Abstract: A technique for manufacturing a micro-electro mechanical structure includes a number of steps. Initially, a cavity is formed into a first side of a handling wafer, with a sidewall of the cavity forming a first angle greater than about 54.7 degrees with respect to a first side of the handling wafer at an opening of the cavity. Then, a bulk etch is performed on the first side of the handling wafer to modify the sidewall of the cavity to a second angle greater than about 90 degrees, with respect to the first side of the handling wafer at the opening of the cavity. Next, a second side of a second wafer is bonded to the first side of the handling wafer.

Abstract: A method for implementing anti-static steering for vehicle steering systems includes receiving a desired rear wheel angle input and receiving a vehicle speed input. An approved rear wheel angle output is generated using the desired rear wheel angle input and the vehicle speed input, wherein the approved rear wheel angle is based upon one of a plurality of defined operating states, the plurality of operating states including operation at a speed in a first range, operation at a speed in a second range, and transitions therebetween.

Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device (10), in particular for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, comprises a tank port (12) and an atmospheric port (22); a first adsorbent chamber (14) between the tank port (12) and the atmospheric port (22); and a second adsorbent chamber (18) between the first adsorbent chamber (14) and the atmospheric port (22), the first and second adsorbent chambers (14, 18) being filled with an adsorbent material (16). According to an important aspect of the invention, at least two elongate flow passages (26, 26?) are arranged in parallel between the first adsorbent chamber (14) and the second adsorbent chamber (18).

Abstract: An apparatus measures relative displacement between a first end and a second end of a shaft. The first and second ends being centered on a shaft axis. The apparatus includes first and second ferromagnetic plates. The first ferromagnetic plate has a first side and a second side and is connected to the first end. The first ferromagnetic plate is centered on the shaft axis and has a plurality of ferromagnetic teeth extending from the first side and in a first direction parallel to the shaft. The second ferromagnetic plate has a first side and a second side and is connected to the second end. The second ferromagnetic plate is centered on the shaft axis. The first and second ferromagnetic plates form a gap. The apparatus further includes a plurality of magnets having a magnetic field and a sensing device. The magnets are coupled to the first side of the second ferromagnetic plate. The sensing device is disposed within the gap for sensing a magnetic flux of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A vehicle-based communications device acquires identification information, such as a phone number, from a cellular phone located within the vehicle and transmits that information to a call center where it is processed and stored so that the call center can subsequently establish a voice link with the cellular phone. The communications device generally includes a control circuit, an acquisition device for acquiring the identification information according to one of several methods, and a data transceiver for transmitting a data signal to the call center via a satellite network. The communications device can acquire identification information from a plurality of cellular phones so that those phones may be prioritized and called back in a particular order.

Abstract: A motorized seat belt retractor, comprising: a take-up spool configured to rotate in a winding direction and an unwinding direction; a motor for providing a driving force in a first direction and a second direction to the take-up spool, wherein the take-up spool rotates in the winding direction when the driving force is provided in the first direction; a mechanism coupled to a shaft of the motor, the mechanism being configured to rotate freely in the first direction and rotate in the second direction when either i) a predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after application of the driving force in the first direction or ii) the motor applies the driving force in the second direction in order to overcome a predetermined resistance of the mechanism; and a locking retractor configured to prevent the take-up spool from rotating in the unwinding direction when the predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after applicat

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly that addresses the thermal cycling problem to increase the durability of the heat exchanger core by fabricating at least the tube next adjacent to each of the reinforcing members with a cross section adjacent each of the headers including a radius having a partial maximum tube strain energy density and fabricating each of the reinforcing members with a connection section adjacent each of the headers having a reinforcement with a partial maximum strain energy density greater than the partial maximum strain energy density of the adjacent tube.

Abstract: A robust, low cost, compact and highly accurate rotary position sensor is disclosed for measuring the relative angular position (within a range ?180°) of a housing or stator and a rotor. The housing carries a galvanomagnetic sensing element and is adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system. The rotor carrying a magnet is disposed for rotation about a fixed axis with respect to the stator and is interconnected to a relatively moving portion of the host system through intermediate linkage. The magnet is juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with the galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith. The housing defines a cavity to receive potting material for encasing the galvanomagnetic sensing element and an adjacent buffer cavity interconnected by a weir, which diverts ant excess potting material into the buffer cavity.

Abstract: A controller area network employs a CAN bus for facilitating CAN communications among a plurality of communication controllers switched to an active state. The controller area network further employs a CAN wake-up controller for switching one or more communication controllers to the active state in response to an application of a non-interfering communication biasing signal to said CAN bus. Upon a termination of the application of a non-interfering communication biasing signal to said CAN bus, the CAN wake-up controller switches the communication controller(s) to an inactive state for impeding CAN communications by communication controller(s) via the CAN bus.

Abstract: A reformer system has a reformer for converting a hydrocarbon-containing fuel to a hydrogen-gas-rich reformate gas, and an HC adsorber, which is connected to an output side of the reformer and adsorbs, as a function of temperature, hydrocarbons contained in the reformate gas, or for desorbing previously adsorbed hydrocarbons to the reformate gas. The reformer system transmits the reformate gas after passing through the HC adsorber to a consuming device.

Abstract: A vehicle reforming system includes a reformer for chemically converting a hydrocarbon-containing fuel to a hydrogen-gas-rich reformate gas, as well as electric heating devices by which thermal energy for generating a reaction temperature required for the conversion may be fed to the reformer. The reformer system also has a high-performance capacitor, which supplies the electric heating devices with electric current.

