Abstract: In an automotive ignition system having ignition coil banks with at least one ignition coil for energizing a corresponding spark plug, input/output (I/O) devices are provided in electrical communication with the ignition coil banks for relaying ignition coil signals, each ignition coil bank having at least one set of corresponding I/O devices relaying similar signals. The similar signals relayed by sets of corresponding I/O devices are stored in memory at addresses having a constant offset from each other. Program routines are also stored in memory for processing and generating the similar signals relayed by sets of corresponding I/O devices. The similar signals are accessed by the program routines using an indexed addressing mode and the constant address offset such that a single program routine controls one set of corresponding I/O devices independent of the ignition coil bank involved.

Abstract: An application program and computer system for determining the testing profile for accelerated laboratory random vibrational testing of a product, including the application program steps of (i) selecting the frequency range covered in the laboratory accelerated testing, (ii) developing a simplified composite Power Spectral Density function PSD.sub.j (f) representative of the PSD for random vibration loadings in expected field vibration levels, (iii) developing the shape of PSD.sub.T for producing on the product the test acceleration forces corresponding to the PSD.sub.j function, (iv) calculating the stress response curve H(f) for the product representative of the transmissibility function from the input acceleration forces to the local vibration stress forces, (v) selecting the test duration, and then calculating the amplification factor from the relationship ##EQU1## (vi) recalculating the accelerated PSD profile, PSD.sub.

Abstract: Method and system for predicting air discharge temperature in a control system which controls an automotive HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system using a model. The model is based on signals generated by various climate control sensors and actuation outputs to predict air discharge temperature without the need for an additional sensor. The model allows the avoidance of uncomfortable air discharge temperatures to thereby increase passenger comfort.

Abstract: A method for joining a component to a substrate applies a base solder portion to the substrate and provides a standoff solder portion in the base solder portion. The standoff solder portion has a higher melting temperature than the base solder portion and a height which substantially corresponds to a desired standoff height between the component and the substrate. The component is positioned on the standoff solder portion and the base solder portion is melted under reflow conditions to form a solder joint between the component and the substrate. This joint substantially encapsulates the standoff solder portion, wherein the reflow conditions create a dendritic structure between the base solder portion and the standoff solder portion.

Abstract: A method and circuit for receiving frame messages connected to one or more nodes, each controlled by a microcontroller, along a common transmission line of a multiplex communication system. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving the type and target bytes, and responsive thereto generating a first interrupt signal to the microcontroller at the node; (b) commanding the microcontroller, responsive to receiving the first interrupt signal, for qualifying the frame message by retrieving and matching one or more of the type and target bytes with corresponding bytes stored in programmable memory within the microcontroller, and responsive thereto generating a qualified signal; and (c) receiving data bytes from the frame message only responsive to receiving the qualified signal from the microcontroller.

Abstract: A method or protocol for generating an Interrupt Signal for communication between a peripheral device and a host processor having either a level-sensitive or an edge-sensitive interrupt detector. After receiving an active interrupt request, and after confirming that the Chip Select signal is released, the interrupt signal is transitioned to an active level. After receiving an active Chip Select signal and multiple Clock pulses from the host as confirmation of receipt of the Interrupt Signal, the Interrupt Signal is transitioned to its inactive state. If the interrupt request is still pending, and when the Chip Select signal is released, then the Interrupt Signal is again made active. Maintaining the active level for the Interrupt Signal until the confirmation is returned from the host will activate level-sensitive detectors, while edge-sensitive detectors in the host will be activated by the multiple transitions ocurring if the host does not service the interrupt request in the peripheral.

