Abstract: An automotive HVAC system controls two side by side film belts with a single drive motor. Two co planar wind up rollers, one for each belt, have inboard ends that are indirectly connected by a rotation transmission means that has a defined level of turning “slack”. Rotation is transmitted from one wind up roller to the other only after the slack has been taken up, allowing a certain degree of offset between the two belts. When a first belt is turned past a first position, it eventually moves the other belt to a new position, with the defined belt offset maintained. The first belt can then be turned back, breaking the indirect connection between the two shafts.

Abstract: A C-clip retainer is provided in a groove of a piston, such as for an engine hydraulic valve lash adjuster, to allow installation and removably retain the piston in a cylinder of an associated assembly. The groove has a novel shape including an inner surface that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the piston to provide a larger groove diameter at a first axial end surface and a smaller diameter at an opposite second axial end surface of the groove. Upon installation, the clip is urged into the smaller diameter, allowing easier installation, but upon removal the clip is expanded by forcing it to the larger diameter, thereby increasing the retention force on the piston. The first axial end surface may also be formed with a back angle that reduces forces of the associated cylinder edge that tend to compress the retainer into the groove, thus further increasing the piston retention force.

Abstract: A jump start circuit (26) for electrical connection between a battery (12) of a motor vehicle and jump start terminals (22,24) in the motor vehicle, the jump start circuit comprising a switch (28) for positioning in an electrical line (18) between one (22) of the jump start terminals and the battery, the switch being biased to a normally open position; and a logic circuit (32) having means for monitoring the polarity of a voltage across the jump start terminals, means for closing the switch on detection of a predetermined polarity, and a timer circuit for opening the switch after closing for a predetermined period of time. Provides protection against incorrect polarity connection during jump starting.

Abstract: A method of making a door trim panel assembly for attachment to an inner panel of an automotive vehicle includes the steps of placing a door trim substrate into a cavity of a mold and placing at least one component into the cavity against the door trim substrate. The method also includes as an alternative of pre-joining the at least one component to the door trim substrate. The method also includes the steps of filling the cavity with a plastic material. The method further includes the steps of introducing steam into the mold to expand the plastic material to form a carrier and bond the carrier against the at least one component and door trim substrate to form a single door trim panel assembly.

Abstract: A non-stroking constant velocity universal joint including an inner joint member, an outer joint member, and a plurality of torque transferring bearing spheres in facing pairs of ball grooves in the inner and outer joint members. The bearing spheres are maintained in a common plane bisecting the angle of articulation between the inner and outer joint members by a cage consisting of a pair of hollow hemispherical segments (“hemi-segments”) clamped radially against each other by the outer joint member. Interlocking lugs and notches on the hemi-segments prevent relative linear translation therebetween. The hemi-segments are made from flat blanks which are perforated for the cage windows and then plastically deformed to the shape of the hemi-segments. The cage is assembled around the inner joint member and may, therefore, have dimensions which reduce unit stresses in the cage and preclude assembly of the inner joint member into the cage through a circular open end of the cage.

Abstract: An improved IDC trim resistor connector assembly made up of a generally open top cup shape connector with side wall slots and an interior first array of terminal posts arranged for passage therethrough of a first lead wire of sensor circuitry. A first stamped metal IDC terminal is push-on mounted on the terminal posts for IDC cradling and electrically and mechanically receiving and connecting to the first lead wire. A conventional trim resistor substrate is loose mounted but accurately positioned on the connector bottom wall and has an “E” pattern of resistive material adapted for center leg laser trimming to calibrate the associated sensor circuitry. A first IDC terminal spring leg overlap contacts one side leg of the trim resistor E-pattern and thereby spring clamps the resistor substrate. A cover is snap-latch mounted on the connector and has an access opening to enable laser trimming of the trim resistor after cover installation.

Abstract: A speed sensor (10) includes a sensor housing (12) mounted to the wall of a transmission, and a pole piece (34) extends out of the sensor housing (12) into the transmission fluid. The pole piece (34) is held by a plastic spool (26) within the sensor housing (12), and an electric coil (28) surrounds the spool (26) and is magnetically coupled to the pole piece (34). The spool (26) is formed with a rib ring (41) that extends away from the pole piece (34) and that terminates in an outer periphery that is closely spaced from the inside wall of the sensor housing (12). To block metal particles in the fluid from entering between the spool (26) and sensor housing (12) that would otherwise damage the coil (28), two ribs (60) are formed on the outer periphery of the spool (26), and an interference fit is established between the ribs (60) and the sensor housing (12) such that the ribs (60) are deformed and the contaminants thereby blocked.

