Abstract: A fuel pump for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a pump housing provided with a plunger bore, a pumping plunger which is movable within the plunger bore by means of a cam drive arrangement to perform a pumping stroke to pressurise fuel within a pumping chamber and a cam follower arrangement interposed between the cam drive arrangement and the pumping plunger so as to transmit a drive force of the drive arrangement to the pumping plunger. The cam follower arrangement includes a timing advance piston for advancing or retarding the timing of the pumping stroke, and control means for controlling the timing advance piston so as to advance or retard the timing of the pumping stroke. The timing advance piston is provided with a groove on its outer surface for receiving fluid, thereby to provide a centralising force to the timing advance piston, in use.

Abstract: A collision avoidance and warning system and method are provided. The system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor senses an object in a field of view, wherein the sensor determines a direct range measurement between the sensor and the object and an angle measurement of the object with respect to the sensor. The controller receives the direct range measurement and angle measurement from the sensor, and determines if the object is in an in-path area based upon the direct range measurement and angle measurement, as a function in a pseudo polar coordinate frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.

Abstract: An MR-fluid (magnetorheological-fluid) hydraulic mount includes a hydraulic-mount partition plate assembly and an electric coil. The partition plate assembly has a longitudinal axis, has first and second sides, and has an MR-fluid through orifice extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first side to the second side. The partition plate assembly is devoid of any non-MR-hydraulic-fluid orifice. The electric coil is substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis and is adapted to magnetically influence the MR-fluid through orifice. The MR-fluid through orifice is positioned radially outward of the electric coil.

Abstract: A method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator of a fuel injector for controlling the quantity of fuel injected into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine controls the voltage across the injector in accordance with a voltage/charge vs. time profile in which the injector is driven at high current up to a level required to start injection, and then at lower current, resulting in a lower voltage/charge vs. time gradient, until the point where full charge is achieved. This results in a reduced variation in minimum delivery pulse and a reduction in the slope of the gain curve, as compared with conventional arrangements in which the voltage/charge vs. time gradient is constant. Alternatively, the injector may be driven at high current up to the charge level required to switch to hydraulic lift amplification. Any point of current change between these extremes may also be used with good effect.

Abstract: In a Type 2 engine, a valve deactivation hydraulic lash adjuster (DHLA) in accordance with the invention replaces a conventional hydraulic lash adjuster in the train of a gas-exchange valve in a compression-ignited engine. In a Type 3 engine, a similar DHLA is disposed within an articulated rocker arm which is made selectively competent (valve activating) or incompetent (valve deactivating) thereby. A solenoid valve within the assembly diverts hydraulic fluid between support and non-support of a piston slidably disposed in a housing and terminating in a ball head. The valve is force-balanced. The preferred hydraulic fluid is diesel fuel, allowing for smaller diameter passages and cleaner operation than in prior art systems, eliminating the need for an accumulator chamber and accumulator piston as in the prior art. An alternate version of a type 3 engine having a DHLA, in accordance with the invention, is also shown.

Abstract: A method of making an electronic assembly comprising an electronic component that is attached to a circuit board by protruding solder bumps of the electronic component places the electronic component on a surface of the circuit board so that solder bumps on the bottom of the electronic component engage contact pads on the top of the circuit board. The solder bumps are then reflowed to attach the electronic component to the circuit board after which the electronic component is underfilled by providing a mold die having a mold cavity, a gate leading into the mold cavity and a vent leading out of the mold cavity. The mold die is placed over the electronic component and onto the surface of the circuit board so that the electronic component is inside the mold cavity and the mold cavity is sealed.

Abstract: A heat dissipation element for cooling an electronic device is disclosed. The heat dissipation element has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting the electronic device to be cooled thereto. The top surface defines a heat dissipation area for dissipating heat from the electronic device and a plurality of heat transfer fins project upwardly from the top surface and are coextensive with the heat dissipation area. Each of the heat transfer fins defines a plurality of steps having a rise and a run and each of the steps extend across the heat dissipation area for maximizing an amount of heat dissipated from the electronic device. The heat dissipation element is particularly useful in either one of a cold plate assembly used with a liquid cooled unit (LCU) or a boiler plate assembly used with a thermosiphon cooling unit (TCU).

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for predicting a future roll angle and an overturn condition of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an angular accelerometer for sensing angular acceleration of the vehicle and producing an output signal indicative thereof. A first integrator integrates the sensed angular acceleration signal and produces an angular rate. A second integrator integrates the angular rate and generates a current roll angle. A predictor predicts a future roll angle as a function of the sensed angular acceleration, angular rate, and current roll angle. A comparator compares the predicted future roll angle to a threshold value. The apparatus generates a vehicle overturn condition signal based on said comparison, and signals deployment of restraint devices.

Abstract: A fuel system for supplying pressurised fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors (14a-14f) comprises an accumulator assembly (16) having first and second accumulator volumes (18, 20) defined within a common accumulator housing (22), supply means (42) for supplying fuel at a supply pressure level to the first accumulator volume (18) and a plurality of unit pumps (10a-10f). Each unit pump is arranged to receive fuel at the supply pressure level from the first accumulator volume (18) and pressurises said fuel to an injectable pressure level for supply to the second accumulator volume (20). Each unit pump (10a-10f) includes a pumping plunger (50) for pressuring fuel within an associated pump chamber (52) and being integrated with the accumulator housing (22) so as to permit communication between the first accumulator volume (18) and the pump chamber (52) internally within the accumulator housing (22).

