Abstract: A shock absorber for a motor vehicle includes a compression stoke valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the rebound chamber side and a rebound stroke valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the compression chamber side. A compression flow passage extends through the piston, opening at one end into the compression chamber and having an opening at the other end into the rebound chamber which is closable by the deflectable disc or discs of the compression stroke valve. A rebound flow passage extends through the piston, opening at one end into the rebound chamber and having an opening at the other end into the compression chamber which is closable by the deflectable disc or discs of the rebound stroke valve. One or both valves further includes a flexible disc positioned between the deflectable disc or discs and the piston and extending partly across the associated passage to leave an opening in the passage.

Abstract: A frontal air bag system for a vehicle including an inflator mounted to vehicle structure and a frontal air bag operatively connected to the inflator and mounted to an A-pillar and header of the vehicle. The frontal air bag system also includes a wrap air bag at least partially continuous with the frontal air bag. The frontal air bag and the wrap air bag are mounted to an A-pillar of the vehicle. The frontal air bag and the wrap air bag are inflated by the inflator and the frontal air bag is extended downward and in front of an occupant seated in the vehicle and the wrap air bag is extended above the frontal air bag.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for a hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system including a first coupling member having first cavities for individually receiving first ferrules of glass optical fiber (GOF) leads, a slidably intermitting second coupling member having second cavities for individually receiving second ferrules of plastic optical fiber (POF) leads, and an alignment body which is interfaced between the first and second coupling members so that mating cavities thereof are each respectively aligned with respective pairs of aligned first and second cavities for providing a precisely aligned optical interface between the GOF downstream face of the GOF leads and the POF upstream face of the POF leads. The coupling member further includes a ferrule position assurance member which is affixed to the rear of the second coupling member so as to compress cylindrical springs associated with each second ferrule, whereupon the POF upstream faces are caused to biasably abut the GOF downstream faces.

Abstract: A three way valve for selectively controlling a flow of gas between one passage and at least one of two additional passages includes a valve assembly having a body including a lower chamber communicating with first and second oppositely disposed controlled ports having first and second opposed valve seats aligned on an axis. A third inlet/outlet port also communicates with the lower chamber. A valve member in the body includes a shaft that is reciprocably movable on the axis and carries at least one head with first and second axially spaced seat engaging surfaces that are, respectively, alternately engagable with the valve seats for closing their respective ports. A biasing spring urges the valve member in a first direction for closing the first port and opening the second port. An actuator includes an armature that operatively engages the shaft for moving the valve member in a second direction for opening the first port and closing the second port.

Abstract: A chip scale package includes a mandrel built flexible circuit having a circuit trace on a first surface and an aperture extending therethrough. The chip scale package includes a pad covering the aperture on the first surface of the flexible circuit and a raised interconnection member extending outwardly from the pad. The chip scale package also includes a chip secured to a second surface of the flexible circuit, such that the chip is electrically connected to the pad.

Abstract: A connector assembly for a hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system including a connector ferrule for bundling a plurality of glass optical fiber (GOF) leads into a common upstream end and a connector housing into which is received the connector ferrule for attaching the connector ferrule to a fiber optic light source module, wherein the common upstream end of the bundled GOF is optically interfaced with a light transmission coupling rod of the fiber optic light source module.

Abstract: An injector fuel injection valve is guided at the lower end by a plastic valve guide mounted in a nozzle containing a valve seat engagable by the valve element. The valve guide includes inwardly protruding annularly spaced ribs having inner guide surfaces and defining spaced flow channels. The guide surfaces engage the circular or spherical exterior of the valve element to guide the element to properly aligned seating against the conical valve seat. The plastic or polymeric valve guide is preferably molded in place within the cup shaped metal nozzle but, if desired, the valve guide may be separately molded and subsequently inserted or snapped in place within the nozzle. A second plastic valve guide may be provided for guiding the upper end of an associated armature.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly has a hidden storage compartment disposed in a seat member of the seat assembly. The seat member is pivotally connected to a support mounted on a vehicle floor and is pivotable between forward and rear positions. The seat member has a seating side which faces upward in the rear position and an oppositely facing storage side which faces upward in the forward position. The storage side includes a recess in the seat member internally defining a storage compartment and has an openable cover normally closing the storage compartment and openable to allow access thereto. The cover forms a storage floor surface when the seat member is in the forward position. The assembly has a releasable latch for retaining the cover in a closed position and preventing spilling of the contents therefrom when the seat member is inverted in the rear position. When the seating member is in the rear position, the storage compartment is hidden from view.

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle roof and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a bracket that is secured to the vehicle body for supporting several parts including a reversible electric motor, a gear unit and a track. The electric motor drives a segmented sector inside the track via a gear reduction unit. The segmented sector includes an arcuate link that slides in an arcuate track portion of the track and a plurality of short sector links that are stored in a storage track portion when the liftgate is closed. The arcuate link has an outboard end that is pivotally connected to the liftgate to open and close the liftgate as the arcuate link is extended and retracted by the segmented rack.

Abstract: In a method for the temperature regulation of an air conditioning system having a condenser, an evaporator, an expansion device and a compressor, the stroke of which can be set via a valve, the temperature in the region of the air outlet of the evaporator is measured and a desired temperature is set by a controlling of the valve. The temperature regulation additionally takes place in dependence on the refrigerant pressure.

Abstract: A heated steering wheel includes a padding member covering a frame of the heated steering wheel. The heated steering wheel also includes a heating element positioned on the padding member, having an electrically conductive woven textile member and a conductive bus bar attached to the woven textile member. The heated steering wheel further includes an outer wrap enclosing the frame, heating element and padding member.

