Abstract: An injection nozzle (4) for an internal combustion engine, the injection nozzle (4) including a nozzle body (6) provided with a bore (8) defining a valve seating surface, and having a first nozzle outlet and a second nozzle outlet, a first delivery chamber upstream of said nozzle outlets, an outer valve member, moveable within the bore (8) and itself provided with an axial bore (8), wherein the outer valve member is engageable with an outer valve seat defined by the valve seating surface so as to control fuel flow from a first delivery chamber to at least the first nozzle outlet when the outer valve member lifts from its seat.

Abstract: Methods, manufactured parts, and computer programs for horizontally structured manufacturing. A blank is selected for machining into an actual part, and a coordinate system is established. A plurality of process bodies are created in a single file. Each process body includes a virtual blank corresponding to said blank and a plurality of manufacturing features. A virtual machining of each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into the virtual blank is implemented. Each manufacturing feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Manufacturing instructions are generated to create the actual part by machining the plurality of manufacturing features into the blank.

Abstract: A drive circuit (20a,20b) for an injector arrangement having at least one piezoelectric injector (12a,12b) is described.

Abstract: A switch-based sensor apparatus is disposed between the bottom cushion and frame of a seat. The sensor apparatus includes upper and lower rigid and generally parallel force translation plates biased apart by a set of springs, and a switch assembly. The force translation plates are joined so as to pre-load the springs while permitting closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates in response to occupant seat force that exceeds the pre-load force of the springs. The switch assembly includes a circuit board and elastomeric switch pad defining one or more switch elements that are actuated by a prescribed closing movement between the upper and lower force translation plates for electrically detecting the presence of a seat occupant.

Abstract: A multifunction six-way switch assembly having a plurality of sealed dome type or membrane switches disposed on a circuit board and arranged in pairs such that a single knob actuator may be slidably moved in opposite directions along a first axis for actuating either one of a first pair of membrane switches and slidably moved in opposite directions along a second perpendicular axis for actuating either one of a second and third pair of membrane switches in the same direction for controlling seat adjustment servomotors. Rotation of the single-knob actuator about a third axis normal to the first two axes results in a mutually opposite direction of actuation of the second and third pair of membrane switches. The six-way actuator has only one portion extending externally of the switch housing for attachment of the user knob.

Abstract: There is provided a bracket for securing a side airbag for an automotive vehicle. The bracket fixes a path such that a connection strap connecting the side airbag to the bracket is secured to an A-pillar and removes any interference when the side airbag is assembled, to make it easy to assemble the side airbag in a manufacturing site. The bracket has a through aperture through which a bolt is fastened, and a mounting plate secures the side airbag to the vehicle. Protrusions are each formed on each of both side ends of the bracket, and a bracket clip is installed on the external surface of the bracket. The bracket clip comprises: a bending part formed in the middle of the bracket clip; a plurality of support plates formed at either side of the bending part; and through apertures formed on the support plates, corresponding to the through aperture of the bracket.

Abstract: A method includes receiving current location and heading information, receiving threshold range, and bearing values, receiving an incident report corresponding to a traffic incident at a location of interest, and selectively retaining the incident report if the point of interest is within the threshold range and bearing values.

Abstract: A technique for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) structure includes a number of steps. Initially, a substrate is provided. Next, a plurality of trenches are etched into the substrate with a first etch. Then, a charging layer is formed at a bottom of each of the trenches to form undercut trenches. Finally, a second etch is provided into the undercut trenches. The charging layer causes the second etch to laterally etch foots in the substrate between the undercut trenches. The footers undercut the substrate to release a portion of the substrate for providing a movable structure between the undercut trenches and above the footers.

Abstract: A method for generating an active damping torque signal for a vehicle steering system includes receiving a vehicle speed input, receiving a handwheel velocity input, receiving a handwheel torque input, and generating an active damping torque output from each of the inputs, wherein the active damping torque output is non-linear with respect to the handwheel velocity input.

Abstract: A system for measuring stress including a coilless sensor including at least one band of electrically conductive and magnetostrictive material, the band having a first end and a second end defining a gap therebetween, a measuring circuit electrically connected to the first and second ends of the coilless sensor, the measuring circuit being configured to pass a current through the coilless sensor and measure at least one of an inductance, a resistance and an impedance of the coilless sensor in response to the current, and a processor in electrical communication with the measuring circuit, the processor being configured to calculate an amount of stress being applied to the coilless sensor based upon the measured inductance, resistance and impedance.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly is provided including a primary housing having a plurality of primary condensing fingers extending upwardly from and perpendicular to a horizontal axis and disposed circumferentially about a primary axis. A tube extends radially from the primary axis along the horizontal axis toward a remote housing including remote condensing fingers extending downwardly from and perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The remote condensing fingers are disposed circumferentially about a remote axis extending vertically through the remote housing. The tube interconnects the primary housing and the remote housing and is flexible to facilitate movement of the housings relative to one another.

