Abstract: A microwave method and apparatus for detecting the position of a piston of a pneumatic cylinder. While the piston is being moved by fluid pressure a microwave signal is applied to a cavity defined by the piston and interior of the cylinder and the reflected microwave signal is detected. The reflected microwave signal is processed to determine piston position.

Abstract: An ignition system for a spark ignited internal combustion engine wherein a source of high direct voltage is connected to a spark plug by a solid-state high voltage switch. The switch comprises a plurality of series connected metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors which form a first string of series connected transistors. The system has a second string of series connected field effect transistors. The second string is connected in parallel with the spark plug and the second string is biased conductive when the first string is biased nonconductive. The system has a third string of series connected field effect transistors which operate as a voltage level shifter. The individual transistors that form the strings are mounted on common substrates formed of an insulating material such as sapphire.

Abstract: An alternating current generator for supplying the electrical loads on a motor vehicle. The generator has a stator core that carries a three-phase stator or output winding. The rotor of the generator has two claw pole members that are so oriented that the fingers of the pole members are aligned. Disposed between the two pole members is a third pole member having projections disposed between the aligned fingers of the claw pole members. The rotor has two field coils which are so arranged and energized that the magnetic polarity of the two claw pole members is the same and opposite the magnetic polarity of the third pole member. One of the field coils can be replaced by a permanent magnet and when this is done the generator is provided with a magnetic circuit that can divert permanent magnet flux away from the stator core. Flux diversion is controlled by supplying unidirectional current to the field winding under the control of a voltage regulator.

Abstract: A fiber optic detector head senses a light reflective or transmissive pattern on an encoder disk rotated by an engine shaft. The pattern results in three different light levels which are translated by a detector into an electrical pulse train having three different voltages. Patterns encoded into the single pulse train are decoded by a microprocessor to provide specific engine cylinder or cylinder pair position information even within the first spark firing period as well as engine speed information.

Abstract: A fiber optic detector head senses a light reflective or transmissive pattern on an encoder disk rotated by an engine shaft. The pattern results in four different light levels which are translated by a detector into an electrical pulse train having four different voltages including a reference or background voltage. One light level is reserved for an index mark, another level for cylinder position marks and still another level for finer measurement of position and speed between the cylinder marks. Patterns encoded into the single pulse train are decoded by a microprocessor to provide specific engine cylinder position information as well as engine speed information.

Abstract: An exhaust gas turbine powered electric generating system for supplying electrical loads on a motor vehicle. The inlet of the gas turbine is supplied with the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The effective turbine inlet area is controlled by a valve which is adjusted as a function of the output current of the generator. As generator output current increases the valve is adjusted to decrease turbine inlet area thereby increasing engine back pressure which tends to slow the engine down. An idle speed control is provided which in response to engine slow-down increases the amount of air and fuel supplied to the engine to thereby increase the exhaust gas mass flow supplied to the turbine.

Abstract: A solenoid for an electric starter. The solenoid has a metal case that contains a coil winding assembly. The coil winding assembly includes a plastic coil spool that carries a pull-in coil and a hold-in coil. One end of the coil spool supports a plurality of axially extending metallic threaded studs that are insert molded into the end of the coil spool. The end leads of the coils are wrapped around the studs and welded thereto. The studs, together with nuts that are threaded onto the threaded portions of studs, serve to secure a plastic cover to an end of the metal case.

Abstract: A spark plug grinding machine is equipped with force sensors to measure grinding forces and other forces attendant to a grinding operation. Ceramic spark plug insulators are carried by spindles on a Ferris wheel into a grinding station. A control wheel engages and spins each part as a grinding wheel grinds the surface of the insulator. A three axis transducer on one of the spindles measures force components along the axis of the spindle, parallel to a tangent of the grinding wheel and in a radial direction. A torque sensor on the control wheel measures the torque as the wheel rotates each insulator. Either or both of the sensors may be used. They are coupled through slip rings to a recorder.

Abstract: A spark timing control for an electronic internal combustion engine ignition system that provides a constant spark advance regardless of engine speed. A series of crankshaft pulses are developed which occur at each 60 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft. The system has a source of constant frequency clock pulses which are counted up by an up-counter during 60 degree periods. The count attained by the up-counter during a 60 degree period is loaded into a down-counter. The up-counter is now counted up at a constant rate from zero and the down-counter is counted down at a constant rate from the count magnitude that was loaded into the down-counter. When the count magnitudes of the two counters are equal, a digital comparator that is connected to the counters develops an output signal that can be used to cause the firing of a spark plug.

Abstract: A digital system for providing pulses that represent the position of an engine crankshaft that has a digital filter for filtering out pulses caused by noise. A square wave signal having voltage pulses that represent crankshaft position is applied to the input of the filter. The filter determines whether or not the high and low time periods of the square wave signal exceed a predetermined time period and based on this determination ignores or passes pulses of the square wave to the output of the filter.

