Abstract: A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property of the fuel is a dielectric constant. A pair of sensing plates are placed on opposite sides of the tube leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near to and is connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the capacitance indicative signal to an engine controller or the like.

Abstract: A vehicle personalization system and method that includes a cell phone and a vehicle. When a vehicle user prepares to use a vehicle, personalization data such as a preferred seat position is quickly transferred from the cell phone to the vehicle and used by the vehicle to adjust a vehicle feature to correspond to the preferences of the vehicle user. The cell phone and the vehicle are both equipped with near field communications (NFC) transponders to facilitate the transfer of personalization data. The vehicle also has a processor coupled to the vehicle NFC transponder to input the received personalization data that is also adapted to personalize the vehicle device in accordance with the received personalization data when the personalization data is downloaded from the cell phone to the vehicle.

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.

Abstract: A sideview vision system in a vehicle and a method for operating the system. The sideview vision system has a camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle for capturing an image alongside and extending rearward the vehicle, and a display for displaying a view to a driver of the vehicle. The method includes capturing an image using the camera, the image having a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion, displaying a first view corresponding to the first portion in response to the vehicle transmission being in a forward gear, and displaying a second view corresponding to the second portion in response to the transmission being in a reverse gear.

Abstract: An RF connector assembly has a first connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a terminal end for a first coaxial cable and a second connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a complementary terminal end for a second coaxial cable. The terminal end and complementary terminal end are complementarily constructed for engagement to each other. The first and second connector housing are constructed at their respective second ends to connect to one another. The first connector housing receives a tubular shield mounted about and connected to the respective terminal end. The tubular shield has a set of resilient radially inwardly extending contact fingers for electrically connecting about the complementary terminal end when the second connector housing is connected to the first connector housing.

Abstract: A stacked array of channeled semiconductor chips defining a power electronic circuit is mounted in a sealed container provided with inlet and outlet passages for liquid coolant. Leadframe terminals supported by the container engage selected terminals of the semiconductor chips and form leads for mounting the container on a circuit board having electrical and fluid interconnects.

Abstract: A compression-ignition internal combustion engine system having an exhaust passage and an exhaust gas treatment arrangement, wherein the exhaust gas treatment arrangement comprises a three-way catalytic converter.

Abstract: A user-manipulated door mechanism is mounted on the faceplate of an electronic module for allowing user access to an electrical socket disposed inboard of a faceplate aperture. An inwardly extending rectangular shoulder formed along one edge of the door is rotatably mounted about an axis inboard of the faceplate, and is resiliently engaged by the free end of a cantilevered spring blade inboard of the faceplate. The spring blade engages a first face of the shoulder that is substantially parallel to the door when the door is in a closed position covering the socket, and a second face of the shoulder that is substantially perpendicular to the door when the door is in an open position uncovering the socket.

Abstract: A stand-off mounting apparatus includes an insulative carrier for off-board mounting of leaded or surface-mount components, particularly large temperature-sensitive discrete components such as capacitors. The carrier has a component-mounting surface that is elevated relative to the circuit board, and is positioned with respect to the circuit board such that the circuit board area under the mounting surface of the carrier is available for the placement of smaller non-temperature-sensitive components. The off-board components are mounted on the component-mounting surface of the carrier, and the carrier may include support features for providing additional mechanical support for the components. Electrical leads for electrically coupling the elevated components to the circuit board may be insert-molded in the carrier, or may be inserted into plated through-holes in the carrier.

Abstract: Multiple receivers may be enabled to receive satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) services under a single subscription. For example, an SDAR service provider can enable multiple vehicles, a home-based digital radio, or a portable digital radio, singly or in any combination. Multiple receivers transmit information to each other. One receiver is designated as a primary receiver, and the other receivers are designated as secondary receivers. The SDAR service provider transmits a list of associated secondary receivers to the primary receiver. The primary receiver enables the associated secondary receivers to receive SDAR services by placing them in an authorized state. The secondary receivers must periodically communicate with the primary receiver to remain authorized. A secondary receiver that fails to communicate with the primary receiver within a prescribed time period is switched to an unauthorized state. In this unauthorized state, the secondary receiver no longer performs as an authorized receiver.

Abstract: A cooling fan assembly for cooling a heat exchanger includes a shroud having a plurality of stators extending radially to support a hub. A flow-guide including an outer rim and inner rim surrounds the shroud and extends to the heat exchanger. The outer rim extends from the heat exchanger to the stators. The inner rim extends annularly about the axis and curves convexly from the outer rim. A fan unit includes a plurality of fan blades extending radially from a motor supported by the hub. Each fan blade includes a leading edge facing the stators and a trailing edge facing in the opposite direction with a blade tip extending therebetween. A fan section extends from the inner rim and axially about the fan blades. The stators are disposed between the heat exchanger and the fan blades. The stators have a front edge facing the heat exchanger and a back edge facing the fan blades. Each stator is connected to the inner rim with the front edge extending radially outward and farther than the back edge.

