Abstract: A system for improving efficiency of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic controller generating an RF signal and an electrolysis reactor electrically connected to the electronic controller. The electrolysis reactor includes a plurality of substantially parallel plates arranged in a stack. The plurality of plates includes a central positive plate, a first positive end plate, and a second positive end plate. The plurality of plates also includes a first negative plate located in the stack equidistantly between the central positive plate and the first positive end plate, and a second negative plate located in the stack equidistantly between the central positive plate and the second positive end plate. The plurality of plates further includes a plurality of neutral plates. The system also includes an aqueous solution flowing through the electrolysis reactor, the solution containing an electrolyte.

Abstract: A solenoid valve for controlling a fluid flow. The solenoid valve comprises an actuating member (101) moveable between a first position and a second position. Movement of the actuating member (101) in one direction effects opening of the valve and movement of the actuating member (101) in an opposite direction effects closing of the valve. The solenoid valve further comprises a biasing means (102) for biasing the actuating member (101) towards the first position; and an armature (103) moveable in response to energising/de-energising of the solenoid valve. Energising the solenoid valve is operable to move the armature (103) to engage the actuating member (101) and cause movement of the actuating member (101) to the second position against action of the biasing means (102).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for translating one or more logical expressions E is TRUE, or statements of the form IF E1 is TRUE THEN E2 is TRUE, to a set of linear constraints. Examples in accordance with the present invention contribute to systems and methods for solving optimization problems that include constraints in the form of arbitrarily complex logical relationships between binary variables. Examples are also applicable to solving general optimization problems that have arbitrarily complex relationships between sets of linear constraints. The systems and methods combine simplification and ordering of logical expressions, factorization, direct translations of expressions, substitution of auxiliary variables, and substitution of auxiliary variables for phrases that would otherwise lead to an unacceptable number of linear constraints.

Abstract: A method of configuring a network within a vehicle, wherein the network includes a plurality of network elements and a plurality of communication links communicatively coupling the plurality of network elements for point-to-point communication, includes storing a last known configuration state of the network. Then, the network is monitored to determine a change in the configuration state of the network to establish a current configuration state. The current configuration state is then point-to-point propagated through the network via the communication links, and is stored at each of the plurality of network elements.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet or surround structure. A pair of front feet are respectively provided at either front corner thereof. A front unit includes a front face, a pair of side face portions extending rearwardly therefrom to abut the side walls of the cabinet, and a pair of spaced apart front feet portions which are adjacent front feet of the cabinet. A top deck, held down by a securement, includes a flange surrounding or substantially surrounding an upper edge of the front panel and the side and rear walls of the cabinet. A connection, which is releasable by vertical relative movement of the front panel, is provided between each front foot portion of the front panel and a front foot of the cabinet.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (202–212) and a plurality of communication links (214–230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. At least a portion of the plurality of communication links are specified in accordance with a shared-access bus protocol. The plurality of communication links are arranged to communicate data packets between the network elements, and data packets are modified for transport via the plurality of communication links.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.

Abstract: Nodes which include additional sensing and communication capability as compared to prior nodes. The sensing capability allows determination of actual current flows through the particular nodes, including each port of the node, to allow a determination of power flow to better control operations. Because of this understanding of power flow, smaller modules or nodes can be utilized if desired. For protection of a lower power node, an upstream node can open the link to the node should it go overcurrent or otherwise fault. Further, with the additional sensing capability, actual load balancing and multiple controllable flows, such as for standby, can be developed. The additional communication in combination with the sensing also allows better fault isolation. By being able to determine the actual location of the fault, other operations in the vehicle can continue with just the faulty area being disconnected.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet or surround structure with an attachment for a removable front panel and a removable front panel for attachment to the cabinet. The appliance is a drum and a drum support structure supporting the drum for rotation. There is a movement interface between the drum support structure and the cabinet or surround structure, allowing the drum support structure to move between an operating condition within the cabinet and a maintenance condition wherein the drum and drum support structure are at least substantially disposed outside the envelope defined by the cabinet. In the operating condition the drum and support structure are hidden behind the removable front panel. They may be moved out to the maintenance condition after removal of the front panel. The appliance may be a clothes drying appliance with an outlet duct supported on the drum support structure and an exhaust duct connected with the base structure of the cabinet.

Abstract: A laundry machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported therewithin. The drum includes a wall and a drum hatch comprising a section of the wall. A motor is connected to rotate the drum. A controller is configured to operate the motor to drive the drum through a closing operation. The closing operation includes rotating the drum in a direction to bring the drum opening toward the drum hatch to re-close the opening with the drum hatch and to detect stopping of the drum rotation. The controller may provide user feedback that a closure disruption has occurred. The drum hatch is configured to close circumferentially, with a leading edge of the drum hatch approaching a leading edge of the remaining wall. The leading edges are shaped such that interposition of fabric between the leading edges during closure stops the drum hatch reaching a fully closed position.

