Abstract: A portable-mobile personal security system and method for a vehicle includes establishing a telephone call (407) from a portable radiotelephone (101) through a mobile radiotelephone (109). The telephone call established from the portable radiotelephone (101) is aborted (413) when a sensing device (119) indicates an emergency condition. Then, an emergency telephone call is made to an emergency-call center (415) through the mobile radiotelephone (109). While the emergency telephone call is in progress, a geographic position of the vehicle is transmitted to the emergency-call center (417). Additionally, a display (110) on the portable radiotelephone (101) displays status information about the emergency telephone call.

Abstract: A temperature-indicating field effect transistor (100) includes a transistor die (101) including a drain (103), a source (105), and a gate (107). A temperature measurement device (109, 111) is thermally coupled to the transistor die (101) and electrically coupled to the gate (107). A transistor package (113) encapsulates the transistor die (101) and the temperature measurement device (109, 111). The transistor package (113) has three externally accessible terminals including a first terminal (115) connected to the drain (103), a second terminal (117) connected to the source (105), and an input terminal (119) coupled to the temperature measurement device (109, 111).

Abstract: A system and method measures hydrocarbon conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter (501). Total-combustible sensors (511, 521) are positioned to measure exhaust gas on both sides of the catalytic converter (501). Signals from these sensors (511, 521) have a magnitude comprised of a first portion, dependent on a concentration of the hydrocarbon gas in the gas stream, and a second portion, dependent on a concentration of the other combustible gasses in the gas stream, where a magnitude relationship between the first portion and the second portion is variable when the gas stream transitions into a region on the rich side of stoichiometry. The signals from these sensors (511, 521) are filtered so that a magnitude relationship between a first and second portion of the filtered signals is constant when the gas stream (506) transitions into the region on the rich-side of stoichiometry. Hydrocarbon conversion efficiency (529) is computed dependent on the filtered signals (515, 525).

Abstract: A polynomial calculator device is applied to calibrate a sensing device. Preferably the sensing device (100) includes a sensing element (102) with an output coupled to a signal conditioning circuit (104). The signal conditioning circuit (104) is adapted to be highly computationally efficient and operable for compensating for temperature and part-to-part variation on the sensing element output for providing a useable sensor output signal. A calibration method relies on a unique polynomial calculator (118) that is implemented as part of the signal conditioning circuit (104). The sensor is preferably manufactured and packaged prior to calibration so as to avoid any post-calibration processing error. The packaged sensor is calibrated and a number of calibration values are retained in a memory (114) and accessed by the calibration method during sensing element signal processing.

Abstract: A system and method estimates tailpipe emissions by sensing (703) a catalyzed gas stream (506) and providing a total-combustible gas signal (511) dependent thereon. The total-combustible gas signal (511) has a magnitude comprised of a first portion, dependent on a concentration of the hydrocarbon gas in the catalyzed gas stream (506), and a second portion, dependent on a concentration of the other combustible gasses in the catalyzed gas stream (506). A magnitude relationship between the first portion and the second portion is variable when the catalyzed gas stream (506) transitions into a region on the rich side of stoichiometry. The variability the magnitude relationship of the first and second portions is filtered out so that the magnitude relationship is substantially constant when the catalyzed gas stream (506) transitions into the region on the rich side of stoichiometry.

Abstract: An optical sensor (100) that measures gas concentration (121) includes a light input port (103), and a light output port (111). A reference waveguide (105) and a measurement waveguide (113) are both coupled between the light input port (103) and the light output port (111). The measurement waveguide (113) preferably includes a hydrocarbon-catalytic material (114). When light (101) is injected into the light input port (103), the light traverses to the light output port (111) via both waveguides (105,113). Preferably, the hydrocarbon-catalytic material (114) in the measurement waveguide (113) will react with certain hydrocarbons present in an engine's exhaust gas stream (121) and heat will be generated in the measurement waveguide (113). This heat generation will change a refractive index and optical path length of the measurement waveguide (113) compared to the reference waveguide (105).

