Abstract: An apparatus with a bus bar, a heat-pipe, and device, which has a metal structure, a metal element, and a transistor. The metal structure may include first and second surfaces, that are flat and opposite facing. The metal element may include first and second surfaces that are flat and opposite facing. The transistor may include first and second terminals between which electrical current is transmitted when the transistor is activated. The first and second terminals may include first and second surfaces, respectively, that are substantially flat and opposite facing. The first and second surfaces of the first and second terminals, respectively, may be sintered to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the metal structure and the metal element, respectively. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the bus bar. The second surface of the metal structure is electrically and thermally connected to the bus bar.

Abstract: Instruction sets in computing environments may execute within one of several domains, such as a natively executing domain, an interpretively executing domain, and a debugging executing domain. These domains may store values in a shared region of memory in different ways. It may be difficult to perform operations on such values, particularly if a domain that generated a particular value cannot be identified or no longer exist, which may obstruct shared accessing of values and evaluative tasks such as stack walks. Instead, accessors may be associated with a stored value that perform various operations (such as low-level assembly instructions like Load, Store, and Compare) according to the standards of the value-generating domain, and domains may be configured to operate on the value through the accessors. This configuration may promote consistent accessing of values without having to identify or consult the value-generating domain or reconfiguring the instruction sets.

Abstract: Instruction sets in computing environments may execute within one of several domains, such as a natively executing domain, an interpretively executing domain, and a debugging executing domain. These domains may store values in a shared region of memory in different ways. It may be difficult to perform operations on such values, particularly if a domain that generated a particular value cannot be identified or no longer exist, which may obstruct shared accessing of values and evaluative tasks such as stack walks. Instead, accessors may be associated with a stored value that perform various operations (such as low-level assembly instructions like Load, Store, and Compare) according to the standards of the value-generating domain, and domains may be configured to operate on the value through the accessors. This configuration may promote consistent accessing of values without having to identify or consult the value-generating domain or reconfiguring the instruction sets.

Abstract: Within the field of computing, many scenarios involve the execution of an instruction set within a domain that is configured to support an execution context. However, various portions of the instruction set may be preferably executed in different domains, such as for promoting performance and for providing debugging features like the ability to simulate execution of a debuggee function without incurring side-effects in the debuggee. Portions of the instruction set may therefore be executed in different domains by inserting domain switch points in the instruction set specifying a target domain. The instruction set may then initiate execution in an initial domain, and upon reaching a domain switch point, may transition to the target domain. In some embodiments, the domain switch points may be automatically inserted into the target instruction set based on various domain switch criterion, such as performance, reliability, and affinity of an instruction with a particular domain.

Abstract: A method may identify, through a form, one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects. The method may also record, through the form, one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects associated with a person. The method may then identify, through the form, one or more medications that alleviates the one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects associated with the person. The form may be a hardcopy and/or electronic form.

Abstract: A method may identify, through a form, one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects. The method may also record, through the form, one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects associated with a person. The method may then identify, through the form, one or more medications that alleviates the one or more medical signs, medical symptoms and/or medication side effects associated with the person. The form may be a hardcopy and/or electronic form.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device includes a plastically deformable metal strap for resisting the collapse of a steering column. The strap is initially deformable into one or more V-shaped wave formations by anvils to increase the energy required to advance the strap, thereby increasing the resistance to collapse of the steering column. One of the anvils may be removed to eliminate one of the wave formations and thereby reduce the amount of resistance to collapse of the steering column. Alternatively, the position of an anvil may be varied to vary the shape of a wave configuration from a deep V to a shallow V.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering handle having a center position, a steer-by-wire system, and a steer feel control system. The steer-by-wire system senses the position of the steering handle and controls the steering angle of a steerable vehicle wheel as a function of the position of the steering handle. The steer feel control system includes a motor that is operatively associated with the steering handle, and has first and second modes of operation. In the first mode, the steer feel control system applies a force to the steering handle as a function of vehicle's operating condition, and in the second mode, the motor may be shorted. The steer feel control system may also include a spring that biases the steering handle towards to the center position. A method is used to provide steering feel to a steering handle of a vehicle having a steer-by-wire system and a steer feel control system, when the steer feel control system fails.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a collapsible steering column of a vehicle includes an M-shaped plastically deformable strap for imposing a resistance to collapse of the steering column when the steering column collapses in a vehicle collision. An anvil adjusts the resistance to collapse imposed on the steering column by the strap. A controller produces a signal of a magnitude indicative of an amount of resistance needed to be imposed on the steering column by the strap to better protect from injury a driver seated behind the steering column at the time of the collision. An actuator receives the signal and actuates the anvil to adjust the amount of resistance imposed by the strap in accordance with the magnitude of the signal.

