Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal with a contacting sensor that comprises a pedal arm coupled to and rotatable relative to a pedal housing. A rotor includes a first end coupled to the pedal arm and an opposed end with contactors abutting and adapted to slide against a resistive element in response to the rotation of the pedal arm. A head on the rotor includes means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors. In one embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises an extension on the head of the rotor that defines a stop limiting the deflection of the contactors. In another embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises the combination of a tab on the head of the rotor and a wall in the interior of the pedal housing. The tab abuts against the wall and prevents the movement of the rotor in the direction of the resistive element.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A modular vehicle engine component actuator comprising a first module including a motor, a printed circuit board, and a motor shaft. A second module includes a gear train and an output shaft. The first module is coupled to the second module in a relationship with the motor shaft extending into the second module and into coupling relationship with the gear train in the second module. The first and second modules define respective first and second openings and interior cavities in communication with each other. The first and second modules are coupled together in a relationship with the printed circuit board positioned between the motor in the first module and the gear train in the second module. The motor shaft extends through a hole in the printed circuit board and into coupling relationship with the gear train in the second module.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal with a contacting sensor that comprises a pedal arm coupled to and rotatable relative to a pedal housing. A rotor includes a first end coupled to the pedal arm and an opposed end with contactors abutting and adapted to slide against a resistive element in response to the rotation of the pedal arm. A head on the rotor includes means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors. In one embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises an extension on the head of the rotor that defines a stop limiting the deflection of the contactors. In another embodiment, the means for preventing the over-deflection of the contactors comprises the combination of a tab on the head of the rotor and a wall in the interior of the pedal housing. The tab abuts against the wall and prevents the movement of the rotor in the direction of the resistive element.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring, in one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Abstract: Some aspects relate to providing a graphical interface for an application, underlying a graphical interface provided by an operating system shell. In an example, an input device (e.g., a mouse) generates an event associated with a location of a graphical display. The event is intercepted by a code segment provided in conjunction with the application, which determines whether the location is associated with a defined portion of the display associated with an actionable area of the graphical interface for the application, and that the location is not also associated with an element of the OS shell graphical interface (and if applicable, an active window of another application). If those conditions hold, then the event is redirected to the application, which can become active or take one or more actions. In a particular example, the defined portion of the display is visually distinguishable on a wallpaper image stored in video memory.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Abstract: Some aspects relate to providing a graphical interface for an application, underlying a graphical interface provided by an operating system shell. In an example, an input device (e.g., a mouse) generates an event associated with a location of a graphical display. The event is intercepted by a code segment provided in conjunction with the application, which determines whether the location is associated with a defined portion of the display associated with an actionable area of the graphical interface for the application, and that the location is not also associated with an element of the OS shell graphical interface (and if applicable, an active window of another application). If those conditions hold, then the event is redirected to the application, which can become active or take one or more actions. In a particular example, the defined portion of the display is visually distinguishable on a wallpaper image stored in video memory.

Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems and methods of tagging to enhance contextualization of media items and ease of use. Tag data structures provide an extensible platform to allow description of a concept from multiple points of view and in multiple contexts, such as locations, activities, and people. Individual application instances using these data structures can each maintain a private store of media items, and can be synchronized with a server. Each application owner can select portions of the private store to share. The server also can maintain canonical hierarchies of tags, such as hierarchies of activities and of places. These canonical hierarchies can be provided to application instances, where private modifications/additions can be made. Owners can offer to share private modifications, which can be accepted or rejected. Displays of media item selections and of clouds of related tags can be formed based on the contextual and relational information contained in the tags and in the canonical hierarchies.

Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems and methods of tagging to enhance contextualization of media items and ease of use. Tag data structures provide an extensible platform to allow description of a concept from multiple points of view and in multiple contexts, such as locations, activities, and people. Individual application instances using these data structures can each maintain a private store of media items, and can be synchronized with a server. Each application owner can select portions of the private store to share. The server also can maintain canonical hierarchies of tags, such as hierarchies of activities and of places. These canonical hierarchies can be provided to application instances, where private modifications/additions can be made. Owners can offer to share private modifications, which can be accepted or rejected. Displays of media item selections and of clouds of related tags can be formed based on the contextual and relational information contained in the tags and in the canonical hierarchies.

Abstract: In an absorption process in which an absorption medium is utilized to absorb H.sub.2 S from a feed gas containing H.sub.2 S, the flow rate of the lean absorption medium is manipulated so as to maintain the actual H.sub.2 S concentration in the product gas stream from the absorption process substantially equal to a desired value for the H.sub.2 S concentration. However, if the H.sub.2 S concentration in the rich absorption medium stream exceeds a high limit, the control of the lean absorption medium flow rate so as to maintain a desired H.sub.2 S concentration in the product gas stream is overridden until such time as the H.sub.2 S concentration in the rich absorption medium stream is below the high limit.

Abstract: For parallel heat exchangers, one using a more preferred heat exchange medium as a heat exchange source and another using a less preferred heat exchange medium, maximum use of the more preferred heat exchange medium is used prior to use of the less preferred heat exchange medium in achieving a desired total heat exchange through the parallel heat exchange system. In employing such a heat exchange system in a cracking process it is combined with individual control of flows of feed fluid and diluent fluid to a plurality of individual cracking tubes in a cracking furnace to maintain a desired mass flow of feed fluid and ratio of mass diluent fluid to steam fluid to each such cracking tube.

Abstract: For parallel heat exchangers, one using a more preferred heat exchange medium as a heat exchange source and another using a less preferred heat exchange medium, maximum use of the more preferred heat exchange medium is used prior to use of the less preferred heat exchange medium in achieving a desired total heat exchange through the parallel heat exchange system. In employing such a heat exchange system in a cracking process it is combined with individual control of flows of feed fluid and diluent fluid to a plurality of individual cracking tubes in a cracking furnace to maintain a desired mass flow of feed fluid and ratio of mass diluent fluid to steam fluid to each such cracking tube.

Abstract: A delayed coker control system wherein the hydrocarbon feed flows to the coker furnace is automatically limited to the lowest of the maximum allowable flows to avoid furnace zone flooding, an air-limited furnace and overfilling of the coke drum in the cycle time. Flows among the separate furance zones are adjusted to balance heat loads on each stream and to redistribute excess flow to non-flooding zones.

Abstract: A feedforward control system for a multiple-effect evaporator is provided wherein control is based on maintaining desired values for inferential variables of concentration and boiling point rise for a solution of a solid inorganic substance.