Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive profile correction for rotating position encoders in reciprocating engines measures a raw engine speed derived from a rotating position encoder (107) driven by a reciprocating engine. A first corrected engine speed (1103) is provided dependent on the raw engine speed and a predetermined first encoder profile while the engine is operating bounded within a first speed range (905), and a second corrected engine speed (1103) is provided dependent on the raw engine speed and a predetermined second encoder profile while the engine is operating bounded within a second speed range (913).

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing current drain in a battery powered data collector includes a stimulus device. In response to receipt of a first state of a control signal, the stimulus device provides a periodic stimulus signal. In response to receipt of a second state of the control signal the stimulus device ceases provision of the signal. A switch device is coupled between the stimulus device and a load. When the switch device is in an on-state, and the signal is provided from the stimulus device, the switch device provides the signal to the load causing depletion of energy from the battery into the load. Responsive thereto the switch device provides the second state of the control signal to the control input of the stimulus device, that then ceases the provision of the signal to the load thus ceasing the depletion of the energy from the battery.

Abstract: An improved battery charger apparatus and method with multiple range current control includes a programmable current source (101) for providing a charge current (105) to charge a battery (107). An amplitude of the charge current (105) is dependent on a charge demand signal (117) supplied to the programmable current source (101). A scaler (109) provides a scaled charge current signal (111), dependent on the charge current (105) and a current range signal (113). A charge current control unit (115) regulates the charge current (105) by providing the charge demand signal (117) to the programmable current source (101) dependent on the scaled charge current signal (111). More than one amplitude of the charge current (105) is provided to the battery (107), dependent on more than one current range signal (113) provided by the charge current control unit (115) to the scaler (109).

Abstract: A diagnostic system for measuring behavior of signals provided by a plurality of sensors (101, 129) includes a plurality of input filters (107, 135) for receiving signals (105, 133) from each of the plurality of sensors (103, 131) and for providing a plurality of filtered sensor signals (109, 137) each derived from the received signals (105, 133). A signal bandwidth of each of the plurality of filtered sensor signals (109, 137) is lower than a signal bandwidth of the than a signal bandwidth of the associated received signal. A selection circuit (119) receives each of the signals (105, 133) from each of the plurality of sensors (103, 131) and, dependent on a selection signal (127), provides a selected sensor signal (121) derived from one of the received signals (105), wherein the selected sensor signal (121) has a signal bandwidth greater than one of the filtered sensor signals (109) derived from the one of the received signals (105).

Abstract: A knock detection method and apparatus integrates a knock sensor signal (107) over a first period and provides a first integrated knock sensor signal (119), and integrates the knock sensor signal (107) over a second period and provides a second integrated knock sensor signal (139). A knock indication (131) is provided dependent on an amplitude of the first integrated knock sensor signal (119) and an amplitude of the second integrated knock sensor signal (139) and independent of the influence of the variations of the knock sensor (101) potential sensor to sensor gain variation.

Abstract: A system, and a corresponding method, for measuring a chemical concentration of a gas exhausted from exhaust ports (409, 413) of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (401) includes a gas sensing device. This device (419) is preferably a UEGO (Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen) sensor. The gas exhausted is present in a substantially stable chemical concentration (706, 718) at a collection point (420) during intervals (738, 742) of engine angular rotation corresponding to the exhaust cycles. The UEGO sensor (419) measures the gas exhausted from the exhaust ports (409, 413) and provides a sensory output signal (743) that, during the intervals (738, 742) of engine angular rotation corresponding to each of the exhaust cycles, approaches (737, 741) a substantially stable value representative of the chemical concentration of the gas (706, 718) exhausted during the associated exhaust cycle.

Abstract: An optical service tool interface for a utility meter includes a probe (103) with a light source (115) emitting pulses of light. A first and second light receiver (113, 111) are mounted on a controller housing (102) of the meter (101). When the probe (103) is physically coupled to the meter's housing (102) the light source (115) is optically aligned with the first light receiver (113), and the second light receiver (111) is optically isolated from both the pulses of light emitted from the probe's light source (115) and any ambient light (117). A wakeup signal (215) is generated by the controller (200) dependent on the reception of pulses of light emitted by the probe (103) and received by the first light receiver (113) and optical isolation of the second receiver (111) from both the pulses of light emitted by the light source (115) and the ambient light (115). The wakeup signal (215) is used to power-on a high current consumption circuit (225) that allows the utility meter (101) to become fully functional.

