Abstract: A contact assembly for a circuit board includes a first side with a conductive pad disposed thereon and a second side also having a conductive pad disposed thereon. The contact assembly further includes a conductive contact member. The conductive contact member has an arm with a central portion and an end portion adjacent to the central portion. The contact member also has a second arm which has a central portion and an end adjacent to that central portion. The conductive contact member also includes a junction at the connection between the two arms. The conductive contact member is designed to contact the circuit board. When implemented, it electrically connect the two conductive pads of the circuit board. This attachment creates a complete circuit between the two sides of the circuit board. Additionally, a holder member is coupled to the conductive contact member substantially near the junction and substantially opposite the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of testing magnetorheological fluid comprises cycling the fluid at an elevated temperature, allowing the fluid to stand, performance testing the fluid, cycling the fluid at superimposed frequencies, and noting settling characteristics of the fluid.

Abstract: A motorcycle having a system for combustion knock control. The motorcycle includes a spark generating circuit having a spark plug. The spark generating circuit produces a spark across a spark gap of the spark plug in response to a sparking signal. The motorcycle further includes an ion signal circuit that provides an ion signal indicative of an ion current being generated across the spark gap, and an analysis module electrically connected to the ion signal circuit and the spark generating circuit. The analysis module generates the sparking signal in a timed sequence, receives the ion signal from the ion signal generating circuit, measures a knock intensity within the ion signal, and modifies the timing sequence when knock is present.

Abstract: A dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a reservoir adapted to be disposed in a primary side of the fuel tank and having a top defining an overflow fuel level of the reservoir. The dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly also includes a first conduit conducting return fuel from an engine of the vehicle to the reservoir and a second conduit extending to an auxiliary side of the fuel tank. The dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly further includes a dual barrel jet pump disposed in the reservoir and having a first inlet operatively connected to the first conduit and a second inlet operatively connected to said second conduit to fill the reservoir with fuel from the primary side and auxiliary side of the fuel tank.

Abstract: The lower bracket assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a lower column support bracket with a central passage. A lower bearing adapter slides into the central passage from the rear. A pair of energy absorption straps engage the column support bracket and the column support bracket and resist further forward movement of the lower bearing adapter. During a collision, the energy absorption straps absorb energy while permitting the lower bearing adapter to move forward and out of the central passage through the column support bracket.

Abstract: A tension sensing switch assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing for mounting to a seat restraint buckle of the seat restraint system and an actuating member disposed in the housing for movement therein and cooperating with belt webbing. The tension sensing switch assembly also includes a spring disposed in the housing for cooperating with the actuating member. The tension sensing switch assembly further includes a switch disposed in the housing and cooperable with the actuating member to indicate a first tension level and a second tension level in the seat restraint system when the spring is deflected.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an injector arrangement includes a fuel pump having a pump chamber and a spill valve controlling communication between pump chamber and a low pressure reservoir. The injector includes a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seating, a control chamber arranged such that the fuel pressure therein urges the valve needle towards the valve needle seating. A control valve is provided for controlling the fuel pressure within the control chamber. An actuator arrangement is arranged to control the operation of the control valve such that, when the actuator arrangement is de-energised, the control valve permits communication between the control chamber and the low pressure reservoir.

Abstract: An oil level sensor for a vehicle includes a receiver tube oriented upright in the oil pan of the vehicle. A level tube is disposed in the receiver tube and below the level tube is a reference tube. A circuit is electrically connected to the tubes for outputting a signal representative of oil level in the oil pan. As the engine oil level decreases within the level tube, the output of the sensor drops. When the engine oil level is below the bottom of the level tube but higher than the top of the reference tube, the output reaches the lowest value. As the engine oil level continuous decreasing (below the top of the reference tube), the output increases for a first circuit configuration (i.e., level with reference tube), and will stay constant for the second configuration level.

Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side member and a second side member. A first end and a second end interconnect the first and second side members. The first and second side member define first and second pin orifices, respectively. A center roller is disposed between the first and second side members. The center roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. A shaft extends through the shaft orifice. A first shaft end is disposed proximate the first side member, and the second shaft end is disposed proximate the second side member. The second shaft end defines a shaft bore therein. The first shaft end defines a pin chamber therein. The shaft bore being is substantially concentric with and intersects the pin chamber. A locking pin assembly is disposed partially within the shaft bore, the pin chamber and at least one of the pin orifices.

