Abstract: A microelectronic assembly and a method for manufacturing the assembly include an integrated circuit component attached to a substrate via polymeric bodies. The integrated circuit component has bond pads that are bonded to corresponding conductive members. The substrate contains terminals associated with conductive traces. The conductive members rest against the respective terminals to form slidable electrical contacts. The slidable electrical contacts permit the transfer of electrical energy between the integrated circuit component and the conductive traces of the substrate. The polymeric bodies preferably comprise elastomers that are spaced from the conductive members, rather than underfilling the integrated circuit component.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, and a braking system that includes a brake for braking at least one of the plurality of wheels and a brake valve for controlling a braking pressure in the brake in response to a brake valve signal, includes a plurality of wheel speed sensors for generating a plurality of input signals. A polynomial processor, in communication with the plurality of wheel speed sensors, generates a control signal based on a nonlinear polynomial function of the input signal. A post-processor generates the Brake valve signal based on the control signal so as to provide cyclic control of the braking pressure in the brake.

Abstract: An adaptive multi-receiver shared antenna matching system and corresponding method includes an antenna (101). A plurality receiver devices (103) are operably coupled to the antenna (101). Degree of coupling between each of the receiver devices (103) and the antenna (101) is dynamically alterable dependent on a degree of coupling model (200) and different signals received by the antenna (101).

Abstract: A measurement device (103) and method determines various metrics between a vehicle (101) and a ground surface (105) using a transmitter-antenna (109) for emitting energy including a portion directed down toward the ground surface. A receiving antenna (115), has a portion oriented facing toward the transmitter-antenna for receiving a portion of the emitting energy along a direct path (117), and a portion oriented facing downwardly toward the ground surface for receiving a portion of the emitting energy reflected from the ground surface along a reflected path (113). A decoder provides separate indications of forward (121) and sideward (123) velocity relative to motion of the vehicle along the ground surface.

Abstract: An RF tagging system includes an RF tag (10, 30) and an RF tag reader 80. The RF tag includes a plurality of RF resonant circuits. Each RF resonant circuit is resonant at a given RF frequency. A group of decoder RF resonant circuits (12, 32) have resonant frequencies defining one of a plurality of predetermined decoding modalities. A group of data RF resonant circuits (14, 34) have resonant frequencies corresponding to a predetermined identification code when the resonant frequencies of the data RF resonant circuits are decoded in accordance with the one decoding modality. The RF tag reader detects the resonant frequencies of the decoder RF resonant circuits and determines the one decoding modality.

Abstract: An RF tag (10) includes a plurality of RF resonant circuits (14, 18, 22) which are disposed in a three-dimensional array within a body (30) of solid material. Selected ones of the RF resonant circuits are coated with a conductive ink (36) for programming the RF tag. Non-planar RF resonant circuits (40, 50) provide enhanced directivity. The RF resonant circuits (14, 40, 50) are disposed within an elongated body (72, 82, 94) in spaced apart and substantially axially aligned relation to provide elongated RF tag configurations. An RF tag assembly (110) includes attachment mechanisms (116, 118) for attaching an RF tag (128) to a carrier. A dual mode RF tag assembly (140) is also provided which includes a passive RF circuit (144) and an active RF circuit (142).

Abstract: An RF tag (20) includes a low profile battery power source (22). The RF tag includes an electrically insulating substrate 21, an RF transmitter (24) on the substrate for transmitting a predetermined identification code, and the battery (22). The battery includes a first pattern of conductive material to form a planar anode structure (48) and a second pattern of conductive material on the substrate to form a cathode structure (50). A protective layer (92) overlies the substrate. The protective layer includes an opening (94) to expose the anode and cathode of the battery to permit an electrolyte to be applied to the anode and cathode for completing the formation of the battery and to provide electrical energy to the RF transmitter. A manufacturing apparatus (60) is also described which permits the RF tags to be manufactured in a low cost, reel-to-reel, basis. Also described is a dispenser (100) for activating and dispensing the RF tags one at a time at a point of use.

