conversely said line is taken up with several additional windings onto the likewise axially aligned outer wall of the stator part, and is held with its two narrow sides between the radially aligned base which in the area of the inner wall is a component of the rotor part and in the area of the outer wall is a component of the stator part, and the radially aligned cover wall of the rotor part. The base and/or the cover wall are designed so that between the inner wall and the outer wall said walls only form sections of a supporting surface for the narrow sides of the line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, receiver and transmitter for use in a SDAR system. The method involves generating a first modulated signal based on first input data. Additional modulation is superimposed on the first modulated signal based on additional input data, being spread across a plurality of symbols in the first modulated signal in a predetermined pattern to generate a modified signal which is then transmitted. The modified signal is decoded by performing a first demodulation of the first modulated signal then additional demodulation is performed to obtain additional input data. The superimposing step uses a plurality of offset sequence values to add the additional modulation to the first modulated signal. The offset sequence may appear as a pseudo-random distribution of offset sequence values, and may include at least one zero offset value.

Abstract: A socket connector having a connector body co-molded with its peripheral and cable seals. In the first molding operation, a first tooling is placed into a mold and is configured so that plastic injected into the mold forms the connector body. In the second molding operation, a second tooling is placed into the mold and is configured so that elastomeric material injected into the mold passes through at least one passage of the connector body to thereby form the peripheral seal and, integrally therewith, the cable seal.

Abstract: A real-time system for modeling a turbo-charged engine includes a model configured to estimate various exhaust states such as turbine inlet pressure, turbine outlet pressure, turbine outlet temperature, turbine mass flow rate and waste-gate valve mass flow rate. The model is dependent only on the availability of normal operating values available in a conventionally-configured automotive controller and one or more measured intake side parameters such as ambient pressure, boost pressure, ambient temperature and compressor mass flow rate. The model is constructed to reflect a high-level application of energy conservation between the turbine (generated power) and compressor (absorbed power). A method for the indirect measurement of turbine and waste-gate flow uses turbine inlet and outlet pressure, inlet temperature and engine mass air flow rate measurements. A method for the indirect measurement of turbine efficiency avoids the need for manufacturer's turbine data.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture integrally forms a resilient beam portion adjacent an edge thereof carrying a grounding pad. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment.

Abstract: Piezoelectric actuators of the type comprising a stack of layers of ferroelectric material and intervening electrodes which extend only part-way across the adjacent ferroelectric layers suffer differential remanent stress when electric fields are applied across the layers. To overcome this, a tensile stress is applied to the actuator along an axis substantially perpendicular to the layers of piezoelectric material in the actuator, which tensile stress is sufficient to mechanically align the dipoles, thus giving rise to a remanent strain which is uniform throughout the actuator. The actuator is advantageously heated while the tensile stress is applied, so as to increase the difference between the tensile strength of the material and the applied tensile stress. An alternative arrangement involves subjecting the actuator to a multidirectional stress and reducing the stress along the axis substantially perpendicular to the layers of piezoelectric material in the actuator.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring an eye to determine eye closure. The system includes a video imaging camera oriented to generate images of an eye, and a video processor for processing the images. The processor includes an edge detector for detecting edges of the eye in the image, and a line selector for generating lines at any of select angles representative of the detected edges. The processor determines the state of eye closure, such as an open eye or closed eye, based on an angle between two of the lines that select angles. The system may be employed on a vehicle to determine the eye closure state of a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine comprising a nozzle body defining a seating surface and having at least one first nozzle outlet and a valve member received within the nozzle body and engageable with an external seating defined by the seating surface so as to control fuel injection through the at least one first nozzle outlet. The valve member is provided with a bore having an internal bore surface and an insert is received within the bore. The insert includes a part-spherical head which spans an internal diameter of the bore so as to maintain contact with an internal surface of the bore as the valve member moves, in use, so as to guide movement of the valve member. The part-spherical head also includes a surface which defines an internal seating for the valve member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyromechanical securing element for the mechanical connection of two components. The securing element comprises a covering and a pyrotechnical propellant charge is arranged in the head part thereof, said propellant charge being adjacent to an adapter, and securing means or a stop for the first component are arranged on the rear part of the covering and a second component can be pushed onto the covering between the first component and the head part. The covering on the head part comprises expected fracture indents extending in the longitudinal direction which tear open the covering in the head area when the propellant charge is ignited and the first component is rigidly connected to the second component in order to allow the adapter to bend. The aim of the invention is to securely anchor the covering to the adapter without using extreme force.

Abstract: A hybrid SOFC/gas turbine electric generating system comprising an SOFC stack, a hydrocarbon reformer, a first anode tailgas hydrogen-rich combustor to drive a first gas turbine stage, and a second stoichiometric combustor to drive a second gas turbine stage to drive a generator. Anode tailgas is also recycled into the reformer for substantially endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon fuel. Oxidant is provided as pure oxygen—which may be stored as liquid oxygen. All nitrogen may be excluded. Cathode exhaust is passed to the first combustor, to the second combustor, and is recycled into the cathodes. The turbine exhaust is passed through successive heat exchangers cooled by liquid oxygen being vaporized, precipitating water and solid CO2. The system is operated at about 800 kPa (about 8 atmospheres), thereby increasing the power output of the stack. The system may be operated with no gaseous exhaust or with by-products of water and CO2.