Abstract: A method of detecting low compression pressure by interpreting acceleration of an engine crankshaft (201) is detailed. In a preferred embodiment, the method teaches measurement of intake manifold pressure. Then, a first engine crankshaft acceleration is measured, preferably proximate a maximum rate of compression, for a cylinder (113), and a first variable (307) indicative of the first engine crankshaft acceleration is provided. Then, a second engine crankshaft acceleration is measured, preferably proximate the cylinder's top-dead-center position (105), and a second variable (311) indicative of the second engine crankshaft acceleration is provided. Then, the method combines (313) the intake manifold pressure, the first variable, and the second variable and provides a compression pressure variable as a function of the combined variables. Other embodiments include subsets of the above variables to provide a compression pressure variable as a function of the combined variables.

Abstract: A fastener apparatus and system for fastening an article through an opening in a mounting plate (501) includes a retaining nut (101) with a head portion (103) having a face surface (105), and a barrel portion (107) emanating from the face surface (105). The barrel portion (107) has a radially threaded surface (109) disposed on an interior portion (111) thereof commencing at a first position (113) proximate the face surface (105) and terminating at a second position (115) apart from the face surface (105). At least one longitudinal aperture (117) is disposed through a wall (119) of the barrel portion (107) commencing at the second position (115) and terminating at a third position (121), apart from the first position (113). The at least one longitudinal aperture (117) has a geometry that that relieves stress caused by force radially-applied to the head portion (103) of the retaining nut (101) when it is tightened around a mating threaded post.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the acquisition time of GPS signals includes a GPS receiver (21) and a real-time clock circuit (30). The GPS receiver receives GPS signals including a precise time reference signal for providing a position based upon the location of the GPS receiver. The GPS receiver also includes an internal time base (11) derived from the precise time reference signal. The real-time clock circuit is coupled to the GPS receiver for receiving a first time reference signal from the GPS receiver when the precise time reference signal of the GPS signal is available and for providing a second time reference signal to the GPS receiver when the precise time reference signal of the GPS signal is not available thereby allowing a fast acquisition time of GPS signals when the GPS signals are temporarily interrupted or not yet available.

Abstract: A current reference (10) includes first and second connected resistors (R1 and R2), a voltage source (12) independent of a supply voltage (Vdd). The voltage source is applied to the first and second resistors (R1 and R2) and has a positive temperature coefficient (TC). The first resistor (R1) has a TC less than the voltage source (12) TC and the second resistor (R2) has a TC greater than the voltage source (12) TC. A resistance value of each of the first and second resistors (R1 and R2) is set such that a combined TC of the first and second resistors (R1 and R2) is essentially equal to the voltage source (12) TC such that the current reference (10) produces a current essentially independent of a temperature of the current reference (10) and the supply voltage (Vdd).

Abstract: A method of accumulating and maintaining the accumulated data comprises steps of maintaining an intermediate count in a first memory device (12), reading a plurality of count values from a second memory device (14), determining a greatest count value of a subset of the plurality of count values which satisfy at least one criterion, and determining an updated count based upon the intermediate count and the greatest count value. The at least one criterion includes a criterion that the greatest count value differs from a second greatest count value of the subset of the plurality of count values by at most a predetermined difference greater than one. A system and a device to perform the method are detailed.

