Abstract: An alternator rectifier bridge is incorporated into an alternator housing by inserting half of the diodes of the bridge into apertures formed into an alternator housing end plate which then serves as one output for the alternator and also as a massive heat sink to dissipate heat generated in the diodes. The other half of the diodes of the bridge are inserting into apertures formed in a radiator plate which is embedded into a plastic circuit member together with conductor members which interconnect electrodes of the diodes to stator windings of the alternator and also perform other electrical connections required for efficient manufacture and proper operation of the alternator. The radiator plate serves as the other output for the alternator and also as a heat sink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling field current in an alternator maintains the alternator output voltage at a defined level and substantially suppresses transients in the event the alternator is disconnected from a load. A pair of MOS Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (MOSIGBT's) are connected one in series and one in parallel with the alternator field winding and current is provided to the field winding through the series connected regulator transistor as needed to maintain the alternator output voltage. The field current is auto-commutated through the parallel connected transient suppression transistor when the regulator transistor is off. When the alternator is disconnected from a load, both transistors are switched off in a controlled manner to discharge the field winding energy at a high voltage and at an accelerated rate within the parallel connected transistor.

Abstract: Stall current levels are determined according to measured peak currents occurring immediately after the energization of a motor. By utilizing a fractional value of the determined peak current value, the stall current is determined each time the motor is energized to compensate for variations in current flowing in a motor at different ambient temperatures.

Abstract: An improved key and lock assembly in which an electronically coded circuit is embedded in the handle of a conventional key and at least one electrical terminal extends from the handle adjacent to and electrically isolated from the key shank so as to contact a similarly located and biased terminal on the lock assembly when the key is fully inserted therein.

Abstract: An active clamp circuit for an inductive load switching circuit includes a zener current control resistor to set the breakdown current in a zener diode of the clamp circuit. The zener breakdown current is set at a sufficiently high level to ensure that the zener diode is operated at a point beyond its "knee" region and therefore does not generate interfering levels of microplasmic noise (MPN). The zener current control resistor is provided in addition to a circuit speed control resistor such that there is substantially independent control of the switching circuit operating speed and the breakdown current of the zener diode of the active clamp circuit.

Abstract: A brush holder assembly which utilizes an insulated brush card and a bridge means to define a receiving aperture for a brush element. A pair of legs and a connecting element serve to define the bridge means and a constant force spring is retained by the legs so that as the brush is received within the aperture, the spring will partially uncoil and the uncoiled portion of the spring will conform to the profile of the brush. The bridge means also includes a guideway by which the brush is restricted against lateral movement during its use in a motor or generator unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sampling an analog voltage and providing a digital representation of the sampled voltage by binary switching individual resistive networks in parallel with a reference leg of a comparator circuit and combining binary switching signals with the comparator output signal.

Abstract: A starter motor for use with an internal combustion engine, which incorporates an idler gear that is constantly engaged with a translatable pinion gear to provide starting engagement and rotation to a driven gear on the engine.

Abstract: An engine oil condition sensor which measures oil temperature and the time the engine has been in operation since the last oil change. The sensor determines when the amount of "cold" engine operation exceeds a predetermined portion of the total engine operation in order to warn the operator to change engine operation patterns by providing more operation time at warmer temperatures. The sensor also accumulates the actual time the oil has been in the engine and the time the engine has been operated at elevated "hot" temperatures. Whenever any accumulation exceeds predetermined threshold levels, appropriate warnings are given to the operator.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for setting the pulse width modulation duty cycle that drives a vacuum fluorescent display device in response to changes in the setting of a dimmer control rheostat by establishing a constant window of acceptable voltage references that are changed when the setting of the dimmer control rheostat is changed, and by sequentially stepping through a set of discrete voltages whenever the setting of the dimmer control rheostat is changed until one of the discrete voltages is found to lie within the window of reference voltages. A dimmer signal is sent to a display driver circuit that corresponds to the selected discrete voltage lying within the reference window and determines the duty cycle and consequent brightness level for the display device.

Abstract: Starter motor for use with an internal combustion engine which includes a seal between the housing and the translatable clutch/pinion gear assembly so as to prevent contaminants from entering the motor/solenoid portion of the housing. The seal is temporarily broken whenever the clutch/pinion gear is translated to be engaged with the driven gear of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor actuated amplifier mechanism that utilizes a pair of saggital linkages having one relatively fixed saggital midpoint and joined at their end points to obtain a doubled amplification factor push stroke output from one relatively movable saggital midpoint. Thermal compensators are employed between the piezoelectric actuator and the saggital linkages to stabilize the amplifier throughout a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor actuated amplifier mechanism that utilizes a pair of saggital linkages having one relatively fixed saggital midpoint and joined at their end points to obtain a doubled amplification factor pull stroke output from one relatively movable saggital midpoint. Thermal compensators are employed between the piezoelectric actuator and the saggital linkages to stabilize the amplifier throughout a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: A resistor card for a fuel tank level sensor configured to reduce wear between an electrical contact wiper and metalized conductor pads formed on a substrate, by the deposition of thick film resistive material on the individual pads. The resistive material forms a protective coating on the pads to protect the metalized pads from excessive wiper wear.

Abstract: An electrical circuit connected to a drive motor circuit, of a movable sunroof panel containing an electrical field responsive material, for preventing the energization of a power supply prior to the panel being electrically connected to the output of the power supply.

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 onto an image screen where they are electronically recorded and analyzed.

Abstract: A liquid level indicating device such as the fuel gauge 10 in a motor vehicle is of the type which does not return to zero when the ignition 24 is switched of. In order to prevent false readings arising when the fuel in the tank sloshes about, a tilt switch 22 is provided in series with the ignition switch to depower the fuel gauge 10, which then continues to register the previous reading, if the motion or attitude of the vehicle changes. The tilt switch will close when the vehicle returns to a low level of acceleration and a level attitude operating state and power will be restored to the gauge. The gauge then reverts to direct reading of the signal from a sender unit 28 in the fuel tank.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for periodically checking the critical resistance value of an airbag igniter ("squib") component and determining if the resistance exceeds a predetermined maximum value.

Abstract: A brush holder assembly which utilizes an insulated brush card and a bridge means to define a receiving aperture for a brush element. A pair of legs and a connecting element serve to define the bridge means and a constant force spring is retained by the legs so that as the brush is received within the aperture, the spring will partially uncoil and the uncoiled portion of the spring will conform to the profile of the brush. The bridge means also includes a retention mechanism by which the brush may be held in an assembled position prior to its installation into a motor or generator unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically responding to headlamp radiation from oncoming vehicles to down-switch beam patterns in a tri-beam headlamp system in an automotive vehicle. A mid-beam sensor is provided to detect only that headlamp radiation from oncoming vehicles present within the defined high intensity projection areas of the mid-beam pattern and functions in conjunction with a conventional automatic dimmer sensor and a unique control circuit to achieve appropriate and automatic down-switching.