Abstract: A pyromechanical disconnecting device, in particular for battery shutoff in a motor vehicle include a housing (1) in which there is arranged a conductor bus (11) that is designed to be severable by a cutting chisel (12) at a predetermined cut point, the cutting chisel being capable of being accelerated by the propellant gases of an ignition element (2). In order to facilitate assembly it is proposed that the housing (1) be extruded around the ignition element (2), which in this way forms one structural unit with the housing (1).

Abstract: A catalytic reformer assembly comprising a mixing chamber wherein fuel and air are mixed. The wall of the mixing chamber tapers toward an outlet end. A catalyst bed formed in an annular shape surrounds the outlet end such that the walls of the mixing chamber shield the catalyst from direct exposure to fuel droplets injected into the mixing chamber. The fuel/air mixture flows out of the mixing chamber, then turns and counterflows through the catalyst bed outside the mixing chamber. Hot reformate from the catalyst bed flows in a reformate flow chamber extending along the outer surface of the walls of the mixing chamber, heating the wall surface within the mixing chamber for instantaneous evaporation of injected fuel. A plenum for incoming air surrounds the reformate flow chamber which is also heated thereby.

Abstract: In an actively illuminated imaging system, illumination of a segmented scene is synchronized with an image sensing period. A scene is segmented into a plurality of scene portions utilizing a segmented lens. In an aspect, a first scene portion is illuminated when an imager is actively collecting photogenerated charge from the first scene portion, and a second scene portion is illuminated when an imager is actively collecting photogenerated charge from the second scene portion. The sensitivity of an image sensor is maximized, while simultaneously minimizing the amount of light that must be supplied to illuminate a scene. An irradiance pattern is varied allowing a more uniform distribution of light. Bands of varying wavelength, polarization, and light intensity may be variously applied to illuminate individual scene segments, as needed to enhance an identification of an object in the scene. The present invention is particularly useful with high frame rate imaging systems.

Abstract: A method for attaching a bracket to a heat exchanger comprises providing a heat exchanger having a mounting surface. A bracket having an edge portion that conforms to the mounting surface is located in contact with the mounting surface. A portion of the mounting surface is then skived with the bracket in place so that a sufficient amount of skived material is deformed against the edge portion of the bracket to retain the bracket to the heat exchanger. The retained bracket is then brazed to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A HVAC assembly includes a temperature mixing valve that comprises a shaft, an upper paddle, a lower paddle, and a yielding means. The upper paddle and the lower paddle attach to the shaft. The yielding means applies a force to keep the upper paddle sealed to prevent cold air in a cold air inlet from entering a mixing zone and the lower paddle moves away from a shared sealing boundary over a predetermined angle of rotation before the upper paddle initially moves to allow cold air to enter the mixing zone. Movement of the lower paddle away from the shared sealing boundary allows cold air to enter a hot air inlet and admix with hot air to mix in the mixing zone to produce non-stratified air.

Abstract: A urea storage system comprising a storage tank for a urea solution is provided. The system comprises a heated reservoir, a channel connecting the storage tank to the heated reservoir and a pump for drawing urea from the heated reservoir. A second pump including an actuator comprising a memory shape metal for drawing urea from the storage tank to the heated reservoir is also provided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensing system and a method for determining concentrations of exhaust gas constituents are provided. The exhaust gas sensing system includes a NH3 sensing cell, a NO2 sensing cell, a NOx pumping cell, and a current sensor that detects an electrical current flowing through the NOx pumping cell. A computer determines a NO2 concentration value, a NH3 concentration value, a NO concentration value, and a NOx concentration value based on signals from the NH3 sensing cell, the NO2 sensing cell, and the current sensor.

Abstract: A dynamic eye tracking system to track movement of an eye including the steps of detecting if a neighbor exists about the eye over a predetermined amount of time and forming a boundary for the neighbor. Eye candidates are tracked and a determination is made if the eye candidates are beyond the boundary defined by the detected neighbor.

Abstract: A method of producing an overmolded electronic assembly including a circuit board and a flexible circuit interconnect by fixturing the assembly in a mold cavity such that a portion of the flexible circuit protrudes from the mold, and providing a compressible elastomeric interface between the mold and the flexible circuit to seal off the mold cavity and protect the flexible circuit from damage due to the clamping force of the mold. The portion of the flexible circuit within the mold cavity is pre-coated with a material that ensures good adhesion with the molding compound, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the portion of the flexible circuit that protrudes from the mold protects the flexible circuit from damage due to thermal conduction from the mold and mold compound.