Abstract: A control circuit for developing a digital signal for use in a closed loop dwell control of an electronic internal combustion engine ignition system. The circuit has a ramp counter and a down-counter. The ramp counter counts-up clock pulses for a period of time beginning when the primary winding of an ignition coil is energized and ending when primary winding current increases to a sensed current limit value. When current limit is reached, the most significant bits of the count in the ramp counter are loaded into the down-counter. The ramp counter is now counted-up and the down-counter is counted-down until the down-counter underflows. The final or ultimate count magnitude in the ramp counter is equal to the count attained by the ramp counter between energization of the primary winding and attainment of current limit added to a fixed percentage of the count attained by the ramp counter.

Abstract: A method of determining the compression ratio of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. While the engine is being driven by a prime mover a PV curve is developed which is stored in the memory of a microprocessor. The unswept volume of the cylinder is determined by trying various values of unswept volume in the function PV.sup.n =C and determining which value of unswept volume causes the curve developed by this function to best fit the stored curve. Compression ratio is determined after the unswept volume is determined.

Abstract: A solenoid operated fluid control valve. The control valve has a plastic housing that supports a coil winding. A valve plunger and a stop member both of which are formed of magnetic material carry magnetic flux developed by energization of the coil winding. Opposed end faces of the plunger and stop member are spaced from each other to form an air gap that is traversed by the magnetic flux. The length of the air gap can be adjusted. To accomplish this, the stop member has a threaded portion that is threaded into a portion of the plastic housing. A cap member, formed of plastic material, is provided that is coupled to the stop member in a manner that prevents relative rotation between the cap member and stop member. After the air gap is adjusted, the cap member is ultrasonically welded to the housing.

Abstract: A motor vehicle electrical system that has two alternating current generators for supplying current to the electrical loads on the vehicle including a storage battery. Both alternating current generators are connected to rectifier means which supply direct current to the loads. The output voltage of one of the generators is controlled by a voltage regulator. The direct current output of the rectifier means is sensed and the field current of the other generator is controlled such that its output current is slaved to and follows the output current of the generator that is controlled by the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A hollow flexible vinyl or other plastic tube having a shiny inner wall is disposed along a boundary where intrusion detection is desired. A beam of infrared radiation from an LED at one end of the tube is passed through the tube by reflections from the wall to a detector at the other end. The radiation is conducted along curved paths as well as straight paths. An object intruding into the protected space with sufficient force to deform the tube wall attenuates the radiation. A detection circuit senses the attenuation and produces an intrusion signal. The detection circuit includes logic which detects a failure in the radiation source or a light leak in the tube.

Abstract: A video processor operating at camera frame rates is interposed between a camera and a vision system to enhance the signal for improved vision analysis, but always being transparent to the system. Alternatively, in some cases, the processor can be functionally tailored to perform the functions of and replace the vision system. The processor has a reconfigurable architecture to perform a different function in each video frame period, although it repetitively performs the same function on all the image pixels at clock rates within a frame period.The configuration of the processor is determined for each frame period by microinstructions embodied in a lookup table. Macroinstructions in another lookup table address the appropriate microinstruction set for a desired processor function.

Abstract: An end frame and stator assembly for a dynamoelectric machine such as an alternating current generator. The assembly comprises a slotted stator core that supports a stator winding, a rotor bearing and a metallic heat dissipating insert that supports the bearing. The assembly has a plastic housing that is comprised of plastic material that is molded to the stator core and insert. The plastic housing does not encapsulate the stator winding. The metallic insert conducts heat away from the bearing and also adds stability to the plastic housing.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a gap for a toothed modulator wheel and accurately aligned optical fibers on either side of the gap. The fibers form a U-shape to allow compact sensor design. The sensor is fabricated by inserting a single optical fiber in a mold and supporting the fiber in a U-shape such that the bottom of the U bend includes a straight portion. A thermosetting material is molded around the fiber to form a body and encapsulsate the fiber. A gap is formed by excluding or removing the resin from the region of the straight portion. A part of the straight portion of the fiber at the gap is removed so that the remaining spaced ends are inherently aligned across the gap.

Abstract: Brush rigging for a dynamoelectric machine such as an electric cranking motor for cranking an internal combustion engine. A support carries a plurality of radially extending brush holders each of which slidably supports a brush. The brushes are urged radially inwardly by an elastomeric band that is formed of electrical insulating material. The band directly engages the outer ends of the brushes and a plurality of pins that are carried by the support. The pins are located between pairs of brush holders.

Abstract: A method of securing terminals to a distributor cap and to the cap formed thereby. A molded thermoplastic distributor cap is provided which has bores formed in the towers of the cap. Die cast zinc terminals having ribs and recesses therebetween are partially inserted into the bores of the cap. With the terminals partially inserted into the cap they are engaged by an electrically heated head member which causes the terminals and cap material to heat up. When the cap material is heated to a flowable state the terminals are pushed into the cap and cap material is moved into the recesses to anchor the terminals in the cap. The terminals are provided with vent slots.