Abstract: The lower bracket assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a lower column support bracket with a central passage. A lower bearing adapter slides into the central passage from the rear. A pair of energy absorption straps engage the column support bracket and the lower bearing adapter and resist further forward movement of the lower bearing adapter. During a collision, the energy absorption straps absorb energy while permitting the lower bearing adapter to move forward and out of the central passage through the column support bracket.

Abstract: A safety redundant drive by wire system includes a plurality of first control members to which control signals may be communicated and a plurality of device controllers adapted to deliver control signals to a respective first control member. Each device controller includes a first microprocessor for communicating control signals to the first control member and all other device controllers. Each device controller further includes a second microprocessor for redundantly communicating control signals to all other device controllers and for communicating with the first microprocessor. The system includes a dual redundant communication channel system having a first communication channel controlled by the first microprocessor of each device controller and a second communication channel controlled by the second microprocessor of each device controller.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device includes a plastically deformable metal strap for resisting the collapse of a steering column. The strap is initially deformable into one or more V-shaped wave formations by anvils to increase the energy required to advance the strap, thereby increasing the resistance to collapse of the steering column. One of the anvils may be removed to eliminate one of the wave formations and thereby reduce the amount of resistance to collapse of the steering column. Alternatively, the position of an anvil may be varied to vary the shape of a wave configuration from a deep V to a shallow V.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a collapsible steering column of a vehicle includes an M-shaped plastically deformable strap for imposing a resistance to collapse of the steering column when the steering column collapses in a vehicle collision. An anvil adjusts the resistance to collapse imposed on the steering column by the strap. A controller produces a signal of a magnitude indicative of an amount of resistance needed to be imposed on the steering column by the strap to better protect from injury a driver seated behind the steering column at the time of the collision. An actuator receives the signal and actuates the anvil to adjust the amount of resistance imposed by the strap in accordance with the magnitude of the signal.

Abstract: The lower bracket assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a lower column support bracket with a central passage. A lower bearing adapter slides into the central passage from the rear. A pair of energy absorption straps engage the column support bracket and the column support bracket and resist further forward movement of the lower bearing adapter. During a collision, the energy absorption straps absorb energy while permitting the lower bearing adapter to move forward and out of the central passage through the column support bracket.

Abstract: The fine increment tilt mechanism for a vehicle steering column includes a steering column support housing and a tilt housing pivotally connected to the support housing for pivotal movement about a tilt axis. A plurality of fixed teeth on the support housing are engaged by a plurality of pivoted shoe teeth on the tilt housing to fix the tilt housing relative to a tilt axis. A shoe release lever includes a wedge that is moved to a position in which the pivoted shoe teeth are held in engagement with the fixed teeth after the tilt housing is pivoted about the tilt axis to a selected position.

Abstract: An actively variable energy absorber including a convex anvil on a steering column housing, a flat metal strap attached to a steering column support and slidably engaging the convex anvil on an active surface area of the convex anvil, and a control apparatus for actively varying the geometric relationship between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil in response to changes in a control variable thereby to adjust the magnitude of the active surface area. Adjusting the magnitude of the active surface area changes the severity of plastic deformation of the flat metal strap and the magnitude of the friction between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil thereby to adjust the force resisting linear translation of the steering column housing. In some embodiments of the actively variable energy absorber, the flat metal strap is plastically deformed by being pulled over a single convex anvil during linear translation of the steering column housing.

Abstract: An actively variable energy absorber including a convex anvil on a steering column housing, a flat metal strap attached to a steering column support and slidably engaging the convex anvil on an active surface area of the convex anvil, and a control apparatus for actively varying the geometric relationship between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil in response to changes in a control variable thereby to adjust the magnitude of the active surface area. Adjusting the magnitude of the active surface area changes the severity of plastic deformation of the flat metal strap and the magnitude of the friction between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil thereby to adjust the force resisting linear translation of the steering column housing. In some embodiments of the actively variable energy absorber, the flat metal strap is plastically deformed by being pulled over a single convex anvil during linear translation of the steering column housing.

Abstract: The fine increment tilt mechanism for a vehicle steering column includes a steering column support housing and a tilt housing pivotally connected to the support housing for pivotal movement about a tilt axis. A plurality of fixed teeth on the support housing are engaged by a plurality of pivoted shoe teeth on the tilt housing to fix the tilt housing relative to a tilt axis. A shoe release lever includes a wedge that is moved to a position in which the pivoted shoe teeth are held in engagement with the fixed teeth after the tilt housing is pivoted about the tilt axis to a selected position.