Abstract: A route planning method, and apparatus, for constructing a route connecting a given origin location and a given destination location from a hierarchical map database having more than one layer, where each layer represents a different level of detail. The method includes provision of a list of road segments extracted from an initial planning layer of the hierarchical map database, wherein each of the road segments in the list of road segments are connected to the given origin location. An alternative planning layer is selected dependent on exceeding a predetermined heading criteria measured between a heading associated with heading associated with one of the road segments in the list of road segments and a heading associated with the given destination location.

Abstract: An acceleration based misfire detection system with improved signal fidelity comprises a measurement device (421, 423, 425, 427) for determining an operating condition of the powertrain (401). The operating condition can include engine speed, engine load, as well as other conditions. A misfire detector (417) provides a misfire indication (419) dependent on an improved fidelity acceleration signal (415).

Abstract: A low loss recirculation apparatus for recirculating current through an inductive load (101) includes an active recirculation circuit. The low loss recirculation apparatus includes a control device (201) with a drive output (203) that provides a drive signal (205), and a recirculate output (207) that provides a recirculation signal (209). A device (103) provides drive current, along a path (109), to the inductive load (101) responsive to the drive signal (205). A gated recirculation circuit (202), recirculates current, along a path (115), through the inductive load (101) responsive to the recirculation signal (209).

Abstract: An apparatus, and a corresponding method, for determining misfire in a reciprocating engine operates on a selectable quantity of discrete sampled acceleration signals that are indicative of acceleration behavior of the reciprocating engine. A decimation device selects a quantity of the discrete sampled acceleration signals dependent on an engine family, and optionally engine operating conditions such as speed and load. An accelearation signal is selected from the sampled acceleration signals, preferably the sample having the most negative magnitude. A misfire determination device provides a misfire indication dependent on the selected acceleration signal.

Abstract: A method for detecting a misfire condition by interpreting acceleration of an engine crankshaft (301) is described. The method teaches measurement of a first engine crankshaft acceleration, (405) proximate a first predetermined engine crankshaft angle, and provides a first reading (407) indicative of the first engine crankshaft acceleration, measurement of a second engine crankshaft acceleration, (417) proximate a second predetermined engine crankshaft angle, and provides a second reading (419) indicative of the second engine crankshaft acceleration, then combines (421) the first reading and the second reading and provides an acceleration coefficient (423) indicative of the combined readings. Then, a misfire is indicated (427) when the acceleration coefficient does not exceed a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An electric motor control with integral battery charger includes battery terminals (201) for connection to a battery (203). A boost converter circuit (111) is coupled to an armature winding (209) of the electric motor (117), and has an input (131) coupled to a power source (211). A buck converter circuit (105) is coupled to a field winding (207) of the electric motor (117), and an input (133) coupled to the power source (211). A controller (205), is coupled to the battery terminals (201) and the power source (211). The controller (205) couples a boost output (107) of the boost converter circuit (111 ) to the battery terminals (201) while a terminal voltage of the power source (211) is lower than a terminal voltage of the battery (203) measured at the battery terminals (201), and couples a buck output (107) of the buck converter circuit (105) to the battery terminals (201 ) while the terminal voltage of the power source (211) is higher than the terminal voltage of the battery (203).

Abstract: A method, and corresponding system, of map-matching uses a first trend of position vectors (207, 215, 221, 229, 235, and 245) provided by a first position sensory system, and a second trend of position vectors (203, 211, 217, 225, and 231) provided by a redundant position sensory system. These sensory systems are preferably mounted on a vehicle but also may be a part of a hand held guidance device. The first position sensory system is preferably a GPS receiver (305) based system, and the second position sensory system is preferably a dead-reckoning sensory system, based on a compass (307) and an odometer (309). The first trend of position vectors (207, 215, 221, 229, 235, and 245) and the second trend of position vectors (203, 211, 217, 225, and 231) are compared to a trend of position vectors (212, 287, 289, 291, and 293) based on a map reference (303).