Abstract: The thermosetable composition incorporating organo-iodine compounds that provide improved x-ray contrast are prepared by reacting an epoxy resin with crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include compounds having iodo-phenyl functionalities, and wherein the iodine atoms include iodine-127 isotope. The resulting thermoset material includes sufficient iodine-127 isotope covalently bound to the polymer matrix to impart excellent x-ray contrast. The cured polymer materials of this invention may be utilized as underfill material for electrical components, thereby facilitating use of x-ray analysis to detect problematic voids in the underfill.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling boost pressure in various turbo-charged engine configurations as well as variable geometry turbine (VGT) arrangements includes an electronic controller programmed to receive a predetermined desired boost pressure PBoostdes. A desired pressure delta ?PWGdes across a waste-gate valve is determined using the desired boost pressure PBoostdes. A control signal is generated for controlling the waste-gate valve so as to achieve the desired pressure delta ?PWGdes. In boost pressure and vacuum pneumatically-actuated waste-gate valve arrangements, the respective solenoid duty cycles are obtained through use of various data structures. Where a waste-gate valve position is controlled by an electrical motor, the valve position is determined using a data structure as a function of desired waste-gate valve flow at sonic standard conditions.

Abstract: Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination.

Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of components having electrically-conductive mating surfaces therebetween, the surfaces are sealed by an electrically insulating gasket that include a mineral composition comprising about 66 mol % MgO and about 33 mol % SiO2, the mineral composition being known mineralogically as forsterite. A brazing alloy may be applied to enhance bonding of the gasket into place. The gasket composition may include additions of Al2O3 to enhance electrical resistivity while having little to no impact of matching expansion coefficients of the gasket and metal mating surfaces. Also, additions such as titania or zirconia to inhibit glassy phase grain boundaries and the formation of impurities and pores in the ceramic grain boundaries may be used. A recommended particle size distribution of precursor powders is disclosed that leads to an optimum microstructure of the sintered gasket.

Abstract: A thermopile-based thermal detector is provided by a thermocouple, formed from a single sheet of material, which is made dissimilar with a P-doped and an N-doped junction electrically isolated via a naturally forming depletion region. The thermopile P-N sheet is uniform and planar, addressing stress and manufacturing issues. The usual non-active area of a conventional thermopile is significantly reduced or eliminated, and thus the output signal per unit diaphragm area of the detector is substantially increased, without the typical reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio. Also, a significant reduction in size of the thermal detector area is provided without a reduction in signal or signal-to-noise ratio. In an aspect, a second layer of thermocouples is axially positioned over, and connected with, a first layer of thermocouples. Additional axially stacked thermopiles can be provided within the same fabrication process. Signal processing circuitry may be electrically interconnected with the thermocouple.

Abstract: A method of controlling combustion in an internal combustion engine with exhaust after treatment device is proposed, wherein upon detection of a request for a regeneration event of the exhaust after treatment device, a regeneration combustion mode comprising a pilot injection and a retarded main injection is operated. During the regeneration combustion mode the injection timing of the main injection is controlled so that its retard is not later than a retard threshold that is determined as the maximum timing retard to provide the desired torque, but with an injected fuel quantity not exceeding a maximum fuel quantity given by a stored smoke-limit map.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating component including a heat-generating device such as a power semiconductor chip and a mounting structure is provided with coolant channels having a stair-stepped internal geometry that enhances cooling performance with both single-phase and two-phase cooling modes without unduly restricting coolant flow or significantly increasing manufacturing cost. The stair-stepped geometry enhances both single-phase and two-phase cooling modes by increasing the surface area of the channels, and further enhances the two-phase cooling mode by providing numerous high-quality bubble nucleation sites along the length of the channels. The stair-stepped channels are formed in the heat generating device and/or the mounting structure, and the stepped sidewalls may extend toward or away from the center of the channel.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a terminal and a connector body. The terminal has one or more tabs. The connector body has a cavity that is constructed and sized to receive the terminal. The connector body has one or more rails, and has one or more knobs. When the terminal is received in the cavity, the tab bears against the rail and bears against the knob.

Abstract: A combination heat exchanger comprising of a heat exchange core having a plurality tubes, wherein the core having at least one core end; an end tank having two side walls and two end walls, two bulkheads the cavity defining a least a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, a perimeter edge defined by exterior edges of said side walls, exterior edges of said two end walls, and exterior edges of said two bulkheads; a header plate engaged between said end tank and said core end; and a gasket between said perimeter edge and contact surface of said header plate, wherein the compression ratio of the gasket is varied along the contact surfaces of the perimeter edge and contact surface of the end plate.