Abstract: An addressable serial test system employs a serial register with parallel outputs. Data is clocked into the serial register via a shift clock signal. A decoder is connected to a portion of the shift register's outputs and provides a selection signal dependent on the data clocked into the serial register. A system clock generates a system clock signal. A storage element includes a clock input coupled to the system clock signal, a data input, an output, a load input coupled to the selection signal, and a test data input coupled to another portion of the shift register's outputs. The storage element's output is alternately forced to a state indicative of the test data input by the selection signal and forced to a state indicative of the data input by the system clock. Structure is included to configure the serial register to read the contents of the storage element.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit (20) having independent gain and response time adjustments includes an amplifier (22), a response time resistor (30), a variable gain resistor (32) attached to the response time resistor and to an output of the amplifier (22), a response time capacitor (34) connected in parallel to the response time resistor (30), an anti-gain resistor (36) connected to a response time (30) and variable gain resistor (32) and to ground, and an input resistor (38) connected to the response time resistor (30) and to in input terminal of the amplifier (22). The response time resistor has a substantially greater resistance value than a resistance value of the variable gain resistor (32) for allowing a gain adjustment of the amplifier circuit (20) without changing the response time of the amplifier (22).

Abstract: A surface mountable auto-onsertable component holder (100) includes captivating structures (123, 125, 127 and 129) on opposing walls (101, 103, 115, and 117) to hold an electrical component (200) in place.

Abstract: A modified trimmed mean filtering method and apparatus for a misfire detection includes acquiring a time-continuous series of acceleration data samples (601) representative of acceleration behavior of a reciprocating engine. And, providing a filtered acceleration data sample (607) dependent on an average acceleration magnitude of a portion of the acceleration data samples bounded within a range of amplitudes and, preferably, a time-centered acceleration data sample (606) of the fixed length time-continuous series of acceleration data samples. A misfire condition can be indicated (409) dependent on a magnitude of the filtered acceleration data sample.

Abstract: A method for detecting closure of a solenoid coil in a solenoid arrangement in a solenoid arrangement having first (4) and second (40) solenoid coils and a solenoid armature (5) that communicates between the coils (4, 40). A holding current signal (25) is provided (70) to the first solenoid coil (4) to maintain the solenoid armature (5) in an initial closed position with the first solenoid coil (4). A pulling current signal (27) is provided (50) to the second solenoid coil (40), the pulling current signal includes current peaks (19) with a measurable rise time (21). A value representative of the rise time for one of the current peaks is stored (58, 60), then the holding current signal is removed from the first solenoid coil (4). A rise time of each of the current peaks in the second solenoid coil (40) are sensed, and a determination when the rise time of a current peak changes from the stored rise time by a predetermined amount is made (90).

Abstract: A modified noble metal catalyst based calorimetric sensor for sensing non-methane hydrocarbons in an automotive exhaust gas stream includes a first sensing element (105) with an output that provides a signal (111) indicative of a concentration of indicative of non-methane hydrocarbons, hydrogen (H.sub.2), and carbon monoxide (CO). A compensating sensing element (107) has an output that provides a compensating signal (113) indicative of a concentration of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO). A circuit for combining the signal and the compensating signal provides a combined signal indicative of a measure of non-methane hydrocarbons in the automotive exhaust gas stream.

Abstract: A misfire detection method and apparatus includes measurement of combustion induced torque in an internal combustion engine and provision of time-ordered first, second, and third acceleration data samples dependent on the torque. A misfire is indicated when a magnitude of the second acceleration data sample has a magnitude less than a misfire threshold, and less than a magnitude of both the first and third acceleration data samples.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptive transient fuel compensation in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine estimates fuel puddle dynamics for the cylinder by determining parameters of a wall-wetting model every engine cycle of the multi-cylinder engine. Fuel delivery to the cylinder is adjusted dependent on the estimated fuel puddle dynamics.

Abstract: A method and system of combustion control for an internal combustion engine (313) proximate an extinction limit includes measurement of acceleration behavior of the internal combustion engine and providing a measure of combustion variability dependent thereon. Preferably, the combustion variability measure is derived by one or more stochastically based methods (607). Operation of the internal combustion engine (313) is controlled dependent on the combustion variability measurement. Fuel, ignition, and exhaust gas recirculation may all be controlled by the derived combustion variability measurement to significantly reduce hydrocarbon (HC) and NO.sub.x emissions.