Abstract: A rotary position sensor for an rotating shaft includes a planetary gear set and a potentiometer. The planetary gear set is coupled to the rotating shaft. The potentiometer is coupled to the rotating shaft and the planetary gear set and is adapted to measure a rotary position of the rotating shaft and responsively generates a position signal. The planetary gear set is adapted to reduce multiple rotations of the rotating shaft to less than a full rotation of the potentiometer.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly comprises outer and inner joint members having engaging contact surfaces which support the joint for articulation about a common center point. The joint members have ball grooves which diverge inwardly of the joint and whose inner and outer ball groove surfaces are axially offset with respect to the center point for urging the balls axially inwardly. A ball retainer is provided within the outer joint member. The ball retainer is spring-biased into engagement with an end of the inner joint member and pivots about the center point of the joint to engage and hold the balls within the ball grooves, maintaining them in a common plane.

Abstract: A motor vehicle automatic climate control computes the HVAC power requirement for cabin air temperature regulation, and determines corresponding air discharge temperature and blower motor speed commands using a two-step table look-up procedure. Nominal air discharge temperature and blower motor speed profiles are tabulated as a function of a Power Index generally corresponding to ambient temperature, and used along with the set temperature to form a table of HVAC power requirement vs. Power Index. In vehicle operation, the HVAC power requirement vs. Power Index table is used to retrieve a Power Index corresponding to the computed HVAC power requirement, and the air discharge temperature and blower motor speed tables are then used to retrieve air discharge temperature and blower motor speed commands based on the retrieved Power Index.

Abstract: A tripot joint (10) includes a tripot housing (12) having three guide channels (24) receiving three corresponding trunnions (20) of a tripot spider (16). A ball assembly (28) is mounted on each of the trunnions (20) and received in the guide channels (24). The ball assembly includes an inner ball (30), and outer ball (40), and a complement of roller elements (52). The inner balls (30) are slidable axially on the roller elements (52) relative to the outer balls (40). Each ball assembly (28) includes at least one yieldable retainer (58) mounted on the outer ball (40) and projecting into the axial sliding path of the inner ball (30) in at least partial overlapping relation to the inner ball (30). The yieldable retainers secure the inner and outer balls (30, 40) against axial separation prior to joining the ball assemblies (28) with the trunnions (20) and guide channels (24).

Abstract: Active control of a vehicle bumper damper is provided. A damper controller receives data from a collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure an active damper based on the received data. During a collision or immediately preceding a collision the vehicle bumper damper is adjusted using the damper controller mechanism that responds to real-time collision information. A vehicle including an active control system for a vehicle bumper is provided. The vehicle includes a collision data acquisition device, a damper controller coupled to the collision data acquisition device, and an active damper coupled to the damper controller. The damper controller receives data from the collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure the active damper based on the received data.

Abstract: A pressure transducer assembly mountable in an interior of a tire for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the tire comprising: a sensor housing having a first compartment in fluid communication with the fluid; a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a divider slideably engaged with and removable from the sensor housing; the divider having disposed thereon a circuitry; the circuitry including a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the first compartment, and a transmission circuit coupled to the pressure transducer for transmitting a signal responsive to the internal pressure to a remote location; a removable power source coupled to the circuitry contained entirely within the second compartment; and a cover sealingly engaged with the housing and the divider such that the second compartment is not in fluid communication with the first compartment.

Abstract: A heat sink device for retaining a heat dissipating object includes a substrate having an aperture configured therethrough to receive the object and an extruded portion extending from a surface of the substrate defining the aperture. The extruded portion is configured to receive the object and increase a surface area available for heat transfer from said object in said aperture relative to without said extruded portion.

Abstract: A device and method for a vehicle steering column subassembly having current electronic features (equipment) and integrating such electronic features and additional wireless communication circuits within a common node to reduce over crowding of the electronics within the body of the vehicle, and further integrating an antenna utilized for such wireless communication devices to enhance signal strength. The common node is modularly disposed around the steering column and preferably on top of the steering column proximate a steering handwheel to protrude from the instrument panel and above the vehicle sheet metal to reduce shielding.

Abstract: An expanded-range pintle valve comprising a plurality of stages. Each stage comprises a valve seat and head capable of regulating flow through the valve over its own dynamic range. The valve head of a higher-flow stage includes the valve seat for the next-lower flow stage. The heads and seats for the multiple stages are nested concentrically, the progressively lower-flow stages having progressively smaller diameters. All valve heads except the lowest-flow head have axial and radial bores permitting flow therethrough so that flow may be regulated first by actuating the lowest-flow stage, then by actuating successively higher flow stages. A single pintle shaft connected to a solenoid actuator is adapted to engage each of the valve heads sequentially as the actuator progresses, beginning with the lowest-flow head, thereby extending incrementally the dynamic range of the valve as each stage is successively engaged.

Abstract: A battery pack containing a plurality of battery modules, these modules comprising a plurality of individual battery units, these battery units comprising a plurality of bicells with opposing terminals. The battery modules are connected in series by use of a flexible circuit and by opposing positive and negative terminals of each battery unit. The terminals of each battery unit contain a region of apertures which allow the adhesive of the envelope-like packaging material to seal more effectively by flowing through the apertures and sealing to itself, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of leakage from an individual battery unit. The terminals pass through overlapped edges of the packaging material and include tangs for electrical connection to flaps formed in the flexible circuit.

