Abstract: A cam phaser wherein the stator is integral with either the back plate or the front cover plate. The integral stator may be formed by any desired forming technique, such as, for example, by machining, casting, welding, or injection molding. Preferably, however, the integral stator is formed in a single molding step by powdered metal forming using powdered aluminum. Cap seals are provided for sealing the hydraulic chambers of the cam phaser.

Abstract: A filtered electrical connector has a die cast aluminum housing that is mounted to a printed circuit board for attaching wiring harnesses to the printed circuit board for transmitting electrical signals to and from the circuitry of the printed circuit board. The die cast housing has six compartments that have a socket on the bottom of the housing for receiving the end connector of one of the wiring harnesses. A plastic retainer that holds several contact pins is secured in the lower portion of each compartment. A plated plastic filter insert having an anistropic substrate and surface mounted capacitors is encapsulated in an enlarged upper portion of each compartment. The contact pins extend through the filter insert and a ferrite block that is embedded above the filter insert. The ferrite block is covered by an insulation sheet to avoid short circuits in the printed circuit board and protect against bent pins.

Abstract: Described is a substantially sealed lightweight lithium ion battery and container comprising: a metallic housing having front and back segments, which segments are substantially equal in length and width and a pair of sides having a length substantially equal to the length of the front and back segments; a lithium ion battery comprised of a stack of lithium ion electrodes sized to fit snuggly within the housing which battery has bipolar electrodes with an electrolyte there between; a housing bottom member sized to snuggly fit the cathode terminal of the lithium electrode stack therein; a housing top member sized to snuggly fit the anode terminal of the lithium stack therein; and an insulated gasket spaced between the anode and the metallic housing electrically separating the anode from the housing.

Abstract: A method and circuit for determining the health of a microcontroller is provided having a circuit that includes a bus having data streams thereon. A first CPU is coupled to the bus. A linear feedback shift register is coupled to the bus and generates a signature in response to the data streams. A memory is coupled to the bus. The memory is utilized by the first CPU. A controller is coupled to the register for controlling the reading of the data streams. The register generates a second signature in response to the data stream. The controller compares the reference signature and the second signature. The controller generates a fault signal when the reference signature is unequal to the second signature.

Abstract: A storage unit is provided for selectively heating and/or cooling items placed therein. The storage unit has a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment. A thermoelectric module is positioned in between the first and second storage compartments. The thermoelectric module regulates and maintains various desired temperatures within the storage compartments. Particularly, the thermoelectric module is capable of heating the first storage compartment and cooling the second storage compartment.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount assembly includes a body with a main chamber formed therein. A magnetorheological fluid retaining member is positioned in the main chamber forming a magnetorheological chamber adjacent the main chamber. An electrical coil is positioned adjacent the magnetorheological chamber and a plate member is operably connected to the magnetorheological fluid retaining member. Energization and de-energization of the coil controls the ability of the mount to resist movement by varying the apparent viscosity of the fluid within the magnetorheological chamber.

Abstract: A master cylinder for vehicle braking systems includes a housing having a central cavity, at least one fluid supply inlet port, at least one pressure outlet port, and a flange at one end thereof. A piston actuation mechanism within the central cavity is moveable between a first position wherein the central cavity is in fluid communication with the fluid supply inlet and a second position where the central cavity is in fluid communication with the pressure outlet. A cup-shaped end cap is fastened to the housing flange in a fluid sealing relationship wherein the cup-shaped end cap receives at least a portion of the piston actuating mechanism therein and further retains the piston actuation mechanism in an operational configuration within the housing.

Abstract: A fuel pump module for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a reservoir adapted to be disposed in the fuel tank and a partition disposed in the reservoir to divide the reservoir into a fuel sensing chamber and a fuel storage chamber. The fuel pump module also includes a conduit conducting return fuel from an engine of the vehicle to the fuel storage chamber of the reservoir. The fuel pump module includes a fuel pump disposed in the reservoir and having an inlet disposed in the fuel sensing chamber and an outlet disposed in the fuel storage chamber. The fuel pump module further includes a fuel usage priority valve to allow fuel from the fuel storage chamber to flow to the fuel sensing chamber to provide the inlet of the fuel pump with fuel from the fuel storage chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injection system is provided for use in an internal combustion engine, where the engine includes at least one cylinder head cover. The fuel injection system includes at least one fuel injector assembly that is inserted into an inlet in the cylinder head cover. The fuel injector assembly includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that extends through the inlet of the cylinder head cover, where at least part of the lower body portion is comprised of a low radiant heat absorbent material having a high radiant heat reflectance color for reflecting radiant heat away from the fuel injector assembly during engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A device for the determination of the degree of relative rotation between two parts or members with respect to each other about a main axis, the device comprising a first detector arrangement, which includes a rotation-imparting element and produces precise information indicating a relative angular position of the two members within the range of 0° and 360°, and comprising a second detector arrangement, which produces approximate information in order to be able to distinguish between full rotations. The second detector arrangement comprises a gear drive (40, 45, 75, 71) driven by the relative rotary motion of the two members and an absolute position sensor (23, 73) for the determination of the position of a measuring element (76) moved by the gear drive (40, 45, 75, 71).

