Abstract: An overhead console for a vehicle interior, comprising a storage module provided with a housing having an aperture, a cover pivotally mounted on the housing, a receptacle is pivotally mounted to the cover between a folded position and an unfolded position. The storage module can be set in a storage configuration, cover closed and receptacle folded inside the housing, or in a deployed configuration, cover open and receptacle unfolded allowing the user to easily grab an object stored in the receptacle. The storage configuration requires minimal height in the overhead module and the deployed configuration provides maximum accessibility.

Abstract: A fill limiter vent valve (FLVV) adapted for suspension downward into a fuel tank has upper and lower housing members having openings in their cylindrical walls cooperating to define a spill-over level for fuel into the FLVV producing float-initiated vent valve closure during a fuel fill event. The lower housing member has a latching member fixedly engageable with one or more cooperating latching features of the upper housing member in a plurality of relative axial positions; and the spill-over level is varied by relative axial movement of the housing members between those positions. Axial alignment of the latching member and the cooperating latching features is maintained by axially aligned, interacting surface features of the housing members.

Abstract: A misfire detection system monitors engine speed fluctuations in the engine rotation frequency domain and identifies misfire when a phase angle locks onto a stable value rather than fluctuating randomly. After misfire detection, the system also performs cylinder or cylinder pair identification using predefined phase angle regions, where the identification process incorporate knowledge of what phase angle region a locked phase angle falls within.

Abstract: An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a bounce back angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not indicate crank direction, a feature that would be useful to determine if an engine reversal occurs leading to the engine accumulating a bounce back angle. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so an engine reversal can be detected. After an engine reversal is detected, the crank sensor signal is analyzed to determine the bounce back angle. Engine reversal is detected by determining that the crank shaft has decelerated by more than a threshold value, or that the crank shaft has decelerated and then subsequently accelerated.

Abstract: An immersion cooling apparatus includes a multi-terminal thermally conductive module that supports and encloses a power semiconductor device and a housing defining a flow-through chamber in which the thermally conductive module is mounted and through which liquid coolant is circulated. The thermally conductive module has first and second oppositely disposed connector headers housing terminal pins or blades electrically coupled to the semiconductor device, and the connector headers protrude through openings in oppositely disposed sidewalls of the housing so that the portion of the thermally conductive module between the connector headers is suspended in the chamber and immersed in the circulating coolant. The thermally conductive module is sealed against the housing sidewalls around the openings, and one of the sidewalls is removable to facilitate installation of the thermally conductive module in the housing or its subsequent removal.

Abstract: A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided. The system includes a position sensor for sensing position of a vehicle and memory storing learned vehicle path data. The system further includes a controller for processing the position data and determining a stored learned vehicle path that the vehicle is travelling on. The controller comprises logic for comparing the sensed position data to the stored learned vehicle path and determining if the vehicle is sufficiently departing from the stored learn vehicle path. The system further includes an output for providing a warning signal indicative of the vehicle departing from the stored learned vehicle path. The stored learned vehicle path is updated as the vehicle repeatedly travels on the path.

Abstract: An angle sensor for detecting an out-of-round condition includes a disc supporting angle coder rigidly attached to a rotating shaft and at least one fixed optical system including a coherent light source emitting a beam interfering with the angle coder of the support disc in order to code its angular position, a collimator of the said beam before interference and a photo detector of the modulated beam after interference. In one embodiment, two optical systems arranged 90° from each other are employed. An alternative embodiment includes one optical system and the disc includes a circular track radially centred in at least one of its angular positions relative to the incident collimated light beam, and a radially orientated photo detector.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light pipe having re-directing channels defined therein. When a light source is provided in a compartment of the light pipe, light admitted from the light source to the light pipe emits from a front face of the light pipe. In addition, light emitted from reflective surfaces spaced apart from external surfaces of the light pipe combine with light emitted through the front face to provide glow regions of light resulting in symmetric uniform illumination of the display.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a male connector, a female connector, and a sleeve. The male connector has a shoulder. The female connector is constructed to receive the male connector and has a flex arm with a nib. The sleeve is constructed to receive the female connector and has an inner surface. When the male connector, the female connector, and the sleeve are telescoped together, the inner surface of the sleeve overlaps the flex arm and forces engagement between the shoulder and the nib to eliminate relative movement between the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat cushion, a heating element, a heating circuit, a occupant sensing circuit, and an isolation circuit. The seat cushion has a seating surface, the heating element is adjacent the seating surface and is formed of electrically conductive material. The heating circuit is coupled to the heating element for supplying electrical current to the heating element for generating heat. The occupant sensing circuit is also coupled to the heating element for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element. The isolation circuit is interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit.