Abstract: A modular vehicle door has a hollow door shell of sheet metal panels that are secured together at their abutting periphery, a crash beam that is attached to hollow door shell so as to extend across the length of the door, and a module that supports several parts of vehicle door that is preassembled and assembled to the hollow door shell as the preassembled module. The hollow door shell has a hinge reinforcement at a forward end and a latch reinforcement at an aft end. The module has a metal support beam that is attached to the hinge reinforcement at one end and to the latch reinforcement at the other end so that the metal support beam extends across the length of the door and forms a box section with the crash beam. The metal support beam has upper and lower channels and the module includes an insert molded carrier that has a plurality of ribs that cooperate with the channels of the metal support beam to increase the torsional ridgidity of the metal support beam.

Abstract: A method and assembly for preserving solder connections of components mounted on a thin laminate circuit board during wave soldering of leaded components to the circuit board. The method generally entails supporting the circuit board on a pallet with pedestals that contact the surface of the circuit board directly opposite surface-mount components on the board. The pallet also includes an access directly opposite leaded components assembled to the board so that their leads are exposed. The pallet and board assembly are then placed on a wave soldering apparatus and wave soldered while applying and maintaining a force to the circuit board that ensures contact between the pedestals and the surface of the board opposite the surface-mount components, so that the leads of the leaded components are soldered to the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention provides variable deployment performance by controlling the heat content of the inflator gas which exits an air bag sub-module, disposed in a module, into an air bag cushion. The air bag sub-module includes a sub-module housing which receives an inflator in a central cavity formed therein. The module housing includes low output module ports formed in the module housing and high output module ports. Heat sinking material is disposed within the sub-module housing between an outer wall of the sub-module housing and the inflator such that the heat sinking material surrounds the low output module ports. The air bag sub-module provides a first fluid flow path for the heated inflator gas to flow under high level deployment conditions and a second fluid flow path for the inflator gas to flow under reduced level deployment conditions. The first fluid flow path comprises a low resistance fluid flow path in which the heated inflator gas exits the inflator through the high output module ports.

Abstract: Circuitry for amplifying a single-ended analog sensor output includes a field effect transistor (FET) having a gate connected to a first end of a capacitor, the second opposite end of which is connectable to the sensor output. The gate of the FET is also connected to a first end of a resistor and to a cathode of a diode. The anode of the diode, the opposite end of the resistor and the drain of the FET are connectable to a ground reference, and the source of the FET defines an amplifier output that is connectable to a constant current source. The capacitor, resistor and diode are operable to bias the FET to thereby prevent clipping of the output signal at the amplifier output. A high-pass filter is also provided at the second end of the capacitor, and a number of diodes are preferably included for providing for amplifier input protection, electrostatic discharge protection and output DC overvoltage protection.

Abstract: An improved vehicle yaw control that does not require a yaw sensor, wherein the validity of an estimate of vehicle yaw is determined and used to select an appropriate control methodology. The vehicle yaw is estimated based on the measured speeds of the un-driven wheels of the vehicle, and various other conditions are utilized to determine if the estimated yaw rate is valid for control purposes. When it is determined that the estimated yaw rate is valid, a closed-loop yaw rate feedback control strategy is employed, whereas in conditions under which it is determined that the estimated yaw rate is not valid, a different control strategy, such as an open-loop feed-forward control of vehicle yaw, is employed. The validity of the estimated yaw rate is judged based on a logical analysis of the measured wheel speed information, braking information, and steering wheel angle. The measured speeds of the un-driven wheels are used to compute an average un-driven wheel speed and an average un-driven wheel acceleration.

Abstract: A predriver circuit (25) includes a turn on drive circuit (251) having a first amplifier stage (M42, M39) receiving a first analog current and coupled to a second amplifier stage (M33, M1) defining a circuit output (201). The turn on drive circuit (251) is responsive to a first state of a digital clock signal (VCLK) to disable operation of a turn off drive circuit (252) and supply an amplified representation of the first analog current to the circuit output (201) with controlled slew rate for optimum switching speed and electromagnetic interference (EMI) performance. The predriver circuit (25) further includes a turn off drive circuit (252) having three amplifier stages (M26-27, M24-25, M14, M2-3) responsive to a second opposite state of the digital clock signal (VCLK) to disable operation of the turn on drive circuit (251) and draw an amplified representation of a second analog current from the circuit output (201) with controlled slew rate for optimum switching speed and EMI performance.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having mateable male and female connector members includes a separate slide clip component that is received in a channel of the male connector and is provided with attachment features for mounting the assembly to support structure. The slide clip and channel include mateable detent and bump lock projection features that engage when the slide clip is fully installed in the channel to lock the slide clip against removal.

