Abstract: An ammonia gas sensor is disclosed that includes a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The ammonia sensing electrode comprises an oxide material characterized by the formula CewAxLyVOz wherein L is lanthanum or another lanthanide element other than cerium, A is one or more other metals, and w, x, y and z are numbers indicative of atomic proportion with w ranging from about 0.001 to about 4 x ranging from 0 to about 0.8, y ranging from about 0.001 to about 4, and z with a range to balance the existence of Cew, Ax, Ly and V.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system and method that alternately configures an input of the entertainment system as a differential input that is decoupled from a ground point, or as ground referenced input that is coupled to a ground point. A noise detector determines a noise signal value for a ground switch module that alternately changes a switch state between a coupled state that couples the common connection to the ground point, and a decoupled state that decouples the common connection from the ground point, based upon the noise signal value being greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A chemical reactor is provided that includes: a plurality of tubes having a catalytic reactor substrate therein, each of the tubes having an inlet at one end for receiving a fluid flow and an outlet at an opposing end for discharging fluid flow, and a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the tube, the longitudinal axis of each tube being parallel to one another; and a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed on and extending radially from the exterior surface of each tube; the heat exchange fins on each tube independently having a profile along a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each tube, and the tubes being arranged with respect to one another, such that the heat exchange fin profiles together form a tessellated pattern in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubes.

Abstract: An ammonia gas sensor is disclosed that includes a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The ammonia sensing electrode comprises vanadium silicide, vanadium oxysilicide, vanadium carbide, vanadium oxycarbide, vanadium nitride, or vanadium oxynitride.

Abstract: A sealed electrical splice assembly includes a housing defining a cavity and including an opening. A conductive bus plate is retained in the cavity. A plurality of electrically conductive terminals are received in the cavity are electrically connected to the bus plate. The plurality of terminals are connected to a plurality of wire conductors. A seal plug is disposed in the cavity through the opening adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of the housing surrounding the seal plug. An end cover overlies the seal plug disposed in the opening. The cavity receives the plurality of terminals through the end cover and the seal plug thereby allowing the seal plug to sealingly engage the plurality of wire conductors.

Abstract: An audio system configured to fade audio outputs and method thereof are provided, wherein the audio system includes a first speaker, a second speaker, a low-frequency output speaker, wherein the low-frequency output speaker is proximate the at least one second speaker, and a receiver configured to alter a signal communicated to the first speaker, the second speaker, and the low-frequency output speaker, such that the audio outputs thereof are faded. The audio system further includes a filter in communication between the receiver and the first speaker, wherein the filter is configured to limit a frequency of the signal communicated from the receiver to the first speaker, and a processor configured to alter a frequency limit of the filter, such that a low frequency portion of the signal is received by the first speaker, and a low-frequency output of the first speaker is increased approximately proportionately to the fade of the second speaker, the low-frequency output speaker, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a unitary heat pump air conditioner (Unitary HPAC) having a plate type exchanger assembly, an electrically driven compressor, and coolant pumps. The plate heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of plates stacked and hermetically sealed between an upstream end plate and a downstream end plate. The stacked plates define a condenser/chiller portion adjacent the upstream end plate, an accumulator portion adjacent the downstream end plate, and an evaporator/chiller portion sandwiched between the condenser/chiller portion and the accumulator portion. A refrigerant passageway extends through the plate type heat exchanger assembly, a hot coolant passageway extends through the condenser/chiller portion, and a cold coolant passageway extends through the evaporator/chiller portion. The cold coolant passageway and the hot coolant passageway are in non-contact thermal communication with the refrigerant passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining bearing and distance measurements between a mobile device and an object using Rf based measurements. The mobile device communicates with a control in the object to determine the relative bearing between the mobile device and the object with respect to magnetic north and, optionally, the distance between the mobile device and the object. An indicator on the mobile device aid in directing s the user of the mobile device toward the object as the mobile device is moved relative to the object. The mobile device can be a key fob and the object can be a vehicle.

