Abstract: A system, a controller, and a method for controlling a fuel injector during start-up of a fuel injected internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a heater element configured to heat liquid fuel, such as gasoline, ethanol, gasoline/alcohol blends, diesel, or JP-8 within the fuel injector and indicate heater temperature. The controller is configured to estimate a fuel temperature based on the heater temperature, determine a crankshaft angle at which to initiate an injection event based on the fuel temperature, and initiate the injection event at the determined crankshaft angle. The controller is further configured to determine injection duration based on the fuel temperature and operate the fuel injector according to the determined injection duration. The controller may delay the injection event until the fuel temperature reaches a fuel temperature threshold. The injection event may be a priming injection event, cranking injection event, or running injection event.

Abstract: A planar device includes a heating circuit that is disposed between ceramic layers in a planar device and co-fired with the ceramic. The heating circuit material and geometry are controlled so as to provide a targeted resistance characteristic as a function of temperature that allows interchangeability in an engine management system that was designed for a heater circuit based on a material system that cannot be co-fired with the planar device.

Abstract: A method of detecting a crank signal error that includes incrementing a crank tooth counter in response to detecting a crank signal, comparing the crank tooth counter to an expected value when a cam signal is detected, and indicating a crank signal error if the crank tooth counter is not substantially equal to the expected value. This method is advantageous because a cam interval used to determine when to start and stop counting crank tooth pulses is automatically adjusted for variations in engine speed, while the prior art time based methods must adjust the time interval for variations in engine speed.

Abstract: An outlet plate of an impeller pump is provided, the outlet plate having an outlet port disposed in the outlet plate, the outlet port being defined by a first outlet port and a second outlet port each extending through the outlet plate; a separator wall located in the outlet port, the separator wall separating an inlet of the first outlet port from an inlet of the second outlet port; and a groove located only on a first surface of the outlet plate, the groove having a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end terminating at the first outlet port, wherein the separator separates the groove from the second outlet port.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling communication modes of a personal communication device traveling in a vehicle. The system includes a communication center configured to provide communication services, a personal communication device (PCD) configured to communicate with the communication center, and a controller installed in a vehicle. The communication center is configured to selectively disable any of the PCD communication modes when the PCD is residing or traveling in the vehicle. Which communication modes are disabled may be based on a customer profile. The system and method provide a way for a parent to limit the communication modes of PCD used by their child, especially when the child is traveling in and presumably operating a particular vehicle such as the family car. The system and method may also be used by employers to limit the PCD communication modes available to employees operating company vehicles.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser controllably varies the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes an input member rotatable by the crankshaft. The input member is connected through a gear drive to an output member which is fixed to the camshaft. A rotational actuator acting on the gear drive unit causes relative rotation between the input member and the output member. A first stop member is rotatable with the input member in a one-to-one relationship. A second stop member is rotatable with the output member in a one-to-one relationship to limit relative angular travel between the input member and the output member. A torque absorption means is provided for limiting the rate at which torque is applied from the rotational actuator to the gear drive unit when the second stop member makes contact with the first stop member.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a pair of prongs that extend from a base of the electrical contact spaced apart by a gap disposed therebetween. The gap is configured to receive a mating electrical contact that mechanically and electrically communicates with the pair of prongs. A plane defined along respective exterior surfaces of the pair of prongs is such that a portion of one prong of the pair of prongs is bisected by the plane. A method of making an electrical contact includes a step of stamping out a piece from a sheet of electrically-conducting material and another step of folding one or more portions of the piece to at least produce the pair of prongs of the electrical contact spaced apart by the gap. An electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board and at least one electrical contact that contains the pair of prongs.

Abstract: A fuel injector that includes a flying armature movable relative to a pintle stop, and an electromagnetic circuit configured to move the flying armature away from the pintle stop prior to accelerating the armature toward the pintle stop as part of moving the pintle to open the fuel injector. The flying armature increases the total force applied to the pintle to open the fuel injector by supplementing the static force imparted to the armature by a magnetic field with an impact force imparted by the armature being in motion toward and impacting with the pintle stop. The arrangement of magnetic circuit devices and materials used to make the magnetic circuit devices cooperate to provide a reversing force that urges the armature away from before urging the armature toward the pintle stop, and increases the rate at which the force that urges the armature toward the pintle stop increases.

Abstract: A weight based occupant detection device that includes a weight sensing device installed in a vehicle seat in a manner effective to sense weight on a seating surface. The weight sensing device is configured to output a weight signal indicative of an occupant weight of a seat occupant residing on the vehicle seat. The occupant detection device also includes a seat orientation angle sensing device that is configured to output an orientation angle signal indicative of a seat orientation angle. The occupant detection device may also include an accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle seat, and a seat backrest angle device for measuring the angle of the seat backrest. The occupant detection device compensates a signal from the weight sensing device for errors caused by seat orientation, seat vertical acceleration and seat backrest angle.

Abstract: A planar device includes a heating circuit that is disposed between ceramic layers and co-fired with the ceramic. The heating circuit comprises palladium, and the co-firing of the palladium and ceramic is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere. The formation of defects in the planar device that would otherwise be induced as a result of the palladium oxidizing during the co-firing process is prevented by control of the firing profile, by the geometry of the pattern of the heating circuit, and/or by modifying the palladium to reduce its tendency to oxidize.

