Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable into a position between a vehicle part (16) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also includes an inflation fluid source (24) that provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflation fluid source (24) contains a stored inflation fluid (118) consisting essentially of 65-95% helium gas and 5-35% nitrogen gas stored under pressure.

Abstract: A fluid power assisted rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) for a vehicle includes a rack (40) connectable with steerable wheels of the vehicle, a housing (20) partially enclosing the rack (40) and defining a fluid chamber (39), a bushing (390 or 590) encircling the rack (40), a sleeve (420 or 620) supporting the rack (40) for sliding movement relative to the bushing (390 or 590), and a fluid tight seal member (370 or 570) for sealing the fluid chamber (39). The bushing (390 or 590) has opposite axial ends (391, 412 or 591, 612) and is secured in the housing (20) by an interference fit between an outer surface 394 or 594) of the bushing (390 or 590) and an inner surface (26) of the housing (20). The sleeve (420 or 620) extends between the bushing (390 or 590) and the rack (40). The sleeve (420 or 620) has at least one radially extending tab (431 or 631) received in a corresponding recess (418 or 618) in the bushing (390 or 590).

Abstract: The present invention resides in a boot seal for use in sealing a joint. The joint comprises first and second relatively movable parts. The boot seal is configured in the form of a sleeve to extend between and around the vehicle relatively movable parts. The sleeve has a laminate wall which comprises at least two layers of thermoplastic elastomeric material which are bonded together. At least one of the layers is a stretch-toughenable polyester thermoplastic elastomer which has been diametrically stretched in an amount effective to increase the toughness of said one layer. The laminate wall has a percent elongation to rupture of at least 100, and a flexural modulus which is less than 100,000 psi. The laminate wall preferably has a puncture resistance of at least 50 Newtons/mm wall thickness.

Abstract: A damper valve (70) located between a control valve (18) and a power steering motor (22) in a hydraulic power-assisted steering system (10). The damper valve (70) comprises a housing (72) having axially opposite first and second end portions (76 and 78) and an intermediate portion (80) interposed between the first and second end portions (76 and 78). The first end portion (76) is for fluid communication with the control valve (18) and the second end portion (78) is for fluid communication with the power steering motor (22). A flow restricting element (114) is located within the housing (72) and is movable through portions of the housing (72) including the intermediate portion (80) by fluid flow through the housing (72). The damper valve (70) further includes a biasing element (106) for restraining movement of the flow restricting element (114) toward the first end portion (76) of the housing (72).

Abstract: An instrument panel assembly (22) comprises a structural carrier member (30) which is formed as one piece and has a first section (40) defining a first chamber (54) for receiving and supporting a first component (110). The structural carrier member (30) has a second section (80) defining a second chamber (92) for receiving and supporting a second component (130). The first component (110) comprises a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (114) received in the first chamber (54). The structural carrier member (30) further defines a deployment opening (55) through which the first protection device (114) is inflatable from the first chamber (54). The second component (130) comprises an occupant knee protection device (132) received in the second chamber (92) for helping to protect the vehicle occupant's legs in the event of a vehicle collision.

