Abstract: A brake disk with enhanced cooling features. The brake disk defines a plurality of channels with ribs located within those channels. Two friction plates are connected together by way of a plurality of vanes. The vanes define channels through which cooling air travels. The ribs extend from the surface of friction plates and are chevron shaped. The channels extend between an inner diameter of the brake disk and an outer diameter and direct cooling air from radially inner regions of the brake disk. The ribs create increased air turbulence and flow features which provide greater heat transfer, thereby providing improved cooling.

Abstract: An electric drive system having a power source which provides power to an electric motor through an electric motor control. Discharging of stored capacitor energy of a capacitor coupled between the power source and the electric motor controller is provided by controlling energy transfer from the capacitor to the electric motor.

Abstract: A process is provided for identifying and managing support service applications associated with consumer electronic devices. The process is executed by a gateway device communicatively coupled with each of the electronic devices via a home network, the gateway device being operative to access the Internet and being communicatively coupled with a display unit. The process includes the steps of: determining device ID information associated with a selected one of the electronic devices for which a support service application is required; providing the device ID information to a selected server computing system via the Internet; downloading a support service application associated with the selected device from the selected server computing system; and executing the downloaded support service application at the gateway device to provide a remote interactive support service process for the selected device.

Abstract: A system and a method for dissipating voltage in an electrical circuit of a vehicle. The system includes a power source and an inverter. The power source has a voltage source and a contactor. The inverter is electrically coupled to the power source and includes a device for storing an electrical charge. The contactor is opened to disconnect the voltage source before the device is discharged.

Abstract: A method of making and the resultant micro well plate that includes a plurality of greensheets, either laminated or sintered together, whereby these greensheets have a plurality of vertical micro well reaction chamber openings therein, and optionally a plurality horizontal channels connecting selected well reaction chamber openings. The vertical micro well reaction chambers have at, at least one end thereof a plurality of optical micro plugs which are aligned to the vertical micro well reaction chamber openings. The plurality of optical micro plugs allow for the micro well plate to be integrated with macro analytical instrumentation for the analysis, examination, and/or testing of chemicals, reagents or samples provided within the vertical micro well reaction chamber openings.

Abstract: A method is provided which uses, or which calculates, a temperature gradient of a portion of a vehicle to determine a value equal to, or representative of, a time before a maximum allowable operating temperature is reached by the portion. If the value is less than a certain threshold, the apparatus reduces the operating speed of the portion and, in one embodiment, provides a warning signal to an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method of utilizing a Home Power Unit (“HPU”) which functions as a battery charger for a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (“HEV”) or as a generator, utilizing the HEV's electrical power to operate external electrical devices. In its simplest form, the HPU comprises a Transformer, inverter means, rectifier means, a control unit, connection means to the HEV and external electrical loads or sources and switching means to change operation between charger and generator function. Alternative embodiments of the present invention utilize the HEV's existing components thereby avoiding component redundancy within the HPU. Specifically, in the first alternative embodiment, the inverter means are utilized within the vehicle, therefore, requiring only filter and transformer to be added to the vehicle. In the second alternative embodiment, the vehicle's DC-to-DC Converter is utilized as opposed to implementing a transformer.

Abstract: This invention is a method and system for cooling Hybrid Electric Vehicle (“HEV”) components. The present invention cools HEV components, including an A/C system, an Internal Combustion Engine and its associated parts, an electric drive system and its associated parts, including an inverter, a DC/DC Converter, a generator motor, and a traction motor. Cooling these components, is accomplished by implementing a cooling system that is comprised of fluid filled cooling loops, radiators, fans, pumps, an air conditioning condenser and a controller. The pumps move the fluid through the cooling loops, allowing the fluid to absorb heat from the components and vent through the radiators with help from the fan's airflow. The controller monitors component temperature data by measuring actual component temperature or corresponding coolant temperature and compares the component temperature data to a calibratable threshold to determine whether the fan should operate.

Abstract: A laser beam (22) is used as a spacial reference and its position is measured relative to a target device (200A, 200B, 200C) mounted on a structure (210) being monitored (FIG. 6). The target device has two edges or slots which are moved to intersect the beam such that the two intersections occur at right angles to one another at the beam for maximum accuracy. The edges may be fixed and are in such relation that one coordinate of beam position is a monotonic function of the displacement of the beam between positions at which one and the other edge intersect the beam. The other coordinate is obtained by the relative displacements for intersection of the beam from a reference position. In one embodiment (FIG. 2) the target (30) is moved linearly and the edges (40,42) are straight and mutually orthogonal. In another embodiment (FIG. 3) the target (100) is mounted for rotational displacement with arcuate intersecting edges (104, 106).

Abstract: A laser beam from a source 20 is used to provide a reference in space adjacent a portion of a structure movements of which are monitored. The beam is received by a receiver 30. A number of targets 300 may be mounted to move with parts of the structure extending alongside the beam path. Target constructions (FIGS. 6-8) are described which allow for normal passage of the beam past the target but which enable the position of the beam relative to a given target to be measured by intercepting the beam. In a variation (FIG. 13) for civil engineering use, a single target is selectively mountable to one of a number of supports. Another variation (FIG. 11) uses graduated mesh targets on which the beam impinges on each mesh but is also transmitted through the mesh. Dynamic movement of a part of structure such as a bridge is measured with a single target attached to the part in question and comprising a barred reflective assembly (FIG. 3), a fibre optic array (FIG. 4) or a position sensing photo-diode (FIG. 5).