Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Delco Electronics Corporation

Mahesh K Chengalva

Duane Donald Fortune

Shailendra Verma

Craig Tieman

A filter insert for a terminal connector includes a rigid substrate and low-cost interference fit connections between the filter insert circuitry and the connector terminals. In a first embodiment, the insert includes a flexible circuit bonded to the rigid substrate, and the substrate is provided with over-sized openings that the terminals pass through without interference. A second embodiment is like the first, except that the filter circuit traces are formed directly on the rigid substrate, and the substrate material backing the terminal connection sites is removed to form the over-sized openings.

Filter insert for an electrical connector assembly

A method of improving the life expectancy of surface mount components is electronic assemblies wherein a distance between the printed circuit board and the surface mount component is held to a predetermined distance defined as the stand-off height. The relationship between the stand-off height and the life expectancy of the component is directly proportional. A larger stand-off height translates into a longer life expectancy. The stand-off height is limited only by manufacturing constraints, such as process limitations and cost concerns. The stand-off height is set to a predetermined dimension by way of a spacer positioned between the surface mount component and the printed circuit board.

Method of extending life expectancy of surface mount components

An existing vehicle seat design is equipped with strain gauges welded to structural seat members to sense occupant seated weight. A microprocessor compensates for preload on the sensors and multiplies each signal by an empirically determined gain, and then combines the gauge outputs. The combined output is low pass filtered to avoid motion induced errors. The measured occupant seated weight is used by decision logic to decide whether to allow passenger airbag deployment.

Method and apparatus for measuring seat loading by strain gauge

A clearance gauge comprises a thin foil rolled into a tubular coil at one end and having a flat tab extending from the coil, the coil windings being secured by a layer of adhesive. The gauge is attached via the tab to one of a pair of relatively movable parts and is deformed by compression between the parts to assume a dimension equal to the clearance between the parts. The foil has a low yield strength so that the coil substantially retains the dimension for later measurement to thereby afford a measure of the clearance.

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Kokomo, IN, United States of America

Mahesh K Chengalva