Abstract: An encapsulated microelectronic package includes a fluid conducting cooling tube directly coupled to one or more semiconductor chips, with the encapsulant being molded over the semiconductor chips and portions of the cooling tube in proximity to the semiconductor chips. The encapsulant immobilizes the cooling tube with respect to the semiconductor chips, and the cooling tube and encapsulant are designed to minimize differences in their coefficients of thermal expansion relative to the semiconductor chips.

Abstract: An electrical and electronic system having a control unit connected to a remotely located electrical center by way of a data bus. The electrical center includes a bus interface unit and a main printed circuit board having a plurality of control devices such as relays, which selectively activate vehicle electrical circuits based on instructions from the control unit. The bus interface unit is that of a daughter board configured to be plugged into the main board of the electrical center, such as a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) interface board, and the data bus may be a LIN bus.

Abstract: A ganged electrical connection system includes an arrangement defining a plurality of receptacles. A plurality of first connectors is receivably coupled in the plurality of receptacles. A plurality of second connectors is matable to the plurality of coupled first connectors of the arrangement along mating axes. Positional mating tolerance variation associated with the plurality of second connectors in relation to the plurality of coupled first connectors manifested at the plurality of receptacles when the plurality of second connectors are mated to the plurality of coupled first connectors is absorbed by the arrangement. The plurality of the plurality of second connectors mate with the plurality of coupled first connectors in a single unimpeded, uninterrupted mating connection. A ganged electrical system for an electric-type vehicle is also presented.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) 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 EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.

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: An engine control system, a controller for the engine control system, and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine operating at an engine operating condition. The engine control is based on closed-loop control of ignition dwell. Ignition dwell is defined as time or crank angle difference between an end of fuel injection (EOI), or some other aspect of an injection control signal, and a start of combustion (SOC), or some other aspect of an internal combustion event. One or more engine control devices, such as a fuel injector or an exhaust gas recirculation valve may be varied to control ignition dwell. By providing such a closed-loop engine control based on ignition dwell, the air/fuel charge mixture, and/or stratification present in the combustion chamber at the moment combustion starts may be controlled.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An anti-rotation means is provided for temporarily fixing the circular spline to the dynamic spline in order to prevent relative rotation therebetween when the hub is being attached to the camshaft. The anti-rotation means prevents damage to the harmonic gear drive unit while the camshaft phaser is being installed onto the camshaft.

Abstract: A closure assembly for an inflator comprises a housing and an outlet plate disposed within the housing. The outlet plate has an outlet opening configured to receive a burst disk. The outlet plate is joined to the housing by a deformation resistance weld. The deformation resistance weld is formed by contacting the outlet plate with a first electrode, contacting an exterior portion of the housing with a second electrode, and applying a voltage through the first and second electrodes to adhere a portion of the housing to a portion of the outlet plate.

Abstract: A method of displaying information to a person viewing a configurable display in a vehicle. The method displays one of a plurality of page formats at a time. Each page format includes one or more images, including a first image in a distinct region of the display. The first image is positioned in an upper region of the display when information conveyed by the first image originates from outside the vehicle, and the first image is positioned in a lower region of the display when information conveyed by the first image originates from within the vehicle. The arrangement of images and the organization of the page formats are configured to convey a mental model of the environment about the vehicle, and displaying multiple pages arranged in a hierarchical order to further convey a mental model of how information is arranged on the various pages is provided.

Abstract: An all-around parking assisting system is disclosed according to the present disclosure. The system includes a set of image collecting apparatuses, a set of image pre-processing apparatuses, an image synthesis apparatus, an image correcting apparatus and a display apparatus. The set of image collecting apparatuses, positioned at the peripheral of a vehicle, is configured to collect a group of images relating to surroundings of the vehicle. Each image pre-processing apparatus in the set of image pre-processing apparatuses corresponds to one of the image collecting apparatuses and is configured to pre-process the image collected by the image collecting apparatus. The image synthesis apparatus may synthesize a group of pre-processed images and generate a continuous image relating to the surroundings of the vehicle.