Abstract: A solenoid coil assembly having a first component member that is configured to support a coil and has a pair of terminal pins. The terminal pins are positioned for attachment to a structure such as a circuit board or lead frame. The first component member has pins for ultrasonic staking to a second component member. The second component member covers the first component member and the first and second component members provide an area for receiving and mounting the solenoid coil assembly to a valve assembly. The solenoid coil assembly positions first component member including the coil about the valve assembly.

Abstract: A mobile weather band radio and method of tuning the radio to select a signal channel based on geographic position. The radio has a weather band tuner adjustable for a plurality of radio wave signal channels. A position indicative receiver is provided for receiving position indicative signals and determining a current position of the radio. A controller automatically tunes the tuner to a select signal channel based on the determined geographic region.

Abstract: A plastic fastener is disclosed. The fastener may be employed in a vehicle generator. The fastener has a plastic body extending through an aperture of a first component and through an aperture of a second component. The body has a first distal head that retainingly abuts the opening of the aperture of the first component. The plastic body also has a second distal head that retainingly abuts the opening of the aperture of the second component. The configuration of the body secures the first component to the second component. The invention further provides a method of fastening components of a vehicular generator. A plastic body with first and second studs is over molded about a first generator component. At least one stud may be extended through an aperture of a second generator component. The studs are then formed into distal heads to secure the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A method of making a low-cost metal diaphragm sensor that integrates both pressure and temperature sensing in a single sensor assembly utilizes thick-film processing to form a circuit including stress and temperature sensitive elements on the outboard or exposed surface of a thin metal diaphragm separating the circuit from a pressurized fluid. Only a thin layer of dielectric separates the stress and temperature sensitive elements from the diaphragm surface. The stress sensitive elements respond to mechanical stressing of the diaphragm due to the presence of the pressurized fluid, while the temperature sensitive element responds to the temperature of the pressurized fluid. The thermal capacity of the fluid greatly exceeds that of the diaphragm, so that the temperature responsive characteristic of the temperature sensitive element accurately reflects the temperature of the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A spot-type automotive disc brake of floating-twin disc and fixed-caliper format utilizes one or more single wire springs to bias the two floating friction elements with respect to the fixed caliper. Each spring exerts a differential resilient effect on the central friction element with respect to the floating side friction element by virtue of differential connection arrangements, thereby meeting the differential springing requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for starting an engine having a starter generator for providing a rotational force to a pulley in order to provide the necessary torque to start an engine. The starter generator also receives a rotational force to the pulley wherein the starter generator generates a current when the pulley receives the rotational force. A valve deactivation system reduces the compression in a cylinder of the engine, thereby reducing the torque required to perform a starting sequence of the engine, either permitting this apparatus to be applied to larger engines, lower ambient temperatures, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: A transmission housing includes a well, for receiving an electric drive motor, and a shaft hole, for receiving an idler gear shaft. The motor well is surrounded at its open end by a plurality of lugs formed in the housing and having inwardly-facing slots for receiving a motor retainer plate. The plate has a central opening for receiving and accurately positioning the motor. The retainer plate has a pattern of edge notches identical to the arrangement of the lugs but rotationally offset by an appropriate central angle. The plate is inserted axially past the lugs via the notches and then rotated through the central angle to engage the non-notched edge of the plate in the slots, thereby securing and positioning the motor in the well. A flange extending from the plate has a second hole precisely located at a distance from the plate center hole. With the plate rotated into motor-retaining position, the second hole is coaxial with the idler shaft hole.

Abstract: Interleaved converter and method for controlling such inverter are provided. The converter includes a plurality of phasing stages. The converter further includes a calculator configured to calculate a duty cycle value of the converter. A processor is configured to receive the calculated duty cycle value. A rulebase is coupled to the processor and includes a set of phase-selection rules configured to select a respective phase number based on the: calculated duty cycle value.

Abstract: A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid has a temperature sensor and a heater disposed in spaced relation within a channel. When the device is immersed in a liquid, the heater heats the liquid and the temperature sensor detects the change in temperature of the liquid in response to heating of the liquid by the heater. A controller coupled with the temperature sensor receives a signal corresponding to the temperature of the liquid and determines an index value corresponding to the change in temperature with respect to time. The index value may be compared with a stored value to evaluate the relative change in viscosity, or it may be used to determine an actual value of viscosity of the liquid.

Abstract: A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a sensor plate adapted to be fixed relative to vehicle structure and a movable anchor plate adapted to be connected to belt webbing and movable relative to the sensor plate. The tension sensing assembly also includes a housing mounted to the sensor plate and a movable actuator disposed in the housing. The tension sensing assembly includes at least one spring disposed between the housing and the actuator. The tension sensing assembly further includes at least one magnet and a Hall effect sensor mounted to either one of the housing and the actuator. The anchor plate has a tab portion extending through the housing and cooperable with the actuator to move the actuator to deflect the at least one spring.