Abstract: An application program and computer system for determining the testing profile for accelerated laboratory sinusoidal vibrational testing of a product, includes the application program steps of (i) selecting the type and rate for the frequency sweep, (ii) developing a simplified composite Power Spectral Density function PSD.sub.j representing expected field vibration levels, (iii) developing the acceleration force function G.sub.T (f) corresponding to the PSD function, (iv) determining the stress response curve H(f) for the product, (v) selecting the number of frequency sweeps N.sub.W based on the testing equipment, the testing time available, and the range of acceleration forces required for implementing G.sub.T (f) from the relationship ##EQU1## where K is a constant, (vi) recalculating the acceleration forces G.sub.u, and then (vii) testing the product using the selected variables to validate the required performance lifetime for the product when no test failures are observed over all of the N.sub.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for compressing viscous material through openings in a stencil is disclosed. The novel apparatus has a compression headcap which provides a contained environment to direct and to aid the flow of pressurized viscous material through the openings in the stencil. The compression headcap includes two generally parallel wiper blades that are biased into sliding communication with the stencil. Longitudinal diffuser plates guide and equalize the flow of the viscous material into the volume between two generally parallel wiper blades.

Abstract: A method for designing an IC package having a plastic encapsulated portion and a lead frame portion that are bonded together at a bonding interface includes selecting material candidates for each of the plastic encapsulated portion and the lead frame potion to obtain possible material combinations. A peeling stress and a shear stress at the bonding interface for each possible material combination is determined. A design material combination from all of the possible material combinations is then selected based on a singularity parameter and stress intensity factors of the peeling stress and the shear stress. To enhance the IC package, a circular fillet feature having a radius is added to a singularity point at the bonding interface of the IC package to reduce the stress at the singularity point.

Abstract: A method for determining the testing profile for accelerated laboratory random vibrational testing of a product, including the steps of (i) selecting the frequency range covered in the laboratory accelerated testing, (ii) developing a simplified composite Power Spectral Density function PSD.sub.j (f) representative of the PSD for random vibration loadings in expected field vibration levels, (iii) developing the shape of PSD.sub.T for producing on the product the test acceleration forces corresponding to the PSD.sub.j function, (iv) calculating the stress response curve H(f) for the product representative of the transmissibility function from the input acceleration forces to the local vibration stress forces, (v) selecting the test duration, and then calculating the amplification factor from the relationship ##EQU1## (vi) recalculating the accelerated PSD profile, PSD.sub.

Abstract: A microprocessor samples the net effective current from a battery several times a second. A fast average current I.sub.f is calculated using an IIR filter on the net average current. A slow average current I is calculated by integrating the net average current over time with respect to time. An Ampere Hour Capacity is calculated by the use of the Peukert equation, which is split into two terms. A first capacity term is calculated using the fast average current I.sub.f and a slow capacity term is calculated using the slow average current I. The slow capacity term is then multiplied by a weighting constant C.sub.2 and summed with the fast capacity term which is multiplied by (1-C.sub.2).

Abstract: Electric motors having controllable induced armature fields, such as induction motors and synchronous reluctance motors, are used in power assisted steering systems for motor vehicles. Power is conserved by tailoring induced armature fields or rotor flux in accordance with the speeds of motor vehicles including the power assisted steering system. In particular, one or more flux programs or maps are provided for the power assisted steering system with the flux map or program being accessed or addressed by means of the vehicle speed. During low speed operation of the motor vehicle, for example to perform parking maneuvers where speeds are near zero and steering forces are near or at maximum, the rotor flux is programmed to maximum.

Abstract: An induction motor control system for electric vehicles having a DC power supply, an inverter, and an induction motor, includes a current control mechanism having a flux controller. The flux controller reduces the stator flux to improve the torque output of a motor at the limit of the voltage supply from the inverter. The reduction in flux is adjustable as the actual limit of voltage available to power the motor varies. A flux reference .lambda..sub.so generated according to efficiency control requirements can be adjusted by a flux weakening quantity generated by the controller in the constant power range of operation. The DC bus voltage, the rotor speed and stator flux reference values are input to the flux controller so that the motor can be operated to achieve improved torque output approaching the theoretical maximum torque output or to maximize efficiency as needed.

