Abstract: A method and system for determining weather strip fit for the closure panels of a vehicle includes a flexible carrier with a transferable disclosing agent disposed on the flexible carrier. The flexible carriers may be applied to a closure panel of vehicle when the panel is in an open position, with the panel then being closed so as to allow the disclosing agent to either be transferred to the fixed side of the opening, or to be merely dislodged from the flexible carrier. In either case, the pattern of interference fit between the weather strip and the closure panel is then disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle data acquisition and display assembly 10 which includes several cameras 75 which selectively and cooperatively receive images 77 from the environment or the ambient environment 83 in which a vehicle 60 resides. The acquired images 77 form a panoramic mosaic 85, at least a portion of which is selectively displayed by a display assembly 45 within the vehicle 60.

Abstract: A method and system for determining weather strip fit for the closure panels of a vehicle includes a flexible carrier with a transferable disclosing agent disposed on the flexible carrier. The flexible carriers may be applied to a closure panel of vehicle when the panel is in an open position, with the panel then being closed so as to allow the disclosing agent to either be transferred to the fixed side of the opening, or to be merely dislodged from the flexible carrier. In either case, the pattern of interference fit between the weather strip and the closure panel is then disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonically welding workpieces that reduces sonotrode adhesion during the ultrasonic welding process. The sonotrode includes a contact surface wherein a fluid is deposited on the contact surface prior to the welding process. The fluid may be applied in different ways, including providing an aperture in the contact surface of the sonotrode. In addition, the sonotrode may be cooled below the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere thus causing moisture to form on the contact surface of the sonotrode. Cooling the sonotrode to a temperature above the dew point also reduces sonotrode adhesion during the ultrasonic welding process.

Abstract: A method and system for determining weather strip fit for the closure panels of a vehicle includes a flexible carrier with a transferable disclosing agent disposed on the flexible carrier. The flexible carriers may be applied to a closure panel of vehicle when the panel is in an open position, with the panel then being closed so as to allow the disclosing agent to either be transferred to the fixed side of the opening, or to be merely dislodged from the flexible carrier. In either case, the pattern of interference fit between the weather strip and the closure panel is then disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonically welding workpieces that reduces sonotrode adhesion during the ultrasonic welding process. The sonotrode includes a contact surface wherein a fluid is deposited on the contact surface prior to the welding process. The fluid may be applied in different ways, including providing an aperture in the contact surface of the sonotrode. In addition, the sonotrode may be cooled below the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere thus causing moisture to form on the contact surface of the sonotrode. Cooling the sonotrode to a temperature above the dew point also reduces sonotrode adhesion during the ultrasonic welding process.

Abstract: An automotive rear view mirror assembly 7 is provided. The mirror assembly 7 has a flexible mirror surface 10. The mirror surface 10 has a first state of curvature about a first axis 14. In the first state of curvature, the mirror surface 10 is flat. The mirror surface 10 has a second state of curvature that is typically convex. To move the mirror surface between the first and second states of curvature, there is provided an actuator 18. The actuator may be mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically actuated.

Abstract: A vehicle information acquisition and display assembly 10. The system 10 selectively senses objects 27 residing within a dynamically configurable region of interest 29 and compares values which are created by use of these sensed objects 27 with at least one criteria value. Based upon this comparison, icons are selectively displayed to a driver 15 of a vehicle 11 which represent the sensed objects 27.

Abstract: A vehicle information acquisition and display assembly 10. The system 10 selectively senses objects 27 residing within a dynamically configurable region of interest 29 and compares values which are created by use of these sensed objects 27 with at least one criteria value. Based upon this comparison, icons are selectively displayed to a driver 15 of a vehicle 11 which represent the sensed objects 27.

Abstract: A method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw cylinder head casting including the steps of capturing cylinder head geometry of a raw cylinder head casting, transforming the captured cylinder head geometry into a machining coordinate system, virtual machining the raw cylinder head casting based on the transformed geometry, calculating a volume of combustion chambers of the virtually machined cylinder head, adding signed volumes of at least one component to the calculated volume to obtain a finished volume, and adjusting a mold for the raw cylinder head casting to achieve the desired finished volume.