Abstract: A scaleable inter-digitized tine non-thermal plasma reactor element includes at least one pair of inter-digitized tine end connectors connected together defining gas passages between the tines. The prepared inter-digitized tine reactor element has a scaleable height, width, and length. Connectors are defined that enable efficient non-thermal reactor element fabrication for widely varying applications having various flow throughput and constituent reduction requirements. An inter-digitized tine reactor element is provided having several zones that are selectively powered so that the effective length of the reactor can be adjusted during operation for optimal efficiency over a range of operating conditions Structural carrier connectors and structural conductor connectors are provided. Structural carrier connectors have tines defined in a side to side basis comprising a high-k dielectric layer, electrode layer, structural dielectric, electrode layer, and high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated control valve selectively opens and closes a passage between discharge and crankcase chambers of a variable capacity refrigerant compressor for purposes of controlling the compressor capacity, and includes an integral pressure sensor for measuring the compressor discharge pressure. The valve includes a plunger having an axis, a stopper biased against a seat in the passage coupling the discharge and crankcase chambers, an annular bellows and a pressure sensor. A portion of the plunger passes through the annular bellows, and one end of the bellows is attached to the plunger for axially displacing the plunger to unseat the stopper. The stopper and plunger are maintained in engagement, and have axial bores that are aligned to form a passage between the compressor discharge chamber and a cavity in which the pressure sensor is retained.

Abstract: A system and methodology for control of a switched reluctance electric machine comprising: a switched reluctance electric machine including a sensor generating and transmitting a sensor signal indicative of an operating characteristic; a controller operatively coupled to the switched reluctance motor and the sensor; and the controller executing a method.

Abstract: A system for assisting a driver of a vehicle in precisely reaching a target destination while the vehicle is in reverse. The system comprises a control unit, an HD sensor, a rear wheel steering actuator, and a control positioned for operation by the driver. The HD sensor is in communication with the control unit and measures the relative position of a target location with respect to a location on the vehicle. The rear wheel steering actuator is in communication with the control unit and steers at least a rear wheel of the vehicle. The driver operated control is also in communication with the control unit. The control unit, upon receiving a signal from the control, enters an HD mode in which the control unit operates the rear wheel steering actuator to maneuver the vehicle to bring the target location and the location on the vehicle into alignment.

Abstract: A method for controlling a dual coil fuel injector having an opening coil and a closing coil includes issuing an opening coil pulse to the opening coil. The opening coil pulse has an opening coil pulse width (OCPW) and an opening coil turn on time (OCTOT). A closing coil turn on time (CCTOT) is calculated dependent at least in part upon the OCPW. A closing coil pulse is issued to the closing coil at the calculated CCTOT.

Abstract: A pump used in vehicle controlled braking systems provides a reverse direction of flow through a cylinder bore of the pump and utilizes an inlet check valve located outside of the piston at the end of the cylinder bore opposite the piston, in conjunction with an outlet check valve located in an outlet extending through a sidewall of the cylinder bore of the pump. The inlet check valve is assembled and tested as a module prior to being installed in the pump. A fluid reservoir, having a movable wall, is connected to the inlet to facilitate priming the pump module. The piston is driven by a self-supporting drive apparatus with an eccentric element affixed to a stub shaft, or by other forms of a drive apparatus having an eccentric element fixed to a motor drive shaft.

Abstract: An eccentric-driven piston pump for a vehicle controlled braking system has a pump drive apparatus including a stub shaft having an eccentric journalled in a pump housing for self-supported rotation about a stub shaft axis by a first and a second rotating bearing disposed on opposite axial sides of the eccentric. The stub-shaft is operatively connected to the rotating drive shaft of a motor, and the eccentric is connected for imparting reciprocating motion to the pistons. A pair of thrust bearings including a counterweight for balancing the pump drive apparatus, are disposed on the stub shaft adjacent the eccentric at opposite axial ends thereof between the eccentric and first and second rotating bearings. The motor includes a spherical bearing for alignment of a motor drive shaft with the stub shaft, and a bushing for loosely supporting the drive shaft prior to attaching the drive shaft to the stub shaft.

Abstract: A method is directed to controlling an electric caliper brake system. The method provides for receiving an ignition voltage signal, receiving a caliper position signal, sending a motor shut down signal, sending a back drive control signal based on the received ignition voltage signal and the caliper position signal, and releasing stored energy from a non-linear device to a caliper brake system motor responsive to the back drive control signal. The non-linear device may be implemented as a capacitor. The step of sending a back drive control signal based on the received ignition voltage and the capacitor position signal includes analyzing the ignition voltage signal for an ignition voltage failure, analyzing the caliper position signal for caliper engagement, and transmitting the back drive control signal responsive to the ignition voltage failure and caliper engagement. Ignition voltage failure occurs when the ignition voltage signal is a low value.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor and method provides individually retained reactor plates. The method comprises stacking an alternating sequence of positive and negative reactor plates to form a reactor stack, placing temporary spacers between the positive and negative reactor plates. In one embodiment, individually retained reactor plates are secured by folds of a ceramic insulating layer extending between plate pairs, with reactor plates secured by the stack retention material and the folds of the ceramic insulting layer. In a second embodiment, individually retained reactor plates are secured with a permanent pleated insulting mica separator disposed on each side of the reactor. In a third embodiment, a retention material extends slightly into the exhaust gas passage at each side of the stack supplying permanent support for the stacked plates.

