Abstract: System and method for high-speed, high-accuracy control of a multiphase motor in a vehicle having a DC power supply in response to a motor command signal, the system being a substantially digital implementation. The system includes programmable digital logic for generating a digital desired phase current signal for a particular motor phase. A signal indicative of the actual current in the particular motor phase is generated. The system includes comparators for comparing the desired phase current signal with the actual phase current signal and generating a digital error signal based on the difference between the desired and actual phase current signals. Additionally, the system includes an inverter, including a plurality of switches, for generating the actual current in the particular motor phase from the DC power supply. Based on the digital error signal, the digital logic generates a digital switch state output signal to control the operating state of the inverter.

Abstract: A regulator and brush holder assembly having a regulator assembly attachable to an alternator adjacent to the alternator's slip rings and a housing attached to the regulator assembly. The housing has a brush holder portion and a regulator compartment enclosing the regulator circuit of the regulator assembly. The brush holder portion has a pair of spatially separated brush holder compartments and a pigtail chamber associated with each brush holder. The associated brush holder compartments and the associated pigtail chambers have an open end and a closed end and are connected by a slot. Brush terminals are attached to the housing and extend into the open end of the pigtail chambers. A carbon brush is slidably received in each brush holder cavity and its pigtail connection is connected to the associated brush terminal through the slot.

Abstract: An improved terminal for electrical connection to an alternator includes a connecting plate formed as portion of a radiator plate including recesses adapted to receive diodes for use in forming a rectifier bridge. The rectifier bridge assembly comprises a plastic housing that is insert molded over the radiator plate including louvers for passing cooling air past the diodes. The connector plate includes an opening to receive the stem of an enlarged headed fastener before the plastic body is formed around the radiator plate. Before molding, the bolt is pressed by a mold insert against the contact plate so the stem extends outwardly within an axially extending, circumferentially interrupted wall formed by the molding process.

Abstract: A brush device, comprising a brush holder and a brush assembly, for providing electrical contact with a moving part while suppressing electrical noise generated during the interaction of the brush device with the moving part. The brush holder includes a housing adapted to receive a brush assembly within the housing, and noise suppression arrangement, mounted on the housing and electrically connected to a brush assembly, for suppressing electrical noise generated during the interaction of the brush assembly and the moving part by providing an inductive impedance in the electrical path of the brush assembly. The brush holder may further include a connector cap, electrically connected to the noise suppression arrangement, adapted to provide a mating connection between the noise suppression arrangement and an external connector. The brush assembly is positioned within the housing such that sliding electrical contact is made with the moving part.

Abstract: A vehicle rear signal light assembly (16) of the high mounted type is mounted within a rear roof header (18) of a roof panel (12) to shine a light signal from a source (40) through a lens (38) aligned with an opening (36) in an obscuration band (34) of an upper rear window edge portion (28) covering an outwardly opening flanged construction of the roof header. The signal light assembly (16) by utilizing existing vehicle structure does not intrude into the interior space of the occupant compartment either at its storage shelf or its headroom. Different embodiments of the signal light assembly (16,16a,16b) provide a brake signal, turn signals, and both brake and turn signals. The light source (40) may be either an electric bulb that shines through a lens (38) or one or more light emitting diodes (56) that shine through the lens which is aligned with the opening (36) in the obscuration band (40) through which the signal shines.

Abstract: Thirty-sixth order harmonic noise generation is suppressed in an automotive-type alternator generator by forming a countersink in the leading edge of a through bolt bore to provide a transversely abutting conical surface to the flange of a through bolt which is used to retain the housing elements.

Abstract: A potentiometric position transducer comprises a resistive track movably mounted within a housing. A portion of the resistive track is between two fixed electrical contact points. A third electrical contact is moveable over such portion, corresponding to the position or setting of an exterior device, such as the throttle of an internal combustion engine. Drive means are provided to move the resistive track, to repeatedly substitute new portions of the resistive track between the two fixed contact points. Wear is spread over the entire resistive track.

Abstract: An electrical control system for a voltage sensitive load having switch means for selecting from single or multiple rectified phases of a multi-phase alternator/generator to provide multiple output levels of DC voltage.

Abstract: A backlit switch for use on the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle that eliminates virtual images in the line of sight of a vehicle operator. The switch provides a legend which is spaced back from a clear transparent lens element and oriented to have its normal below the normal of the lens element. The lens element provides an actuation surface which is substantially normal to the force exerted by the operator's finger.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for periodically checking the ground path resistance value of a crash sensor connection to chassis ground and determining if the resistance exceeds a predetermined maximum acceptable value.

Abstract: An audio speaker configured for simple manual or automatic robotic insertion into an enclosure aperture so that it will be electrically connected to an audio signal transmission medium and retained within the enclosure. The speaker includes a latching mechanism and a pair of coplaner electrically conductive contact pads concentrically oriented and disposed on the back of the speaker. The pads are disposed so as to contact a pair of relatively fixed electrical terminals mounted on the enclosure, independent of any rotational orientation of the speaker.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a finished surface by projecting a pair of parallel light beams onto the surface and reflecting the beams alongside a reference beam onto an image screen where they are electronically recorded and analyzed against the reference image.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism, within a lamp socket, includes a single wire spring element mounted external to the lamp socket and protrudes into the lamp socket opening so as to provide insertion interference to ramped projections extending from either end of a lamp wedge base element and frictional retention against the ramped projections when the wedge base element is fully inserted.

Abstract: An improved retaining mechanism for a lamp socket employs a retaining spring with a torsion relief coil to prevent permanent deformation during the assembly of the spring to the socket.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a wide range of variable brightness levels for a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display by changing the duty cycle of the driving signal beyond the limits of normal driving techniques by varying the frequency as well as the on-time of the driving signal. The driving signal is multiplexed by a programmed driver microcomputer to drive a plurality of grids. Consequently, by varying the frequency, the multiplex period is also varied. The driver microcomputer communicates with a host microcomputer as well as drivers and grids of the VF display to control the VF display. In addition, the driver microcomputer samples a VF filament signal to synchronize the VF display multiplex frequency with the frequency of the VF filament signal to reduce flicker at low display brightness levels. The method and system achieve a continuously variable appearance of the VF display from full bright to barely discernable.

Abstract: An adjustable headlight is described having a reflector 14 movably mounted within an outer casing 12 and an actuator 26 fitted to an opening in the outer casing 12 and having an output shaft 26 extending through the opening in the casing and connected to the reflector 14 to enable the reflector to be pivoted within the casing 12 to adjust the headlight beam, the output shaft 28 of the actuator 26 being connected to the reflector by means of a bayonet fitting 30, 32.

Abstract: The watchdog timer circuit which performs both the power-up initialization and program resetting function to an associated microprocessor utilizing a single astable multivibrator circuit with a single pair of complementary transistors and a single capacitor to affect timing and regenerative feedback between the transistors.

Abstract: A lamp assembly which utilizes a plurality of concave reflector elements to direct light to prescribed areas of an associated panel, such as a license plate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a printed wiring substrate board to have integral contacts over the thickness of a defined connector edge in order to allow for perpendicular mating to exposed conductors on the surface of a second substrate.

Abstract: Engine lubricating oil temperature and the amount of engine usage are used to calculate when engine lubricating oil has reached the end of its predicted wear life. Each spark (engine speed) pulse is multiplied by weighting factors that are periodically determined by sampling the engine oil temperature and the length of time the engine has been in continuous use above a predetermined speed. When the value of the accumulated weighted spark pulses has reached a predetermined level, a warning signal is provided to indicate the necessity of changing the engine lubricating oil.