Abstract: A capacitive throttle position sensor includes an electrode board having at least three electrodes, a driver for selectively driving the electrodes, and a rotary member including a dielectric that provides capacitive path to an output electrode. Preferably, a logical driver provides incrementally sequenced charges to the driver electrodes. The output electrode is coupled to a signal processor that prepares the signal for comparison in a logical decoder with respect to an initiating driver electrode signal. Preferably, the phase difference between the output and input of the capacitive sensor provides an output signal which is not dependent upon the absolute capacitance of the element, and thus provides an output signal which can be adapted to a number of formats for motor vehicle control. Both two piece and three piece versions of the stationary and rotary parts are disclosed, and the capacitive gap may be axially or radially aligned between the stationary and rotary components.

Abstract: A transponder is disclosed comprising a resonant RLC circuit with one or more components that can be connected or disconnected non-destructively using switches that respond to an externally applied magnetic field. The switching in or out of the components causes a change in the resonant frequency of the original RLC circuit that is detected by the base station sweeping a carrier signal through a range of frequencies to detect a returned signal that changes when the carrier signal frequency matches the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit/tag. The resonant frequency changes when one or more of the circuit components is connected or disconnected. Each switch transfers at a unique magnetic field intensity so that electrical contact is achieved at a predetermined value of an externally applied magnetic field. The detected changes are used to create a code that is used to pass information from the resonant circuit/tag to the base station.

Abstract: A control method/system for controlling the operation of a pneumatically actuated vehicular master clutch (20) is provided. A position sensor (76) senses the position of an actuating piston (82) in a cylinder (80), and the piston is controlled to move to and remain at an axial position (DOP, EOP) offset stop members (88, 90) in at least one of the fully disengaged and engaged positions of the clutch.

Abstract: An electronic package assembly wherein a low profile package is soldered to an organic (e.g., epoxy resin) substrate (e.g., printed circuit board). The assembly's projecting conductive leads are soldered. An encapsulant material (e.g., polymer resin) is used to provide reinforcement for the solder-lead connections, the encapsulant material being dispensed only along opposing sides of the package's housing which do not include projecting leads (and which are oriented substantially normal to the stresses imposed on the package during operation wherein high temperatures are attained). This dispensing may follow solder reflow and solidification. The invention is particularly useful with thin, small outline package (TSOP) structures which occupy a minimum of height on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Nut spreads, especially peanut butters, having a relatively low viscosity of about 2000 centipoise or less that have significantly reduced stickiness and increased nut flavor intensity. These nut spreads are obtained by milling a mixture of nut solids, oil, particulate water-soluble solids such as sugar and salt, optionally but preferably nut butter stabilizer and emulsifier, such that the water soluble solids have a mean particle size of about 20 microns or less to reduce grittiness. This milled mixture is combined with a nut paste prepared without excessively reducing the particle size of the nut solids.

Abstract: The firing circuit of an inflatable restraint system is tested to verify operation of two FETs in series with a squib which are used to apply current to the squib. For the test the squib is biased to an intermediate voltage and each FET is turned on alone to apply battery or ground voltage to the squib. High and low voltage detectors sense the voltage excursion past respective thresholds to verify FET operation, and a logic circuit immediately turns off the FET to result in a very short FET on time. If a short is present before the FET is commanded on, a detector and the logic circuit prevents FET conduction to avoid firing or degrading the squib.

Abstract: A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing rolling start conditions (OS>REF, GR=N, (CLUTCH MANUAL DISENGAGED=TRUE)) and upon sensing such conditions, allowing operator request for a direct shift into an appropriate rolling start gear ratio (GR.sub.RS) determined as a function of current and/or expected output shaft speed (GR.sub.RS .gtoreq.ES.sub.IDLE /OS).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a stack of circuit modules includes providing a plurality of substrates having module interconnection layers. Each of the substrates has a circuit chip with chip pads positioned therein and an electrically conductive feed-through line extending from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate with the first surface being perpendicular to the second surface. Each of the module interconnection layers is situated over a respective first surface of each of the substrates and includes a module dielectric layer having module vias therein and a module pattern of electrical conductors extending through the module vias to couple the selected chip pads to the feed-through line. The plurality of substrates are stacked. A side interconnection layer is applied over a side surface including the second surfaces of the substrates.

