Abstract: A system and method for scrolling through a list uses control and display algorithms for scrolling through a long list of text strings. The control algorithm interfaces to the user via a rate-based scheme to switch the display through various levels of abstraction where higher levels of abstraction are displayed “in-situ” on the single-line display. These higher levels of abstraction display as starting characters or words that are common to a group of entries in the alphabetized list. Multiple levels of abstraction are supported, where lower levels of abstraction are displayed as longer strings of characters, representing smaller groups of entries in the given list of text strings. Higher levels of abstraction are displayed as shorter character strings. The rate of user movement is detected for the display to change to a previous or next item in the list if below a predetermined threshold while increasing the abstraction level if the user rapidly selects different options.

Abstract: An integrated liquid cooling unit comprising a liquid pump and a U-shaped flat tube. An adapter rigidly connects and establishes fluid communication between the pump and the tube creating an integrated unit for cooling an electronic chip via a closed loop. Heat is rejected from the coolant through cooling fins disposed between the legs of the U-shaped tube to passing air being propelled by a blower assembly.

Abstract: A thermal-protection apparatus disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing enveloping a chamber in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device is received, a thermoelectric module mounted in a wall of the housing, and a remote electronic controller and power source coupled to the housing via an electrical cable for activating the thermoelectric module, and optionally the consumer electronic device, in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device.

Abstract: The union includes a cylindrical hollow body having at a rear end means for connection to a pipe, and at a front end a tubular nozzle able to be received in a housing formed in a bore on the periphery of an injector, the body bearing means for retaining the tubular nozzle in the housing. The retaining means include two elastic tabs in an arc of circle extending on the periphery of the body concentrically with the axis (A-A) of this. Each of the tabs defines with the periphery of the said body a slot in an arc of circle open on one side. The tabs are able to co-operate with a groove provided inside the bore of the injector. The union in accordance with the invention is used to connect an injector of an internal combustion engine to a fuel return pipe.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center has a power cable for feeding electrical power to the bussed electrical center. A printed circuit board subassembly is interposed between a first housing member and a second housing member that are connectable together. An electrically conductive connector has a prong end and a distal end. The prong end is operably connected to the printed circuit board subassembly. A first fastener and a second fastener are positioned on opposite sides of the first and second housing members. When the first and second fasteners are tightened together to a draw the first and second housing members together to mechanically fasten the bussed electrical center together, the distal end and the terminal end are pressed against each other for electrical connection to each other to electrically connect the power cable to the printed circuit board subassembly.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a continuous reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack. First and second sulfur traps are disposed in parallel between a hydrocarbon reformer and the fuel cell stack. The ends of the sulfur traps are connected to conventional four-way valves such that either trap may be selected for trapping sulfur from the reformate stream, while the other trap is undergoing regeneration by backflushing the accumulated adsorbed sulfur deposits. Thus, the sulfur traps may be used and stripped alternately, permitting continuous supply of desulfurized reformate to the fuel cell assembly. In a currently preferred embodiment, the hot cathode air exhaust is used to assist in stripping the out-of-service trap. In an alternative embodiment, two reformers are provided and the reformers are alternately regenerated along with their respective traps.

Abstract: An object detection system is provided for detecting a thermal emitting object in a blind zone proximate to a host vehicle. The system includes a thermal radiation detector located on a host vehicle and configured to sense temperature of multiple coverage zones proximate to the host vehicle. A processor processes temperature sensed by an infrared detector. The processor determines a change in thermal temperature sensed by the infrared detector and determines the presence of an object in the coverage zone based on the change in the sensed temperature. An output provides a signal indicative of an object sensed in the coverage zone based on the determined change in temperature.

Abstract: A method for triggering a new regeneration event in a soot-trapping particulates filter disposed in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of determining instantaneous engine speed and engine load; determining instantaneous mass fractions for wet soot and for dry soot in the exhaust gas stream for the instantaneous engine speed and load; determining instantaneous concentrations of wet and dry soot particles in the exhaust gas; determining the rates of accumulation of wet soot and dry soot in the particulates filter; determining the total amounts of wet soot and dry soot accumulated in said soot-trapping device during all engine operation conditions since the latest previous regeneration event; and triggering the new regeneration event when the total amount of wet soot and dry soot exceeds a permissible value.

Abstract: A fuel module for a vehicle has a fuel tank opening cover pivotably coupled to a module housing that holds multiple components including a fuel pump, filter, etc. The housing can be advanced lengthwise through the opening of a shallow fuel tank then turned horizontally to rest on the bottom of the tank, with the cover remaining parallel to the opening such that when the housing is in place in the tank the cover blocks the opening.