Abstract: A heads-up display system is configured for use in a vehicle. The system includes a standard vehicle window (i.e. no special coatings), an image projector, and a vehicle dashboard equipped with a faceted reflective surface. The image projector is configured to project an image onto the faceted reflective surface. The faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect the image from the image projector onto a window surface of the standard vehicle window. The window surface is oriented to reflect the image from the faceted reflective surface toward an occupant. The faceted reflective surface may be disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions. The plurality of troughs may be configured to shield the occupant from extraneous reflections. The faceted reflective surface may include a plurality of electrically controlled facets. The plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets may be an array of electrowetting cells.

Abstract: A method of authenticating an automotive device connected to an engine control system that stores an authentication code in memory of the automotive device that is generated by an encryption algorithm using an identification code of the automotive device as a seed value. The engine controller determines a verification code using a complementary encryption algorithm that also uses the identification code received from the automotive device as a seed value. The engine controller compares the authentication code to the verification code, and indicates that the automotive device is not authentic if the authentication code does not correspond to the verification code. Advantageously, authenticating the automotive device will be done autonomously by the engine controller without prompting by a technician using special equipment such as a laptop computer.

Abstract: Haptic control device that includes a tactile panel mounted movably relative to a support including a peripheral wall, characterized by the fact that a seal is arranged on the periphery of the tactile panel in an annular space situated between the tactile panel and the peripheral wall of the support, the seal including: an inner portion in tight contact with the tactile panel, an outer portion in tight contact with the peripheral wall of the support, and a connecting portion that extends between the inner portion and the outer portion and is elastically deformable so as to absorb the relative displacements of the tactile panel relative to the peripheral wall of the support without removing the haptic effect produced by the movements of the tactile panel.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of a sensor that comprises a heater is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a voltage to the heater and measuring the voltage applied to the heater and the current through the heater during a first time interval, and removing the applied voltage from the heater and leaving the heater unpowered for a second time interval. The method further includes the steps of calculating the resistance of the heater using the measured voltage and current, and determining the temperature of the sensor from the resistance using a predetermined relationship. The first time interval is selected to be sufficiently short in duration and the second time interval is selected to be sufficiently long so as to not significantly raise the temperature of the heater. The sensor temperature so determined can be used to perform diagnostic functions for a system that includes the sensor.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor includes a first pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween and a second pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween. A method for determining an amount of soot on the particulate matter sensor includes determining the electrical resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the electrical resistance between the second pair of electrodes. The amount of soot deposited on the particulate matter sensor is determined based on the electrical resistance values. The time rate of change of resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the time rate of change of resistance between the second pair of electrodes are determined. The first and second rates of change are compared to each other and to threshold values, and the determination of soot amount may be modified depending on the results of these comparisons.

Abstract: A liquid cooled power electronics assembly configured to use electrically conductive coolant to cool power electronic devices that uses dielectric plates sealed with a metallic seal around the perimeter of the dielectric plates to form a device assembly, and then forms another metallic seal between the device assembly and a housing. The configuration allows for more direct contact between the electronic device and the coolant, while protecting the electronic device from contact with potentially electrically conductive coolant. Material used to form the dielectric plates and the housing are selected to have similar coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) so that the reliability of the seals is maximized.

Abstract: A fastener and a fastener system using the fastener are disclosed. The fastener has an elongated shank having a thread formed at one end and a annular recess formed adjacent the threaded portion to define a leading and trailing abutment surface. The thread guides the fastener into engagement with one or more components having thread engagement features and the annular recess permits the free spinning of the fastener without further tightening after the thread engagement features have advanced past the thread. The fastening system includes the fastener and a component to be fastened having a passageway for accepting the fastener formed by at least two flanges engageable in the thread and engageable in the annular recess of the fastener.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a sensing element comprising forming an electrically conductive element, wherein the sensing element comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd and alloys and combinations comprising Pd; and wherein the electrically conductive element is thermally stable at temperatures as high as 1,200° C.

Abstract: An antenna assembly, a receiver, and a system configured to superimpose a first received signal from a first antenna and an intermediate signal based on a second received signal from a second antenna onto a single cable. The antenna assembly includes a mixer and an adjustable local oscillator (ALO) that frequency shift the second received signal to generate the intermediate signal. The output frequency of the ALO is controlled by a control signal superimposed on the single cable that is output by the receiver. With this arrangement, a plurality of antennas or antenna elements can be connected to a receiver using a single coaxial cable. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable to manufacturers of automobiles and other vehicles. Also, the receiver can detect if the output frequency of the ALO needs to be adjusted, and so close-loop control of the output frequency is possible.

Abstract: An electrical connection assembly includes a first connector which includes a first electrical contact surrounded by a first connector wall defining a first connector cavity. The first connector wall includes a plurality of ribs extending into the first connector cavity. A second connector is matable with the first connector along a mating axis and includes a second electrical contact in electrical communication with the first electrical contact when the first connector is mated with the second connector. The second connector includes a second connector body surrounding the second electrical contact.