Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a single linear accelerometer disposed upon a silicon wafer. The accelerometer is electrically connected to a plurality of signal conditioning circuits that generate an output signals in different ranges. Each signal conditioning circuit has an output that is electrically connected to an associated control device.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved brake shoe assembly and a disc brake assembly including such a brake shoe assembly. The disc brake assembly includes an anchor bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle component; a brake caliper adapted to be secured to the anchor bracket; an inboard brake shoe and an outboard brake shoe carried by the disc brake assembly and adapted to be disposed on opposite axial sides of an associated brake rotor, each of the brake shoes including a pair of opposed ends; actuation means for selectively moving the shoes into frictional engagement with the rotor; and a first clip carried by at least one of the opposed ends of one of the brake shoes to thereby urge the one of the brake shoes against a trailing end of the anchor bracket to prevent caliper rotation when the disc brake assembly is actuated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a brake caliper adapted for use in a vehicle disc brake assembly and method for producing the same wherein the caliper has a plurality of locating surfaces provided thereon, at least one of the locating surfaces being a first locating as cast groove provided on the inboard leg portion, the groove having a first partially closed end and a second opposite opened end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proportional microvalve having a first, second and third layer, and having high aspect ratio geometries. The first layer defines a cavity with inlet and outlet ports. The second layer, doped to have a low resistivity and bonded between the first and third layers, defines a cavity having a flow area to permit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports. The second layer further defines an actuatable displaceable member, and one or more thermal actuators for actuating the displaceable member to a position between and including an open and a closed position to permit or occlude fluid flow. The third layer provides one wall of the cavity and provides electrical contacts for electrically heating the thermally expandable actuators. The thermal actuators and the displaceable member have high aspect ratios and are formed by deep reactive ion etching such that they are displaceable in the plane of the second layer while being very stiff out of the plane.

Abstract: A microvalve having a generally planar plate valve body defining a chamber and a plate valve member movable in the chamber about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the valve body to control the flow of a fluid through the valve body. The plate valve member defines a pair of opposite faces, a first duct therethrough provides fluid communication between the opposite faces to equalize fluid pressures acting on the opposite faces in the region of the first duct. The plate valve member also has a second duct therethrough that provides fluid communication between the opposite faces to equalize fluid pressures acting on the opposite faces in the region of the second duct. The first duct and the second duct are equidistant from the pivot axis.

Abstract: A control valve includes a magnetic pole member. An armature is slidably supported relative to the magnetic pole member for movement between a fully open position and a closed position. A biasing spring is disposed between the magnetic pole member and the armature for forcing the armature away from the magnetic pole member. A coil is placed about the magnetic pole member and the armature for inducing a magnetic field for moving the armature toward the magnetic pole member. One of either of the magnetic pole member or the armature has a recess for non-contactingly receiving the other when the armature moves between the fully open and closed positions. The control valve can be embodied as a normally open valve or a normally closed valve. The use of dual lateral poles and triple lateral poles create a flat magnetic force versus travel curve thereby allowing for greater proportional control of the valve.

Abstract: A control unit having a circuit substrate mounted within a housing that is adapted to be mounted upon a hydraulic valve body with a coil spacer mounted upon said substrate. The coil spacer including at least one coil support ring having resilient member extending in a radial direction from the edge of the ring into the center of the ring. The control unit also including a solenoid coil and flux casing assembly mounted upon the coil spacer ring with the solenoid coil and flux casing assembly flexing the resilient member such that the resilient member urges flux casing away from the coil spacer.

Abstract: A system for real-time signal processing for vehicle monitoring, including a first device disposed in a tire of a vehicle and producing a signal that is a function of a tire contact time period, during which a point at the tire circumference stays in contact with the ground, and a second device operative to repetitively perform a first task of processing the signal to calculate the tire contact time period at a first predetermined rate, and to repetitively perform a second task of calculating a tire load based at least in part upon the calculated tire contact time period at a second predetermined rate, wherein said second predetermined rate is less than said first predetermined rate.

Abstract: Direct sensing of rough road conditions are used to modify operation of a wheel slip control system. At least one suspension sensor (139) senses an operating parameter of the suspension system. A road surface classifier is responsive to the suspension pension sensor (139) for generating a road surface signal representing a roughness of a road surface over which the vehicle travels. A braking system includes a wheel speed sensor and a brake actuator. An active braking control detector wheel slip in response to the wheel speed sensor (108) during at least one of braking or accelerating of the vehicle and modulates the brake actuator in response to the detected wheel slip. The active braking control is responsive to the road surface signal for modifying modulation f the brake actuator as a function of the road surface signal.

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a single sense element disposed upon a silicon wafer. The sense element is electrically connected to a plurality of signal conditioning circuits that generate output signals in different ranges. Each signal conditioning circuit has an output that is electrically connected to an associated control device.

