Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Senda Micro Technologies, Inc.

Lorenzo Guadalupe Rodriguez

Yingjie Lin

Thaddeus Schroeder

Shih-Chia Chang

Gregory J Manlove

Warren Baxter Nicholson

Axel H Berndorfer

Daniel J Moreno

Robert A Newman

Francisco J Sanchez

Carlos A Buelna

Jose G Mireles

James Henry Campbell

Jose I Velazquez

Carlos E Almeida

Maria De Los Angeles Chee

Alberto Alcantara

Luis A Flores-Mena

An RF MEMS switch apparatus includes a planar substrate and an electrostatic actuator formed thereon. The electrostatic actuator includes two sets of interdigitated comb which is capable of moving an armature and a shunt contact head. The armature can be connected to the substrate through a main return spring and one or more contact head support springs. The shunt contact head includes a primary shunt contact and one or more spring-loaded sacrificial contacts. The shunt contact head can serve as a primary contact to bridge a stationary input electrode and an output electrode. The switch is off in a relaxed position and when actuated the primary shunt contact comes into direct mechanical contact with the stationary input electrode and the stationary output electrode. The switch remains closed as long as the actuator is powered and the springs return the armature to the relaxed position when the power is removed.

Electrostatically actuated non-latching and latching RF-MEMS switch

A process for forming magnetic target tracks for position and speed sensors. The tracks are formed from a paste comprising a magnetic powder material and a hardenable carrier. The tracks can be formed within trenches in a substrate or on the substrate surface.

Printed high strength permanent magnet targets for magnetic sensors

A process for forming magnetic targets for position and speed sensors, and magnetic targets formed according to the process. The targets are formed on a conductor-clad substrate by first applying a layer of photoresist material and then patterning and etching the photoresist to form trenches defining the shape and dimensions of the targets. Magnetic material is formed in the trenches and magnetized to form the targets.

Method for forming permanent magnet targets for position sensors

A tire pressure sensor array includes a control module to which a receiver is connected. Four tire pressure sensors communicate with the control module via the receiver. Each tire pressure sensor includes a pressure switch that is electrically connected to a digital state machine. The digital state machine is connected to a transmitter and communicates pressure information to the transmitter. In turn, the transmitter communicates the pressure information to the receiver which communicates the pressure information to the control module.

Tire pressure sensor array

A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid has a temperature sensor and a heater disposed in spaced relation within a channel. When the device is immersed in a liquid, the heater heats the liquid and the temperature sensor detects the change in temperature of the liquid in response to heating of the liquid by the heater. A controller coupled with the temperature sensor receives a signal corresponding to the temperature of the liquid and determines an index value corresponding to the change in temperature with respect to time. The index value may be compared with a stored value to evaluate the relative change in viscosity, or it may be used to determine an actual value of viscosity of the liquid.

In-situ liquid viscosity measurement

Disclosed herein is a fluid control valve comprising a valve seat, and a nozzle proximate the valve seat. The nozzle includes a convergent section and a divergent section formed by a semi-circular profile. Also disclosed herein is a system for controlled feeding of volatile fuel components from a free space of a fuel tank to an engine manifold, the system comprising a storage chamber in fluid communication with the free space of the fuel tank, and a valve in fluid communication between the storage chamber and the engine manifold. The valve includes a valve seat and a nozzle proximate the valve seat. The nozzle includes a convergent section and a divergent section formed by a semi-circular profile.

Fluid control valve and system

An evaporative control valve includes a plunger reciprocable between a valve stop and a valve seat to open and close a controlled port. The plunger has a body, a flexible support member mounted on one end of the body and a resilient tip positioned on the support member for sealing engagement with the valve seat. When the resilient tip of the plunger impacts the valve seat, the flexible support member absorbs substantially all of the force of impact by deflecting in the direction opposite the plunger movement, increasing impact time and reducing noise which may be generated. The resilient tip may be positioned on the flexible support member to further define a stop cushion to further reduce impact of the plunger against the valve stop.

Soft-landing plunger for use in a control valve

An algorithm by which a time normalized oil condition trend (OCT) is developed. During engine off periods, while the engine is cooling, the vehicle's main computer program implements the trend algorithm according to the present invention by which engine oil conductivity (oil sensor output voltage) and temperature data are obtained in a specified temperature range, and are then input into a cool down equation to determine its coefficients using nonlinear regression. This cool down equation models oil conductivity as a function of temperature and is used at a specified time during an engine-on period to calculate an OCT point. Collectively, these OCT points determine the oil condition trend that is analyzed by a procedure called from the vehicle's main computer program to determine when an oil change is necessary.

Oil condition trend algorithm

An oil level sensor for a vehicle includes a receiver tube oriented upright in the oil pan of the vehicle. A level tube is disposed in the receiver tube and below the level tube is a reference tube. A circuit is electrically connected to the tubes for outputting a signal representative of oil level in the oil pan. As the engine oil level decreases within the level tube, the output of the sensor drops. When the engine oil level is below the bottom of the level tube but higher than the top of the reference tube, the output reaches the lowest value. As the engine oil level continuous decreasing (below the top of the reference tube), the output increases for a first circuit configuration (i.e., level with reference tube), and will stay constant for the second configuration level.

Fluid level measuring system

A ferromagnetic particle sensor includes a housing having a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet attached to the interior surface thereof. A mass sensitive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor is disposed between the electromagnets. The sensor is submerged in lubricating fluid and as the electromagnets are energized they produce magnetic forces that draw fluid-borne ferromagnetic particles past the SAW sensor. The SAW sensor is used measure the mass of the ferromagnetic particles and determine when the volume of particles in the lubricating fluid increases.

Ferromagnetic particle sensor

The Solenoid Valve For A Vehicle Carbon Canister includes a housing with an outlet end and a inlet end. A portion of the inlet end of the housing extends around an inlet port formed in the inlet end to create an air inlet tube. Inserted in the outlet end of the housing is an end cap formed with an outlet port. The end cap extends around the outlet port to form an air outlet nipple having an internal portion and an external portion. Formed around the internal portion of the air outlet nipple is an annular cavity. Disposed within the housing is a solenoid mechanism slightly smaller than the housing to form an annular air passage having sufficient area to provide the proper air flow, but also having a thickness small enough to prevent carbon particles from passing through the annular air passage. A continuous air passage is formed by the air inlet tube, the annular air passage, and the air outlet nipple. A plunger is included to block the flow of air through the air outlet nipple. When the plunger is in the open position, the internal geometry of the present invention, such as the thickness of the annular air passage and the drastic increase in volume between the annular air passage and the annular cavity, minimizes contamination by carbon particles.

Solenoid valve for a vehicle carbon canister

A magnetostrictive sensor for outputting a signal representative of torque on a shaft includes one or more excitation coils that generate magnetic flux which permeates the shaft and pickup coils that detect the flux after the flux passes through the shaft. Torque on the shaft affects the magnetic flux passing through the shaft. A coupling member such as plural rollers or powder metal poles are disposed in the flux path and touch the shaft such that no air gap exists in the flux path. Consequently, the sensor is comparatively sensitive, and is not unduly effected by shaft run-out.

Growing community of inventors

El Paso, TX, United States of America

Lorenzo Guadalupe Rodriguez