Abstract: A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat, a controller for use in the system, and a method for electrically isolating a heater element from an occupant detection electrode. When a heater element in a seat is coupled to a heater voltage source to generate heat, the heater element may influence an electric field generated by an occupant detection electrode in such a way as to interfere with determining an occupant proximate to the seat. Depending on the arrangement of the electrode and the heater element, such interference may be present at all times when the electrode is connected to the heater voltage source, or may only be problematic when the seat is wet with liquid moisture. By electrically isolating the heater element, the influence on the electric field may be reduced so the process of determining if an occupant is present in the seat is not interfered with.

Abstract: A safety detection apparatus for exiting a vehicle is disclosed, according to an embodiment, the safety detection apparatus utilizes a circumstance detecting means such as an infrared detector, a radar detector, or a video monitor to detect a moving object signal. A parameter determining means generates a relative position signal and a relative velocity signal of the moving object to the vehicle based on the moving object signal detected by the circumstance detecting means. A safety analyzing means obtains the relative position signal and the relative velocity signal of the moving object from the parameter determining means and generates an exiting safety level signal, the exiting safety level signal is determined based on the relative position signal and the relative velocity signal of the moving object, a distance threshold, and a velocity threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle handling assistant apparatus is discloses, the vehicle handling assistant apparatus utilizes an environment acquisition means to acquire an environment signal and utilizes an environment presentation means to present the environment signal. The vehicle handling assistant apparatus also utilizes an obstacle detection means to detect an obstacle from the environment signal acquired by the environment acquisition means and output an obstacle signal. The obstacle detection means may be implemented by an infrared sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a camera. An obstacle region generation means generates an obstacle region signal from the environment signal based on the obstacle signal generated by the obstacle detection means. The obstacle region signal includes information about a position of the foot point line and a width of the obstacle region.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center includes a housing composed of a first material having a first melting point, an electrical bus disposed in the housing, a removable electrical/electronic component electrically connected to the electrical bus and which produces a predetermined temperature in operation higher than the first melting point, an opening formed in the housing, and a socket mounted within the housing opening and physically supporting the electrical/electronic component. The socket is composed of a second, differing material having a second melting point higher than the predetermined temperature produced by the electrical/electronic component in operation, whereby the housing is effectively isolated and protected by the socket as the electrical/electronic component operates.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center assembly includes a housing having a connector shroud. The shroud defines a shroud cavity adapted for receiving a mating electrical connector body. A blade stabilizer is formed integral with the shroud in a first position within the shroud cavity. The blade stabilizer has blade apertures formed therein. Bladed terminals extend from the housing into the blade apertures. In this position, the blade stabilizer protects the terminal blades from being bent away from a terminal axis. The blade stabilizer is movable to a second position to enable female terminals of the mating electrical connector to electrically connect to the blade terminals.

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 air conditioning system having an improved internal heat exchanger (IHX) assembly. The IHX assembly includes an elongated cavity for low pressure refrigerant flow from an evaporator and an interior tube disposed within the cavity for high pressure refrigerant flow from a condenser, and a pressure equalization passage between the low and high pressure sides. The passage is large enough to allow pressures to equalize between the condenser and evaporator while the air conditioning system is inactive, so as to prevent the pressure differential that would otherwise enable the loss of refrigerant oil from the compressor, and small enough not to effect the operation of the air conditioning system. The pressure equalization passage may be a by-pass valve assembly having a reed portion that is normally open when the air conditioning system is inactive and closed when the air conditioning system is active for maximum cooling efficiency.

Abstract: An improved corner bending apparatus and method for a bent head exchanger includes a first step of providing a tube edge clearance to at least the inner core face edges of those few tubes encompassed by the area of the core to be bent. A series of elongated braces, able to flex relative to one another, is placed into the tube edge clearance prior to bending. The braces actively maintain the tube edges (and tubes) in a parallel, undeformed orientation during the bend, which may be done by otherwise conventional apparatus.

Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cylindrical body disposed within the housing, an annular exhaust gas passageway, and a central exhaust gas passageway. The EGHR heat exchanger also includes a bypass valve disposed within the central passageway and adapted to selectively by-pass a portion of the exhaust gas from the central exhaust gas passageway to the annular passageway, and at least one twisted tube having at least one edge coiled within the annular exhaust gas passageway.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly having an inlet header, an outlet header spaced from the inlet header, a plurality of refrigerant tubes hydraulically connecting the inlet header with the outlet header. A distributor tube having a plurality of orifices disposed in the inlet header, wherein the orifices are arranged along the distributor tube such that at least one orifice is oriented in the liquid phase of the refrigerant pressed against the internal surface of the distributor tube regardless of orientation of the evaporator. The orifices may be arranged in a random order about the distributor tube, positioned in groups of at least two at predetermined locations, or spiraled along the distributor tube.