Abstract: An Electronic Brake Control System having four channels and three wheel speed sensors. The wheel speed sensors include a pair or speed sensors for monitoring the speeds of the individual front wheels and a single speed sensors for monitoring the speed of both rear wheels. The system monitors front wheel speeds during wheel acceleration and, upon detecting excessive slippage of one of the front wheels and the rear axle, applies the front and rear wheel brakes on the side of the slipping front wheel to transfer driving torque to the side of vehicle with a higher coefficient of road surface friction. Alternately, with a four wheel drive vehicle, both rear wheel brakes can be applied to transfer driving torque to the front wheels. The system also senses vehicle parameters during turning maneuvers and, upon detecting an understeer situation, the system is operative to apply one of the rear wheel brakes to correct the undeersteer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proportional microvalve having a first, second and third layer, and having high aspect ratio geometries. The first layer defines a cavity with inlet and outlet ports. The second layer, doped to have a low resistivity and bonded between the first and third layers, defines a cavity having a flow area to permit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports. The second layer further defines an actuatable displaceable member, and one or more thermal actuators for actuating the displaceable member to a position between and including an open and a closed position to permit or occlude fluid flow. The third layer provides one wall of the cavity and provides electrical contacts for electrically heating the thermally expandable actuators. The thermal actuators and the displaceable member have high aspect ratios and are formed by deep reactive ion etching such that they are displaceable in the plane of the second layer while being very stiff out of the plane.

Abstract: A coil assembly for a solenoid valve includes a bobbin formed from an electrically insulative material. A bore extends axially through the bobbin. A first flux ring having a sleeve extending axially from an annular base is mounted upon a first end of the bobbin with the sleeve extending into the bobbin bore. Similarly, a second flux ring also having a sleeve extending from an annular base is mounted upon a second end of the bobbin that is opposite from the first flux ring with its sleeve extending into the bobbin bore. The flux rings are formed from a magnetically permeable material that has a high heat conductivity. Magnet wire is wound upon the assembled bobbin and flux rings to form the coil assembly.

Abstract: A fluid manifold defining a body has a surface defining a plane. A bore extends into the body from the surface and defines a seat. The bore is adapted to receive a tube nut into a seated position against the seat. A first tube nut and a second tube nut having respective bodies with first and second lengths and first and second flanges positioned at one end of each body are provided. A tube nut stop is disposed adjacent the bore and is sized to engage the flange of the first tube nut when placed into the manifold at the bore, thereby preventing the first tube nut from being seated against the seat. The tube nut stop is of insufficient size to engage the flange of the second tube nut when seated against the seat in the bore, thereby allowing the second tube nut to be seated against the seat.

Abstract: A vehicle traction control system is actuated when driven wheel slip (S1) exceeds a predetermined slip threshold (Ts) to reduce the amount of driven wheel slip (S1) by reducing the driven wheel speed. The traction control system also monitors vehicle deceleration. Upon detecting that the vehicle is decelerating and that the vehicle deceleration has exceed a deceleration threshold, the traction control system determines that the vehicle has encountered a deformable surface such as mud or deep snow. Upon detecting entry onto a deformable surface, the slip threshold (Ts) is linearly increased over a period of time to increase the driven wheel speed and thereby allow the wheels to churn through the deformable surface.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling fluid flow in a hydraulic control unit of a vehicular brake system includes a valve seat. A sleeve is mounted on the valve seat. An armature core is slidably received in the sleeve. The sleeve includes a first ferromagnetic portion adjacent the valve seat, a second ferromagnetic portion, and an annular region defining an area of increased magnetic reluctance. A part of the first portion of the sleeve defines a radial magnetic pole for the generally radial flow of magnetic flux from the armature to the sleeve. A portion of the valve seat adjacent the armature defines an axial magnetic pole for the generally axial flow of magnetic flux from the armature to the valve seat. Together, the generally radial flow of flux and the generally axial flow of flux generate a force urging the armature from an open position toward a closed position when the coil is energized.

Abstract: A coupling having slots for receiving drive tabs of an associated driving shaft and a driven shaft, wherein the tabs of the driving shaft and the driven shaft are tapered to militate against rotational play between the driving shaft and the driven shaft which results in undesirable wear and damage to the drive shafts and coupling.

Abstract: An improved electro-hydraulic brake system having an electrically powered normal source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid, and a manually powered backup source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid to all four of the vehicle brakes in the event of failure of the normal source. During normal braking, fluid from the backup source is redirected from the vehicle brakes to a pedal simulator. The brake system of the invention further diverse arrangements for providing braking in the event of a failure of the normal source of pressurized fluid. The brake circuit for the front wheels are provided with relatively low cost fluid separator units, while the rear brake circuit is not.

Abstract: A filter assembly for a control valve for controlling fluid flow in a hydraulic control unit of a vehicular brake system includes a substantially annular filter body. The body has an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end. The inner surface defines an axial bore from the first end to the second end of the body. A portion of the axial bore adjacent the first end receives a portion of a valve body. The filter body is disposed within a bore of a housing. The outer surface defines a first axial groove. The housing contains a valve. The first end of the filter body defines a first radially extending groove which extends between the axial bore and the first axial groove. A filter portion is disposed within the axial bore for filtering fluid flowing through the axial bore.

Abstract: A microvalve device for controlling fluid flow in a fluid circuit. The microvalve device comprises a body having a cavity formed therein. The body further has first and second pilot ports placed in fluid communication with the cavity. The body also has first and second primary ports placed in fluid communication with the cavity. Each port is adapted for connection with a designated fluid source. A pilot valve supported by the body is movably disposed in the cavity for opening and closing the first and second pilot ports. An actuator is operably coupled to the pilot valve for moving the pilot valve. A microvalve is positioned by the fluid controlled by the pilot valve. The microvalve is a slider valve having a first end and a second end. The slider valve is movably disposed in the cavity for movement between a first position and a second position. The first end of the slider valve is in fluid communication with the first and second pilot ports when the first and second pilot ports are open.