Abstract: A containment device for an inflator, the containment device comprising: an outlet plate having an outlet opening; a burst disk disposed over the outlet opening; an initiator having a support member; a movable support disposed between the support member and the burst disk, the support providing support to the burst disk; wherein activation of the initiator causes the movable support to move which allows the burst disk to rupture.

Abstract: A liquid metal rotary connector for a vehicle steering mechanism utilizes a conductive alloy comprising Gallium, Indium, Tin and Zinc to electrically couple stationary and rotary terminals of the connector. The alloy is a liquid at ambient temperatures, and has a melting point of ?36° C., though testing has shown that it operates satisfactorily at temperatures as low as ?40° C. In a preferred arrangement, the rotary connector provides a two-wire connection through which power is supplied from the steering column to the steering wheel, and electronic modules located in the steering column and the steering wheel support bi-directional data communication through voltage and current modulation of the supplied power.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a connector housing attached to an outer shell. A seal is disposed at least partially between the outer shell and the connector housing. A shield is at least partially disposed about the connector housing adjacent to the seal. In one exemplary approach, the connector housing is removably attached to the outer shell. In another exemplary approach, the seal has a unitary configuration.

Abstract: An electrically enhanced air filter apparatus for filtering particles from moving air is described. The apparatus includes a filter arranged so particles approach the filter a filter speed and pass through an ionizer at an ionizer speed, and is configured so the filter speed is less than the ionizer speed. The ionizer is arranged to guide the moving air in an ionizer airflow direction and generates an ionizing electric field having ionizer field direction substantially perpendicular to the ionizer airflow direction.

Abstract: A vehicle emergency communication device and a method of utilizing the device are provided. The device includes a portable housing having a first diagnostic link connector, a microprocessor, and an RF transmitter disposed therein. The first diagnostic link connector is configured to be removably connected to a vehicle communication bus, and is further configured to receive a signal indicating deployment of a vehicle airbag from the vehicle communication bus. The microprocessor is configured to induce the RF transmitter to transmit an RF signal having an emergency call message therein in response to receiving the signal from the first diagnostic link connector. The emergency call message has data for inducing a cellular phone receiving the RF signal to further communicate with an emergency call center computer.

Abstract: A pump for pumping a fluid is disclosed. The pump comprises an inlet, an outlet, an internal volume disposed between said inlet and said outlet, a first pumping arrangement operable to pump a first volume of fluid from the inlet means into the internal volume, and a second pumping arrangement operable to pump a second volume of fluid from the internal volume into the outlet. In a first mode of operation of the pump, the first volume of fluid is greater than the second volume of fluid such that, in use, the pressure of the fluid within the internal volume is elevated to a level above the pressure of the fluid at the inlet.

Abstract: A test apparatus and method are provided for testing interoperability of a first device to communicate with a second device via wireless communication. The test apparatus includes a wireless interface configured to interface via wireless communication with devices. The test apparatus also includes a processor, memory and logic stored in memory and executed by the processor. The logic causes the test apparatus to sequence through a plurality of wireless communication actions to communicate with a first device, monitor behavior of the first device during the actions, and store characteristics of the monitored behavior in memory so that the test apparatus may be used to emulate the first device when wirelessly communicating with a second device.

Abstract: A fluid pump assembly comprising a driven cam and a reciprocating member reciprocal within a bore provided in a pump housing as the cam is driven, in use, to cause pressurisation of fluid within a pump chamber. The pump assembly further comprises an interface between the cam and the reciprocating member, for example in the form of bevelled surfaces of the cam and the reciprocating member, which serve to drive the reciprocating member (i) to translate in a first, axial direction within the bore and (ii) to rotate within the bore in a second, rotational direction. An optional feature of the fluid pump assembly is that the pump housing defines a bearing for the cam which is provided with a recess to define a region of weakness to allow the bearing to deflect, in use, thereby to provide an increased lubrication volume between the cam and the bearing. The reciprocating member may take the form of a tappet which cooperates with a pumping plunger to pressurise fluid within the pump chamber.

Abstract: A sensor including a species selective electrode and a reference electrode having an electrolyte layer disposed therebetween; a reference gas channel in fluid communication with the reference electrode; a heater and a temperature sensor; wherein the species selective electrode is disposed on a first side of an insulating layer separating the species selective electrode from the electrolyte layer, the insulating layer having a first substantially solid area and a second area having an opening pattern extending through the insulating layer; the species selective electrode comprising a species sensing electrode portion disposed on the opening pattern of the insulating layer so as to contact the electrolyte layer through the opening pattern and a non-active electrode lead portion disposed over the first substantially solid area so that the non-active electrode lead portion is in electrical communication with the species sensing electrode portion and is free from contact with the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A lock pin bore in a two-step rocker arm assembly contains a hydraulically-actuable lock pin. A return spring urges the lock pin toward an unlatched mode. The bore has one or more annular grooves formed near the outer end of the bore. A plug, formed preferably of a soft metal, is pressed as a hydraulic seal into the bore. During assembly, the final position of the lock pin within the bore is set by positioning a stopping assembly fixture into the locking end of the bore. The plug is pressed into the bore until contact is made with the lock pin and the lock pin engages the fixture. The plug is radially deformed into the annular groove(s) to anchor the plug and fix the outer limit of travel of the locking pin and the compressive load on the return spring.

