Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to a hose coupling for attachment to an end portion of a hose. The hose coupling may include a fitting, a termination attachment, and an end termination. The fitting may be attachable to the end portion of the hose. The fitting may include a ferrule and a stem. The ferrule may be attached to the stem. The termination attachment may be attached to the fitting in opposing relationship to the end portion of the hose. The end termination may be associated with the termination attachment. In some examples, the end termination is threaded, welded, integrally formed, integrally machined, or otherwise associated with the termination attachment.

Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. Occupant detection circuitry processes the sensor output and determines an aging compensation value to compensate for aging characteristics of the seat. The occupant detection circuitry detects a state of occupancy based on the sensor output and the aging compensation value.

Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. Occupant detection circuitry is included for processing the capacitive sensor output and determining a wet seat condition and generating a wet seat fault based on a determined wet seat condition. The occupant detection circuitry further detects a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the wet seat fault.

Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. The system also includes a force sensor arranged within the seat providing an output indicative of a sensed force applied to the seat. The system further includes occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and force sensor output and detecting a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of specifying a batch, lot, or shipment of particulate material by using at least one interfacial potential property value to specify the batch, lot, or shipment of particulate material. A method of representing a grade, brand, or type of particulate material is also disclosed. At least one morphological value and/or chemical value may also be included. The values can be included on a product specification sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for embossing a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a die with a metal backing layer that carries a polymer layer. The polymer layer has a female pattern formed through laser engraving. The metal backing layer of the die is capable of being magnetically attached to a magnetic cylinder. A counter die is also included and has a metal backing layer that carries a polymer layer. The polymer layer has a male pattern formed thereon through laser engraving. The metal backing layer of the counter die is capable of being magnetically attached to a magnetic cylinder. An alternative apparatus is provided that includes a male and female starting member to aid in aligning the patterns. Another apparatus is included that has male and female register tracts for keeping the die and counter die in register with one another. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A low-cost automatic suppression apparatus allows or suppresses deployment of a low risk deployment airbag based solely on occupant seat load and seat belt tension. The seat load and belt tension parameters are detected by low-cost sensors, and an airbag control unit suppresses airbag deployment when the occupant load is below a specified load threshold or the belt tension is above a specified tension threshold, and otherwise allows airbag deployment. The sensors are preferably switch-based so that the signals provided to the airbag control unit are in the form of a differential electrical current, and only two wires are needed to interface each sensor to the airbag control unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable decontamination unit comprising an enclosure (1, 2) and an effluent holding tank (18), wherein the effluent holding tank (18) is provided within the enclosure (1, 2). The decontamination unit may be modular and so include more than one enclosure (1, 2) linked together. Such a unit is usefully employed at an emergency scene where individuals have become contaminated with a harmful substance.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an ONU that includes an optical interface coupled to an optical transceiver, which is configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from an OLT through the optical interface. The ONU also includes an ONU chip coupled to the optical transceiver and configured to communicate with the OLT through the optical transceiver. The ONU further includes an Ethernet interface coupled to the ONU chip and a power management module configured to provide power to the ONU chip and the optical transceiver using power delivered from a CPE through the Ethernet interface. In addition, the ONU includes a circuit board to which the optical transceiver, the ONU chip, and the power management module are attached, and a wall-mountable fixture, wherein the front side of the fixture includes an opening for the Ethernet interface, and wherein the back side of the fixture holds the circuit board.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining an amount of pressure applied by an occupant on a vehicle seat are provided. The method includes receiving signals from a pressure transducer, a temperature sensor, and a belt tension sensor. The method further includes determining a compensated pressure value indicative of the amount of pressure applied to the vehicle seat based on the signals from the pressure transducer, the temperature sensor, and the belt tension sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an integrated drive module coupled to an axle thereof. The module includes a hydraulic motor configured to provide motive power at an output shaft, and a differential for distributing the motive power to right and left portions of the axle. The hydraulic motor and the differential are encased within a common housing. The vehicle may include a second integrated drive module having, within a housing, a second hydraulic motor (or multiple hydraulic motors), and a second differential coupled thereto and configured to distribute motive power to right and left portions of a second axle. The second module may also include a transmission within the same housing. The transmission may be a two speed or other multi-speed transmission. The second module is configured to operate in neutral while power demand is below a threshold, and to engage while the power demand exceeds the threshold. The second module may be configured to remain engaged for full-time four-wheel-drive operation.