Abstract: An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a stopped engine crank angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not output a reliable crank signal when the engine is about to stop, and do not indicate crank direction which is necessary to determine if engine bounce-back occurs. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so that a coast-down model can be adjusted to accurately estimate the stopped engine crank angle. A bounce-back model is also used to estimate an engine bounce-back angle and so make further corrections to the estimated stopped engine crank angle.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly having a first header, a second header, at least two banks of evaporator tubes extending therebetween and in hydraulic communication with the first and second headers. At least one of the evaporator tube may be folded from a unitary strip clad aluminum folded having a thickness (t). The evaporator tube includes a height (h) which is measured from the bottom exterior surface to the top exterior surface, and a corner radius (rc) defined by the transition radius from the flange segments to the channel walls. The bottom wall includes a width (2w), the corrugated portion includes alternating flange segments abutting the interior surface and channel walls connecting the alternating flange segments, at least one of the alternating adjacent flange segments includes a length (a) cooperating with adjacent the channel walls to define a channel having a width (b). The evaporator tube also includes a number of ports per millimeter width (PPMW) in a range of 0.40 to 1.

Abstract: A sensor configured to detect a stress wave propagating through a vehicle frame member caused by a vehicle collision is provided. The sensor includes a sensor body configured to be rigidly coupled to the vehicle frame member, a first strain sensing device and a second strain sensing device attached to the sensor body. The sensor body is configured to exhibit stress in response to transverse and torsional stress wave propagating along the vehicle frame member. The first strain sensing device generates a first signal indicative of stress in the sensor body and the second strain sensing device generates a second signal indicative of stress in the sensor body. A first end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped and a second end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and 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. A back plate has an array of external splines engaged in a sliding fit with the array of internal splines for transmitting torque from the back plate to said housing. The back plate also has an input sprocket for receiving rotational motion, in use.

Abstract: A refrigerant leak detection system is provided for a motor vehicle, in which the system includes a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) module having a refrigerant sensor assembly adapted to be fixed within the drain hole of the sump. The refrigerant sensor assembly includes an elongated sensor element extending into the sump, a flange portion having apertures that allows the condensate to drain from sump, a collar portion with self-tapping threads.

Abstract: A bending support having a planar bracing member with a length (L) that is substantially equal to that of the inner diameter (I.D.) of the manifold header that the bending support is ultimately inserted in. Extending perpendicularly from a surface of the bracing member is a pair of bracketing members. The pair of bracketing member and the portion of the planar bracing member therebetween defines a refrigerant conduit clip. The interior surface of the refrigerant conduit clip includes a skived pattern defining a plurality of teeth or protrusions that aids in the attachment of the refrigerant conduit clip onto an internal refrigerant conduit. An aperture located on the planar bracing member between the pair of bracketing member provides an unobstructed path for refrigerant flow to the refrigerant conduit.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine, in which an intermediate locking pin and seat are provided for locking the camshaft phaser at a position intermediate of its full advanced and retard positions, one of the locking pin and seat having a non-circular cross section, and the cross-sectional shapes of the locking pin and seat being substantially dissimilar to each other.

Abstract: A heated fuel injector system and controller that includes a temperature sensing means to provide closed-loop control of a heating element heating fuel dispensed by a heated fuel injector. Closed-loop control provides more accurate temperature control of the heating element so that fuel heating is provided as quickly as possible while also protecting the fuel from being boiled and protecting the heated fuel injector from being damaged by excessive temperature. By monitoring how the signal from the temperature sensing means varies over time, fault conditions such as a lack of fuel flow, and fuel ethanol percentage may be detected.

Abstract: A communication system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a first satellite configured to re-transmit at least a first transmitted signal at a first frequency band, a second satellite configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a second frequency band, and a first terrestrial repeater configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a third frequency band. The system further includes a third satellite configured to re-transmit a second transmitted signal at the third frequency band that is different than the first transmitted signal re-transmitted by the first and second satellites, such that the first signal re-transmitted by the first terrestrial repeater, and the second signal re-transmitted by the third satellite interfere with one another, wherein the first signals re-transmitted by the first satellite, the second satellite, and the first terrestrial repeater includes substantially the same data.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a terminal crimped to a conductor. The terminal has a plurality of crimps spaced from one another and a transition crimp disposed therebetween. A method includes deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the plurality of crimps having different crimp heights, and deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the transition crimp between each of the plurality of crimps. The transition crimp has a crimp height different than each of the plurality of crimps.