Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering handle having a center position, a steer-by-wire system, and a steer feel control system. The steer-by-wire system senses the position of the steering handle and controls the steering angle of a steerable vehicle wheel as a function of the position of the steering handle. The steer feel control system includes a motor that is operatively associated with the steering handle, and has first and second modes of operation. In the first mode, the steer feel control system applies a force to the steering handle as a function of vehicle's operating condition, and in the second mode, the motor may be shorted. The steer feel control system may also include a spring that biases the steering handle towards to the center position. A method is used to provide steering feel to a steering handle of a vehicle having a steer-by-wire system and a steer feel control system, when the steer feel control system fails.

Abstract: A method of monitoring faults in a vehicle bulb circuit including bulb and a fuse. The method includes detecting acceleration of the vehicle and comparing the acceleration of the vehicle to a limit. Based on the relationship of the acceleration to the limit, it is determined whether a fault exists in the bulb circuit. An indicator is activated in response to detecting a fault in the bulb circuit. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A harmonic motor includes a first annular member, a second member, and device for flexing the first annular member. The first annular member has a longitudinal axis and is flexible. The second member is substantially coaxially aligned with the first annular member. One of the first annular and second members is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and the other of the first annular and second members is nonrotatable about the longitudinal axis. The flexing device flexes the first annular member into at least two spaced-apart points of contact with the second member and sequentially flexes the first annular member to rotate the at least two points of contact about the longitudinal axis which rotates the rotatable one of the first annular and second members about the longitudinal axis. The flexing device is nonrotatable about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for determining a level of water contamination in a fuel containing ethanol, including determining the ethanol concentration of the fuel; sensing the resistance of the fuel; determining a resistance limit of the fuel; and comparing the resistance to the resistance limit to provide the level of water contamination. Ethanol concentration is preferably obtained by comparing a measured capacitance to known values in a look-up table. The resistance limit can be determined by multiplying a resistance corresponding to the ethanol concentration by an alarm fraction. The resistance is obtained by a look-up table of resistance values at known water contamination levels. Reporting occurs when the measured resistance is at or below the resistance limit. Alternatively, the measured resistance is normalized with respect to the resistance with no water contamination and reporting occurs when −1.6667*normalized resistance+1.6667 approaches 1.0.

Abstract: A vehicle display assembly includes a display board, a light source for illuminating the display board, a plurality of buttons, and a grounding frame and housing which are both configured to allow light from the light source to illuminate the plurality of buttons. Using the same light source to illuminate both the display board and the buttons eliminates the need for separate button lighting, simplifying the assembly and reducing the assembly's operating temperature.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly to dampen the vibration generated in a motor vehicle and transmitted through, for example, a steering assembly. The vibration damper assembly includes a rotor disposed within a housing. The rotor is operatively connected to a velocity generating member such as a pinion that is integrated with the steering assembly. A conductive sleeve is disposed between the housing and the rotor. A coil engages the sleeve and is capable of generating a magnetic field that is transmitted through the sleeve. A plate separates the rotor from the sleeve thereby defining a viscous fluid chamber and a Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid chamber between the rotor and the sleeve. The viscous fluid chamber includes a Newtonian fluid and the MR fluid chamber includes a MR fluid having sheer properties reactive to the magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the load dump voltage of a permanent magnet (PM) alternator having a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge. The apparatus includes a voltage divider, a peak detector, and a comparator. The voltage divider attenuates the bridge output voltage, which is further fed through a peak detector to hold the peak value for improved stability. The comparator changes states when the bridge output exceeds a predetermined voltage level (e.g., 55 volts) that is less than the load dump threshold limit (e.g., 60 volts), but greater than the normal operating voltage (e.g., 42 volts). The comparator output change-in-state deactivates a gate pulse generator, thereby suppressing further operation of the SCR bridge. Voltage transients that may otherwise occur at the bridge output for the remainder portion of a half cycle from the PM alternator are clamped using a varistor or zener diode.

Abstract: An improved air center form roll for use in combination with a like form roll to produce an accordion-like folded fin for a heat exchanger core, the form roll being of the type comprising a plurality of form discs abutted one to the other and having a plurality of star-like teeth thereabout. Points of the star-like teeth define a major diameter of the form roll and valleys between adjacent ones of the star-like teeth define a minor diameter of the form roll. The form roll further includes at least one stripper disc having no teeth therearound and interposed between at least two of the plurality of form discs wherein the stripper disc has a diameter less than the minor diameter of the form roll. The improvement to the form roll comprises a modified disc having a plurality of modified star-like teeth thereabout. The modified disc is interposed at each abutment between the stripper disc and one of the abutting form discs.

Abstract: An interactive energy absorbing system including a steering column housing that is moveable along a collapse stroke corresponding to a force of impact by an operator. The interactive energy absorbing system includes an energy absorbing component that exerts a resistant force for resisting the movement of the steering column housing along its collapse stroke. The energy absorbing component includes a deformable strap that engages a stationary reaction member and a moveable reaction member, The stationary and moveable reaction members have an adjustable total active surface area for engaging the deformable strap and generating the resistance force. The moveable reaction member moves to adjust the total active surface area due to mechanical translation corresponding to the force of impact by the operator.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and computer usable medium, including a program, for vehicle stability control. A rear axle cornering stiffness coefficient in a linear handling range is determined. A first understeer coefficient in a linear handling range is determined. A desired lateral acceleration is determined based on the first understeer coefficient. A second understeer coefficient is determined based on a limited magnitude of the desired lateral acceleration. A desired yaw rate is determined based on the second understeer coefficient. A desired lateral velocity is determined based on the desired yaw rate and the rear axle cornering stiffness coefficient.

