Abstract: An active noise cancellation system (26) for controlling engine noise propagation through a vehicle induction system (32) is customizable to achieve a desired engine noise profile. A controller (34) of the active noise cancellation system drives a speaker (36) to generate a noise cancellation sound in a manner consistent with an individual's indicated preference for a specific type of available engine noise profile. By customizing how the speaker is driven, the system customizes the resulting engine noise heard in the passenger compartment. In one example, the system is customizable using a hand held communication device (24) such as a cell phone, a personal digital assistant or a so-called palm top computer. In another example, a resident communication bus on the vehicle is accessed through a user communication interface (28) supported on the vehicle.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation system is operative to reduce noise transmission through a vehicle air induction system. The active noise cancellation system includes a controller that utilizes computer modelling to ensure adequate noise cancellation. The controller generates a modelling sound to make determinations regarding the noise cancellation system, such as timing constraints associated with a speaker or microphone of the system. The modelling sound is selected to be consistent with a sound typically heard by an individual, given the current engine operating status. In another example, the selected sound masks another modeling sound such as random noise.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control system for a vehicle accommodates situations where ice forms on one or more throttle assembly components. Rapid movement is induced in the throttle assembly to generate a high torque for a short period of time to break up any ice formation. A controller preferably induces motion at a resonant frequency of the assembly for a controlled period of time. In a disclosed embodiment, a first frequency is used when the throttle blade is in a first position while a second frequency is used when a throttle blade is in a second position. The preferred embodiment includes a vibration enhancing element.

Abstract: An electric vehicle control system controls motor response based upon monitored vehicle characteristics to provide consistent vehicle performance under a variety of conditions for a given accelerator manipulation. In one example, motor temperature is monitored. As the temperature increases, the gain of a power signal provided to the motor is increased to make up for the motor's hindered performance under higher temperature conditions. Other vehicle characteristics that are taken into account include a charge level in a fuel cell or current vehicle speed and engine load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for driving a throttle blade about an axis of rotation between maximum and minimum airflow positions. The throttle assembly includes a throttle body with an airflow passage. The throttle blade is mounted for rotation with respect to the body between the maximum and minimum airflow positions. The throttle blade has a central bore for receiving at least a portion of a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a motor operably connected to a gear drive to move the throttle blade between the maximum and minimum airflow positions. In one example, the drive mechanism is preassembled in a tube that is inserted into the blade bore during assembly. A position sensor is also mounted within the bore to monitor the position of the blade relative to the body.

Abstract: An air induction system for a vehicle engine includes a sensor assembly for monitoring particulate concentration. The sensor assembly is mounted within an air intake housing, which has an inlet and an outlet. An airflow passageway extends between the inlet and the outlet to the vehicle engine. An air filter is mounted within the housing to filter particulates from air flowing through the airflow passageway. The sensor assembly can be mounted to an intake manifold or incorporated into a mass airflow sensor. The particulate sensor generates a particulate signal representative of particulate concentration entering the vehicle engine via the outlet. The signal is sent to an output device monitored by a vehicle operator.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control system for a vehicle utilizes wireless communication to provide command signals to a motor assembly that responsively drives the throttle control assembly. All communications between an accelerator pedal, a controller and the motor assembly preferably are wireless. Feedback information indicating motor operation or position information is provided to the controller through wireless communication. A power source for the motor assembly preferably is supported as part of the motor assembly so that no external wire connections are required. The power source preferably is provided with energy as a result of vibrations caused by vehicle operation or from a dedicated source of vibration.

Abstract: A vehicle sensor assembly includes a vehicle sensor of a relatively low density material assembly for a vehicle fluid directing component such as an air intake manifold having a sensor receipt member formed of a relatively high density material. When the sensor is inserted into the sensor receipt member, the relatively softer sensor engagement surface is displaced from its free state by the relatively harder sensor receipt member engagement surface. The relatively softer sensor engagement surface is resilient and will always attempt to return to its free state position to relieve the high stress area. In attempting to return to its free state, the sensor engagement surface will “creep” toward a low stress area. The sensor body responds by “creeping” toward the vehicle fluid directing component.

Abstract: An active noise attenuation system for an air induction assembly includes a housing that is mounted to a vehicle structure and a speaker assembly that is mounted within the housing to generate a sound field for attenuating noise. The housing defines an air inlet duct open end through which air is drawn. A microphone detects noise and modifies an anti-noise signal that is sent from an electronics center. The electronics center receives the signal, mixes with other engine signals, phase-shifts the signal, and sends the phase-shifted signal to the speaker to attenuate the noise. The speaker includes electrical connections that extend outwardly toward the air inlet duct open end for connection to the electronics center. The microphone and speaker are connected to the electronics center with flex cables.

