Abstract: Described is a battery package (10) comprising: A housing (12) in which a plurality of batteries (18) are assembled, wherein each battery has a front side and a back side (22); aligned to fit into receptacles (16, 30) therefor, a blade (20), located on the front and back sides (22) of the batteries; and a printed circuit board (14, 24) at the front and back side of the batteries, each board having receptacles (16,30) for receiving the edge of the blades (20) of the batteries and for electrically connecting the batteries within the housing and providing mechanical support for the batteries.

Abstract: A belt-driven variable valve actuating mechanism includes a rocker having a central rocker axis that is substantially parallel with and spaced apart from a central axis of a rotary input shaft. A frame member has a first end configured for being pivotally mounted upon the input shaft and a second end pivotally carrying the rocker. A connecting rod has a first end configured for engaging an eccentric of the rotary input shaft and a second end pivotally attached to the rocker. The connecting rod transfers rotation of the input shaft to oscillation of the rocker relative to the rocker central axis. An output cam is configured for being pivotally mounted upon the input shaft. A belt engages the rocker and the output cam, and transfers oscillation of the rocker to oscillation of the output cam.

Abstract: High voltage feedthrough connectors provide a means for isolating high voltage through a reactor housing while providing thermal expansion tolerance along with ease of assembly. The connectors provide an insulating body having a bore extending axially through said insulating body for housing a center conductor, a threaded shell assembly for engaging the insulating body and securing the insulating body to a NTP reactor housing, and a gas tight seal to prevent gas leaks to the center conductor. The center conductor includes a first end for contacting a high voltage source and a second end for contacting a high voltage electrode of a NTP reactor. In one embodiment, a fixed center conductor is provided. Preferably, a dome shaped tip may be provided on the bottom terminal connector for improved contact with the non-thermal plasma reactor high voltage electrode. Optionally, a compression spring is attached to the bottom terminal connector end of the fixed center conductor.

Abstract: A module (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a suspension strut (12) including an outer tubular housing (16) for a hydraulic damper (24) and a spring seat (18); and a steering knuckle (14); wherein the housing, the spring seat and the steering knuckle are formed as an integral one-piece assembly. Reduces assembly complexity, time and cost.

Abstract: A steer by wire control system having a steering wheel unit responsive to a steering wheel torque command and a road wheel unit responsive to a road wheel unit command is disclosed. A master control unit may be employed to perform processing as necessary. A method for steering a vehicle including receiving a tie-rod force signal, a road wheel position signal, a vehicle speed signal, a steering wheel position signal, and a feedback torque signal. Combining these signals to generate the steering wheel torque command signal and road wheel command signal to provide the operator with tactile feedback, while road wheel command signals are sent to road wheel units to provide steering direction. An Ackerman correction unit may also used to correct the left and right road wheel positions to track about a common center.

Abstract: An improved engine torque management control that coordinates engine throttle, spark and EGR under predefined highly throttled conditions so as to maximize the fuel economy improvement of EGR without degrading engine performance. Under the predefined conditions, EGR is increased to a level that maximizes the fuel economy improvement without causing combustion instability, and the throttle position and spark timing are controlled to compensate for the anticipated torque loss while increasing volumetric efficiency and reducing pumping losses. During idle and steady state cruising operation, EGR is increased, and engine throttle position is controlled to regulate the estimated engine output torque in accordance with the driver requested output torque. During transient torque increases, throttle control alone is used to regulate the output torque, while in transient torque decreases, the throttle position is maintained and spark timing is used to regulate the output torque.

Abstract: An SRE fan has a hub, a carrier extending outwardly of the hub and a plurality of vanes on a first side of the carrier. The carrier has a second side opposite the first side that is configured to contact an engagement surface of a rotor segment. Channels are provided on the second side of the carrier. Rotor coil leads are surrounded by respective compressible insulated sleeves and are each routed through respective channels. The geometry of the channels is adapted to cooperate with the engagement surface of the rotor to enclose the channels and establish a uniform channel depth. The depth is selected to be less than an uncompressed diameter of the sleeves so as to provide a measure of compression when the fan contacts the rotor, holding the leads in place.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension control derives demand force commands from relative velocities of the suspension dampers at the corners of the vehicle and applies the demand force commands only when a force corresponding to the demand force command can be effectively exerted by the damper. The control is also responsive to a sensed vehicle handling event to derive a body control enhancement damping commands for selected suspension dampers and apply the body control enhancement damping commands without regard for the direction of demand force for the suspension dampers. Each body control enhancement damping command is derived from one or more measured vehicle dynamic variables associated with the sensed vehicle handling event and modified in magnitude in response to the direction and/or magnitude of the sensed relative velocity of damper to which the body control enhancement damping command is to be applied.

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle pillars at the sides of the liftgate opening. Each drive unit includes a vertically oriented channel and a rack bar that moves in the channel. A link is universally attached to the rack bar at one end and universally attached to the liftgate at the opposite end. The rack bar is raised and lowered by a power unit that has a motor driven pinion gear that meshes with the rack bar. Raising and lowering the rack bar opens and closes the liftgate via the link.

Abstract: A brake pedal emulator that produces a pedal characteristic not unlike conventional vacuum or hydraulic brake systems. The system includes an emulator housing, a damper positioned within the emulator housing, a shaft that is slidably received by the emulator housing, and a sequential spring system within the emulator housing in operable contact with the shaft. When a brake pedal force is manually applied, the sequential spring system compresses thereby providing a spring force, which in conjunction with the dynamic dampening force produced by the damper generates the desirable reaction force.