Abstract: A tagging system (20) compensates for both resonant frequency spatial dependent shifts and resonant frequency dependent shifts for detecting data resonant circuits (DC1-DC6) on an RF tag 10 which is carried by a tagged object (34). The system includes at least one transmitter (26) and at least one receiver (28) for determining the actual resonant frequencies of reference resonant circuits (SC1-SC5, FC1-FC4) on the tag 10. A microprocessor controller (22), in response to the frequency difference between the undisturbed resonant frequencies of the reference resonant circuits and the actual resonant frequencies of the reference resonant circuits, provides compensating factors to compensate for the spatial and frequency effects of the resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits on the tag (10). The transmitter and receiver determine the actual resonant frequency of each data resonant circuit (DC1-DC6) on the tag (10).

Abstract: An RF tag (10) includes an RF receiver (16) and an RF transmitter (18). A power source (12) provides power to the receiver and transmitter. The power source includes a plurality of energy converters (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32). Each energy converter is responsive to a predetermined form of incident energy for converting its respective predetermined form of incident energy to electrical current. At least two of the energy converters are responsive to respective different predetermined forms of incident energy for providing electrical current. A storage capacitor (54) stores the electrical current provided by the energy converters and is coupled to the RF receiver and RF transmitter. A plurality of RF tags (10, 110, 140, 160) utilizing the power source 12 are also described.

Abstract: An RF tagging system which provides a large number of potential identification codes without increasing the physical size of RF tags used therein includes a plurality of RF tags (20, 90, 140, 230, 250) and an external reader (200). Each RF tag includes at least one resonant circuit (22, 92, 142, 231, 251) which is resonant at any one of a plurality of different frequencies, a receiver (34, 102, 152,244, 264) for receiving an interrogation signal, and a control (36,104,154,246, 266) responsive to receipt of an interrogation signal for causing its at least one resonant circuit to be resonant at selected ones of the different frequencies in a predetermined time sequence corresponding to a predetermined identification code. The external reader includes a detector (216, 218, 220, 222) for detecting the selected resonant frequencies of the RF tags and a decoder (226) for decoding the time sequence of the selected resonant frequencies for recovering the predetermined identification code.

Abstract: RF tagging system (10) has a plurality of resonant circuits (13) on a tag (12). When the tag (12) enters a detection zone (14), the system determines the resonant frequency of each of the resonant circuits (13) and produces a corresponding code. Preferably, resonant frequency detection is implemented by simultaneously radiating signals at each possible resonant frequencies for the tag circuits (13). The system is useful for coding any articles such as baggage or production inventory. Preferably, the radiated signals are phase shifted during the detection process, and signals received by receiver antennas, besides transmitter signals, may be monitored to improve the reliability of detecting the resonant circuits (13). Also, a preferred step adjustment configuration for capacitive metalizations (106, 110) of the resonant circuits is described.

Abstract: A device and method for sensing linear displacements between a first member (101) and a second member (102) on a same axis (108). The second member (102) substantially encompasses the first member (101). To sense the linear displacements, an optical code pattern (103) is placed on the first member (101) and an encircling optical sensor (104) is placed on the second member (102). The encircling optical sensor (104) includes light transmitting (106) and receiving (107) paths that transmit and receive light to/from the optical code pattern (103). The light received from the optical code pattern (103) is sent to a displacement calculation device (105) that determines the linear displacement of the first member (101) with respect to the second member (102).

Abstract: An integrated circuit module (501), with enclosed semiconductor devices (107, 115), includes a housing (101) with an electromagnetic wave reflective interior surface (103). A transmitter (105), mounted on a semiconductor device (107), transmits signals derived from a semiconductor device (107). An electromagnetic wave receiver (113), is positioned in the housing (101) such that it receives a transmitted wave via a reflective surface (103) along an electromagnetic wave path (117) from the transmitter (105).

