Abstract: Provided is an automobile operation apparatus and method designed for detecting failure of a drive gear selector of an automatic transmission having a normal mode constituted by P, R, N and D gears, and a sport mode. The automobile operation apparatus includes up/down switches for shifting a gear of the automatic transmission up or down when a gearshift lever is shifted from the normal mode to the sport mode, a detection means for detecting whether the gearshift lever is shifted to the sport mode, and a control means for controlling a D gear operation at the up/down switches when the D gear is abnormal and the detection means detects a mode change. Therefore, an automobile can be driven, even when a D gear for forward driving malfunctions, by a virtual drive mode switch that is equivalent to the D gear in an emergency.

Abstract: An occupant detection system for a vehicle includes an antenna arrangement of a capacitance-based occupant detection device in particular provided beneath the seat surface of a vehicle seat for the generation of a first occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person based on a radiation of predetermined minimum strength starting from the antenna arrangement and passing through the person, based on at least one switch arrangement of a weight-based occupant detection device which is provided beneath the seat surface of the vehicle seat and can be actuated in dependence on the pressure acting on it in order to generate a second occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person, in particular an adult, as well as a controller that generates an occupation detection signal in the event that both the first occupation signal of the capacitance-based occupant detection device and the second occupation signal of the weight-based occupant detection device are pres

Abstract: The laser of a laser-generated windshield display is controlled to initially deflect the laser beam in the direction of a reflective target disposed outside a display region of the windshield, and a sensor disposed in a reflection path of the target is sampled to detect the presence of a feedback signal that occurs when the laser beam impinges on the sensor. If the feedback signal is detected, the laser beam is deflected onto the display region to generate a driver display; but if the feedback signal is not detected, the laser is automatically turned-off. Once the laser is turned off for lack of a feedback signal, the control is repeated following a specified delay interval so that the driver display will automatically resume the when the condition that prevented generation of the feedback signal is cured.

Abstract: A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream.

Abstract: A switchable valve assembly is provided with a housing having a longitudinal bore with a spool disposed therein. The spool is selectively positioned within the longitudinal bore for controlling the flow of working fluid between a supply port and a control port and between the control port and a vent port. An actuator assembly is provided for selectively positioning the spool in the longitudinal bore. The actuator assembly includes a connecting rod for mechanically transmitting linear motion to the spool when switching from at least one valve mode to another valve mode. The connecting rod is structurally separate from the spool.

Abstract: A receiver system integrated with a vehicle, transmitter system, and methods thereof are provided. The receiver system includes an antenna configured to receive the signal, and a receiver device in communication with the antenna, the receiver device is configured to process the received signal, wherein the receiver device is further configured to determine if the vehicle is in one of a first state and a second state. The receiver system further includes a display in communication with the receiver device, wherein the display is configured to emit a visual display as a function of the received signal, and the display emits the visual display at a first frame rate when the receiver device determines that the vehicle is in the first state, and the display emits the visual display at a second frame rate when the receiver device determines that the vehicle is in the second state.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating sub-synchronization information into a transmitted digital audio stream and extracting sub-synchronization information from a received digital audio stream is provided. The method includes the steps of having a transmitter introduce sub-synchronization information into a data stream at a period less than that of existing transmitter pre-amble signals, and transmitting that data to a receiver. The method further includes the steps of receiving the transmitted data stream in the receiver circuitry, extracting the synchronization information, and using the synchronization information to accurately decode the received audio data.

Abstract: An electrical center includes a housing and a relay module that is disposed in a well of the housing. The relay module has a base, a printed circuit board assembly, plug in electronic components, a cover and means of coupling and latching of the base to the well in the housing. The base includes a tray having a depending shroud at one end portion. The end portion of the tray that has depending shroud has a plurality of apertures that extend through tie end portion of the tray. A plurality of terminals have first end portions that engage the printed circuit board for electrical connection to the plurality of relays and second end portions that plug into the apertures and terminate in free ends disposed in the space inside the shroud.

Abstract: An improved CHP system combining a VCCHP system with an SOFC system for application as a combined CHP system wherein the compressor motor of a heat pump is powered by a portion of the electricity generated by the SOFC, and wherein the thermal output of the heat pump is increased by abstraction of heat from the SOFC exhaust. This integration allows for complementary operation of each type of system, with the benefits of improved overall fuel efficiency for the improved CHP system. The heat pump is further provided with a plurality of flow-reversing valves and an additional heat exchanger, allowing the heat pump system to be reversed and thus to operate as an air conditioning system.

