Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a finished surface by projecting a pair of parallel light beams onto the surface and reflecting the beams alongside a reference beam onto an image screen where they are electronically recorded and analyzed against the reference image.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism, within a lamp socket, includes a single wire spring element mounted external to the lamp socket and protrudes into the lamp socket opening so as to provide insertion interference to ramped projections extending from either end of a lamp wedge base element and frictional retention against the ramped projections when the wedge base element is fully inserted.

Abstract: An improved retaining mechanism for a lamp socket employs a retaining spring with a torsion relief coil to prevent permanent deformation during the assembly of the spring to the socket.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a wide range of variable brightness levels for a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display by changing the duty cycle of the driving signal beyond the limits of normal driving techniques by varying the frequency as well as the on-time of the driving signal. The driving signal is multiplexed by a programmed driver microcomputer to drive a plurality of grids. Consequently, by varying the frequency, the multiplex period is also varied. The driver microcomputer communicates with a host microcomputer as well as drivers and grids of the VF display to control the VF display. In addition, the driver microcomputer samples a VF filament signal to synchronize the VF display multiplex frequency with the frequency of the VF filament signal to reduce flicker at low display brightness levels. The method and system achieve a continuously variable appearance of the VF display from full bright to barely discernable.

Abstract: An adjustable headlight is described having a reflector 14 movably mounted within an outer casing 12 and an actuator 26 fitted to an opening in the outer casing 12 and having an output shaft 26 extending through the opening in the casing and connected to the reflector 14 to enable the reflector to be pivoted within the casing 12 to adjust the headlight beam, the output shaft 28 of the actuator 26 being connected to the reflector by means of a bayonet fitting 30, 32.

Abstract: The watchdog timer circuit which performs both the power-up initialization and program resetting function to an associated microprocessor utilizing a single astable multivibrator circuit with a single pair of complementary transistors and a single capacitor to affect timing and regenerative feedback between the transistors.

Abstract: A lamp assembly which utilizes a plurality of concave reflector elements to direct light to prescribed areas of an associated panel, such as a license plate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a printed wiring substrate board to have integral contacts over the thickness of a defined connector edge in order to allow for perpendicular mating to exposed conductors on the surface of a second substrate.

Abstract: Engine lubricating oil temperature and the amount of engine usage are used to calculate when engine lubricating oil has reached the end of its predicted wear life. Each spark (engine speed) pulse is multiplied by weighting factors that are periodically determined by sampling the engine oil temperature and the length of time the engine has been in continuous use above a predetermined speed. When the value of the accumulated weighted spark pulses has reached a predetermined level, a warning signal is provided to indicate the necessity of changing the engine lubricating oil.

Abstract: A smooth resistance characteristic, a reduction in component cost, and high durability are achieved for a variable resistor card formed using thick-film silk screen deposition. An arcuate wiper track and radial extension areas are all formed of a resistance material deposited using silk screen techniques. Laser trimming of the extension areas provides a desired characteristic of resistance versus sweep angle for the variable resistor. The resistance characteristic is continuous and nonstepped, thereby avoiding the creation of spikes caused by small circuit breaks during sweeping movement of the wiper contact.

Abstract: An alternator rectifier bridge is incorporated into an alternator housing by inserting half of the diodes of the bridge into apertures formed into an alternator housing end plate which then serves as one output for the alternator and also as a massive heat sink to dissipate heat generated in the diodes. The other half of the diodes of the bridge are inserting into apertures formed in a radiator plate which is embedded into a plastic circuit member together with conductor members which interconnect electrodes of the diodes to stator windings of the alternator and also perform other electrical connections required for efficient manufacture and proper operation of the alternator. The radiator plate serves as the other output for the alternator and also as a heat sink.

Abstract: An audio system has menu-driven controls using a select button to scan through possible functions and uses up and down adjustment buttons to modify the selected function. The menu of selected functions is automatically altered according to the presence of front and rear speakers to avoid any confusion from presenting a fade function on the menu when in fact there are not both front and rear speakers connected to the system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for diagnosing faults in electronic control systems wherein a large volume of information is exchanged between the electronic control processor and a mechanical system under its control. The data is acquired such that parameter vectors describing the system operation are formed. The vectors are provided to a pattern recognition system such as a neural network for classification according to the operating condition of the electronically controlled system. For diagnosis of electronically controlled engine operation, the parameters included in the vectors correspond to individual firing events occurring in the engine operating under a predetermined condition. The diagnostic system can be implemented as a service tool in an automotive service bay or can be implemented within the on-board electronic control system itself.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling field current in an alternator maintains the alternator output voltage at a defined level and substantially suppresses transients in the event the alternator is disconnected from a load. A pair of MOS Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (MOSIGBT's) are connected one in series and one in parallel with the alternator field winding and current is provided to the field winding through the series connected regulator transistor as needed to maintain the alternator output voltage. The field current is auto-commutated through the parallel connected transient suppression transistor when the regulator transistor is off. When the alternator is disconnected from a load, both transistors are switched off in a controlled manner to discharge the field winding energy at a high voltage and at an accelerated rate within the parallel connected transistor.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan for ventilated rotating machinery is provided having tapered fan blades to reduce sound pressure levels generated by fan operation over a wide speed range. The tapering of the fan blades keeps the cross-sectional area of each flow channel substantially constant as the air flows radially through the fan, resulting in a less turbulent flow. Each fan blade may include a height profile having a tapered segment in which blade height decreases in proportion to increasing radial distance from the central axis of the fan.

Abstract: Stall current levels are determined according to measured peak currents occurring immediately after the energization of a motor. By utilizing a fractional value of the determined peak current value, the stall current is determined each time the motor is energized to compensate for variations in current flowing in a motor at different ambient temperatures.

Abstract: An improved key and lock assembly in which an electronically coded circuit is embedded in the handle of a conventional key and at least one electrical terminal extends from the handle adjacent to and electrically isolated from the key shank so as to contact a similarly located and biased terminal on the lock assembly when the key is fully inserted therein.

Abstract: A passive restraint system includes a torso belt automatically securing a vehicle occupant by moving from a forward position along a track to a rearward position. A belt carrier carries one end of the torso belt along the track while the other end of the torso belt is retained on a belt retractor. Adjustment of the location of a vehicle seat during travel of the torso belt could cause inadvertent latching of the retractor latching mechanism which results in stalling of the belt carrier. The present invention inhibits torso belt movement whenever the seat is adjusted to prevent such latching. When the seat adjustment is completed, the torso belt movement is resumed.

Abstract: An active clamp circuit for an inductive load switching circuit includes a zener current control resistor to set the breakdown current in a zener diode of the clamp circuit. The zener breakdown current is set at a sufficiently high level to ensure that the zener diode is operated at a point beyond its "knee" region and therefore does not generate interfering levels of microplasmic noise (MPN). The zener current control resistor is provided in addition to a circuit speed control resistor such that there is substantially independent control of the switching circuit operating speed and the breakdown current of the zener diode of the active clamp circuit.

Abstract: An audio system having a main chassis including an audio preamplifier and a remote chassis including a power amplifier has a clipping level detector circuit in the remote chassis for detecting the onset of clipping by the power amplifier and has a gain control element in the main chassis for controlling the gain of the preamplifier. Thus, clipping distortion is eliminated without introduction of other distortion and while preserving the spectral balance of the audio signal.