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for providing energy to a spark plug (601) is described including electromagnetic means (121, 103, 133, 119) having a north pole (137) and an opposing south pole (139). A piezoelectric crystal (129) is located between the north pole (137) and the opposing south pole (139). The electromagnetic means (121, 103, 133, 119) compresses the piezoelectric crystal (129), thereby causing an ignition energy to be provided from the piezoelectric crystal (129) for igniting the spark plug (601).

Abstract: A system (4) for use in an automobile (2) for the detection of objects comprising: a light source (6); a plurality of spaced transmitter ports (10, 12) for respectively transmitting light to a plurality of fields of illumination (18, 20); an optical fiber coupling the light source to the transmitter ports; a plurality of receiver ports (10, 12) embracing respectively a plurality of fields of reception (34, 36) each having an area of overlap (38, 40, 42, 44) with each of the plurality of fields of illumination so as to receive light transmitted from one of the transmitter ports and reflected by an object present in an area of overlap; a receiver (22) for receiving light and for producing a signal representative thereof; an optical fiber (24) coupling the receiver ports to the receiver; and processing means (52) for sequentially activating each of the transmitter ports with each of the receiver ports, and for processing the signal produced by the receiver in response to each activation to detect the presence of

Abstract: A unitary flexible substrate has three planar areas with components and conductors carried thereon. The substrate is folded to provide a subassembly with a compact packaging factor such that each planar area is in a different parallel plane. Two conductor-carrying projections of the substrate extend from different end portions of the substrate to free distal ends of the projections which are positioned adjacent to each other. The projection conductors, at the projection distal ends, are soldered to each other to provide a more direct, low resistance electrical connection between conductors on the substrate end portions. Heat sink rigidizer plates are attached to each of the three planar substrate portions. One rigidizer plate is thermally and planarly coupled to a metal heat sink cover of a protective housing for the folded subassembly. The other rigidizer plates are planarly bonded to each other to form a unitary support structure for two of the planar substrate portions.

Abstract: Engine performance is optimized by storing a plurality of engine strategy maps (A, B, etc.), each such map containing desired engine performance characteristics, and selecting one such map by using fuzzy logic techniques to evaluate selected engine sensor output signals. Preferably, a new engine strategy map is not selected unless (1) additional fuel has been added to the vehicle's fuel tank; and (2) selected sensor output signals have experienced at least a minimum deviation from their nominal values, thus indicating that a different blend of fuel is being supplied to the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle route planning system (10) has an in-vehicle route planning computer (12) which receives trip data, including at least one destination. Trip data is provided to the computer either by a wireless communication link between a remotely located radio transmitter (44) and an antenna (20) on the vehicle (11) or by a remotely located media writer device (46) writing the trip information on a removable storage media device (30) which is then provided to an in-vehicle media reader device (31). In this manner a vehicle operator may enter trip data into a remotely located apparatus (at 40) which translates this trip data into electrical signals that are then subsequently coupled to the in-vehicle route planning computer (12) which then uses this data for calculating at least one desired route for the vehicle to the specified destination via fixed road paths. Preferably the route planning system (10) is part of a vehicle navigation system (10).

Abstract: A motion-damping device (10) includes a piston (18) moveably disposed within a housing (16) and dividing the interior of the housing into an upper chamber (20) and a lower chamber (22). An electrorheological fluid which fills both chambers can pass from one chamber to the other chamber via at least one fluid passageway (28) formed in the piston. Each passageway, tapered to form a relatively narrow neck portion, is in close proximity to an electrode that receives an electric potential for developing an electric field within the passageway to control the viscosity of fluid in the passageway.

Abstract: The firing time of a spark plug (22) is optimized by measuring its actual firing time (as by detecting the rise of current in the secondary winding (44) of an ignition coil (24)), comparing the actual firing time to the desired firing time, and advancing or retarding the turn-off time of current in the ignition coil's primary winding (42) to reduce any measured difference between the measured actual firing time and the desired firing time. The measurements can also be used to provide diagnostic information concerning the ignition system.