Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Jerome Anthony Schneider

Kevin J Hawes

Bradley H Carter

David Jay Vess

Dwadasi Hare Rama Sarma

Timothy J Guse

Brian T King

A brake component for retarding a rotor includes a wearable friction segment having a thickness, wherein the friction segment is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor. The brake component also includes a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance. The first resistive sensor is mounted on the friction segment and includes an electric connection for communication with an external device. The feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. A braking system employing the friction brake component to retard rotation of a wheel and for decelerating a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

Friction brake with a resistive sensor

A method by which a conventional circuit trace (,) is modified with a layer (,) of high-conductivity solder alloy to yield a high-current circuit trace (,) for high-current routing on a substrate (,). The method generally entails the use of a solder composition that contains a dispersion of metal particles (,) in a solder alloy (,). The metal particles (,) are selected on the basis of having a higher electrical conductivity than the solder alloy (,), and are present in sufficient amounts so that the electrical conductivity of the solder composition is significantly higher than that of the solder alloy (,). The solder composition is deposited on a conductor (,), and then reflowed to form a conductive layer (,) on the conductor (,). The metal particles (,) remain as a discrete dispersion within the conductive layer (,) in order to suitably promote the conductivity of the layer (,). The solder composition is preferably deposited in an amount sufficient to increase the current-carrying capacity of the resulting circuit trace (,) for high-current routing on the substrate (,), e.g., in excess of six amps.

High-current circuit trace and composition and method therefor

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Kokomo, IN, United States of America

Jerome Anthony Schneider