Abstract: Impulsive components and non-impulsive components within any time-domain signal such as audio, video, vibration, etc., are separated using wavelet analysis and sorting of wavelet coefficient sets according to statistical parameters of each respective coefficient set. Each entire coefficient set is either included or excluded from each respective separated component based on the statistical parameter. Thus, automatic, adaptive, flexible, and reliable separation of impulsive and non-impulsive components is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for detecting knock in a spark ignition internal combustion engine. The engine comprises at least one cylinder with a spark plug, engine condition sensors for sensing engine speed, engine angle and engine noise, and an engine management system (EMS) that receives signals from the sensors to determine engine angle and engine noise. The EMS has a nonvolatile memory, a spark plug driver, and a processor. The processor is arranged to control the spark driver to generate an ignition spark at a desired spark angle according to signals from at least some of the sensors, and determine over a first range of engine angles a background engine noise, and over a second range of engine angles an engine knock noise. The processor then retards (or advances) the spark angle if the level of knock noise relative to background noise exceeds (or falls below) a predetermined level.

Abstract: A combination for a hinge assembly having first and second hinged leafs movable about a common axis. The combination has a first hinge leaf with an integral plastic camming surface positioned eccentrically about the common axis, a second hinged leaf with an integral plastic cam follower surface positioned about the common axis to engage the camming surface with increasing friction as the camming surface is cammed thereagainst, and structures for increasing the frictional engagement between the camming surface and cam follower surface in response to weight added to either of the hinged leafs to control the rate at which the leafs rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to verifying the cycle of a fuel injection internal combustion engine during running of the engine.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control system with a housing having a motor, throttle valve and gear mechanism. The throttle valve is attached to a throttle body shaft which is mounted in bearings in the housing. An axial spring clip mechanism mounted on the throttle body shaft preloads the bearings and eliminates undesired axial and radial movement of the shaft which could adversely affect the movement of the throttle valve and the sensing of its position.

Abstract: A passive processing circuit for processing a ground side switch closure to a CMOS input (20) of an MCU, particularly useful in a D.C. electrical system where ground offsets may occur, such as in an automotive vehicle. Three resistors (R1, R2, R3) are connected between supply and ground potentials of a D.C. power supply voltage (10). The junction of two (R1, R2) connects to an output (16) of a grounded input switch (12). The junction of two (R2, R3) connects to the CMOS input (20). A fourth resistor (R4) connects between the bi-directional input/output (22) of the MCU and the junction of the second and third resistors. The MCU executes an algorithm that selectively allows and disallows the resistor (R4) to coact with the second and third resistors. The circuit provides a cost-efficient solution for extending the range of supply line voltage over which a CMOS input can correctly read a switch closure.

Abstract: A voice activated control system responsive to spoken voice commands is integrated with an advanced central display/control unit having dedicated and reconfigurable push buttons to control individual vehicle accessories in a complementary fashion as well as in standalone modes. The two controllers share additional input and output resources including reconfigurable steering wheel switches and a heads-up display showing the current configuration of the steering wheel switches. Thus, a driver can control a plurality of adjustable parameters of a plurality of vehicle accessories with a convenient and easy to use interface which makes efficient use of hardware and reduces costs.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling deployment of an inflatable passenger restraint. Acceleration of a passenger compartment is monitored, and first, second and third terms are determined based on a different average accelerations of the passenger compartment. The terms are compared to respective thresholds, and a first signal is generated if at least one of the first, second or third thresholds is exceeded. If the first signal is generated and the velocity of the passenger compartment exceeds a velocity threshold with offset, the inflatable restraint is deployed.

Abstract: A proportional diversity radio system for mobile vehicles combats both short time delay multipath and long time delay multipath by mixing separate tuner signals obtained using separate space diversity antennas. The relative contribution of each tuner signal to a final mixed tuner output is determined in direct relation to their respective signal strength signals and inverse relation to their respective long time delay multipath noise signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a headway control for an adaptive cruise control system based on a basic headway control law derived from feedback linearization techniques. The usefulness of the linear approximations is demonstrated, and basic attributes of data which are believed important to system response are introduced. Certain modifications to a basic headway controller for enabling system performance to better meet driver expectations under real road conditions are made as a result of empirical information.

Abstract: A method of measuring the period of a vehicle speed signal is disclosed that includes the steps of accumulating predetermined time interval increments between first and second rising edges of the signal, calculating a remainder time interval upon detection of the second edge of the signal and adding the remainder to the accumulated increments value to obtain the period, and calculating an average period from a plurality of consecutive period measurements. If the accumulated value exceeds a predetermined maximum value before the second edge occurs, the maximum value is used in calculating the average.