Abstract: This present invention provides variable deployment performance by controlling the quantity and fluid flow path of the inflator gas into or out of an air bag module according to the present invention. The air bag module includes a slide ring mechanism disposed about an inflator and adjacent at least a portion of a cushion retainer. The slide ring mechanism comprises an annular ring having openings formed therein, wherein during rotation of the slide mechanism, the openings of the annular ring align with openings formed in the cushion retainer to define a fluid flow path away from an air bag cushion for venting some of the inflator gas. Preferably, the annular ring is rotated by attaching a pair of tethers to the annular ring and to a rear surface of the air bag cushion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for adjusting the modeled resistance used in the control of an electric motor drive to match the actual resistance of the motor. The system comprises sensors for measuring motor current and motor speed, which data is inputted into a processing unit. The processor uses the measured rotational speed to calculate what the proper current should be based upon the torque desired. If the calculated current is not equal to the measured current, then the modeled resistance of the motor is altered to correct the current. The invention is particularly useful for permanent magnet brushless motors operating in voltage mode.

Abstract: An improved method of measuring vehicle speed based on the output signal of a variable reluctance speed sensor responsive to the teeth of a transmission output gear adjusts the sensitivity of a signal processing circuit in dependence on the mode of operation of the vehicle so as to reduce sensitivity to output signals produced by gear tooth vibration. The signal processing circuit only passes portions of the sensor output signal that have an amplitude greater than a predefined threshold and a frequency less than a predefined frequency, except when an electronic controller identifies a condition of potentially erroneous speed sensing characterized by substantially stationary vehicle operation with the engine decoupled from the output gear and an engine speed in excess of a calibrated threshold.

Abstract: Control methods for operating a power converter circuit, consisting of a full bridge DC/DC converter stage and a full bridge DC/AC inverter stage, for use in automobiles and other vehicles. The DC/DC converter is operated by pulse width modulation and by “soft switching” and “synchronous switching” which involves turning MOSFET switches OFF and ON at strategic times to gain improvements in system performance. The DC/DC converter is also operated at a relatively high and relatively constant duty cycle, and is controlled in such a way as to make the output operate as a current source. The DC/AC inverter has a cycle by cycle overload current protection scheme.

Abstract: A wheel spindle flange (and the like) has stud holes with soft surface hardness formed therein which permit non-rotational splines, studs and the like to be press-fitted therein with minimal press force at a centered press zone established between intentionally formed and dimensioned counterbores within the flange to minimize flange distortion and lateral run out of the spindle.

Abstract: An illuminated pointer member with an integral warning indicator. The pointer member is illuminated with an off-center illumination source. The transparent central shaft member has a second light source at one end and a transparent panel member at the opposite end in the instrument pointer cap member. The pointer member is illuminated in a conventional manner to provide illuminated indicia on the instrument panel. The second light source is illuminated under certain conditions to provide a warning indicator through the panel member in the cap to the operator in the event of the occurrence of certain conditions.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering control determines, when desired and actual lateral accelerations of a vehicle have the same direction, an instantaneous dynamic yaw center on a vehicle longitudinal axis in response to the measured vehicle speed. It further determines a cornering radius and an instantaneous Ackerman center as a point at the outer end of the cornering radius extended outward perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis from the instantaneous Ackerman center. The control then directs a rear wheel of the vehicle to be perpendicular to a line connecting the instantaneous Ackerman center to the center of the wheel. The dynamic yaw center, and thus the instantaneous Ackerman center, is preferably shifted rearward with increasing vehicle speed to shift vehicle steering in a direction from oversteer at very low speeds for greater ease of steering in parking maneuvers to understeer for vehicle stability in high speed driving conditions.

Abstract: A uniformly preset spring force pre-load among a number of identical solenoid actuated valve assemblies (28) by uniquely adjusting the spring pocket length (L) of each respective plunger (12) to accommodate a respective spring (20) which is uniquely mated thereto. This adjustment is accomplished using a two-component plunger (12) consisting of a plunger body (14) having a central bore (22) and a rod (18) slidably located within the central bore. The rod (18) is press-fit into the central bore (22), and the spring pocket includes a portion of the central bore unoccupied by the rod. By pressing the rod (18) a selected distance into the central bore (22), a precisely set spring pocket is obtained which is uniquely correct for a selected spring (20), in that the selected spring is compressed to a precisely preset spring force pre-load.

Abstract: A combined drive circuit for a split brake system of a motor vehicle has a switched reluctance motor and a brush motor. The switched reluctance motor has multiple phase windings. The combined drive circuit includes a DC power source with first and second supply buses. A SR motor driver supplies current to the switched reluctance motor. The SR motor driver has a first capacitor coupled to the phase windings for storing energy from the phase windings and a second capacitor coupled to the first capacitor and a third supply bus, thereby developing a third supply bus voltage across the second capacitor. A brush motor driver is coupled to the first and second capacitor. The SR motor driver is adapted to supply current to the brush motor. The brush motor driver includes first, second, third and fourth switching elements coupled to the brush motor.

Abstract: A direct current electric motor having a reduced inertia rotor includes a stator affixed to a housing wherein the stator comprises a plurality of electrically conductive windings. The stator further defines a central cavity in which is mounted a rotor. The rotor comprises a shaft, at least two magnets affixed in a radially spaced manner from the shaft, and a rotor core between the shaft and magnets that is rotationally de-coupled from the shaft and the magnets.