Abstract: A carrier is configured to house a capacitor that includes a casing, a first capacitor lead that protrudes from the casing and a second capacitor lead that protrudes from the casing. The carrier includes a first container portion and a second container portion. The first container portion and the second container portion have the same shape and dimensions, and when assembled together, define an interior space that receives and retains the capacitor therein.

Abstract: A capacitor carrier assembly includes a carrier, a capacitor disposed in the carrier and electrically conductive connection terminals that support the carrier with respect to another electronic component or device such as a printed circuit board. Each connection terminal has a body portion that is electrically connected to one capacitor lead of the pair of capacitor leads at a connection location, and a device connection portion that protrudes from the carrier. Leads of the capacitor and the connection locations are encapsulated by wall structures of the carrier.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for monitoring an operational operation to predict a fault in the operational operation. The operational operation monitors a number of manufacturing stages within a manufacturing system. The monitoring is accomplished using a number of sensors directed to measuring aspects of the manufacturing system, and detecting trends indicating a potential fault of the system according to a prediction model. The prediction model may be updated during online operation of the monitoring system.

Abstract: A brake pad having a backing plate, friction lining, and a surface coating adhered to the friction lining. The surface coating may be formulated to generate a transfer layer on a brake rotor faster than the fiction lining alone. The surface coating may be adhered to the friction lining in a predetermined design.

Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body and a plug. The body includes a chamber and ports that communicate with the chamber. The plug is rotatably disposed in the chamber, and includes a seal disposed in an annular groove provided on the plug surface. An elastic member is disposed in the groove, and biases the seal against an inner surface of the chamber. The seal includes a seal retaining feature that is configured to retain the seal within the groove.

Abstract: A monitoring and/or control device for an environmental control unit such as a heat pump determines the performance status and whether maintenance is required of a component of the unit for example a compressor during operation of the component. The device includes sensors configured to be situated relative to the compressor so as to receive and signal data from the compressor during operation of the component. In some embodiments, the device includes a vibration detector and a controller coupled to the vibration detector. The controller is configured to (i) receive electrical signals from the vibration detector, (ii) compare the electrical signals to a reference signal, (iii) determine the performance characteristic of the component based on the results of the comparison, and (iv) output a signal corresponding to the performance characteristic of the component to a user display. The controller may also request maintenance and/or order parts automatically.

Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body and a plug. The body includes a chamber and ports that communicate with the chamber. The plug rotates within the chamber, and includes a seal disposed in an annular groove provided on the plug surface. An elastic member is disposed in the groove, and biases the seal against an inner surface of the chamber. When the plug is oriented relative to the body so that the groove is aligned with a port, the seal segregates the chamber into a first chamber that borders an outer surface of the seal and a second chamber that borders an inner surface of the seal, and provides a fluid-tight seal between the first chamber and the second chamber. In addition, the seal inner and outer diameters vary based on a fluid pressure difference across the seal.

Abstract: A lens assembly for a near range camera includes a lens stack disposed in a tubular lens housing. The lens stack includes several lenses in a stacked arrangement. An outermost lens of the lens stack is disposed in an open end of the lens housing, and a second lens of the lens stack abuts an inward facing surface of the outermost lens. A seal is that contacts, and forms a seal with, an inner surface of the lens housing, the first lens and the second lens.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone system comprises a transducer die having a pierce-less diaphragm and a motion sensor suspended from the diaphragm. The system further comprises a housing and the diaphragm divided a volume inside the housing into a front volume and a back volume. The motion sensor suspended from the diaphragm is located in the back volume having a gas pressure that is substantially equal or lower than an ambient pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank and an electrically conductive top plate that closes and seals a fuel-fill opening in the fuel tank. The top plate includes electrical dissipation structures and features that allow for electrical charge dissipation of the fuel tank to an external structure such as the vehicle chassis. The dissipation structures include an electrically insulative carrier that is partially embedded in the top plate using an overmolding process, and an electrical conductor that is supported by the carrier. The electrical conductor provides an electrical connection between the top plate and the chassis that is independent of the fuel tank and the fuel tank mounting structure.

Abstract: An environmental control unit, such as an HVAC or heat pump unit, includes an insert disposed within the device housing that provides noise attenuation features. The insert defines air flow paths within the housing. The insert may be formed of a foam material and may include multiple foam blocks that cooperate to form a serpentine passageway therein. The passageway includes multiple turns. The features further include perforated sheet metal panels disposed in the passageway at strategic locations. The perforations are shaped and dimensioned to correspond to the frequencies to be attenuated.

Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body, and a valve plug disposed in the valve body. The valve body includes a base and a cylindrical sidewall that together define a valve plug chamber. The valve body includes valve ports. The valve plug is rotatable relative to the valve body about a rotational axis. The valve plug supports an annular seal in such a way that, a) for certain orientations of the valve plug with respect to the valve body, the seal abuts and inner surface of the sidewall and provides a fluid-tight seal between the valve plug and the valve body, and b) during rotation of the valve plug relative to the valve body, the seal is moved relative to the valve body along a circular path. At least one of the valve ports includes a guiding feature that guides the seal along the circular path.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank and a fuel pump module. The module supports a fuel pump that delivers fuel to an engine of a vehicle, and includes a module housing that provides a cavity that receives the fuel pump, a reservoir that is actively filled with excess fuel discharged from a fuel pressure regulator, and a fuel return passageway that directs excess fuel discharged from the pressure regulator to the reservoir. When the fuel tank assembly is inverted, as may occur when the vehicle is operating under certain dynamic conditions, the discharged fuel is retained within the reservoir, and is supplied to the fuel pump inlet via a wicking filter that extends between the reservoir and the fuel pump inlet. As a result, engine stall due to lack of fuel during certain dynamic conditions can be delayed or avoided.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel monitoring device includes a tire pressure monitoring unit, a tire pressure sensor unit disposed at a wheel of the vehicle and a brake pad wear sensor unit disposed at a wheel of the vehicle. The brake pad wear sensor unit includes a brake pad wear sensor and a wireless transmitter configured to receive the signal emitted from the brake pad wear sensor and wirelessly transmit it to the tire pressure monitoring unit. An energy harvesting device is configured to convert energy derived from an external source into electrical power, and to provide the electrical power to the brake pad wear sensor unit and the transmitter. The brake pad wear sensor unit and the tire pressure sensor unit are monitored by the tire pressure monitoring unit.

Abstract: A brake pad apparatus having a conductivity sensor disposed thereon operable to generate conductivity data corresponding to the remaining thickness of the brake pad's friction lining. The conductivity data may be analyzed by a processor to estimate the remaining life of the brake pad for purposes of maintenance, diagnostic, or repair. The conductivity sensor may utilize a conductivity probe that comprises one or more insulation coatings to insulate conductive material from the friction lining. The brake pad apparatus may further comprise a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a processor external to the brake pad apparatus.

Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel rail, and a damper that is disposed inside the fuel rail. The damper includes outwardly protruding first barbs formed integrally on one end of the damper and outwardly protruding second barbs formed integrally on an opposed end of the damper. The first barbs and the second barbs each engage the fuel rail inner surface, whereby the damper is located and retained within the fuel rail. The first barbs and the second barbs may be generally triangular in profile and each extend at an acute angle relative to the damper longitudinal axis. In addition, the first barbs and the second barbs are each oriented in the same direction relative to the longitudinal direction, whereby the damper is asymmetric when viewed in side view.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly having a consolidated lining comprised of an enhancement framework disposed within a tribological lining, the enhancement framework and tribological lining having substantially the same compressibility factor. The enhancement framework or tribological lining may advantageously be manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

Abstract: An electronic transmission range select actuator (ETRSA) includes two independent drive systems that are each able to actuate a common shaft, for example an output shaft of the ETRSA, via a coupling device disposed between and connecting the gear trains of each system. The first drive system of the two independent drive systems is used during normal vehicle operation to change the transmission gear range to a desired gear range. The second drive system is used in case of abnormal operation of the first drive system to return the vehicle transmission to the park transmission range.

Abstract: An engine system uses data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine to set the engine system to an AI mode when the engine is in an SI mode 1) within first operating condition limits, and 2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within rate of change limits, maintain the engine system in the SI mode when the engine is outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within rate of change limits, set the engine system to the SI mode when the engine is in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

Abstract: A housing assembly for an electronic circuit including an electronic control unit (ECU) is a low-profile, generally rectangular device that includes a base, a cover that closes an open end of the base, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The housing assembly securely supports the PCB and its associated electronic components while providing improved cooling properties and lower manufacturing costs. This is achieved by providing passive cooling features on an outer surface of the cover, and by employing a thermally conductive plastic to form the passive cooling features, where the cover has predetermined and defined anisotropic thermal conduction properties configured to optimize thermal conduction and cooling of the ECU.