Abstract: A switch pod assembly (10) includes a hub portion (30) fixedly connected to a steering column (12) adjacent a steering wheel (20). First and second arms (40, 50) extend radially from opposite sides of an outer surface (32) of the hub portion (30). First and second switch pod modules (60, 70) extend transversely from second ends (44, 54) of the first and second arms (40, 50), respectively. Each switch pod module (60, 70) has a curved outer surface (62, 72) that has a radius generally concentric with and smaller than a radius of the steering wheel (20). The outer surfaces (62, 72) are positioned proximate the steering wheel (20). The first and second switch pod modules (60, 70) support a plurality of switches (80), including actuators (112) positioned along the curved outer surfaces (62, 72) of the first and second switch pod modules.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) comprises a housing (12). Helical teeth (60) of a pinion gear (54) meshingly engage teeth of a rack bar (42) and, during rotation of the pinion gear (54), result in an axial force. A shaft (86) connects with the pinion gear (54). Rotation of the shaft (86) effects rotation of the pinion gear (54). An assembly is interposed between the shaft (86) and the housing (12). The assembly comprises a first snap ring (142) that is attached to the shaft (86) and a second snap ring (144) that is attached to the housing (12). Interposed between the first and second snap rings (142 and 144) are only a fluid tight seal (146) for blocking fluid leakage from the housing (12) and a bushing (108) for enabling rotation of the shaft (86) relative to the housing (12) and for engaging the first snap ring (142) to block axial displacement of the pinion gear (54) due to the axial force acting on the pinion gear (54).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for establishing an actuator address in a system (20) having plural actuators (50-54). A look-up table (122) stores all desired addresses corresponding to the plural actuators. An actuator of the plural actuators is actuated (310, 318) and at least one operating parameter (316, 324, 326) is determined. An address from the stored desired addresses is selected (328) from the look-up table of all addresses of the mounted actuator in response to the at least one operating parameter (316, 324, 326).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for directing a flow of air to a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises a housing (12) including at least one passage (24) for conveying the flow of air to the passenger compartment. At least one door (26) has a first position for allowing the flow of air into the passage (24) and a second position for preventing the flow of air into the passage (24). The door (26) includes a seal (32) for sealing against the housing (12) when the door (26) is in the second position. The seal (32) includes a main body portion (106) for attaching to the door (26) and a sealing portion (122) for sealing against the housing (12). The sealing portion (122) of the seal (32) includes primary sealing means (124), which extends outwardly of the main body portion (106) of the seal (32) in a first direction, and secondary sealing means (130), which extends outwardly of the main body portion (106) of the seal (32) in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Abstract: A method for modeling semiconductors which utilizes a semiphysical device model coupled with an analytical thermal resistance model to self consistently solve for the channel temperature and internal charge/electric field structure of the semiconductor device. As such the method in accordance with the present invention realistically simulates the response of electrical performance to temperature and vice versa.

Abstract: A power control system for a multi-carrier base station transmitter is capable of controlling power levels of individual RF carriers. The power control system has a multi-channel conversion system for generating a plurality of analog reference signals corresponding to a plurality of digital input signals. The multi-channel conversion system also generates an analog multi-carrier signal and samples the multi-carrier signal. The multi-carrier signal represents a summed amplification of the digital input signals. A correlating power detection system is connected to the multi-channel conversion system and generates digital total power control signals based on the analog reference signals and the analog sampled multi-carrier signal. A feedback conversion module is connected to the multi-channel conversion system and the correlating power detection system and individually controls amplification of the digital input signals based on the total power control signals.

Abstract: A communication system employing an optical beam 16 suitable for transmission of data between a first terminal 12 and a second terminal 22. The apparatus aligns beam 16 from terminal 22 with a beam receptor 92 located in terminal 12 within a first uncertainty region TU which enables tracking of data with beam 16. Optics 50 enables receipt of beam 16 and transmission of the beam along a path 58. A positioning mechanism 150 points the optics 50 to the location of the terminal 22 within a second uncertainty region TU. An acquisition sensor 96 receives at least a portion of beam 16 and locates the terminal 22 within a third uncertainty region, such as the region represented by detector quadrant AQ1, which is larger than region TU but smaller than region RU1. A controller 200 responsive to locating of terminal 22 causes positioning mechanism 150 to move at least a portion of optics 50 to successively adjust the position of the beam path relative to acquisition sensor 96.

Abstract: A method for generating correction codes that can correct a single error and detect two adjacent errors in an information word for a range of (n, k) values, where k denotes the length of the information word in bits and n denotes the length of the coded information word in bits. The method generates a parity check matrix, then multiplies a received word by the parity check matrix to produce a syndrome corresponding to one of two mutually exclusive sets of syndromes if the word contains at least one error. Information in the word is corrected by inverting a bit containing an error if the produced syndrome corresponds to one of the sets of syndromes. An uncorrectable two bit adjacent error is reported if the produced syndrome corresponds to the other of the two sets of syndromes and no error is reported if the produced syndrome contains all zeros.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating signals transmitted over a waveguide using different propagation modes in overlapping frequency bands. The signals are received at an array of probes installed in an operative relationship to the waveguide, and are separated using a recovery system based on cumulants of the fourth or higher even order.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) controls a temperature of air flow from a temperature control system (10). The apparatus (100) includes a blend door (150), an output gear (140), and a biasing mechanism (124). The blend door (150) blocks air flow and has a plurality of positions, each blocking different amounts of air flow. The blend door (150) is rotatable about a first axis (142) between each of the plurality of positions. The output gear (140) is secured to the blend door (150) and is rotatable about the first axis (142) to rotate the blend door (150) between each of the plurality of positions.