Abstract: A compensation circuit provides a compensation current to a node of an integrated circuit that experiences increased reverse-bias leakage current between a n-type leaking epitaxial region and a p-type substrate with increased temperature. The compensation circuit includes a p-type substrate, a n-type compensator epitaxial region, an contact region, a center p-type region and a plurality of peripheral p-type regions. The peripheral p-type regions function as either a node collector or a reference collector. The compensation current is substantially determined by the ratio of the total peripheral surface area facing the center p-type region associated with the node collector and the total peripheral surface area facing the center p-type region associated with the reference collector and is also determined by the total surface area of the n-type compensator epitaxial region.

Abstract: An improved method of operation for a vehicle air conditioning system controls an inlet air blower motor and an air inlet mixing device to reduce compressor and blower motor power consumption and achieve performance improvements associated with cabin air recirculation while maintaining a predefined level of outside air flow and a predetermined humidity level in the inlet air mixture of the system. The overall air flow is determined by the speed of the blower motor and the speed of the vehicle, and the speed of the blower motor and the position of the inlet air mixing device are adjusted as a function of both the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed so that the predefined level of outside air flow is preserved regardless of the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed.

Abstract: A vane pump, having an inlet for receiving fuel and an outlet from which fuel is supplied, comprising a generally cylindrical member, a driven rotor arranged within the cylindrical member and a closure member. The cylindrical member and the closure member co-operate to define a recirculation passage interconnecting the outlet and the inlet, the output pressure of fuel discharged from the pump being regulated by a resiliently biased valve means controlling the flow of fuel through said recirculation passage.

Abstract: Thermal management of an electronic switch, that provides power to a load, is achieved by monitoring a switch temperature of the electronic switch. When the switch temperature exceeds a first set temperature, the control signal is modified such that an average power dissipated by the electronic switch is reduced. In one embodiment, the control signal is modified by increasing a slew rate of the control signal when the switch temperature exceeds the first set temperature. In another embodiment, a frequency of the control signal is reduced when the switch temperature exceeds the first set temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle antenna comprising: an antenna structure having an input impedance, ZA, equal to a sum of a resistance and an active impedance; a circuit element having high circuit element impedance at an operating frequency range of the antenna, wherein the circuit element is coupled in parallel with the input impedance.

Abstract: An injector valve armature/spacer is formed as an integral tri-function multiple thickness member for an engine fuel injector. The member includes an armature having a center portion with an upper side engagable by a biasing spring and an outer portion with spaced radial openings extending outward from the center portion. An outer rim is connected to the inner portion of the armature by flexible legs extending radially through the radial openings. The rim has a thickness greater than that of the armature by a differential dimension establishing a stroke of the armature. The legs have a thickness less than that of the armature to permit flexing of the legs upon movement of the armature. The integral member is designed for manufacture in multiple layers using electroforming, optionally combined with metal etching.

Abstract: A substantially constant brake assist gain is provided in a vehicle braking system having a vacuum booster providing braking assist to a brake fluid master cylinder in response to an operator input braking force, even though the gain of the booster falls off from its maximum value in a non-linear manner in a runout initiating portion of the working vacuum range near zero booster vacuum. A brake fluid pump, such as is used in an ABS/TCS modulator, is used to supplement the booster output as it falls so as to maintain a constant, linear brake system gain into runout. In the runout initiating portion of the working vacuum range, a runout assist gain is derived from stored data expressing booster assist gain as a function of booster vacuum, and a target wheel pressure is calculated from the derived runout boost assist gain and a corresponding change in master cylinder pressure.

Abstract: A steering knuckle sensor assembly includes a steering knuckle that forms a central bore and a sensor bore that extends radially from the central bore. A target ring that circumscribes a shaft rotates within the central bore. A speed sensor is disposed in the sensor bore so that it senses the angular speed of the target ring. If the speed sensor is damaged or otherwise fails, it can easily be replaced without the need to replace any other parts within the steering knuckle.

Abstract: A method and assembly (10) for conducting heat from a semiconductor device, such as a power flip chip (12). The assembly (10) is generally constructed to dissipate heat from the chip (12) when mounted to a flexible substrate (16). Heat is conducted from the chip (12) with a heat-conductive member (26) brought into thermal contact with the surface of the chip (12) opposite solder bump connections (18) that attach the chip (12) to the substrate (16). A biasing member (30) biases the substrate (16) against the chip (12) so as to maintain thermal contact between the chip (12) and the heat-conductive member (26). A thermally-conductive lubricant (32) is preferably provided between the surface of the chip (12) and the heat-conductive member (26) in order to promote thermal contact while also decoupling any lateral mechanical strains that may arise as a result of different thermal expansions and movement between the chip (12), substrate (26) and heat-conductive member (26).

Abstract: A fuel supply system for supplying fuel to the cylinders of an associated engine is disclosed. The system comprises a fuel pump for supplying high pressure fuel to a delivery line, a plurality of injectors connected to the delivery line and means operable to deliver fuel through the injectors to respective cylinders of an associated engine, and a control valve connected to the delivery line and operable to control the pressure of fuel within the delivery line.