Abstract: An analog, duty cycle replicating frequency converter extracts duty cycle information from an input, pulse width modulated signal and generates an output pulse width modulated signal of the same duty cycle at a different frequency without regard to the frequency of the input signal. It uses bipolar transistor based circuitry, adaptable to an application specific integrated circuit, to derive voltages representing the on-time and period durations of the input signal, convert these voltages to currents representing the logarithms thereof, generate a voltage representing the difference between the currents, exponentially convert the voltage to a current representing the duty cycle and control an oscillator to generate an output pulse width modulated signal at a predetermined frequency with the duty cycle of the input signal.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the transmission of digital data, and more particularly, to the transmission of digital data in a satellite digital audio radio (“SDAR”) system. In the SDAR system, there may be different types of required services. Some of these services may be considered high priority and others may be of a lower priority. Current SDAR systems have the same performance on all user data. Therefore, there is a need to vary the performance of different services. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for optimizing the throughput (i.e. information) in a digital transmission system by transmitting the different services with different performance levels. The present invention addresses the need in the art to vary the performance of different services (i.e., levels of data). Because the performance of the primary level of data will not be equal to the performance of the secondary level of data, the primary level will need to be further protected.

Abstract: A filtered electrical connection header assembly for an electrical device, and methods for assembling a filtered connection header assembly for an electrical device, are disclosed. An electrical connection header may include a housing for an electrical circuit and a connection header assembly secured to the housing that includes a plurality of electrical pins. The pins may each include a first portion, and a second portion oriented generally orthogonal to the first portion. The second portions of the pins extend into the housing to contact the electrical circuit. A forward end of a connector shroud may receive a pin stabilizer having a plurality of apertures that receive the first portion of the pins for engagement with a mating connector. The electrical connection header may further include a filter assembly configured to filter a signal transmitted though the pins that is secured to the external surface of the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle. The steering column assembly includes a steering column operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle. The steering column is moveable along a path for collapsing movement relative to a vehicle in response to an impact situation. The steering column assembly also includes an energy absorber for dissipating energy associated with the collapsing movement of the steering column along the path. The energy absorber includes an anvil fixedly disposed relative to one of the steering column and the path. The energy absorber also includes a strap drawable over the anvil and substantially fixedly disposed relative to the other of the steering column and the path. The steering column assembly also includes a second strap fixedly disposed relative to one of the steering column and the path for dissipating energy associated with the collapsing movement of the steering column along the path.

Abstract: A pyromechanical disconnecting device having an improved electric current conductor rail. The electric current conductor rail includes a center section perpendicular to the path of a disconnecting tool, and a first and second side section extending perpendicular from the center section. The electric current conductor rail further includes a first and second end piece connected respectively to the first and second side sections apart from the center section. Each of the end pieces is connected along a fold perpendicular to the center section and includes a bore for receiving a fastener to attach the electric current conductor rail to a housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a steering column assembly defining a longitudinal axis that is adjustable along at least one of a tilting and telescoping path of adjustment. The apparatus also includes a locking device associated with the steering column assembly to selectively lock and unlock steering column with respect to the at least one of tilting and telescoping paths of adjustment. The locking device includes a lever arm mounted to the steering column assembly for rotation about a rotation axis. The lever arm includes a cam surface. The locking device also includes a lock member having a cam follower surface engaged with the cam surface to move between locked and unlocked positions in response to rotation of the lever arm. The lock member is spaced from the rotation axis along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A system for steering a vehicle including: an actuator disposed in a vehicle to apply torque to a steerable wheel; a driver input device receptive to driver commands for directing the vehicle; and a sensor for determining an intent of a driver and generating a signal indicative thereof. The system also includes: a lane keeping system for detecting a location of the vehicle relative to a lane marker and generating a lane position signal indicative thereof; a controller in operable communication with the actuator, the driver input device, the first sensor, and the lane keeping system. The controller provides a command to the actuator responsive to the intent of the driver, the lane position, and a desired lane position. The controller executes a lane keeping algorithm consisting of a single control loop based on at least one of the lane position and the lane position deviation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a side airbag device for use in a vehicle, comprising: an inflatable cushion for deployment from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. The inflatable cushion is positioned behind a headliner of the vehicle in an un-inflated state and the inflatable cushion is configured to traverse a side of the vehicle when it is inflated. The inflatable cushion also comprising a deploying edge that defines a portion of a periphery of the inflated cushion, wherein the inflatable cushion is folded in a manner that causes the deploying edge to deploy as a first leading edge as said inflatable cushion is inflated to an expanded state by an inflator wherein the deploying edge is the first portion of the inflatable cushion to expand around the headliner.

Abstract: A fluid heat exchanger assembly cools an electronic device with a cooling fluid supplied from a heat extractor (R, F) to an upper portion of a housing. A refrigerant is disposed in a lower portion of the housing for liquid-to-vapor transformation. A partition divides the upper portion of the housing from the lower portion and flow interrupters are disposed in the upper portion for interrupting thermal boundary layer to enhance thermal heat transfer to the flow of liquid coolant through the coolant passage of the upper portion in response to heat transferred by an electronic device to the lower portion of the housing.

Abstract: An anti-coking bushing assembly for sealing a pintle shaft of an EGR control valve, comprising a bushing carrier disposed in the valve body and supportive of close-fitting pintle shaft bushing liners formed of a polyimide such as Vespel. The bushing carrier and bushing liners are installed into a carbon shield extending into the exhaust flow space within the valve. Within the carbon shield, between the gas flow space and the bushing carrier, is a ring seal on the pintle shaft and a gas expansion chamber to cool exhaust gas escaping along the pintle shaft, allowing contaminants in the exhaust gas to precipitate in the gas expansion chamber. The carbon shield, ring seal, bushing carrier, and bushing liners are conveniently pre-assembled as an anti-coking bushing assembly for subsequent installation into a valve body during final valve assembly.