Abstract: A system and method for time synchronizing nodes in a switch fabric network of a vehicle. The network has a plurality of nodes that are joined by communication links for the transmission of data there between. Each node of the switch fabric may include a processor, a memory, a clock, a transceiver, and an input capture. The memory is adapted to store and retain timer offsets associated with communication links with neighboring nodes. The transceiver is adapted to transmit and receive synchronization messages between the node and neighboring nodes. The input capture is adapted to capture a timestamp associated with the transmission of synchronization messages. The processor is configured to compute the timer offsets associated with the communication links with neighboring nodes based on the captured timestamps by the input capture function. The computed offsets may then be broadcast and stored by the nodes for subsequent use in time synchronizing data packets through the switch fabric network.

Abstract: A system and method for reprogramming nodes in an automotive switch fabric network using a diagnostic interface. The switch fabric network includes a plurality of nodes joined by communication links for the transmission of data there between. The plurality of nodes includes at least one target node. The target node includes a processor, a transceiver, and a memory. The memory includes an erasable memory portion and a protected memory portion. The processor in the target node switches from executing instructions in the erasable memory portion to executing instructions in the protected memory portion during a reprogramming period when the target node erases a current software component and stores a new software component in its erasable memory portion. The diagnostic interface is adapted to transmit the new software component to the target node.

Abstract: A system and method for time synchronizing nodes in a switch fabric network of a vehicle. A synchronization request message is transmitted from a requesting node to a neighboring node. At the time the synchronization request message is sent, the requesting node will store a unique message identification associated with the request message as well as a first timestamp that is associated with the time that the synchronization request message was transmitted by the requesting node. The neighboring node will receive the synchronization request message and store a second timestamp associated with the time that the synchronization request message was received by the neighboring node. Thereafter, the neighboring node will transmit to the requesting node a synchronization response message that includes the message identification and the second timestamp. The requesting node will then calculate a timer offset value that is based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

Abstract: A system and method for streaming sequential data through a vehicle switch fabric network. This is particular useful in areas such as reprogramming nodes in the automotive switch fabric network where relatively large records or messages need to be transmitted through the switch fabric, although the invention may be used in other areas. In sum, the system and method described herein takes large data records and breaks them down into smaller units (data packets) that fit within the constraints of the physical layer on which communication links in the switch fabric network is built. The smaller data packets are assigned with a message identification and a sequence number. Data packets associated with the same data record or message are assigned with the same message identification but may differ in their sequence number. Each data packet is transmitted over the vehicle switch fabric network to a destination node.

Abstract: A system and method for tunneling standard bus protocol messages through an automotive switch fabric network. When a bus protocol message arrives on a connecting node in the network, a bus driver in the node will capture the message and store it into a message buffer where the message can be further processed by a tunneling application. Each received bus protocol message will be broken, or combined, to suit the available packet size of the underlying transmit layer of the switch fabric network. Data portions such as message identification, sequence number, port number, bus data type, and data length are reserved in each data packet. If the message is being broken down, the sequence number is used to differentiate the broken segments of the bus protocol message. The bus data type is used to indicate the type of protocol data being transmitted over the switch fabric. The same tunneling application may be used to reassemble the bus protocol message at a receiving node.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the performance of an automotive switch fabric network using a diagnostic interface. A diagnostic device and interface is connected to an automotive switch fabric network, comprising of a plurality of communication nodes, through one of the nodes in the switch fabric network. The diagnostic device and interface configures the switch fabric network to operate in a test mode. The diagnostic device and interface will issue a first command to one node to start traffic across a test node at a predetermined traffic rate and a second command to another node to generate a test message that passes through the test node. The test node contains message processing logic that will process the messages as they pass through the test node. A plurality of timestamps is generated in the message processing logic of the test node to monitor the progression of the messages through the processing logic.

Abstract: A vehicle network architecture includes an interrupted shared-access bus and a switch fabric incorporated therein at the point of interruption. The switch fabric permits incorporation of a feature or device into the shared access bus architecture without modification or revisions of the shared access bus protocol or legacy devices.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (208-212) and a plurality of communication links (214-230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. At least a portion of the plurality of communication links may be specified in accordance with a shared-access bus protocol. The plurality of communication links are arranged to communicate data packets between the network elements.

Abstract: A drum hatch engaging mechanism is for inclusion in a laundry appliance having a cabinet and a drum rotatable within the cabinet. The mechanism includes a drum hatch engaging member connected with the cabinet with the connection providing for movement of the member between non-engagement and engagement positions. An actuator is provided to selectively move the drum hatch engaging member between the positions. A catch member is connected with a sliding hatch of the drum. The connection between the catch member and the sliding hatch provides for movement of the catch member between a position adjacent the skin of the drum and an outwardly displaced position. The drum hatch engaging member includes a ramped abutment to engage and lift the catch member to the outer position through movement of the catch member toward the abutment during an opening rotation of the drum. The hatch engaging member includes a closing abutment facing the ramped abutment.

Abstract: A laundry drying machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported within said cabinet for rotation about a horizontal axis. The drum includes a cylindrical wall and a pair of ends. A drum hatch comprises a section of the cylindrical wall. A motor is connected to drive rotation of the drum via a drive belt. A hatch engaging member is actuable to grasp and hold the drum hatch relative to the cabinet. A controller operatively connected with the motor, is configured to operate the machine through each of: a) an opening operation in which the drum hatch is grabbed by the hatch engaging member and the drum is rotated to expose an opening, b) a closing operation, which follows a drum opening operation and in which the drum is rotated to re-close a the opening with the drum hatch, and c) a drying operation.