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive MR array of rows of MR elements on a single die, each MR element being composed of a number of serially connected MR segments. The MR elements are arranged and configured so as to produce a variety of MR array geometries suitable for specialized sensing schemes, wherein an MR array is defined as having three or more MR elements. According to a first aspect, a magnetoresistive die having a uniform MR array is provided, wherein the MR elements and MR segments thereof are mutually uniform. According to a second aspect, a magnetoresistive die of at least one nonuniform MR array is provided, wherein at least one of following is nonuniform across the MR array: a) the MR segment resistance and/or magnetic sensitivity, b) the MR element spacing, c) the MR element lengths, d) the MR element orientations, e) combinations thereof, and f) multiple arrays of combinations thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch (10) with a power child security lock comprises an enclosure (12) and several components mounted on or in the enclosure. First is a latching assembly (14) disposed in the enclosure and adapted to move between an unlatched configuration and a latched configuration. There is also an inside latch handle assembly (16) disposed adjacent the latching assembly (14). The inside latch handle assembly (16) transfers motion to the latching assembly in response to an actuator to move the latching assembly to the unlatched configuration. A child security lock assembly (22) for the inside latch handle assembly (16) includes a lock pin (24) that is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lock pin (24) engages the inside latch handle assembly (16) to prevent any motion transfer to the latching assembly (14). In the unlocked position, the lock pin (24) disengages the inside latch handle assembly (16) to allow motion transfer to the latching assembly (14 ).

Abstract: An ultrasonic ranging system and method for detecting the presence of and distance to a target using ultrasonic sound waves generated by an ultrasonic transducer with reduced audible noise. Electrical ultrasonic signal pulses are modulated according to a smooth modulation envelope and a transducer drive signal is generated from the modulated signal pulses. The transducer drive signal drives an ultrasonic transducer which generates ultrasonic sound waves for transmission in a desired path, and further receives ultrasonic sound waves reflected from targets in the transmission path. The received ultrasonic sound waves are converted to an electrical signal that is processed by a processor to provide time and distance information to the target. The distance information is computed by using a middle time value for the transmitted and received signals.

Abstract: An improved system for accurately determining the travel path of a host vehicle and the azimuth angle of a target vehicle through an automatic calibration that detects and compensates for FLS mis-alignment and curve sensor drift. Selected FLS tracking data (range and azimuth angle) are transformed to cartesian coordinates and characterized by a second order curve fitting technique to determine both FLS misalignment and curve sensor bias. Successively determined FLS misalignment and curve sensor bias values are averaged and used to correct subsequently supplied azimuth angle and curve sensor data, thereby compensating an underlying control for both sensor misalignment and curve sensor bias.

Abstract: An evaporative emission control system that operates in a running loss mode and an active weathering mode during purge to substantially eliminate running losses during operation of an internal combustion engine. The evaporative emission control system includes a charcoal canister, a canister vent valve, and a purge valve that permits fuel vapors from the canister and engine fuel tank to be purged into the engine's air intake manifold. The running loss mode operates to close the canister vent valve when the gas pressure within the fuel tank increases above a threshold. The vent valve is maintained closed until the fuel tank pressure drops below a lower limit. This prevents running losses by closing the vent when higher pressures are detected that cannot be reduced by purging under the current engine operating conditions. The active weathering mode cycles the canister vent valve open and closed when the volatility of the fuel is determined to be too high for the current ambient temperature.

Abstract: A signal amplifying circuit (24) includes level shifting input circuits (D1-D4) permitting input common-mode voltages (VIN1 and VIN2) of an amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) to vary between preset limits. The sense amplifier circuit (24) includes a DC offset buffer circuit (52) operable to receive an analog DC offset compensation signal and provide this signal to an input of the amplifier and fault detection circuit (50). The buffered DC offset compensation signal provided to the amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) is operable to reduce an aggregate DC offset voltage attributable to signal amplifying circuit (24) to a desired DC offset level. The amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) also includes a fault detection function whereby an output (VSENSE) of the amplifier circuit (50) is forced to a predetermined output state if either, or both, of the inputs (VIN1 and VIN2) of the sense amplifier circuit (24) are unconnected; i.e., floating.