Abstract: A mount assembly for connecting a damper rod to a motor vehicle tower comprises a mount housing, a nut, and a resilient cushion. The mount housing has a vertical portion extending through an opening in the tower, and a flange disposed on one side of the tower. The nut is disposed on a side of the tower opposite the one side, and is engaged with the vertical portion of the mount housing. The resilient cushion is disposed within the vertical portion of the mount housing, the damper rod extending through the resilient cushion assembly. A spring engaged with the tower is adapted to transfer loads from the motor vehicle to the tower.

Abstract: The switched reluctance machine providing soft chopping in the output current controls the voltage across the phase winding. When the current through the phase winding in the generating mode reaches a first predetermined value, the voltage across the phase winding is reversed and as a result, the current through the phase winding decreases. When the phase winding current reaches a second value, the phase winding is shorted so that the current increases due to the positive back-EMF through the phase winding until the first predetermined value is again reached, at which time the voltage across the phase winding is again reversed.

Abstract: An improved weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between a minimum weight adult and a child seated on a booster seat. An early characterization of the seat occupant is made in an interval following a transition event such as a door opening or ignition state change that activates the occupant detection system. During this interval, an initial characterization routine monitors the seat belt tension and the raw seat pressure to identify signal values characteristic of a minimum weight adult or a child seated on a booster seat. If the indicated occupant weight during subsequent operation of the vehicle is inconsistent with the initial characterization, the initial characterization is discarded, and the seat occupancy is characterized based on the indicated occupant weight.

Abstract: A sensor comprising; a sensing element disposed within a housing having a lower shell portion, a middle shell portion, and an upper shell portion, wherein said sensing element extends from said lower shell portion through at least a portion of said middle shell portion; a connector plug concentrically disposed within said upper shell portion; one or more electrical wires extending from said connector plug through an opening in said upper shell portion, and said opening forming a seal in said upper portion concentrically disposed around said one or more eletrical wires.

Abstract: A steering system comprises a hand wheel positioned for manipulation by a driver, a steering shaft extending from the hand wheel, and a magnetic column lock. The steering shaft is supported by a steering column housing so that it can rotate on its own axis. The magnetic column lock includes a rotor attached to steering shaft, a stator attached to column housing, and magnetorheological fluid filling a space between the rotor and stator. In another aspect of the steering system, the steering shaft extends from the hand wheel through a hand wheel actuator having a position sensor and a motor for providing driver feedback. A steering column extends from a lower portion of said steering shaft to a rack, and includes a pinion at its lower end for engagement with the rack, so that the rack translates left and right when the pinion is rotated in corresponding directions. The rack is connected to the front road wheels and causes the front road wheels to steer when it is translated.

Abstract: A vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment mechanism which includes a rake bracket having a rake slot provided with rake slot teeth. A tooth lock is supported in the rake slot with teeth opposing the rake slot teeth. A rake bolt is rotatable to a first rotative position to move the tooth lock to a retracted position with the teeth of the tooth lock out of engagement with the rake slot teeth. The bolt is axially rotatable to a second rotative position permitting the tooth lock to be moved to a locking position by a spring in which the teeth of the tooth lock engage the rake slot teeth. The bolt, when in the second rotative position, is movable, in response to an application of an impact force on the steering column to collapse the steering column, into bearing engagement with the tooth lock to positively retain the tooth lock in the locking position. The steering column is also provided with a release mechanism having shear pins and an energy absorption mechanism.

Abstract: A no-flow underfill material and process for underfilling a flip chip component. The underfill material comprises at least three polymer layers. A first of the layers overlies terminals of a substrate to which the component is to be mounted. The first and second layers are substantially free of fillers, while the third layer contains a filler material to reduce its CTE. The underfill process entails placing the component so that solder terminals thereof penetrate the first, second and third layers and contact the terminals on the substrate. Because only the third layer contains filler material, penetration of the underfill material by the solder terminals is substantially unimpeded. The solder terminals are then reflowed, during which the filler material migrates into the unfilled first layer and the first, second and third layers consolidate and cure to form a single underfill layer.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid reservoir for a hydraulic power system includes a reservoir housing having an internal chamber for containing a supply of hydraulic fluid, an outlet for communicating the fluid from the housing to an inlet of a hydraulic pump, and a return flow inlet for receiving a return flow of fluid into the chamber. The reservoir includes a flow diffuser having a diffuser inlet communicating with the return flow inlet for receiving at least a fraction of the return flow into the diffuser. The diffuser has an inner fluid guide wall that is preferably conical which diverges in the downstream direction in order to quiet any turbulence in the flow within the diffuser and to discharge into the bulk of the fluid into the chamber to be deaerated.

Abstract: A voltage power supply circuit is provided that uses the voltage output of an oscillator to provide a high voltage DC output to drive a liquid crystal display device. A controller IC opens and closes an FET to allow the EMF of an inductor to generate a DC voltage that exceeds the battery voltage source for the liquid crystal display device. Accordingly, the oscillator circuit that drives a back light display for a liquid crystal device is simultaneously used to generate the high voltage DC source for the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) mechanism includes an output cam having a first output cam lobe and a second output cam lobe. A body portion adjoins and axially separates the first and second output cam lobes. The body portion includes an outer surface. A portion of the outer surface is configured for being pivotally engaged by a cam support bearing.