Abstract: A method of determining the purity of oxygen present in an oxygen-enriched gas produced from an oxygen delivery system is disclosed. The oxygen delivery system includes at least one sieve bed having a nitrogen-adsorbing material disposed therein and configured to adsorb nitrogen from a feed gas introduced into the at least two sieve beds via a pressure-swing adsorption cycle. The method includes determining a quantity of nitrogen adsorbed by the nitrogen-adsorbing material by inferring an effective volume of the at least one sieve bed based on a pressure change of the at least one sieve bed.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required in an internal combustion engine, the engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, each one of the cylinders comprising a combustion chamber into which fuel is injected by an associated fuel injector and within which, in use, combustion events repeatedly occur to define a combustion cycle of the cylinder between successive combustion events. The method comprises observing the speed of the combustion cycles of at least two of the cylinders and analysing the at least two speeds to determine if an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required. The invention also extends to an injector control unit arranged to determine an injection parameter correction for fuel quality.

Abstract: During assembly of an improved phaser, a rotor bias spring is captured by a spring retainer that is fitted or formed into the cover, allowing the spring to be installed in a pre-load position and forming a sub-assembly that is then attached to the remaining components. Grounded and active spring tangs are captured in separate slots in the spring retainer. A pocket within the rotor receives the active tang of the bias spring. The pocket has a tapered bottom ramp that lifts the active tang from the slot wall in the retainer and positions the active tang within the pocket in a retarding direction. Lifting the active tang of the bias spring prevents friction between the spring and the retainer slot wall as would occur as the rotor moves in a retarded direction. In advancing, spring rotation stops when the active tang contacts the end of the retainer slot.

Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a metal segment in mechanical and electrical communication with the remainder of the connection mechanism on at least one side. The segment includes at least one tab protruding from the segment on a first side and a central area of the segment with a plurality of metal deformations. When the metal deformations are pressed into aluminum, they are capable of piercing through corrosion on the surface of the aluminum in order to make electrical contact with the aluminum.

Abstract: An electronic module includes a printed circuit board with a heat producing electrical component assembled in an insulating housing. The component is adjacent a thermally conducting heat sink with a thermally conductive material disposed therebetween. Integral with the heat sink is a thermally conductive runner, partially encased in the housing wall, connecting the heat sink to a thermally conductive port. The port is coupled to a base structure when the housing is attached to the base, forming a heat conduction path from the component to the base. This conductive path may also provide an electrical ground path from the printed circuit board to the base.

Abstract: The assembly includes a pair of heat exchangers, each including an upper and lower manifold, parallel and spaced relative to one another. Tubes extend between each set of upper and lower manifolds with fins disposed between each of the tubes. A valve system controls fluid flow between the upper manifolds and the lower manifolds. The valve system is movable between a maximum cooling mode with fluid flow form the first upper manifold through both of the tubes and to said first lower manifold. A temperate mode allows fluid to flow from the first upper manifold to the first lower manifold and from the second upper manifold to the second lower manifold to prevent flash fogging. A maximum cooling mode allows fluid to flow from the second upper manifold through both of the first and second tubes to the lower manifolds.

Abstract: A system for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is provided. The system includes a GPS antenna configured to receive signals transmitted by a GPS satellite, and a satellite digital radio antenna configured to receive satellite digital radio signals. The system also includes an amplifier that is electrically coupled to the GPS antenna and satellite antenna. The amplifier is configured to amplify GPS and satellite digital radio signals received by the satellite digital radio antenna and GPS antenna. A method for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing an interconnect is provided. The method comprises: providing a conductive base sheet including a first face and a second face, the first and second faces are disposed on opposite sides of the base sheet; preparing anode gas flow passages on the first face of the conductive base sheet; preparing cathode gas flow passages on the second face of the conductive base sheet; and selecting anode gas flow passage geometry having a first geometric configuration; and selecting cathode gas flow passage geometry having a second geometric configuration that is different from the first geometric configuration so as to optimize fuel and oxidant gas flow according to system requirements.

Abstract: A fuel injector control method comprises determining a required separation time between a termination of an on signal associated with a first injection event and an initiation of an on signal associated with a second injection event. The method comprises calculating an overlap time between the separation time and the time to charge the piezoelectric stack to a first level; dividing the overlap time into first and second time periods as a function of the charge and discharge currents; applying the charge current to the piezoelectric stack for a charge time; and applying the discharge current to the piezoelectric stack for a discharge time so as to discharge the stack to a second level, wherein the discharge time is calculated on the basis of the second time period of the overlap time. Thus, first and second injection events are merged in a pulse mode of operation.

Abstract: A technique for reducing multipath distortion in a mobile FM receiver with a plurality of antennas is accomplished through a number of steps. Initially, a first antenna signal and a second antenna signal are received. The first antenna signal is weighted with a variable first weight and the second antenna signal is weighted with a variable second weight. The weighted first antenna signal and the weighted second antenna signal are then combined to provide a combined received signal having a combined signal level. The variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy that is substantially controlled by a first algorithm, when the combined signal level is greater than a predetermined signal level. When the combined signal level is less than the predetermined signal level, the variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy substantially controlled by a second algorithm.