Abstract: A technique of realizing a termination circuit using coupled resonators in stripline configuration of a circuit presented. The circuit absorbs RF energy incident on its input over a frequency band of interest, and dissipates it in to the dielectric substrate, thereby acting like an effective termination in the frequency band. The resonant elements may be constructed in edge-coupled or broad-side coupled stripline configuration. The technique may be extended to build microstrip line termination with edge-coupled resonators. The technique may further be extended to realize attenuators over a narrow band.

Abstract: A communication plate extends along and is sandwiched between cylindrical communication manifolds of a first heat exchanger assembly and a second heat exchanger assembly. The communication plate includes a saddling surface arcuate in one direction and a saddling surface arcuate in the opposite direction for engaging in saddle-like fashion the cylindrical shape of the manifolds. The communication plate defines a plurality of communication plate orifices disposed along the communication plate and aligned co-axial with a plurality of communication orifices disposed along the manifolds to seal the communication orifices of the manifolds and establish distributed and sealed fluid communication between the heat exchanger assemblies.

Abstract: Methods of making a sealed crimp connection attaching a terminal to a wire conductor are provided. A layer of fluid conformal coating is applied to overlie a terminal and underlie at least a lead of the wire conductor upon at least the lead being received into the terminal. The terminal, the fluid layer, and at least the lead of the wire conductor are crimped to form the crimp connection. Fluid conformal coating is displaced where an abutting surface of the terminal makes contact with at least the lead of the wire conductor. The fluid conformal coating is cured to a non-fluid state. The fluid conformal coating may be formed of an acrylated urethane material that may provide an increased pull force and a low crimp resistance in the crimp connection. The crimp connection may be constructed using a manufacturing process on an automated assembly line.

Abstract: An ignition coil engages an inner surface of a bore of an engine, the providing access to a spark plug. The engagement is a boltless cam-lock engagement. A spring is associated with the engagement to hold the assembly in tension, and the spring also contacts a ground terminal in the ignition coil and the base of the spark plug to provide a short electrical path for radiofrequency interference (RFI) dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes an outlet header extending along an outlet axis to define an outlet cavity and an inlet header defining an inlet cavity. A plurality of refrigerant tubes extends from the inlet header through the outlet header and into the outlet cavity. A collector conduit having a generally semi-circular conduit cross-section defining an arced surface and a chord surface interconnected with rounded ends is disposed in the outlet header and includes a conduit body portion and at least one conduit end portion interconnected by a conduit transition portion with the conduit body portion being offset from the conduit end portion. The conduit body portion is engaged to an interior surface of the outlet header to space the conduit body portion from the refrigerant tubes and the conduit end portion is coaxial with the outlet header axis to provide a central outlet for the refrigerant vapor.

Abstract: A transparent bevel apparatus overlays marginal portions of juxtaposed display devices of a segmented display panel to obscure the visual gap between the display devices. The bevel apparatus at least partially overlaps only marginal pixels of the adjacent display devices, so that light from a given display device that passes through the bevel apparatus is bent toward from the respective display device at an angle with respect to the remainder of the emitted light. Consequently, light emitted from the marginal portions of the juxtaposed display devices is seen by the viewer in the place where the visual gap would otherwise be seen. The bevel apparatus may be constructed in the form of a sheet that overlays an entire display device, or all or a portion of the entire display panel, or a narrow strip that is aligned with the seams and affixed to juxtaposed faces of the display devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting electrical components to electric circuit boards. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for mounting electrical components having near-zero standoff height to electrical printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A crash sensor is provided on a vehicle having first and second vehicle structures. The crash sensor includes a light transmitter for emitting a light signal within an opening between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure, and a photo receiver for sensing irradiance in the opening between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure. A change in irradiance or illuminance is indicative of a change in displacement of the first structure relative to the second structure indicative of deformity of the vehicle. The sensor further includes processing circuitry for processing the sensed irradiance and detecting a vehicle crash based on the change in sensed irradiance.

Abstract: A nozzle adapter for an injection molding machine includes a body and one or more retainers mountable to an outer surface of the body. When the body and a retainer are assembled together they cooperate to define a cavity adapted to contain a cartridge heater between the body and the retainer. Access to allow replacement of the cartridge heater can be gained by removing the retainer from the body without removing the entire nozzle adapter from the injection molding machine.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring broadcast programs from the beginning of the programs is provided. The system includes a tuner configured to receive and decode broadcast signals and provide programming as an output. The system also includes a buffer coupled to the tuner that stores programming from the tuner and provides buffered programming as an output delayed in time from the programming provided by the tuner. The system further includes processing circuitry coupled to the tuner and buffer that determines if the tuner is selected as a source for programming, and if a program is in progress when the tuner is selected. The processing circuitry provides the tuner programming as an output of the system if a program is not in progress when the tuner is selected, and provides the buffered programming as an output of the system if a program is in progress when the tuner is selected.