Abstract: An improved motor vehicle automatic climate control methodology develops HVAC commands for transient phase operation independent of the HVAC commands calibrated for steady-state phase operation. At system activation, a transient phase indicator is initialized based on the cabin temperature and the set temperature, and thereafter updated to reflect progress toward steady-state phase operation. The steady-state HVAC commands are based on ambient conditions and the set temperature, and the HVAC commands at system activation are based on the steady-state commands and offsets based on the initial in-car temperature. A transient modifier based on the transient phase indicator brings the initial HVAC commands into correspondence with the steady-state HVAC commands as the cabin temperature approaches the set temperature.

Abstract: The presence of sufficient condensate flow for odor-free operation of an air conditioning system is detected based on the surface temperature of a thermistor disposed in a condensate drainpipe of the evaporator and the power supplied to the thermistor. The surface temperature is used to calculate the temperatures of stagnant circumambient air and water. If the temperature for stagnant air is approximately equal to the evaporator temperature, the evaporator is too dry and the operating point of the air conditioning system is lowered to reduce the surface temperature of the evaporator. If the temperature for stagnant water is approximately equal to the evaporator temperature, the drainpipe is plugged. Alternately, a constant power is supplied to the thermistor, and its surface temperature is compared to a set of experimentally determined reference temperatures to deduce the evaporator state.

Abstract: A gas sensor comprises a first electrode and a reference electrode with an electrolyte disposed therebetween, wherein the first electrode and said reference electrode are in ionic conmmunication, wherein the reference electrode has a surface on a side of the reference electrode opposite the electrolyte and the surface has a surface area. The gas sensor also comprises a reference gas channel in fluid communication with the reference electrode, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the reference electrode physically contacts at least a portion of the reference gas channel, and wherein the portion of the reference electrode in physical contact with the reference gas channel is less than about 90% of the surface area.

Abstract: A pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing for allowing belt webbing of the seat restraint system to pass therethrough. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly also includes at least one spring disposed in the housing and at least one magnet disposed in the housing. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly includes a Hall effect sensor disposed in the housing and cooperable with the at least one magnet. The pass through seat restraint tension sensing assembly further includes a movable actuator disposed in the housing and cooperable with the belt webbing and the at least one spring to move the at least one magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system.

Abstract: A no-flow underfill material and process suitable for underfilling a bumped circuit component. The underfill material initially comprises a dielectric polymer material in which is dispersed a precursor capable of reacting to form an inorganic filler. The underfill process generally entails dispensing the underfill material over terminals on a substrate, and then placing the component on the substrate so that the underfill material is penetrated by the bumps on the component and the bumps contact the terminals on the substrate. The bumps are then reflowed to form solid electrical interconnects that are encapsulated by the resulting underfill layer. The precursor may be reacted to form the inorganic filler either during or after reflow.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a consistently stable needle lift damping effect in an injector 8b for fuel injection. In an injector 8b that relieves fuel pressure inside a pressure control chamber 37 and lifts a needle valve 36, there are provided a damper member 62 that is slidably mounted to the needle valve 36, a damping chamber 63 formed between the damper member 62 and the needle valve 36, a leak passage 64 for extracting and leaking out the fuel in the damping chamber 63, and a stopper member 41 to restrict the lift position of the damper member 62. Damping of the lift of the needle valve 36 is carried out by extracting and leaking out the fuel in the damping chamber 63 through the leak passage 64. The needle valve 36 functions as a guide for the damper member 62, and prevents vibration of the damper member 62, allowing a consistently stable damping effect to be obtained.

Abstract: A collision detection system and method of estimating a miss distance of an object and estimating length and width of the object are provided. The collision detection system includes a sensor for sensing an object within a field of view and measuring range and range rate of the sensed object. The collision detection system further includes a controller for estimating a miss distance of the object and further estimating length and width of the object as a function of the range and the range rate.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of fabricating a sensor element for an exhaust gas sensing device, comprises disposing an electrolyte in ionic communication with a sensing electrode and a reference electrode to form the sensor element. The sensing electrode comprises an activator comprising silica and an oxide of an element. The element is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth elements, rare earth elements, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing elements.

Abstract: An integrated sensor comprising a thermopile transducer and signal processing circuitry that are combined on a single semiconductor substrate, such that the transducer output signal is sampled in close vicinity by the processing circuitry. The sensor comprises a frame formed of a semiconductor material that is not heavily doped, and with which a diaphragm is supported. The diaphragm has a first surface for receiving thermal (e.g., infrared) radiation, and comprises multiple layers that include a sensing layer containing at least a pair of interlaced thermopiles. Each thermopile comprises a sequence of thermocouples, each thermocouple comprising dissimilar electrically-resistive materials that define hot junctions located on the diaphragm and cold junctions located on the frame. The signal processing circuitry is located on the frame and electrically interconnected with the thermopiles.

Abstract: A torsion pedal feel emulator assembly for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the same. The assembly includes a pedal member for receiving an applied pedal force. A torsion member is operably attached to the pedal member. A portion of the torsion member is positioned adjacent a reaction surface. The torsion member rotates as a result of the applied pedal force, and a dynamic reaction force is generated against the applied pedal force. A pivot is operably attached to the torsion member and the motor vehicle. The method includes receiving an applied pedal force. A torsion member is rotated as a result of the applied pedal force. A dynamic reaction force is generated against the applied pedal force as a result of the torsion member rotation.

Abstract: A flat twisted electrical terminal is provided for connecting a first circuit element to a second circuit element on respective first and second circuit boards. The terminal includes a flat conductive member having a first end for connecting to a first circuit element and a second end for connecting to a second circuit element. The conductive member is axially twisted about its longitudinal axis.