Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel injector (2) for use in an internal combustion engine. SOLUTION: The fuel injector (2) for use in the internal combustion engine comprises a first valve member (54), a second valve member (52), an injection control chamber (50) for fuel, and a set of nozzle outlets (58, 62), wherein actuation of the second valve member (52) controls the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber (50), and actuation of the first valve member (54) is regulated by the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber (50), and wherein the fuel injector (2) is arranged such that actuation of the second valve member (52) establishes a fuel flow path between the injection control chamber (50) and the set of nozzle outlets (58, 62). The first valve member (54) is provided with a first valve bore (66) within which the second valve member (52) is received. An injection nozzle (4) and a method of operating the fuel injector (2) are also described. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting obstacles in a road, particularly a pedestrian, in an ambient environment which lies within the range of vision of an optical sensor attached to a movable carrier, in particular, such as a vehicle. SOLUTION: In the method a first image is acquired by an optical sensor at a first time point, and a second image is acquired at a later second time point; a first transformed image is generated by the transformation of the first acquired image from an image plane of the optical sensor to a road surface; a further transformed image is generated from the first transformed image, taking into consideration the movement of the carrier, during a period between the first time point and the second time point; further transformed image is transformed back from the road surface to the image plane; and image stabilization is performed, based on the image transformed back to the image plane and on the second acquired image. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a piezoelectric actuator-controlled fuel injector which is not subjected to high differential voltages for a high proportion of its operating cycle. SOLUTION: Fuel injectors 12a, 12b include a piezoelectric actuator 11 having a stack of piezoelectric elements 9 and, in use, communicate with a fuel rail. A method of operating the fuel injector comprises the steps of: (a) applying a discharge current I discharge to the actuator for a prescribed discharge time (from T 0 to T 1 ) so as to cause the stack to discharge from a first differential voltage level V 0 across the stack to a second differential voltage level V 1 /V 2 ; (b) maintaining the second differential voltage level for a prescribed time (from T 1 to T 2 ); and (c) applying a charge current I CHARGE to the actuator for a charge time (from T 2 to T 3 ; from T 2 to T 3' ) so as to charge the stack from the second differential voltage level to a third differential voltage level V 3 . The third differential voltage level is selected according to at least two engine parameters selected from a rail pressure (P), an electric pulse time T on , and a piezoelectric stack temperature Temp. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an injection device which is used for infusing a reactant into the entrance of the device, into the exit of the device, and into an exhaust chamber of an internal combustion engine. SOLUTION: A sub-assembly includes (1) a valve housing 26 forming a valve seat 32, (2) valve means 22, 38, and (3) a pressing means 50. The valve means 22, 38 moves outward from the valve housing 26 away from the valve seat 32 so that the reactant is delivered into the exhaust chamber 28 through the device exit 30. The valve means 22, 38 are pushed by the reactant delivered into the entrance 62 to the device, and a force to separate the valve means 22, 38 from the valve seat 32 is exerted on them. The pressing means 50 exerts a pressing force on the valve means 22, 38 so that the reactant is not delivered into the exhaust chamber 28 through the device exit 30. A device housing 54 is a part separate from the valve housing 26, and has a housing bore 52 in which the valve housing 26 is fixedly retained so that the sub-assembly can be fixedly retained in the device housing 54. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for the prediction of the size to be expected of the image of a stationary object associated with a road in a picture of the environment in the field of view of a camera device which is in particular arranged at a motor vehicle and which has an image plane including image elements. SOLUTION: The disclosed method includes the steps of: determining at least one relevant spatial zone from the field of view of the camera device; determining boundaries of the calculated projection onto the image plane of the at least one relevant spatial zone in order to determine at least one relevant image zone; determining a directional beam for each of the image elements in the at least one relevant image zone, the directional beam including these spatial points from the field of view which would be projected onto the respective image element on a projection onto the image plane; and determining at least one value for the size to be expected of the image of a road sign in the respective image element for each of the image elements in the relevant image zone. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which can exhibit aggressive roll-control and balance strategies which lead to improvements in motion, turning, and stability (braking in turn at high speed). SOLUTION: This vehicle roll control system is installed with: a front torsion bar 16; a front first hydraulic actuator 12; a front second hydraulic actuator 14; a rear torsion bar 16; a rear first hydraulic torsion bar 12'; a rear second hydraulic actuator 14'; and control means for controlling operations of the hydraulic actuators when predetermined vehicle states are detected. Each of the hydraulic actuators includes first fluid chambers 40, 40' and 42, 42' and second fluid chambers 50, 50' and 52, 52'. The control means is provided with a fluid pressure source, a fluid reservoir, a pressure control valve, and at least three pressure relief valves 72-76. When the predetermined states are detected, the pressure relief valves apply fluid pressure to the front and rear first hydraulic actuators 12, 12' and the front and rear second hydraulic actuators 14, 14'. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pin for inserting into a plated hole having a designated diameter. SOLUTION: The pin includes a compliant section including a pair of outwardly-biased beam members having an elongated opening therebetween. Each beam has a beam thickness. The beam thickness and the elongated opening are optimized with respect to the diameter at the time of inserting the pin into the hole such that the compliant section is limited to a predetermined level of plastic deformation and the compliant section is limited to a predetermined level of damage imparted upon the plated hole. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To equally (uniformly) cool all battery packs to practically equal (uniform) temperature. SOLUTION: A battery assembly has two or more battery packs, and each battery pack includes two or more cells and at least one metering plate. The metering plate meters the amount of air flowing through an air passage in the battery pack. An inlet metering plate is arranged on the upstream side of the battery pack, and meters the amount of unequal cooling air generated with an inlet manifold. The inlet metering plate uses two or more holes. The sizes and shapes of the holes are variable to generate equal cooling air flow, and the all battery packs are cooled to the practically equal temperature. An outlet metering plate can be arranged on the down stream side of the battery pack, meters the amount of outflow air passing through a cylindrical upper division, generates equal air flow in the peripheries of all cells in a stack, and the all cells are cooled to the practically equally temperature. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure actuator sealing performance of a sleeve which is provided for preventing damage to an actuator. SOLUTION: This clip 1 in the form of a band has at least first and second stable conditions. The minimum separation distance of a wall 7 of the band when the clip 1 is in one of the stable conditions, is shorter than the minimum separation distance of the wall 7 of the band when the clip 1 is in an instable condition. The clip 1 has the sleeve 3 for an actuator assembly mounted on the upper side, and so it is energized into the instable condition. Then, force is removed to allow the clip 1 to be restored into the stable condition. The size of the clip 1 is such that the clip 1 is completely restored into the stable condition when mounted on the actuator assembly, and it thus holds sufficient additional distortion energy to maintain sufficient fastening force between the sleeve 3 and the body of the actuator 5. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector which can be used for a wire harness formed by an automated electric wire harness manufacturing equipment. SOLUTION: The wire harness manufacturing method includes a process in which a wafer of an electric connector of a wire harness having narrow and long terminal cavities (114) is arranged, a process in which the terminal cavities of the wafer are arranged in order for a terminal inserting station (64) through a conveyor (58), a process in which long and narrow terminals (54) are inserted in a lengthwise direction into the terminal cavities through the terminal inserting station, a process in which the inserted terminals are arranged in order on a wire loader station (66) by the conveyor, and a process in which a loading cycle of the wire loader station is started so that ends of electric insulated wires (46) can be loaded to the terminal cavities in a cross-wise direction against the terminals. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT