Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Rene A Najor

Steven Yellin Schondorf

David James Tippy

Scott Howard Gaboury

Paul Kevin Kula

Janak Chitalia

Troy Otis Cooprider

Mike Harrigan, Sr

Mike William Soltis

An apparatus in a mechanical returnless fuel system is provided that includes a fuel pump motor for providing fuel to a powertrain system. A powertrain control module provides an activation signal for activating the fuel pump motor. A restraint control system includes a restraint control module for providing a disabling signal for disabling the fuel pump motor in response to a vehicle impact. An electronic relay switch is adapted for coupling to the fuel pump motor to selectably energize the fuel pump motor according to a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the electronic relay switch. A relay controller packaged with the electronic relay switch is responsive to the activation signal and the disabling signal for selecting the conductive state according to the activation signal when the disabling signal is not present and selecting the nonconductive state when the disabling signal is present.

Fuel pump control

A restraint and fuel pump cutoff control system is disclosed wherein a restraint control module controls the restraint system such as an air bag deployment system and a fuel system power supply based upon data inputs from sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle. When data received from the sensors indicates that a collision event has occurred and has reached the predetermined level of severity, power to the fuel system is cut off to prevent undesired pumping of fuel. If power is interrupted during a collision event, the fuel system will be cut off and remain cut off until reset by turning the ignition switch to off and then to run/start indicating a clean shutdown. The restraint control module utilizes collision data profiles to distinguish between power shutdowns occurring during a collision event and power shutdowns occurring when only background data is being received from the sensors.

Restraint and fuel system cutoff control module

A sensor mount assembly including a housing, fastener and a lever mechanism. The housing contains a sensor having two electrical leads and includes an integral flange adapted to receive a fastener. The fastener includes a body and a head. The body is received in the flange to secure the housing to a mount. The lever mechanism is proximate the flange and includes a contact block and a conductor. The contact block is acted upon by the fastener head to move the lever mechanism and, hence the conductor, between a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to an unmounted sensor and creates a short circuit condition between the two electrical leads. The second position corresponds to a properly mounted sensor and creates an open circuit between the two electrical leads such that the electrical circuit path of the overall system includes the sensor within the housing.

Electrical sensor mount

A system for determining the alertness of a driver of a vehicle by monitoring the driver's seated posture. A pressure sensor array disposed in or on the seat produces output signals that indicate the pattern of pressure exerted by the driver's body at a plurality of points distributed over the seat surface. A microprocessor-based alertness evaluation module receives pressure pattern data from the sensor array and uses neural network processing techniques to determine a probable driver alertness level based upon changes in the pattern of pressure. The sensor array may also be used to supply data to an occupant restraint system control module. Using the sensor for two purposes avoids the additional cost of providing a dedicated alertness sensor is avoided.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Rene A Najor