Abstract: A test socket assembly for a semiconductor device used for burn-in testing comprising a base assembly, a floating plate coupled to the base assembly, and a latch assembly mounted on the floating plate for the retention and movement of the semiconductor device. The base assembly further includes a pin assembly for electrically coupling to the semiconductor device for burn-in testing and at least two upstanding flex arms. In addition, the floating plate and the latch assembly move to a test position for accommodating a varying height of the semiconductor device when mating with a test fixture while the latch still effectively retains the semiconductor device. Lastly, the floating plate is held in a fixed load position due to the support provided by the upstanding flex arms when inserting the semiconductor device into the test socket.

Abstract: An analog discrete current mode negative feedback amplifier circuit for use with a micro-fused strain gauge is disclosed. The amplifier circuit includes a Wheatstone bridge coupled to a first power supply and a second power supply. The first power supply and the second power supply can be configured such that the periodically alternate between two voltage levels. The Wheatstone bridge can be coupled to a negative feedback amplifier circuit with common mode detection. The amplifier circuit can comprise a differential amplifier with a negative feedback configuration coupled to a common mode amplifier. In addition, the output of each of the amplifiers can be coupled to a common-mode amplifier. In a pressure sensing application, the output of the common mode amplifier serves to output the temperature while the differential amplifiers serve to output the pressure.

Abstract: A dielectric-constant-insensitive fluid level sensor for directly inserting into a high dielectric constant fluid is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the fluid level sensor includes a first set of stacked series capacitors where each capacitor in the first set is formed by two coplanar electrodes and a dielectric space between the electrodes. Each stack of series capacitors in the first set includes at least one capacitor having a first molded carrier as the dielectric space in series with another capacitor having a first fluid cavity as the dielectric space. In this embodiment, the total capacitance of the first set of stacked series capacitors varies as a function of the level of the fluid within the first fluid cavity.

Abstract: A sensor includes a port body which defines an axial passage for receiving fluid. An electrical connector extends through an opening in the port body near a crimp portion opposite the axial passage and forms an upper seal with the port body. Within the interior of the port body, a support ring and base cover form a cavity which retains a sensing element. The sensing element is exposed to the fluid within the axial passage and determines the pressure. An annular seal is retained by the base cover. The crimp portion of the port body is crimped to provide an upper seal and apply a force on the components within the interior, pinching the annular seal between the sensing element and the base of the port body to create a lower seal.

Abstract: A sensing system for a vehicle includes wheel end sensors (WES), each WES proximate to at least one predetermined tire and configured to sense angular data, including at least one of angular position, angular velocity, angular acceleration, and/or angular displacement. The system includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensors, each TPM sensor inside one of the tires and configured to sense pressure, temperature, and angular data within said tire. The sensing system is configured to compare the angular data sensed by each WES to the angular data sensed by each TPM sensor to automatically identify, for each TPM sensor, a corresponding WES, and based on the position on the vehicle of the predetermined tire of the corresponding WES, identify the position on the vehicle corresponding to said TPM sensor.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire system comprising a steering wheel for use by an operator and an electric motor assembly coupled to the steering wheel for providing active torque feedback. The electric motor has a rotor mounted for rotation, and a magnet mounted to the rotor for rotation about an axis, wherein the at least one magnet is a permanent magnet with a pole pair. A fixed stator has coils for creating an electric field to act upon the magnet. Electronics are positioned on the axis of the magnet for controlling commutation of the stator coils and generating a primary high resolution angular position signal indicative of movement of the steering wheel by the operator. High resolution on-axis sensors, in communication with the electronics, detect a commutation position between the rotor and the stator and producing first and second continuous angle measurements for the pole pair of the at least one magnet.

Abstract: A joystick assembly includes a joystick and pre-load centering springs coupled to the joystick for biasing the joystick to a neutral position. The joystick has a central free-play zone, a transitional zone surrounding the central free-play zone in which the pre-load centering springs begin to act upon the joystick, and a load zone surrounding the transitional zone in which the pre-load centering springs exert a relatively flat spring rate upon the joystick. An angular position sensor system generates a first signal indicative of a travel angle of the joystick. A force sensor system generates a second signal indicative of a force applied to the joystick. A controller receives the first and second signals and sets start/stop points for control by the joystick approximately synchronously with the joystick moving from the transitional zone to the load zone based upon the second signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pressure sensor is shown, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a port element with a sealing structure and a membrane. Four strain gages will be attached to the membrane. The gages are used in a Wheatstone bridge to sense the fluid pressure. A first finite element action determines a first contour around the membrane central axis with equal compressive strain and a second contour around the membrane central axis with equal tensile strain wherein when fluid pressure is applied to the membrane strain on the first contour is opposite strain on the second contour. A second finite element action determines the four positions of the strain gages on the first and second contour such that the difference between the highest error signal and the lowest error signal at the output of the Wheatstone bridge is minimal under influence of parasitic forces.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control assembly for a vehicle has a housing that mounts to a handlebar of the vehicle and defines an interior. A rack gear is mounted in the interior for movement in a linear, translational, and/or radial direction. A pinion gear within the interior moves the rack gear upon rotation of the pinion gear. A sensor target is coupled to the rack gear. A sensor detects a position of the sensor target and generates an electric signal for a vehicle control unit. A grip is coupled to the pinion gear, rotation of the grip moving the rack gear and sensor target in a linear, translational, and/or radial direction, the electric signal varying based on the change in position of the sensor target. Opposing springs within the housing resist movement of the rack gear and rest in a normally preloaded state.