Abstract: An HVAC controller housing including a plurality of valves extending therein for directing airflow to a plurality of ducts is provided. The housing is of the type including a side port extending outwardly from the housing and in fluid communication with one of the ducts. A drive gear is provided on the housing to drive a plurality of driven gears disposed on the housing for driving the plurality of valves. The driven gears are responsive to the drive gear through a transmission member comprising an annular idling gear in meshing engagement with the drive gears and at least one of the driven gears. The annular idling gear is rotatably supported on the housing and encircles the side port for efficient torque transfer between the drive gear and the driven gears.

Abstract: A telescoping steering column assembly includes upper and lower jackets having inner and outer surfaces and telescoping ends, respectively, and two sleeves disposed therebetween and having an annular cavity defined within each of the sleeves to hold bearings therewithin. One bearing is connected to the outer jacket and the other bearing is connected to the inner jacket. A method of making the assembly includes the steps of disposing the inner jacket within the outer jacket followed by disposing the sleeves therebetween and injecting a plastic material therethrough to form bearings. The plastic material is extracted from one of the apertures in each of the jackets to provide a sliding engagement between one of the bearing and the inner jacket and another bearing and the outer jacket.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cutting of an electrical conductor has an electrical conductor arranged in a housing, a pyrotechnic drive and a cutting device. After the triggering of the drive, the cutting device enters into engagement with the conductor to cut it.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seat to control fuel injection through an injector outlet. An actuator, typically in the form of a piezoelectric actuator stack, is arranged to control fuel pressure within a control chamber and a surface associated with the valve needle is exposed to fuel pressure within the control chamber. A load transmitter, preferably in the form of a motion inverter, transmits movement of the actuator to the valve needle. The load transmitter includes a bellows arrangement which is compressible and expandable in response to said actuator movement so as to vary fuel pressure within the control chamber, thereby to control movement of the valve needle relative to the valve needle seat. A piezoelectrically operable injector is operable in an energize-to-inject mode to provide efficient opening of the valve needle and to enable rapid closure of the valve needle.

Abstract: The invention provides a steering column assembly having a steering column jacket operable to support a steering shaft. The steering column assembly also includes a collar presenting a surface for guiding movement of the steering column jacket. The steering column assembly also includes a locking member operable to move in a first direction from an unlocked position to a locked position to increasingly urge the steering column jacket and the surface of the collar together to lock relative movement between the steering column jacket and the collar. The steering column assembly also includes a shaft operable to rotate in a first angular direction about a first axis to move the locking member in the first direction. The steering column assembly also includes a crank extending radially outwardly from the shaft. The steering column assembly also includes a lever operable to rotate in a second angular direction about a second axis spaced from the first axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods and computer products for drowsy driver detection and response. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods and computer products for determining that a vehicle has engaged in a lane violation, determining a severity of the lane violation, determining a drowsy driver condition of the vehicle and responding to the drowsy driver condition via onboard warning, corrective actuation, or remote human interventions.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a column jacket longitudinally collapsible along a longitudinal axis. A release module is releasably coupled to the column jacket and attaches the column jacket to the vehicle at a connection point laterally offset from a first position along the longitudinal axis. An energy absorption system includes a strap attached to the column jacket at an attachment point latterly offset from a second position along the longitudinal axis and a deformation device disposed on the release module. The deformation device is laterally offset from a third position along the longitudinal axis disposed between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: In producing an integrated sensor, regions of silicon between compensating electronics and a sensor are electrically isolated, while the sensor is delineating and released. The described process can be performed at the end of a fabrication process after electronics processing (i.e., CMOS processing) and compensating electronics are formed. In an aspect, the sensor and a conductive bridge are simultaneously developed from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In an aspect, the sensor is undercut from a silicon substrate utilizing a lateral etch. A cavity is concurrently defined by the same lateral etch in the silicon layer, forming the conductive bridge connecting the sensor to a logic component. An isolation trench is defined in the silicon layer between the sensor components and the logic component. A polymer masks vertical surfaces from the lateral etch, and an insulator layer and photosensitive film mask horizontal surfaces from the lateral etch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting an airbag module to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a backing plate for mounting the airbag module to the vehicle, the backing plate comprising: a plurality of elongated mounting members each being drawn from the material of the backing plate wherein the plurality of elongated mounting members are integrally formed with the backing plate and each of the plurality of elongated mounting members has a portion comprising a periphery formed from the material of the backing plate and an opening extending into the elongated mounting member, the opening defining the periphery of the plurality of elongated mounting members.