Abstract: The air induction system comprises an air induction body and speaker disposed about the air induction body. A control unit communicates with the speaker and has at least two modes of noise attenuation signal generation. An engine speed sensor communicates engine speed data to the control unit. An engine load sensor communicates engine load data to the control unit as well. The control unit then selects one of the at least two modes of noise attenuation based on the engine speed data and the engine load data.

Abstract: The air induction system comprises an air induction body having a mouth emanating a first sound and a speaker emanating a second sound disposed about the mouth. The mouth has at least a first mouth portion and at least a second mouth portion wherein the first sound is louder at the at least first mouth portion than at the at least second mouth portion. The speaker has at least a first speaker portion and at least a second speaker portion wherein the second sound is louder at the at least first speaker portion than at the at least second speaker portion.

Abstract: An air induction system for a vehicle engine includes a sensor assembly for monitoring particulate concentration. The sensor assembly is mounted within an air intake housing, which has an inlet and an outlet. An airflow passageway extends between the inlet and the outlet to the vehicle engine. An air filter is mounted within the housing to filter particulates from air flowing through the airflow passageway. The sensor assembly can be mounted to an intake manifold or incorporated into a mass airflow sensor. The particulate sensor generates a particulate signal representative of particulate concentration entering the vehicle engine via the outlet. The signal is sent to an output device monitored by a vehicle operator.

Abstract: A vehicle air intake system includes a noise cancellation assembly. A cooling member is provided at least partially within an air passageway for dissipating heat within an electronics module portion of the noise cancellation assembly. The cooling member preferably is a brass material insert that is supported at least partially within an air passageway by a housing that supports components of the noise cancellation assembly. A connecting member that thermally couples the electronics module to the cooling member also operates to secure the electronics module to the housing in one example embodiment.

Abstract: The air induction system comprises an air intake and speaker disposed about the air intake. A control unit is in communication with the speaker. At least one receiver permits communication between the control unit and at least one powertrain input. An engine computer may communicate the powertrain input to the receiver and prevent such communication at a predetermined threshold based on engine load.

Abstract: A non-metallic vehicle gas-directing component includes a plurality of ceramic members embedded within an inner surface. The ceramic members extend into a passageway to form a boundary layer between the flow of exhaust gas and exposed portions of the inner surface to provide a highly heat resistant and lightweight passageway for directing a high temperature gas. A method for producing the vehicle gas-directing component includes temporarily attaching a plurality of ceramic members to an inner mold core during a lost core molding process. In one disclosed embodiment, the ceramic members are temporarily attached directly to the inner mold core by an adhesive. In another disclosed embodiment, the plurality of ceramic members are attached to an inner contour of a core casting cavity by an adhesive.

Abstract: A throttle shaft assembly includes throttle shaft with a cam and shaft portion the shaft portion configured to be inserted in the throttle body, a throttle return spring that is coiled around the throttle shaft with two ends one end engaged to the cam portion and the other end engaged to a spring support on the throttle body, and a throttle spring cover that substantially surrounds the throttle return spring and is slideably mounted on the throttle shaft. The throttle return spring can be preloaded and restrained at both ends on the throttle shaft assembly thus preventing the preload from being released as the throttle shaft assembly is inserted into the throttle body. One end of the spring can be released to engage a portion of the throttle body thus reducing a portion of the preload. The cover had several flexible fingers that engage a groove in the throttle shaft and prevent the cover from sliding off thus exposing the spring.

Abstract: A throttle body and bracket assembly permits the joining of the bracket to the throttle body without fasteners by incorporating preselected and complementary geometries on a mating portion of the bracket and on a portion of the throttle body. These mating portions, which may be in the form of a dovetail-type configuration, may be fit together in locking fashion, and the bracket may be further held in place by securing a lip or retainer portion of the bracket between the free ends of the air hose and the throttle body when they are joined. Additionally, a throttle body may be molded to include an idle air by-pass passage having an open, exterior surface that is sealed by the mating portion of the bracket when it is placed in its mated position with the throttle body.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an air flow throttle valve assembly in which the valve disc or blade is precisely sized and centered after assembly to the shaft and throttle body by heating and squeezing of the disc, preferably while the shaft is held at a shallow angle to extrude the perimeter slightly out to the bore wall. After cooling, the shaft angle is reset to a slightly greater angle.

Abstract: Several embodiments for establishing electrical connection of individual fuel injectors on the interior of a fuel rail assembly to an electrical connector at the exterior of the fuel rail assembly include the use of flexible circuits and electronic circuit board assemblies.

Abstract: A rolling ball type mechanism is incorporated into a top-feed fuel injector so that the fuel injector has an outward appearance similar to that of known top-feed fuel injectors. The seat member is provided with a slot that makes the flow gradient more uniform over the flow area through the seat member.