Abstract: In an adaptive speed control system for a vehicle, a method and system are provided for controlling a speed of the vehicle while the vehicle is traversing a curved path. The method includes sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, determining a yaw acceleration based on the yaw rate, and determining a maximum allowed speed of the vehicle on the curved path based on the yaw rate and the yaw acceleration, the maximum allowed speed being capable of varying continuously. The method also includes limiting the speed of the vehicle on the curved path to a value no greater than the maximum allowed vehicle speed. The system includes a sensor capable of sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a controller capable of determining a yaw acceleration based on the yaw rate, and capable of determining a maximum allowed speed of the vehicle on the curved path based on the yaw rate and the yaw acceleration, the maximum allowed speed being capable of varying continuously.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for providing route guidance in response to an input destination. The navigation system comprises a position sensing unit for sensing the location of the vehicle, a user input device for entering preferred route criteria and the desired destination, a display for outputting route guidance information, a controller, and a machine learning unit. The machine learning unit communicates with the controller and the user input, and monitors the user-selected preferred route criteria during a learning phase. Once the preferred route criteria have been learned, the machine learning unit enters an intervention phase whereby inferred user-preferred route criteria is transmitted directly to the controller. In this manner, users need not enter preferred route criteria upon each navigation sequence.

Abstract: In an adaptive speed control system for a vehicle, a method and system for automatically adjusting a selected following interval for the vehicle based on driving conditions is provided. The method includes determining a driving surface coefficient of friction based on a driven wheel speed of the vehicle, and adjusting the selected following interval for the vehicle based on the driving surface coefficient of friction. The system includes a receiver capable of receiving a signal indicative of a driven wheel speed of the vehicle, and a controller capable of determining a driving surface coefficient of friction based on the driven wheel speed, and capable of adjusting the selected following interval for the vehicle based on the driving surface coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A method of enhanced data compression rate for a CD player includes the steps of determining whether a skip is detected and setting a timer to a predetermined skip time-out period if a skip is detected. The method also includes the steps of determining whether another skip is detected during the skip time-out period, storing data from a compact disc at a predetermined compressed rate into a buffer memory if another skip is detected, and playing data at a playing rate from the buffer memory.

Abstract: GPS sensors (14, 16; 30, 32, 34, 36) arranged in certain geometries in an automotive vehicle (10) to provide information that is processed by an on-board processor (18; 40) to derive parameters useful for warning, control, and/or documentation

Abstract: An ignition coil assembly module (40) that can be connected to and disconnected from an engine spark plug. The module elements are arranged as a succession of cylindrical layers about a central ferromagnetic core (46). From innermost to outermost, the succession is: a) a secondary bobbin (48), b) a secondary coil (58), c) a secondary encapsulant (194) encapsulating the secondary coil, d) a primary bobbin (50), e) a primary coil (56), f) an inner wall (181) of an environmental shield (42) encapsulating the primary coil, g) a ferromagnetic shell (52), and h) an outer wall (180) of the environmental shield encapsulating the shell. The primary bobbin forms a liquid container for holding secondary coil encapsulant. A terminal (100) extends through a transverse wall (71) of the primary bobbin for carrying secondary current from the secondary coil to another terminal (118) on the other side of the transverse wall that connects to a spark plug (80).

Abstract: Impulsive sound components in a composite sound signal are separated using wavelet analysis and sorting of wavelet coefficient sets according to statistical parameters of each respective coefficient set. Each entire coefficient set is either included or excluded from each respective separated component based on the statistical parameter. Once the impulsive sound component is isolated, it is compared with reference sound information in order to classify the sound according to its potential causes.

Abstract: An engine immobilizer has an armed state in which it disables an engine and a disarmed state in which it does not disable the engine. The immobilizer disarms when an authorized security code is received from a transponder during an attempt to start the engine. The controller for the engine immobilizer monitors engine-running sensors and switches to the armed state if the engine-running sensors indicate that the engine is not running even though the ignition switch has not been detected to have been put in the off position.

Abstract: An adaptive bandwidth control system optimizes radio reception by controlling intermediate frequency bandwidth and baseband bandwidth to reduce both interference and noise while remaining compatible with AM broadcasts using the NRSC-1 standard. An adaptive IF filter detects the presence of interfering undesired sources. The IF bandwidth is narrowed if any interferers are detected. Simultaneously, the frequency content of the demodulated baseband signal is analyzed to control an optimal baseband bandwidth so that any frequencies containing substantially only noise are eliminated.