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus (10) includes a steering wheel motor (20) which is connected with a steering wheel (12) of a vehicle. The steering wheel motor (20) is energizable by electric current to resist rotation of the steering wheel (12). A variable resistor (60) is connected in parallel with the steering wheel motor (20) and is adjustable to vary the electric current which energizes the steering wheel motor. A road wheel steering motor (16) is connectable with steerable road engaging wheels of the vehicle. The road wheel steering motor (16) is energizable by electric current to effect turning movement of steerable road-engaging wheels in response to rotation of the steering wheel (12). The variable resistor (66) is connected in parallel with the road wheel steering motor (16) and is adjustable to vary electric current which energizes the road wheel steering motor.

Abstract: A system for the remote detection and analysis of trace chemical agents in the air. A beam of electromagnetic radiation is used to radiate a cloud. The radiation energy that is absorbed by the cloud is thermalized by collisional energy transfer between the molecules that absorb the radiation. Increases in the cloud temperature increase the emission intensity of the molecules against the background, resulting in improved detection of the target molecules. A tracking telescope is used to collect the thermal emissions generated by the radiation beam. A spectrometer is used to resolve the emissions from the cloud and generate an emissions spectrum. The wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation can be selected to be in resonance with the absorption lines of water or oxygen molecules in the cloud, or to be in resonance with absorption lines of known target molecules in the cloud to generate the heat.

Abstract: A remote convenience system (10) and an associated method provide for remote control a convenience function. A portable transmitter unit (12) is operable for remote function requests. The transmitter unit (12) includes circuitry (32) for transmitting a signal (18) that conveys a remote function request. A receiver/controller unit (14) receives the transmitted signal (18) and causes performance of the remotely requested function. The receiver/controller unit (14) includes a plurality of antennae (52), each for picking-up the transmitted signal (18) and outputting an electrical signal that conveys the remote function request. Each of the antennae (52) is configured to have an ability to pick-up the transmitted signal (18) that is dependent upon direction from the receiver/controller unit (14) to the transmitter unit (12). The ability of each of the antennae (52) is different from the ability of the other antennae.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system (10) includes a pinion (30) and a steering member (14) movable axially to turn steerable wheels. The steering member (14) has a rack portion (34) in engagement with the pinion (30) and a screw portion (38). An electric motor (130) includes a rotor (134) and a stator (132). The screw thread portion (38) extends axially through the motor (130). A ball nut (116) rotatable with the rotor (134) is associated with the screw thread portion (38) for effecting axial movement of the steering member (14) in response to rotation of the rotor. An electronic control unit (148) for the motor (130) includes a circuit board (150) and a plurality of electronic components mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board (150) has a non-planar configuration and at least partially encircles a portion of the steering member (14) at a location spaced axially from the electric motor (130).

Abstract: A method of using bias-dependent S-parameter measurements as a form of microscopy. The microscopy can be used to resolve the details of the internal charge and electric field structure of a semiconductor device. Like other forms of microscopy, the S-parameter microscopy focuses on pseudo “images” and provides a contrast in the “images”. Essentially, the images are gathered in raw form as S-parameter measurements and extracted as small signal models. The models are used to form charge control maps, through a selective method analogous to focusing. Focusing is provided by an algorithm for the unique determination of small signal parameters with contrasts provided by utilizing measured bias dependent activity to discriminate boundaries between the electrical charge and fields. As such, the system is able to accurately forecast semiconductor performance.