Abstract: A steering wheel (20) that has an axis of turning (64) axis for steering a motor vehicle that has an engine, a drivetrain, a transmission that provides different gear ratios for coupling the engine to the drivetrain, and a transmission controller that in an automatic mode automatically shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to changing vehicle torque requirements and in a manual mode shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to manual actuation of a shift command device. A module (36) contains both the shift command device (58, 60) and a mode selection device (62) for selecting between the automatic and manual modes.

Abstract: A gearshift to transmission controller interface is based on a controller area network and a gearshift interface interposed between the gearshift and associated displays and the network bus. The shift controller can be made universal to all transmission types of automated manual transmissions by incorporation of a library program relating to a transmission type.

Abstract: UV molding from elastomeric masters on thin bendable backplanes that allow replication of UV-cured resist patterns with high accuracy is disclosed. This design accommodates large substrate topographies, has improved de-molding properties, and facilitates two-in-one lithography and assembly of the sliders on topographically structured elastomeric sticky pads. The combination of sticky pad assembly and two-in-one lithography allows an all-in-one harmony process based on UV-molding. These features cure prior art technical problems of the harmony process while significantly reducing cost.

Abstract: A mechanically releasable slider process utilizes silicone rubber or PDMS to take the function of a planarization material for individual sliders or slider rows. Mechanical debonding takes advantage of the rubber-elastic property of PDMS. A gripper is used in a virtually solvent-free, air bearing patterning UV-molding process and resist-based processes. A PDMS-based fixture is used during both the lapping process and the photo or UV-mold patterning of the ABS surface. This fixture can mechanically hold sliders by large area reversible adhesion while allowing gimbaling, electrical connection, actuation, UV-molding or photolithography, and mechanical release, thus reducing the number of slider manipulations to two.