Abstract: An anti-backlash assembly of the type for transferring motion via a pin movable along a slot. The assembly comprises a pivot lever and a second lever member. The pivot lever comprises a body portion and a pivot lever portion extending from the body portion to a pivot lever distal end. The pivot lever portion defines a pin engagement slot extending from adjacent the pivot lever distal end toward the body portion. A pair of fingers extend in parallel and spaced relationship from the pivot lever distal end of the pivot lever portion toward the body portion to engage opposite sides of a pin of the engagement arm. Each of the fingers includes a pin engaging section extending to an inwardly extending distal end and a spring section extending in a for urging the fingers into clamping engagement with the pin.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture integrally forms a resilient beam portion adjacent an edge thereof carrying a grounding pad.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger portion configured to receive a refrigerant flow and a hot side coolant flow having a lower temperature than the refrigerant flow, a second heat exchanger portion configured to receive the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion and a cold side coolant flow having a higher temperature than the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion, and an internal heat exchanger portion sandwiched between the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion. The refrigerant flow through the plate type heat exchanger is in non-contact thermal communication with the hot side coolant flow and the cold side coolant flow. The cold side coolant flow transfers heat energy to the refrigerant, which in turn transfer that heat energy to the hot side coolant flow.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture integrally forms a resilient beam portion adjacent an edge thereof carrying a grounding pad.

Abstract: A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the percentage of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen monoxide in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of injecting a hydrocarbon compound and optionally hydrogen into the exhaust gas stream; passing the exhaust gas through a first catalyst for selective reduction of a portion of the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen, ammonia, and N-containing species; passing the exhaust gas through a second catalyst for selective reduction of a portion of the nitrogen oxides with ammonia to molecular nitrogen; sensing ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas stream after passage through either or both of the first and second catalysts; and controlling by a controller in a feedback loop the injecting to an amount of hydrocarbon that will produce a predetermined concentration of ammonia and nitrogen oxides at the sensor that will lead to high NOx conversion.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, Relect. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected, and then cooling the substrate back down and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected. If resistance varies as expected during both heating and cooling, then a validation is diagnosed that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate.

Abstract: An assembly for fastening a fitting to a hole in a tubular manifold having a hole. A plurality of refrigerant tubes extend into the manifold transversely to the hole. The assembly includes a fitting that extends along an axis and defines an opening to provide clearance for the refrigerant tubes extending into the manifold. The fitting also presents a pair of slots in spaced and parallel relationship with one another. The assembly further includes a semi-cylindrical shaped mounting plate including a bracket. The bracket presents a pair of legs which extend in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engage the slots of the fitting to limit rotary movement of the fitting about the axis relative to the bracket before and during brazing of the fitting to the manifold to maintain a clearance between the lower section of the fitting and the refrigerant tubes.

Abstract: A first connector is matable to a second connector in an electrical connection system. The first connector has a connector body that contains a primary and a secondary latch. The respective latches and the connector body of the first connector are molded to form a single unitary piece. The single unitary piece is constructed to define a space intermediate the primary latch and the connector body. The space is adapted to fit a latch position assurance lock to prevent displacement of the primary latch. The primary and the secondary latch respectively communicate with at least one primary and at least one secondary latch ramp disposed on the second connector when at least the first connector is unmated from the second connector. A method to assemble an electrical connection system using the single unitary piece of the first connector is also provided.

Abstract: An occupant detection system includes an electrode in communication with a detector circuit that detects the impedance of the electrode and compensates for environmental conditions, such as humidity or moisture, based on the impedance measurement. Such environmental conditions may interfere with the occupant detection system's ability to detect the presence and/or size of an occupant. Typically, environmental conditions change the impedance of the electrode. The impedance is determined by measuring a frequency response of the electrode. The measured frequency response is compared to predetermined frequency response values that correspond to known environmental conditions. The environmental condition may be detected by matching the peak frequency response or average frequency response to in a lookup table.

Abstract: A first connector is matable to a second connector in an electrical connection system. The first connector has a connector body that contains a primary and a secondary latch. The respective latches and the connector body of the first connector are molded to form a single unitary piece. The single unitary piece is constructed to define a space intermediate the primary latch and the connector body. The space is adapted to fit a latch position assurance lock to prevent displacement of the primary latch. The primary and the secondary latch respectively communicate with at least one primary and at least one secondary latch ramp disposed on the second connector when at least the first connector is unmated from the second connector. A method to assemble an electrical connection system using the single unitary piece of the first connector is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed including a non-fuel cell cassette having temperature sensing elements disposed therein. The temperature sensing elements are disposed in one or more void spaces in the non-fuel cell cassette, which void spaces are connected to openings in the side of the non-fuel cell cassette for lead wires to communicate information from the temperature sensing elements to components outside of the fuel cell stack.