Abstract: A fluid bearing includes hydrostatic pads formed in a surface and positioned to exert a separating force, and a land formed on the surface of the insert and configured to act as a bushing to allow rotation while the first and second pads are pressurized at less than a hydrostatic balance force. Pressurized fluid to the pads of the insert is controlled to prevent operation in full hydrostatic mode. More particularly, a separating force generated by surface force of the pads is controlled such that the separating force does not exceed a force exerted on the bearing. The fluid pressure is also controlled to keep the separating force within a selected margin of the force exerted on the bearing, to control wear of the bearing. Control of the separating force is achieved by selectively pressurizing individual hydrostatic pads, thereby effectively varying the active hydrostatic area of the bearing.

Abstract: A method is provided for stabilizing an electro-optic substrate employed in a waveguide device. The method comprises cleaning a surface of the substrate, and exposing the device to a reactive oxide to passivate the surface. A layer of sealant is deposited on the substrate in a vacuum to seal the surface.

Abstract: A fuel injection supply system includes an intensifier cylinder having an intensifier piston configured to pressurize fuel in an intensifier chamber of the cylinder during a pressurizing stroke, and further configured to draw fuel into the intensifier chamber during a recharge stroke. A fuel rail receives pressurized fuel from the intensifier chamber, and supplies the fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors. A control unit controls switching of the intensifier piston between a pressurizing stroke and a recharge stroke, controlling recharge strokes of the piston to occur between two consecutive injection events of the plurality of fuel injectors. The common fuel rail may be hydraulically locked except during injection events of any of the plurality of fuel injectors, or during a recharge stroke of the piston. The intensifier piston may be controlled to perform a recharge stroke once during each engine cycle, or more than once during each engine cycle.

Abstract: A gas test system (300) is disclosed comprised of a flow loop (302), a blower system (304), a temperature control system (306), a reference meter system (308), and a unit under test (UUT) system (310). The UUT system connects a unit under test (UUT) to the flow loop. The blower system receives the gas under pressure at an inlet (321), and generates a high flow rate of the gas out of an outlet (322) while generating a low pressure rise from the inlet to the outlet. The temperature control system receives the flow of gas from the blower system and controls the temperature of the gas. The reference meter system and the UUT in the UUT system measure a property of the gas circulating through the flow loop. The measurements of the reference meter system can be compared to the measurements of the UUT to calibrate the UUT.

Abstract: The presence of a rear-facing infant seat on a motor vehicle seat is reliably and cost-effectively detected based on the buckle state and tension of the seat belt, and the position of the seat belt relative to the seat bight region where the seat bottom and back cushions meet. These seat belt parameters are measured and applied to a predefined decision matrix to detect the presence of a rear-facing infant seat.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for calibrating and teaching a robot to accurately work within a work environment are described. The present invention preferably provides one or more vibration sensor devices operatively coupled with a robot. In one aspect of the present invention a method comprises the steps of providing a vibration sensitive detector on a robot end effector, causing the end effector to contact an object, generating a signal indicative of the position of the contact with respect to the end effector, and using information comprising the generated signal to teach the robot the location of the contact in the work environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly that may be used to clean the external surfaces of fiber optic cable. The assembly includes a baffle housing, a plasma source, a cable guide, and brackets to position the baffle and plasma source. The baffle housing defines a plasma inlet, an outlet, a cable passageway, and a chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the plasma inlet, the outlet, and the cable passageway. The plasma source, is disposed so as to emit a plasma gas into the housing through the plasma inlet, into the chamber, and out of the housing through the outlet. The chamber is shaped so as to generate turbidity in the plasma gas therein thus the plasma gas contacts all surfaces of a fiber optic cable in the chamber. The assembly uses a plasma source that provides an air plasma gas at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between large and small adult occupants by dynamically adjusting a threshold used to distinguish between large and small adult occupants. The threshold adjustments effectively increase the separation between the detected weight and the threshold, minimizing oscillation of the determined characterization following an initial occupant characterization. A learning routine gradually adjusts the threshold up to a predefined maximum adjustment so long as the detected weight is within a tolerance or hysteresis band, or a locking routine produces a step change adjustment of the threshold when the detected weight is outside the tolerance or hysteresis band for at least a predefined time.