Abstract: There is provided a synchronous strobe system for synchronizing a flash rate of a plurality of strobe devices positioned along a loop of an alarm system. After the alarm system is energized and activated, a control panel of the synchronous strobe system will transmit a synchronization signal or pulse along the loop at periodic time intervals. Each synchronization signal is detected by a electronic circuit of the strobe device, including a microcontroller. Upon detection of each synchronization signal, the microcontroller determines whether to operate the strobe device in Sync required mode or Sync not required mode. For Sync required mode, the synchronization signal must be detected by the strobe device to flash a strobe light of the strobe device. Otherwise, the microcontroller waits for the next synchronization signal before attempting to flash the strobe light.

Abstract: An insulating layer with at least one via is provided over a metal plate. A sacrificial layer is applied over a portion of the insulating layer so that the sacrificial layer extends into the via. A metal bridge having at least one opening is provided over a portion of the sacrificial layer and a portion of the insulating layer so that the metal bridge extends over the via and the opening is situated adjacent a portion of the sacrificial layer. A reinforcing seal layer with a well is provided over the metal bridge so that the well is situated adjacent to at least a portion of the opening. The sacrificial layer is then removed.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes one or more optical fibers surrounded by a dielectric longitudinal strength member such as an aramid braid. The cable penetrates a bulkhead at a connector which couples tensile forces acting on the strength member to the bulkhead, to prevent breakage of the fiber(s). The connector includes two mating annular conical members which surround the optical fibers, with the strength braid flared and extending between the mating conical surfaces. The two cones are forced together by a bulkhead connector with a first thread and a second connector with a mating thread, thereby captivating the strength member to the bulkhead to resist tension. Concentric or annular grooves are formed in at least one of the mating conical surfaces to aid in gripping the slippery strength member.

Abstract: A motor oil performance-enhancing engine treatment oil additive formulated for addition to conventional motor oil to improve the lubricating properties of the engine oil and enhance the performance of the engine.The novel engine additive comprises a synergistic combination of chemical constituents including an oil soluble molybdenum additive, polyalphaolefin, diester, polytetrafluoroethylene, dispersant inhibitor containing zinc dithiophosphate, mineral oil base stock, viscosity index improvers, and borate ester used in combination with a conventional crankcase lubricant at about a 20 to about a 25% volume/percent.

Abstract: The improved method of making a self-locking threaded element having a strongly adhered plastic body on its threaded surface providing strong frictional engagement between the element and a mating threaded surface in which fine particles of heat softenable plastic are applied against a heated threaded surface in a plurality of spaced successive portions in time and temperature controlled relation such that a first portion is softened by heat prior to application of a successive portion of the particles to aid in holding particles of successive portions to enable manufacture at a higher rate and/or at lower temperatures than heretofore practicable.

Abstract: Poly (ethylene oxide) monofilaments together with their preparation and use are disclosed. The monofilaments are characterized in part by their properties which are useful for weaving or sewing and by their solubility in a wide variety of solvents including water at room temperatures. The monofilaments of the invention are useful in weaving as temporary binder yarns and as basting threads.

Abstract: Poly (ethylene oxide) monofilaments together with their preparation and use are disclosed. The monofilaments are characterized in part by their properties which are useful for weaving or sewing and by their solubility in a wide variety of solvents including water at room temperatures. The monofilaments of the invention are useful in weaving as temporary binder yarns and as basting threads.

Abstract: A detector circuit is shown for detecting off-hook and dial pulse signals in a telephone system which, under the control of a ringing relay, reconfigures itself to provide ring-trip detection. The detection circuit includes a bridge which is responsive to circulating loop currents, while at the same time unresponsive to longitudinally balanced currents, and a two-stage voltage level detector circuit. An RC timing circuit is included between the two stages to insure that the detector is unresponsive to short duration pulses and, at the same time, once energized, will bridge over short duration interruptions of detected pulses.

Abstract: A process for inhibiting scale formation using a low molecular weight hydrolyzed polyacrylamide prepared by a process involving simultaneously and continuously charging separate streams of acrylamide monomer, ammonium persulfate (as catalyst) and mercaptoalkanoic acid (as chain transfer agent) to a reaction zone containing water under reflux, the rate of charging being such that the heat of polymerization is sufficient to maintain reflux in the reaction zone without exceeding the capacity of the condenser to remove the heat of reaction, and then reacting the polymer product with sufficient aqueous caustic to hydrolyze from about 60 to 90% of the amide groups in the polymer product.