Abstract: A virtual ball joint, comprising a pair of bearings disposed about a center of curvature; each of the bearing comprising an inner race and an outer race supporting a plurality of balls therebetween. The inner and outer races have angled surfaces in contact with the balls, such that the outer angled surfaces coincide with an imaginary sphere centered about the center of curvature. A shaft mounted in the bearings may thus be rotated about the center of curvature as if mounted with a ball joint.

Abstract: A frangible cover for a vehicle air bag assembly having a displaceable flap portion of controlled flexibility for rotation in hinging fashion generally away from a tear seam at the interior of the cover and towards the perimeter of the cover to form an opening across the cover for egress of an underlying air bag cushion. One or more stiffness reducing members are arranged at the flap portion to control the internal stiffness of the flap portion and to facilitate ease of outward rotational displacement of the flap portion. Such stiffness reducing members may be arranged in a pattern extending in the region between the outer edge of the cover and a portion of an interior tear seam.

Abstract: Controllable dampers are used to improve vehicle responses and stability during severe vehicle handling maneuvers. A total handling damping value for the vehicle is derived, preferably from the greatest of a yaw rate error value, a lateral acceleration value and a time derivative of lateral acceleration value. In addition, a control ratio of front axle roll damping to total roll damping is derived, preferably from the yaw rate error value, an oversteer/understeer indication and possibly vehicle speed. From these values, handling damping values are derived for each wheel of the vehicle and blended with damping values for the same wheels derived from suspension component movement to determine a corner damping command for each controllable damper. Preferably, the damping values derived from suspension component movement are shifted away from damping control of the vehicle body toward handling damping control when yaw rate error is large in magnitude.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a microcontroller, a first non-volatile memory bank, a second non-volatile memory bank and a volatile memory. The microcontroller is coupled to an external tool and executes a control algorithm, which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU. The first non-volatile memory bank is coupled to the microcontroller and initially stores a plurality of initial calibration tables. The second non-volatile memory bank and the volatile memory are also coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller executes code, which calibrates the ECU without interrupting the normal operation of the subsystem.

Abstract: An adjustable vehicle suspension damper configured to be arranged between a wheel assembly and a body of a vehicle, the adjustable damper including a tube. A piston is slidably carried in the tube. A coil is carried on the piston adjacent a first flow passageway in the piston to produce a magnetic field thereacross and a control valve is carried on the piston controlling fluid flow through a second flow passageway in the piston.

Abstract: A brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing including a bore formed therein. A piston is slidably positioned in the bore, the piston and bore defining a fluid chamber therebetween. A screw member is operatively engaged with the piston. The piston and screw member are movable based on fluid pressure in the fluid chamber and movable in a linear direction based on the rotational movement of the screw member.

Abstract: A non-contact Hall Effect position sensor integral to a master cylinder for an automotive hydraulic braking system provides reliable brake pedal position information without regard to the geometry and placement of the brake pedal input, decreasing the complexity of integration into each type of automobile. Moreover, reliable performance of brake position sensing is provided by avoiding use of contact sensors that are subject to wear and performance variation.

Abstract: A door mounted side restraint system is provided. The door mounted side restraint system includes an air bag module and a retention mechanism. The air bag module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion. The inflator is activatable to inflate the inflatable cushion. The retention mechanism includes a retention strap and a tensioning device. The retention strap is connected to the inflatable cushion and is deployable across a side window of a vehicle such that a tarp-like effect is provided to the inflatable cushion by the retention strap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the control of the bandpass width in the filtering of an intermediate frequency signal of an audio receiver of a radio reception apparatus. A signal parameter of a user signal of the audio receiver which is received at a reception frequency is determined and taken into account and a signal parameter of at least one neighboring signal which is received at a neighboring frequency which is adjacent to the reception frequency is determined. The bandpass width of the intermediate frequency filtering is selected in dependence at least on the signal parameter which is determined from the user signal, on the signal parameter which is determined from the neighboring signal and on the frequency distance between the reception frequency and the user frequency. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding radio reception apparatus.

Abstract: An air bag cushion folded for storage within a vehicle to achieve a predefined folded surface geometry corresponding to a desired storage location for the folded air bag cushion. A portion of the air bag cushion extending along a first lateral boundary edge for deployment inboard of the passenger seating location is folded in a construction inwardly to establish a first lateral edge of the predefined folded surface geometry. A portion of the air bag cushion disposed along the opposing lateral boundary edge is folded inwardly along a second internal lateral boundary line corresponding to a second lateral edge of the predefined folded surface geometry. The top and bottom edges are folded inwardly to finalize the desired geometry. The folding arrangement is such that upon encountering an obstacle during the initial stage of deployment the air bag is deployed in a lateral direction to the side of and around the occupant to be protected.