Abstract: A vehicle power liftgate cable drive has a cable drive housing. An electric motor with a motor housing and an output shaft is secured to the cable drive housing. A clutch pack with a first clutch driven by the output shaft and a second clutch driven by the first clutch, is mounted in the cable drive housing. One of the clutches in the clutch pack is a one way clutch and the other clutch is an electromagnetic clutch. A pinion gear is driven by the second clutch. An output gear is rotatably journaled on a fixed shaft and driven by the pinion gear. The cable drum is attached to the output gear. A coil spring has one end fixed to the fixed shaft and its other end attached to the cable drum. The fixed shaft is rotated to preload the coil spring in a direction that tends to wind a cable on the cable drum and then the fixed shaft is fastened to the cable drive housing. A cable is attached to the cable drum and to the liftgate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external battery package unit (10) which houses mechanical and electrical components (32, 34) intended to be electrically connected to a battery (20) and be conveniently mounted to a top surface (22) of the battery (20). The battery unit (10) is made to fit within existing battery size constraints. In an exemplary embodiment, the external battery package unit (10) comprises a first housing (32) which acts as a mechanical compartment and a second housing (34) which acts as an electronics compartment. The first and second housings (32, 34) are secured to one another by a mounting member (30) which adjustably receives a portion of the first and second housings (32, 34) so that a distance between ends of the first and second housings (32, 34) is variable and the relationship between the first and second housings (32, 34) may be adjusted according to external parameters, such as the size of the battery (20) and different tolerances between battery post terminals.

Abstract: An ignition coil is secured to an internal combustion engine by a twist lock connection. The twist lock connection is defined by a first connection feature comprising a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly from a cylindrical body portion of the ignition coil, and a second connecting feature comprising a corresponding plurality of camming surfaces having a ramp shape and terminating in a mechanical stop.

Abstract: A battery disconnection system (10) comprising a first electrical conductor (12) electrically connectable to a terminal of a battery; a second electrical conductor (16) electrically connectable to an electrical load (18); a first electrical contact (22) attached to the first electrical conductor; a second electrical contact (24) attached to the second electrical conductor; electrical connecting means (22) reciprocally movable in an axial direction (A) between a first position in which the connecting means electrically connects the first and second contacts and a second position in which the first and second contacts are disconnected; electric drive means (26) for moving the connecting means from the first position to the second position on receipt of a predetermined signal. The predetermined signal may be generated by a crash sensor, anti-theft device, or other adverse condition sensor, or a manually operable switch.

Abstract: The connector assembly includes a housing that carries a flexible circuit member and two slide members with slide cam surfaces. A daughter board is secured to one surface on the housing and is electrically connected to the flexible circuit member. The cam surfaces on the two slide members engage cams on a mother board. Movement of the slide member cam surfaces relative to the cams on the mother board moves the housing relative to the mother board and forms an electrical connection between the flexible circuit member and the mother board. A linkage system moves both slide members to form and maintain the electrical connection between the flexible circuit member and the mother board.

Abstract: A method and device for verifying whether a cavity (16) enclosing a micromachined sensing structure (14) between a pair of wafers (10, 12) is hermetically sealed by detecting the presence of moisture within the cavity (16). The method entails forming a bare, unpassivated PN junction diode (20) in a semiconductor substrate, preferably a device wafer (10) with the sensing structure (14). The device wafer (10) is then bonded to a capping wafer (12) to enclose the PN junction diode (20) and micromachine (14) within a cavity (16) defined by and between the wafers (10, 12). The reverse diode characteristics of the PN junction diode (20) are then determined by causing a reverse current to flow through the diode (20). For this purpose, either a known voltage is applied across the diode (20) and the reverse leakage current measured, or a known reverse current is forced across the diode (20) and the voltage measured.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system mode control film belt that uses a single drive shaft to shift the belt back and forth. The belt follows a continuous loop that begins and ends at the single drive shaft, wrapping around idler rollers, where necessary, to maintain defined runs of the belt against one or more vent windows in a housing. Thin, long, and widely spaced pairs of drive bands at either end of the belt wrap around the single shaft in opposite directions, clear of one another, wrapping or unwrapping from the shaft in opposite directions as it turns in either direction. The belt is thus able to shift back and forth to open or close the vent widows, while air is able to flow unobstructed between the widely spaced belt drive bands and out to the vent windows.

Abstract: A switch mechanism for an electronic mechanism, particularly in an automobile or other vehicle. The switch member or button has a pair of post members which are positioned on supporting members on a retainer member. The support members also position the switch member or button in the retainer member and hold it fictionally in alignment along its side surfaces. Pad members also can be provided on the support members. The switch mechanism minimizes noise, undesirable side-to-side movement and undesirable twisting movement of the button member. The switch mechanism also allows control of the "feel" of the button actuation.

Abstract: An electrical connector system including a terminal retainer having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein and aligned in a rectilinear pattern of rows and columns. The terminal retainer preferably has a block like configuration including a front face and opposite rear face and a plurality of terminal cavities extending from the rear to the front face. Each terminal cavity is constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a terminal, wherein the terminal has an annular abutment. A plurality of flexible locking fingers are provided which extend from the front face of the female terminal retainer, each being positioned to straddle two adjacent terminal cavities. Each flexible locking finger includes a pair of spaced apart locking shoulders, one for each straddled terminal cavity, each locking shoulder having a terminus.