Abstract: A method of treating a steel railway wheels to form a required distribution of compressive residual stress in the rim. In general terms the wheel heated and then quenched from the plate towards the rim. The wheel is first heated to form austenite throughout the plate and rim portions. The wheel is then cooled to form bainite/martensite in the plate portion. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite in an inner portion of the rim. The wheel is cooled to form bainite/martensite in an outer portion of the rim.

Abstract: Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination.

Abstract: The capacitance of a shielded capacitive load cell is determined so as to minimize the effect of stray or parasitic capacitance between the load cell and other objects including the shield. The load cell conductors are coupled across input and output terminals of an operational amplifier that is tied to a reference voltage. A constant current is applied to the load cell, and the resulting rate of change in voltage at the amplifier output is measured as a representation of the load cell capacitance. In a vehicle seat sensor application including an electromagnetic interference shield between the load cell and the seating surface, the amplifier output is coupled to the load cell electrode furthest from the shield, the amplifier maintains the other load cell electrode at a virtual reference voltage, and the shield is tied to the reference voltage.

Abstract: A sensor and method are provided for sensing characteristics, such as pressure and temperature, and transmitting the sensed characteristics and stored data in first and second data communication protocols. The sensor includes stored data transmit in an output signal according to a first data communication protocol. The sensor senses pressure and temperature and transmits the sensed pressure and temperature characteristics in a pulse width modulated output signal according to a second data communication protocol. The stored data is transmit following a power reset, and subsequent thereto the sensed data is transmit.

Abstract: A sensor and method are provided for transmitting sensor generated output signals in a pulse width modulated output signal. The sensor includes a pressure sensing element for sensing pressure and temperature sensing circuitry for sensing temperature. Output circuitry outputs a pulse width modulated signal containing an indication of the pressure and temperature. The pressure is transmitted as a function of duty cycle of the pulse width modulated output signal, and the temperature is transmitted as a function of frequency of the pulse width modulated output signal.