Abstract: A non-linear control method for an air conditioning system utilizes fuzzy logic to regulate the activation of a displacement control valve for a variable displacement compressor for maintaining a system parameter, such as the evaporator outlet pressure or temperature, at a desired value. The control inputs include the system parameter to be controlled and a refrigerant pressure that reflects changes in the compressor displacement.

Abstract: A load limiting seat restraint retractor for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing for operative connection to vehicle structure. The load limiting seat restraint retractor also includes a take-up spool operatively connected to the housing and connected to webbing of a seat restraint system for winding and unwinding the webbing. The load limiting seat restraint retractor also includes a rotatable torsion bar operatively connected to the housing to provide a constant load limiting on the webbing during an impact. The take-up spool is mounted on the torsion bar. The load limiting seat restraint retractor includes a locking mechanism operatively connected to the torsion bar and the housing. The load limiting seat restraint retractor further includes a load limiting device disposed between the locking mechanism and the take-up spool to deform the take-up spool to provide digressive load limiting on the webbing during the impact.

Abstract: A method and system for phase angle diagnostics in a sinusoidally excited PM electric machine, including: a controller that executes a process to facilitate the method including receiving a position value indicative of the rotational position from a position sensor configured to measure a rotor position of said electric machine and transmit a position signal; receiving a phase advance value indicative of a commanded phase advance angle; determining an expected phase voltage and expected status thereof; observing a selected phase voltage signal and determining an actual status corresponding thereto; and comparing the expected status and the actual status.

Abstract: A powertrain mount comprises an orifice plate and a track member. The orifice plate has an exit, a first surface sloping toward the exit, and an inner surface. The track member has an outer surface proximate the first surface of the orifice plate, and the outer surface of the track member has an entrance. A containment plate forms an orifice track with the first and inner surfaces of the orifice plate and with the outer surface of the track member.

Abstract: An overmolded circuit board assembly and a method for forming the assembly. The assembly and method entail overmolding both surfaces of a circuit board and underfilling at least one surface-mount circuit device attached to at least one surface of the board with solder bump connections, with the result that the circuit device is spaced above the surface of the circuit board so as to define a gap therebetween. A cavity, such as a blind hole or closed through-hole, is defined in the surface of the circuit board beneath the circuit device and communicates with the gap but is closed off from the opposite surface of the circuit board. Air that is trapped in the gap by a molding material during the overmolding/underfilling process is collected and compressed within the cavity, yielding a void-free underfill between the circuit board and circuit device.

Abstract: A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system including an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration; an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator; a retainer plate; a base plate; a rotatable ring positioned between the base plate and the retainer plate and a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of a second command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator so as to at least partially vent inflation gas from an air bag.

Abstract: A rotary hydraulic seal assembly for sealing a rotationally eccentric annular gap between a rotating cam phaser element and a stationary cover. The assembly includes a tubular sleeve disposed between the phaser and the cover at the junctures of control oil passages in the phaser element and the cover. Passages through the sleeve allow oil flow across the sleeve at the junctures. Static seals disposed in grooves on the surface of the sleeve prevent leakage between adjacent junctures. Because the sleeve is constrained from rotating with the phaser element, the static seals are not subjected to frictional wear. The radial thickness of the sleeve is selected such that the rotational surface floats on a thin film of oil and the static seals are sealingly compressed against the stationary element.

Abstract: A metal heat exchanger tank has a molded plastic attachment bracket that can be secured thereto anywhere along the length of the tank with a simple press fit that is very solid. A relatively short metal flange running the length of the tank is inserted into a pocket on the plastic bracket, as cross beams in the pocket insert within notches in the flange and resilient fingers in the pocket snap into indentations in the flange. The bracket is thus preventing from pulling away from the tank or from shifting along the length of the tank. One pocket wall is long enough to cover most a flat back of the tank, which is flush to a back face of the flange, and a footer on the bracket abuts with a flat side of the tank. This gives great twisting resistance to the bracket in any direction relative to the tank.

Abstract: A steering actuator for adjusting an angle of a steerable wheel of a motor vehicle includes an electronic controller, a rack translatable in opposing directions, and a sleeve assembly translatable along a length of the rack and disposed in mechanical communication with the steerable wheel of the vehicle. The rack is drivable in response to an operator input and further drivable in response to an input signal from the electronic controller. A method of using the actuator includes receiving an input from the operator of the vehicle, receiving an input signal indicative of the behavior of the vehicle from a sensing device, calculating an output signal from the operator input and the motor vehicle behavior input signal, and adjusting an angle of the steerable wheel based on the output signal.

