Abstract:
A terrestrial receiver recovers universal services in a satellite radio transmission system including discrete signal sources producing overlapping spot beam loci within a coverage area, wherein the signals forming the beams each contain repeating time aligned universal services having a master synchronizing frame, at least one common channel, and at least one spot specific channel with differing frequency and/or polarization. The receiver switches among antenna elements. A portion of antenna elements receive a transmitted signal, including a plurality of sub-channels that are transmitted in predetermined time intervals. A switching device switches among single antenna elements to receive the transmitted signal. A controller commands the switching device to select each of the antenna elements separately in predetermined periods of time based upon the predetermined time intervals of each of the master synchronizing frames. A power level of the transmitted signal is determined during the predetermined time intervals.
Abstract:
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.
Abstract:
An instrument cluster assembly suitable for installation into a vehicle to display information to an operator of the vehicle. The assembly includes a reconfigurable display, a substrate, and a pointer. The reconfigurable display is configured to display an image. The substrate is movably supported over at least a portion of the display. The substrate is formed of material characterized as sufficiently transparency to see the image through the substrate. The pointer is fixedly coupled to the substrate such that movement of the substrate is effective to orient the pointer to indicate a feature of the image to the operator.
Abstract:
A camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes and a rotor disposed within the stator having vanes interspersed with the lobes. A lock pin disposed within one of the rotor and the stator selectively engages a seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator when the lock pin is engaged with the seat. A bolt extends coaxially through the rotor and the stator to attach the camshaft phaser to a camshaft. A valve spool in the bolt controls the flow of oil to and from the lock pin. The bolt includes a supply drilling extending therethrough to supply pressurized oil to the valve spool.
Abstract:
A hybrid broadcast receiver and method of operating a memory in the receiver. The memory is used to store received data being processed in the receiver. The receiver is configured to receive both a terrestrial signal broadcast by a terrestrial transmitter and a satellite signal broadcast by a satellite transmitter. Terrestrial data from the terrestrial signal is stored in a terrestrial portion of the memory that includes a top end or first location of the memory. Satellite data from the satellite signal is stored in a satellite portion of the memory that includes a bottom end or last location of the memory.
Abstract:
A case includes a first case section and a second case section defining an interior. The first case section includes a groove extending along the first case section. The second case section includes a tongue extending along the second case section into the groove. The groove includes a groove inner wall proximal to the interior of the case and a groove outer wall distal from the interior of the case. The tongue extends from a tongue base end to a tongue free end and includes a tongue inner wall proximal to the interior of the case and a tongue outer wall distal from the interior of the case. The tongue free end is in contact with the groove inner wall and spaced apart from the groove outer wall and the tongue base end is in contact with the groove outer wall and spaced apart from the groove inner wall.
Abstract:
A sensor module configured to be located behind a window of a vehicle to detect an object through the window and about the vehicle. The module includes a radar unit with an antenna and a controller. The antenna emits and/or receives a radar signal through the window with a selected or preferred polarization. The polarization determines a preferred angle of propagation of the radar signal through the window based on reflection characteristics of the window that vary with impingement angle and transmitted polarization. By varying the transmitted polarization vs. beam direction when a directional antenna is used, the signal propagating through the windshield can be maximized to enhance object detection over a range of signal directions. Also, by varying the transmitted polarization when an omnidirectional type antenna is used, the object can be ‘illuminated’ with variable intensity and detected with variable sensitivity.
Abstract:
A catalytic reformer assembly includes a heated medium flow path for a first medium and a reforming flow path for a second medium. A catalyst substrate is located within the reforming flow path and supports a catalyst. A heat exchanger is disposed within the heated medium flow path for transferring heat from the heated medium flow path to the catalyst substrate.
Abstract:
A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.
Abstract:
A ceramic short circuit resistant capacitor that is bendable and/or shapeable to provide a multiple layer capacitor that is extremely compact and amenable to desirable geometries. The capacitor that exhibits a benign failure mode in which a multitude of discrete failure events result in a gradual loss of capacitance. Each event is a localized event in which localized heating causes an adjacent portion of one or both of the electrodes to vaporize, physically cleaning away electrode material from the failure site. A first metal electrode, a second metal electrode, and a ceramic dielectric layer between the electrodes are thin enough to be formed in a serpentine-arrangement with gaps between the first electrode and the second electrode that allow venting of vaporized electrode material in the event of a benign failure.