Abstract: An apparatus, and a corresponding method, measures reciprocating engine performance based on torque output of the engine. This is accomplished by observing positional behavior of a rotating member driven by the engine. The apparatus includes a measurement device (129) that provides an acceleration signal (116) indicative of acceleration of the rotating member (101). A gated ACCEL-DECEL device (126) provides a gated acceleration signal (141 ), dependent on the acceleration signal (116) gated by an accumulate enable flag (138) corresponding to a first span (120) of rotary position of the rotating member (101 ). An accumulation device (143) accumulates the gated acceleration signal (141 ), and provides an accumulated result (149) dependent thereon. This accumulated result is a variable indicative of the reciprocating engine's performance.

Abstract: A system and method for charging an auxiliary battery (107) that drives an auxiliary load (109) includes a regulator (111', 223) coupled to an auxiliary battery (107). The regulator (111', 223) provides a charge current (121') that is variable dependent on a parameter of a control signal (203). Preferably, the parameter is an amplitude. A switch (113') provides a coupling and a decoupling between the auxiliary battery (107) and the auxiliary load (109). A control device (115') decouples the auxiliary battery (107) from the auxiliary load (109) via the switch (113'), and then provides the control signal (203) to the regulator (111', 223). By effecting this action, the regulator (111', 223) provides the variable charge current (121') to the auxiliary battery (107) dependent on the amplitude of the control signal (203).

Abstract: A media-isolated differential pressure sensor apparatus and corresponding method combines a first signal (207, 209) provided by a first pressure sensor (101), indicative of a difference between a first pressure and second pressure applied across the first pressure sensor, and a second signal (213, 215) provided by a second pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between the second pressure and a third pressure applied across the second pressure sensor (103) to form a differential pressure sensor. Responsive to a pressure span the first signal (207, 209) responds with a slope response different than a slope response of the second signal (213, 215). A slope adjustment circuit (217) enables an adjustment of the slope response of the first signal (207, 209) to correspond to the slope response of the second signal (213, 215), and provides a slope adjusted first signal (221) dependent on the adjusted slope response.

Abstract: An improved method for fabricating a circuit element through a substrate permits fabrication of large geometry vias between substrate sides. The improved method includes disposing a substrate (327) between two compressible layers (317, 339). Each of the layers (317, 339) has at least one aperture (345, 321) disposed therethrough. The substrate (327), has at least one via (333) aligned between the apertures (345, 321) where the via has an area smaller than an area of the apertures (345, 321). Next, a coating, preferably a liquid circuit element material (351) is disposed into one of the apertures (321) of one of the two compressible layers (339). A pressure (405) is applied between the two compressible layers (317, 339) causing the liquid circuit element material (351) to flow between the two compressible layers (317, 339), thereby coating the at least one via (333) of the substrate (327), thus providing an interconnect (609, 611) of the coating through the substrate (327).

Abstract: An alternator phase detection system for an alternator has a stator winding (115) that provides a stator winding signal bounded within a range. The stator winding signal has a leakage magnitude when the alternator is stationary and a charging magnitude when the alternator is rotating. A leakage compensation circuit (245, 247) biases the stator winding (115) of the alternator by providing a leakage compensation current to the stator winding if the leakage magnitude of the stator winding signal is positioned apart from a boundary of the range, thereby changing the magnitude of the stator winding signal which negates the erroneous effect of rectifier leakage on measurement of alternator motion. A comparator circuit (101) provides an alternator startup state of a status signal (137) if the magnitude of the stator winding signal does noir exceed a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a vehicle position uncertainty area correction method and a corresponding apparatus are detailed. This method is preferably executed on a hardware platform 400. This method includes provision of an initial position envelope (307) associated with a vehicle position. Then, a corrected position envelope (307"") is derived from the initial position envelope (307) and bounded within a predetermined fixed area (313, 315) surrounding an outermost pair (305, 309) of road segments. The outermost pair (305, 309) of road segments are extracted from a map database (415) positioned within boundaries delimited by the position envelope (307).