Abstract: A method for controlling a force exerted by an actuator on a load, the actuator being driven by a motor, the method including the steps of modeling the force as a function of at least one parameter, the parameter having an initial value, determining a new value for the parameter, determining an observed force based at least in part upon the new value for the parameter and controlling a positioned of the actuator based at least in part upon the observed force.

Abstract: A method for controlling a force exerted by an actuator on a load, the actuator being driven by a motor, the method including the steps of modeling the force as a function of at least one parameter, the parameter having an initial value, determining a new value for the parameter, determining an observed force based at least in part upon the new value for the parameter and controlling a positioned of the actuator based at least in part upon the observed force.

Abstract: A first method for estimating a torque/force exerted by a load against an actuator driven by an electric motor against the load includes measuring motor current of the electric motor and measuring a position/angle or speed/angular speed of the actuator and includes calculating the torque/force exerted by the load against the actuator using at least a difference between a calculated motor torque/force and a calculated actuator-experienced torque/force. A second method includes measuring input voltage of the electric motor instead of measuring motor current. A third method includes measuring both motor current and input voltage. In one example, without limitation, the actuator is an automotive electromechanical brake caliper.

Abstract: A combination starter-generator system for use in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has an internal combustion engine and a battery. The system includes a starter-generator electrically coupled to the battery to generate a current and to start the internal combustion engine. A drive mechanism connects the starter-generator machine and the internal combustion engine. The starter-generator machine generates the current by receiving a charging torque from one side of the drive mechanism and starts the internal combustion engine by imparting a starting torque to a different side of the drive mechanism. The charging torque or the starting torque is a greater torque. A passive tensioning system cooperates with the drive mechanism to tension the drive mechanism only at the side of the greater torque.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor provides an output voltage range having first and second linear slopes. Proper selection of magnetic sensor dimensions enables changes in magnetic flux density upon the passage of at least one tooth and one slot of a target wheel past the magnetic sensor to be represented as a linear magnetic sensor output comprised of at least one linear range whereby linear interpolation of position is possible with appropriate signal processing algorithms.