Abstract: An overload protection assembly and method for overload protection of a transistor includes a switching transistor connected between a load at a first terminal and a power source at a second terminal. A measuring circuit measures the voltage levels at the first and second terminals. The first terminal is measured before and after the measurement of the second terminal, and averaged to produce its voltage level. The measured voltage levels from the first and second terminals are subtracted from one another and the difference compared to preset limits to determine overload conditions. If overload conditions exist, the measuring circuit turns off the transistor.

Abstract: A method of monitoring hydrocarbons concentration in an exhaust gas includes the steps of: sampling exhaust gas on a vehicle, isolating the hydrocarbons from the exhaust gas on a vehicle, and measuring the amount of hydrocarbons isolated from the sample on a vehicle and providing an indication based on the amount of hydrocarbons. A sensor assembly for monitoring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of a vehicle includes: a hydrocarbon absorbing material placed in a stream of gas on a vehicle, a gas sensor operatively connected with the absorbing material and in the stream of gas and producing a gas signal, and a sensor controller connected to the gas sensor for receiving the gas signal and for determining the amount of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A motor control assembly and method of controlling a motor includes a three phase variable reluctance motor. Each phase includes two separate coils driven by separate driver circuits under the control of a microcomputer. The microcomputer monitors feedback from each driver circuit to determine faults or errors in the driver circuits or respective coils. In the case of a fault detection, one of the driver circuits and coils for each phase may be disabled to allow continued operation of the motor with the remaining driver circuits and coils.

Abstract: A method for identifying a principal tooth in a series of teeth extending along at least a portion of a periphery of a rotatable object includes the steps of rotating the rotatable object, setting a counter to a predetermined value, measuring a first tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a first measurement, adding a qualifying value to the measurement to obtain a qualification measurement, measuring a second tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a second measurement, comparing the second measurement to the qualification measurement, and identifying the second tooth as the principal tooth when the second measurement exceeds the qualification measurement.

Abstract: A method for identifying each of a plurality of parameter identifiers in a motor vehicle having a diagnostic test port using a diagnostic test tool is disclosed wherein the method includes the steps of plugging the diagnostic test tool into the diagnostic test port of the motor vehicle, receiving identification information from one of the plurality of parameter identifiers, determining whether the identification information from the one of the plurality of parameter identifiers is valid, and storing the identification information in a tailored list to be used to address the one of the plurality of parameter identifiers to retrieve data collected thereby.

Abstract: A filtering device for filtering noise from an electronic signal having a plurality of defined periods includes an input terminal for receiving the electronic signal, a period divider for dividing each of the definable periods into an equal number of subdivisions, a filter creating a latching signal for a predetermined portion of the number of subdivisions, and a latch for receiving the latching signal from the filter and for maintaining the electronic signal in steady state for a predetermined portion of the number of subdivisions.

Abstract: A camshaft revolution sensing assembly for identifying a revolution of a camshaft, having a plurality of teeth, of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle includes a camshaft sensor for sensing revolutions of a camshaft by sensing each of the teeth as they rotate therepast and producing a camshaft sensor output, a subtracting device operatively connected to the camshaft sensor, the subtracting device subtracting each time the camshaft sensor senses one of the teeth rotating therepast, and a signal generator operatively connected to the subtracting device wherein the signal generator generates a signal indicating the subtracting device has subtracted to a predetermined value.