Abstract: A switching apparatus and electromechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a button cap including a relatively high durometer material and button walls including a relatively low durometer button material, such that the button walls collapse and the button cap generally maintains its shape when pressure is applied to the button cap. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Abstract: A switching apparatus and electro-mechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a plurality of elastomeric posts extending from an inboard surface thereof for retaining the spring plate to the button. A leadframe is disposed in the base and includes electrical tracks for communicating with a vehicle computer. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Abstract: A computerized power management control system (10) includes a virtual modular relay device (82) for providing input and output data to and from a corresponding, actual modular relay device (47 or 49). Virtual modular relay device (82) is displayed in a window (90), with the upper left-hand corner of window (90) including a graphical depiction (92) of the modular relay device. Immediately below the graphical depiction (92) is a communications status indicator (94), which shows the status of communications (connected/disconnected) between the virtual device (82) and an inter-process communications server (52). Various fields (96) appear along the left-hand side of window to identify the modular relay unit (47 or 49). Below identification fields (96) are a plurality of buttons (98), each of which allow the user to activate a program module. Buttons (156 and 154) can be customized by the user to activate any program module.

Abstract: A switching apparatus and electromechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a button cap including a relatively high durometer material and button walls including a relatively low durometer button material, such that the button walls collapse and the button cap generally maintains its shape when pressure is applied to the button cap. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Abstract: A switching apparatus and electromechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a button cap including a relatively high durometer material and button walls including a relatively low durometer button material, such that the button walls collapse and the button cap generally maintains its shape when pressure is applied to the button cap. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Abstract: An ink suitable for application to a heat resistant substrate and firing to fuse the ink to the substrate, the ink being in a form for ink jet printing and comprises; a carrier material; a pigment; a fusible vitreous agent comprising particles of less than 10 microns in size, and the carrier having a melting point for phase change of the ink. The pigment comprises ceramic pigment particles of less than 10 microns in size and the pigment and fusible vitreous agent are combined in the form of ceramic pigment particles. Dispersant is chemisorbed to these particles.

Abstract: A switching apparatus and electromechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a button cap including a relatively high durometer material and button walls including a relatively low durometer button material, such that the button walls collapse and the button cap generally maintains its shape when pressure is applied to the button cap. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification method for increasing the recovery of argon produced in an argon column of a cryogenic air separation plant wherein liquid nitrogen is mixed with higher pressure column kettle liquid to produce a liquid refrigeration mixture to drive the top condenser.

Abstract: Software (50) is loaded into the host computer (12) and includes an Ethernet server (52), a Modbus (DDE) server (54), an MMS server (56), and a third-party proprietary protocol server (58). Each of these servers (52, 54, 56, and 58) allows external programs (60) running on the host and view node computers (12, 40, and 44) to access power management data from the various devices (26) in the power management control system (10). Modbus server (52) allows external programs (60) to access power management data from devices (26), which communicate using the Modbus protocol. MMS server (56) allows external programs (60) to access power management data from MMS/UCA2 compliant devices (34), which communicate using the MMS protocol. Ethernet server (52) provides for network layer TCP/IP encapsulation for communications over Ethernet networks (20) and (22). Third party server (58) allows communications between external programs (60) and device (38), which uses any proprietary protocol.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system wherein product oxygen may be produced effectively at a higher production rate and at a lower production rate than the nominal production rate by employing a liquid oxygen storage tank and, in addition, an oxygen-enriched liquid storage tank operating in conjunction with the higher pressure column sump.