Abstract: A rocker switch for one two-stage actuating stroke, especially in the form of a window control switch for a motor vehicle. The rocker switch includes a rocker button which is mounted in a housing. An actuating plate for acting on switching contacts that are connected to terminal contacts is associated with said rocker button. A switching contact is allocated to the actuating stroke of the first stage in each direction, respectively and a common switching contact is allocated to the actuating stroke of the second stage in each direction, respectively.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly for an internal combustion engine and process for eliminating fuel emissions from passing into the atmosphere. The air cleaner assembly includes a housing including a filter element situated therein, an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine, and an inlet conduit extending from the housing for permitting the entry of air into the housing. A retainer is coupled to the inlet conduit. The retainer includes an adsorber member.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer race, inner race, and balls interposed therebetween. The balls are seated in apertures of a cage. The inner wall profile of the cage has a cross section contour through the longitudinal axis that is radial about a radius that has its center origins offset from the center point of the cage along the ball center plane. The outer wall profile also has a cross sectional contour that is radial about a radius with its center also offset from the center point along the ball center plane of the cage and from the radial center of the inner wall radius.

Abstract: A dash panel structure and method for forming such structure having an outer skin layer overlying a layer of foam cushioning material with a dimensionally stable support panel disposed below the foam cushioning material. A break-out pattern is applied across the surface of the substrate panel and into the overlying foam cushioning material in a pattern substantially corresponding to the desired deployment path of an underlying air bag cushion. The break-out pattern formed across the substrate panel is substantially aligned with a corresponding deployment opening pattern of grooved construction extending across the inner surface of the skin layer such that the deployment of the air bag cushion may be carried out at a controlled defined location within the dash panel structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the complex impedance of a fuel includes a sensing element in contact with the fuel. The sensing element is excited with an excitation signal of a predetermined frequency, preferably in a range of 10 kHz to 100 kHz. The induced signal is used to generate a phase and a magnitude signal indicative of the phase and magnitude of the complex impedance. From the phase and magnitude signals, the resistance and capacitance of the fuel can be calculated. Correction for variations in temperature of the electronics is provided, as is variable control to adjust the resolution of the magnitude signal required by fuels of varying content, such as varying ethanol content.

Abstract: A pulse count motor control device that connects to a central control unit through a first interface and to at least one motor through a second interface. A microprocessor integrated into the motor control device then allows it to directly monitor and drive the motor or motors in accordance with pulse count technology methods.

Abstract: A technique for mounting an electrical component to a circuit board includes deforming each of a number of electrical terminals extending from the electrical component to form a mounting portion and a tip portion extending away from the mounting portion. The circuit board defines a number of bores extending therein from a first surface to a second opposite surface, and the electrical component is mounted to the circuit board with the mounting portion of each of the number of electrical terminals supporting the component against the first surface of the circuit board with each of the tip portions extending into separate ones of the number of bores. The mounting portion of each of the electrical terminals is mechanically and electrically affixed to corresponding electrically conductive pads to thereby surface mount the electrical component to the circuit board. The disclosed technique is particularly advantageous for surface mounting display units.

Abstract: A skin layer for covering a dash panel structure in overlying relation to an air bag cushion assembly. The skin layer is of a multi-layered construction including a top layer of virgin polymeric material forming a show surface of controlled predefined color across the vehicle dash panel and an underlying layer of regrind material formed from the scraps of material generated during molding and trimming of the dash panel covers. A tear seam may be scored across the underside of the skin extending into the underlying layer of recycled material in a desired break-out pattern for the air bag cushion. The skin layer may be disposed across an underlying layer of foam which in turn is disposed across a supporting panel structure.

Abstract: The subject invention includes a composite material comprising a ferroelectric material and a ferromagnetic material having a loss factor (tan &dgr;) for the composite material which includes a dielectric loss factor of the ferroelectric material and a magnetic loss factor of the ferromagnetic material. The composite material achieves the loss factor of from 0 to about 1.0 for a predetermined frequency range greater than 1 MHz. The ferroelectric material has a dielectric loss factor of from 0 to about 0.5 and the ferromagnetic material has a magnetic loss factor of from 0 to about 0.5 for the predetermined frequency range. The ferroelectric material is present in an amount from 10 to 90 parts by volume based on 100 parts by volume of the composite material and the ferromagnetic material is present in an amount from 10 to 90 parts by volume based upon 100 parts by volume of the composite material such that the amount of the ferroelectric material and the ferromagnetic material equals 100 parts by volume.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a scroll compressor of the type including an electric motor in driving engagement with an orbiting scroll member having an orbiting scroll vane in a shell extending along an axis between open ends. The method includes the steps of orientating the fixed scroll member angularly about the axis of the shell relative to the orbiting scroll member, and pressing the fixed scroll member having a fixed scroll vane axially into sealing engagement with the shell and into a predetermined spaced relationship with the orbiting scroll member with the scroll vanes of the scroll members in axially overlapping relationship for pumping action between the vanes.

Abstract: A method for compensating for dead time non-linearities in a pulse width modulation (PWM) controlled device including obtaining a motor data signal, generating a duty cycle of the motor voltage responsive to the motor data signal, determining a compensation value responsive to the duty cycle of the motor voltage, generating a compensated duty cycle in response to the compensation value and the duty cycle of the motor voltage and introducing the compensated duty cycle to the PWM controlled device. In addition, a medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for compensating for dead time non-linearities in a pulse width modulation (PWM) controlled device, the medium including instructions for causing controller to implement the aforementioned method.