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first surface having a first plurality of conductive traces formed on an electrically non-conductive layer. The second substrate includes a first surface having a second plurality of conductive traces formed thereon and a second surface having a third plurality of conductive traces formed thereon. A first electronic component is electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of conductive traces on the first surface of the second substrate. At least one of a plurality of conductive interconnects is incorporated within each solder joint that electrically couples one or more of the conductive traces formed on the second surface of the second substrate to one or more of the conductive traces formed on the first substrate.

Abstract: A removable sensor assembly for non-intrusively sensing instantaneous speed of an engine comprising a crankshaft having a respective end equipped with an externally accessible bolt, the removable sensor assembly comprising: a housing comprising a recess configured to removably receive and engage a portion of the externally accessible bolt; and a force sensing device received in the housing, the force sensing device being configured to wirelessly provide information indicative of angular motion of the crankshaft, the force sensing device comprising: at least one coil; a power supply for providing an excitation to the coil, wherein the coil provides a first signal and a second signal each corresponding to the movement of the housing, the first signal corresponding to the resistance of the coil and the second signal corresponding to the inductance of the coil; and a signal transmitter coupled to the coil to receive and transmit the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: An automotive occupant position restraint apparatus senses a position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes an optical energy source emitting a first beam of optical energy. A first optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the first beam of optical energy. The first optical arrangement expands the first beam of optical energy into a plurality of second beams of optical energy spanning across a first angle. A second optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the second beams of optical energy. The second optical arrangement expands the second beams of optical energy into a plurality of third beams of optical energy spanning across a second angle larger than the first angle. An optical energy receiver receives optical energy from the third beams, wherein the received optical energy has been reflected within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A reconfigurable rollover event detection methodology utilizes an existing body of vehicle sensor data. A number of different algorithms or look-up modules develop rollover detection outputs based on different sets of sensor data, and a meta-algorithm combines the various rollover detection outputs to form a single rollover detection output. The number of individual rollover detection outputs is configurable depending on the extent of the available sensor data in a given vehicle and changes in sensor availability that occur due to sensor and communication failures.

Abstract: The present invention involves methods and systems for issuing a collision warning to a driver at timing based on the driver's attitude level. The methods involve the steps of determining the driver attitude level based on the driver's actions in a plurality of driving conditions, determining timing for issuing warning based on the driver attitude level, and issuing warning based on the determined timing. The systems include a first device for collecting data associated with driver attitude, and a second device connected to the first device for determining a driver attitude level. The second device includes a processor for processing the data by applying pre-determined algorithm to determine the driver attitude level. The systems may further include a third device connected to the second device for determining timing for issuing warning corresponding to the driver attitude level, and issuing a warning according to the determined timing.

Abstract: An electrical inter-connection is provided such that a terminal pin which is positioned in a pin block extends through a plated through-hole in a circuit board substrate and is connected with the circuit board using a conductive bonding agent such as solder. The terminal pin is capable of inter-connection with conductive elements located on each major side of the circuit board and eliminates the need for an interference fit between the terminal pin and circuit board. The pin block includes a body and at least one stand-off. The stand-off maintains the body a sufficient distance from the circuit board substrate to enable a solder fillet to form between the plated through-hole and the terminal pin during re-flow processing. The electrical inter-connection further includes an eccentric aperture in the circuit board suitable for interference fit inter-connection with a protruding cylindrical feature such as on an electrical ground that has poor solderability characteristics.

Abstract: An arc fault detector includes a shunt resistor deployed in a protected circuit, an arc discriminator sensing voltages across the shunt resistor and producing an arc indication deduced from current variations associated with parallel and series arc faults, a signal transformer buffering the arc detection signal and producing a pulse, a switch transient detector sensing a voltage differential across load switches and producing a pulsed switch transient signal when the voltage differential across load switches exceeds a reference value, a line interrupter, such as a static relay, a switch controller including logic gates generating a trip signal based on predetermined criteria, and a manual switch for resetting the line interrupter. An embodiment comprises a voltage sensing coil enveloping a toroidal core to detect current variations in conductors passing through the core.

Abstract: In a diesel engine equipped with a catalytic HC reformer for injecting reformate into the engine exhaust stream to reductively regenerate one or more emissions control devices including but not limited to a lean nitrogen trap, a combustor is disposed in the exhaust stream downstream of the LNT, and preferably downstream of all regenerable emissions control devices, to burn any residual HC, H2, or CO in the tailpipe exhaust gases. Thus only breakthrough amounts of these species are combusted. Preferably, the combustor is operated on an appropriate schedule governed by the operating schedule of the reformer. To assure combustion when the oxygen concentration of the exhaust falls below the reformate combustion limit of approximately 6%, make-up air is ported to the combustor either by diverting a portion of the reformer system air or by diverting excess turbocharger boost air from the engine air intake system.

Abstract: A strain gauge for sensing strain is provided and includes a support substrate, and first and second electrodes supported on the substrate. The first and second electrodes include first and second capacitive plates, respectively. The first capacitive plates are movable relative to the second capacitive plates responsive to strain. The strain gauge further has an input electrically coupled to one of the first and second electrodes for receiving an input signal, and an output electrically coupled to the other of the first and second electrodes for providing an output signal which varies as a function of the capacitive coupling and is indicative of sensed strain.