Abstract: A drive system for powering LED triads includes a controller for supplying power to one or more LED triad modules with integral encoding of the desired hue and intensity information. The LED triad modules each include an LED triad and decoding circuitry for activating the individual LED elements of the triad according to the encoded hue and intensity information. In the illustrated configuration, the controller supplies power to the LED triad modules over a pair of conductors, and the supplied power is modulated using a four-phase encoding sequence that is decoded by the decoding circuitry of each LED triad module so that each LED triad module produces light of the desired hue and intensity.

Abstract: A stress-wave sensor module, a stress-wave sensor, and a method for detecting a vehicle collision event utilizing the stress-wave sensor are provided. The stress-wave sensor has first and second support members and a diaphragm member coupled between the first and second support members. The stress-wave sensor further has first and second strain gauge sensors coupled to both the first support member and the diaphragm member. The first and second strain gauge sensors generate first and second signals, respectively, in response to the first and second strain gauge sensors detecting deflection of the diaphragm member due to stress waves propagating through the diaphragm member.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine under cold conditions. The intake manifold throttle valve is held closed and spark ignition is suspended. Fuel and air are admitted into the cylinders and the pistons are cranked for a plurality of revolutions. During each engine revolution cycle, the fuel/air mixture is compressed and heated adiabatically by the energy of the engine starter motor, and the mixture is exhausted into the exhaust manifold. During valve overlap a portion of the mixture is withdrawn into the cylinder and recompressed in the next cycle. Additional fuel may be injected to replace lost fuel. After several engine cycles, the fuel/air mixture becomes heated to a temperature above the flashpoint of the mixture. Sparking is re-established to fire the warmed mixture, and the intake throttle valve is re-enabled. The first firing can provide sufficient heat to continue spark-firing of newly-introduced mixture thereafter.

Abstract: An electrical switching device in a motor vehicle includes an anti-ESD device which is formed by a metallic or metal-coated element on a surface of the switching device, with which an earth connection is associated via a defined air gap.

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 channel connection to the ground point, and a decoupled state that decouples the common channel connection from the ground point, based upon the noise signal value being greater than a threshold.

Abstract: An engine control module having an environmentally-sealed housing includes a housing-mounted air pressure sensor for providing a reliable measure of atmospheric air pressure to a control circuit mounted within the housing. The sensor is mounted on an inboard face of the housing, and includes a sensor element, a body portion and a riser portion. The sensor element is mounted in the body portion, and the riser portion protrudes through an opening in the housing to couple the sensor element to atmospheric pressure outside the housing. The body portion is sealingly secured to the inboard face of the housing, and a set of conductor pins molded into the body portion extend inward to engage a circuit board enclosed by the housing, and thereby directly couple the sensor element to the ECM's control circuit. The top of the riser portion is capped by a splash-proof lid to prevent water intrusion.

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: A VFD drive apparatus in which the filament of a VFD is coupled at a first terminal to an input voltage derived from a voltage source, and at a second terminal to a shunt voltage regulator that establishes a regulated filament current and a regulated cutoff voltage with respect to ground potential. Other electrical loads such as drive circuitry for the anodes and grid of the display are coupled between the second terminal of the filament and ground potential so that at least a portion of the filament current is supplied to such other electrical loads. Power dissipated by the shunt voltage regulator is thereby reduced, and the cost associated with providing additional voltage regulators for the other electrical loads is avoided.

Abstract: A method of locating a parked vehicle that is equipped with a RKE system including a vehicle-installed RF communication module and a driver-borne wireless RF nomadic device such as a key fob involves installing a RFID tag in the nomadic device and a RFID interrogator in the vehicle. The driver depresses a button on the nomadic device to transmit a location request to the vehicle's communication module, and the RFID interrogator in turn emits a RF interrogation signal to identify the RFID tag and determine its location relative to the vehicle. The communication module then transmits a compass bearing to the nomadic device, and an indicator of the nomadic device is activated to provide the driver with a bearing for locating the vehicle.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided having switched directional antennas. The antenna system includes a first antenna for receiving signals within a first directional coverage zone, and a second antenna for receiving signals within a second directional coverage zone. According to one embodiment, the first and second antennas are located on a vehicle. The system has a device to detect orientation of the vehicle. The system further includes a receiver having control circuitry for controlling selection of the signals received from the first and second antennas based on orientation of the vehicle, location of one or more sources, and antenna coverage zones for the first and second antennas.

Abstract: A control methodology for a two-stage PWM DC-DC conversion system, with transformer-isolation, in which the converter circuit input voltage is compared to a set voltage calibrated as a function of the desired output voltage and the maximum voltage conversion ratio provided by the second-stage converter. When the input voltage is above the set voltage, the second-stage converter is controlled to provide both output voltage regulation during normal operation and output current limiting during over-current conditions. However, when the input voltage is below the set voltage, the first-stage converter is controlled to provide output voltage regulation with minor output current limiting, and the second-stage converter is controlled to provide extended output current limiting independent of the input voltage.