Abstract: A battery management system includes a primary module in wireless communication with a plurality of sensing, or secondary, modules over a range of frequencies within a predetermined frequency band. Each of the primary module and the sensing modules can be configured to transmit with an antenna polarization setting chosen from a plurality of polarization settings. Each of the sensing modules is configured to communicate with the primary with a predetermined one of its polarization settings for each channel. The primary module is also configured to communicate with a respective secondary module with a predetermined polarization setting for each channel.

Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.

Abstract: Tire mounted sensors have controlled orientation with respect to a direction of vehicle travel when fitted to a tire of the vehicle. The tire mounted sensor includes a sensor housing containing a pressure and/or other type of sensor and electronic components which is inserted into a sensor mount attached to the tire. Controlling the orientation of the orientation-sensitive components relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle is achieved by indicating the direction of travel of the vehicle on the sensor mount. Controlling the orientation of the sensor housing within the sensor mount, preferably in all six axes of freedom, is achieved by an orientation key or asymmetrical feature on the sensor mount that corresponds to a mating feature on the sensor housing.

Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.

Abstract: A joystick assembly includes a joystick and pre-load centering springs coupled to the joystick for biasing the joystick to a neutral position. The joystick has a central free-play zone, a transitional zone surrounding the central free-play zone in which the pre-load centering springs begin to act upon the joystick, and a load zone surrounding the transitional zone in which the pre-load centering springs exert a relatively flat spring rate upon the joystick. An angular position sensor system generates a first signal indicative of a travel angle of the joystick. A force sensor system generates a second signal indicative of a force applied to the joystick. A controller receives the first and second signals and sets start/stop points for control by the joystick approximately synchronously with the joystick moving from the transitional zone to the load zone based upon the second signal.

Abstract: A process of forming an overmolded lead frame assembly for a pressure sensing application includes clamping both sides of a lead frame to performing a primary overmolding operation to prevent resin flash on wire bonding areas on the lead frame. The process also includes performing the primary overmolding operation to form a primary mold that covers selected portions of the lead frame on first and second sides of the lead frame assembly. The primary mold forms an electronics cavity on the first side of the lead frame assembly to enable subsequent wire-bonding of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensing element to the wire bonding areas. The process further includes performing a secondary overmolding operation to form a secondary mold on the second side of the lead frame assembly. The secondary mold covers an exposed portion of the lead frame beneath the wire bonding areas.

Abstract: An electromechanical braking (EMB) connector for electrical communication between an interior of a brake caliper assembly and an exterior of the brake caliper assembly is disclosed. The EMB connector includes a body having a distal end for insertion into the interior of the brake caliper assembly and a proximal end for exposure on the exterior of the brake caliper assembly, with the distal end and the proximal end defining a body axis. The EMB connector also includes a load sensor connector for coupling with a load sensor disposed on the interior of the brake caliper assembly. The load sensor connector is compressible along a load sensor axis that is substantially perpendicular to the body axis. The EMB connector further includes a conductive component coupled to the load sensor connector. The conductive component enables electrical connection of the load sensor to the exterior of the brake caliper assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor include depositing a metal layer on a substrate and fabricating a calibration structure on the metal layer. The calibration structure can include a first calibration portion and a second calibration portion. The method may further include, performing a first calibration of the sensor by modifying the first calibration portion. In addition, the method can include placing a cover layer on a portion of the first calibration portion after the first calibration and then performing a second calibration of the sensor by modifying the second calibration.

Abstract: A method for increasing capacitive response to applied pressure by including a glass layer in the air gap of an improved capacitive sense element. The glass layer has additional thickness compared to previously known capacitive sense elements. The additional thickness is selected to achieve a predetermined increase in dielectric constant across the gap between electrodes. In an illustrative embodiment, the resulting capacitive sense element includes a gap having two dielectric media, air and glass, between the electrodes, wherein the thickness of the glass media in the gap and the thickness of the remaining air gap are predetermined based on the dielectric constant of glass and air to achieve desired capacitive response characteristics of the sensor design.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for optimizing utilization of a wireless position sensor are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a controller of the wireless position sensor receives output from a magnetic-field-dependent sensor of the wireless position sensor. The magnetic-field-dependent sensor is configured to register the strength of a magnetic field of a magnet attached to a mechanical component. In this example, the registered strength corresponds to a position of the mechanical component along a directional path. According to this embodiment, the controller generates a comparison of the output to one or more predefined movement signatures and based on the comparison, determines whether to change an operating state of one or more components of the wireless position sensor.

Abstract: An interface structure connecting an electronic component to a circuit board. The interface structure includes a base defining an elongated through hole with a central axis and a coil spring retained in the elongated through hole. The coil spring has a proximal portion and a distal portion extending from the elongated through hole in an uncompressed condition and being offset at an angle with respect to the central axis. As the coil spring is compressed, the coil spring creates a force having a component substantially perpendicular to the central axis.