Abstract: A roll arming sensor is provided for determining an arming signal for use on a vehicle for rollover detection. The roll arming sensor includes a light source for generating a light beam and a receiver for detecting the light beam. Disposed substantially horizontal between the light source and receiver are first and second cylindrical members, both oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The first and second cylindrical members each have a window extending therethrough for passing the light beam during normal vehicle travel. Each of the first and second cylindrical members are movable to a second position upon experiencing an armed condition, such as a roll event, to prevent the optical beam from passing to the receiver, thereby generating an arming signal for use with a rollover sensor.

Abstract: A roll arming sensor is provided for determining an arming signal for use on a vehicle for rollover detection. The roll arming sensor includes a light source for generating a light beam and a receiver for detecting the light beam. Disposed substantially horizontal between the light source and receiver are first and second cylindrical members, both oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The first and second cylindrical members each have a window extending therethrough for passing the light beam during normal vehicle travel. Each of the first and second cylindrical members are movable to a second position upon experiencing an armed condition, such as a roll event, to prevent the optical beam from passing to the receiver, thereby generating an arming signal for use with a rollover sensor.

Abstract: An inductive load energized by a variable duty cycle pulse signal contains ripple at steady state conditions, and the average current is used as feedback to a controller. The average current is obtained without filtering by synchronously sampling the local maxima and minima of the current and averaging the last two samples. The maxima and minima are detected by sampling at the falling and rising edges of the pulse signal. The method is implemented by software in a microprocessor or by hardware comprising a pulse generator, sample and hold circuits, and an averager. The resulting average value is then asynchronously sampled by a microprocessor.

Abstract: A spark timing control system for an uneven firing engine utilizes a microprogrammed engine controller which produces a spark timing control system based on internal calculations using spark advance and dwell variables supplied by a microcomputer. A crankshaft position transducer produces a reference signal having alternate long and short pulses from which the firing cycle may be determined. The microcomputer is interrupted at each falling edge of the reference signal and based on a determination of the existing firing cycle, calculates and supplies appropriate spark advance and dwell numbers to the controller.

Abstract: The values of dwell and ignition timing signals from which ignition dwell and spark timing are provided are controlled to minimize power dissipation in an electronic ignition system and to ensure that adequate dwell times are provided during engine acceleration conditions and large advance angle increases. The dwell signal is increased from a static dwell value during steady state engine operation to a higher value in response to sensed engine accelerating conditions and the change in the spark advance between ignition events is limited to ensure that an adequate dwell period is provided.

Abstract: A diagnostic and warning system for a motor vehicle monitors the condition of a number of preselected parameters. When the condition of a parameter is representative of a fault condition, the system energizes a malfunction lamp in the vehicle compartment during the period of the detected fault and the particular fault detected is stored in a nonvolatile memory. A single counter is employed which functions to filter intermittent malfunctions for each of the monitored parameters and which imposes a minimum time duration for energization of the malfunction lamp.

Abstract: A diagnostic and warning system for a motor vehicle monitors the condition of a number of preselected parameters. When the condition of the parameters is representative of a fault condition, the system energizes a malfunction light in the vehicle compartment during the period of the detected fault. The particular fault detected is stored in a nonvolatile memory where it is stored independent of the subsequent condition of the respective parameter. The stored fault conditions may thereafter be read from memory to provide an indication of the malfunctions that have occurred in response to a diagnostic interrogation signal. The fault conditions stored in the nonvolatile memory are erased when a predetermined time period has lapsed since the occurrence of a detected fault condition so that old nonrecurring self-correcting faults are not retained in memory and accordingly not indicated in response to a diagnostic interrogation signal.