Abstract: A method for determining a sample size W required for accelerated testing of a product includes the steps of selecting a Reliability Goal R as appropriate for the product, selecting a Confidence Level CL appropriate for the accuracy required from the results of the accelerated testing, selecting the number of testing cycles N.sub.t defining the accelerated testing period, calculating the Sample Size W for the accelerated testing as ##EQU1## and then testing the W product samples for the N.sub.t testing cycles to validate the required Reliability when no test failures are observed over the N.sub.t testing cycles. A method for determining the Number of Cycles N.sub.t required for accelerated testing of a product having a service lifetime is also described. In either of the above methods, if any failures are observed in the N.sub.t testing cycles/time, then the number of testing cycles/time may be extended to at least 2 N.sub.

Abstract: A method for determining a sample size W required for accelerated testing of a product includes the steps of selecting a Reliability Goal R as appropriate for the product, selecting a Confidence Level CL appropriate for the accuracy required from the results of the accelerated testing, selecting the number of testing cycles N.sub.t defining the accelerated testing period, calculating the Sample Size W for the accelerated testing as ##EQU1## and then testing the W product samples for the N.sub.t testing cycles to validate the required Reliability when no test failures are observed over the N.sub.t testing cycles. A method for determining the Number of Cycles N.sub.t required for accelerated testing of a product having a service lifetime is also described. In either of the above methods, if any failures are observed in the N.sub.t testing cycles/time, then the number of testing cycles/time may be extended to at least 2 N.sub.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for an automotive vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and transmission assembly providing a first selectably shiftable geared torque flow path to vehicle traction wheels and an electric motor-generator unit defining a second geared torque flow path that is located between the output of the first geared torque flow path and the traction wheels. Through the deployment of an appropriate control system, including the necessary control algorithms, the electric motor-generator unit can be operated to supply torque to the traction wheels while the torque flow in the first torque flow path is interrupted during the occurrence of a ratio change in the transmission assembly and during disengagement of a clutch. Because of this interactive control of two power sources, the vehicle driveability can be enhanced along with an improvement of the engine exhaust gas emissions.

Abstract: A method for differentially etching an N-sided polygon aperture through a first major surface of a <100> silicon wafer along the <111> planes begins with depositing a mask and defining therein a first intermediate polygon aperture having at least 4N+2 sides, where N is a positive integer. At least one side is generally parallel to the <110> plane, and the intersection of a second side and a third side of the first intermediate polygon is located generally along a major crystal axis perpendicular to the <110> plane. The included angle between the second and third sides expands during anisotropic etching to form one of the N sides of the polygon located along the major axis perpendicular to the <110> plane.

Abstract: A system and method for determining absolute vehicle height and ground speed. As disclosed, a millimeter wave radar system for determining selected boundary distances is implemented based upon a generation of a modulated millimeter wave signal which is envelope detected and thereafter phase detected to determine the selected boundary distance on a continuous real-time basis. To similarly determine absolute vehicle speed on a continuous real-time basis, a method is disclosed for use in cooperation with an on-board microcomputer, the height sensing system described above, and a passive speed sensor aperture which is affixed to the chassis and directed toward the ground at some angle theta. In operation, a portion of the RF signal radiated by the height sensor is backscattered toward the passive speed sensor aperture. The Doppler Shift of this signal caused by vehicle motion is determined.

Abstract: An intermediate workpiece includes a first strip of laminated material exhibiting high thermal conductivity and which is subject to bowing in response to thermal cycling. A second strip of copper material is welded to the first strip along a longitudinal abutting edge of each strip. The first strip is partitioned into smaller heatspreader sections each for having a semiconductor die soldered thereto. Thermal manufacturing cycles will not cause a bowing of the second strip or of the heatspreader sections attached thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a workpiece with abrasive CO.sub.2 snow operates with a nozzle for creating and expelling the snow. The nozzle includes an upstream section defined by a first contour for receiving CO.sub.2 in a gaseous form. The nozzle also includes a downstream section for directing the flow of the CO.sub.2 and the snow toward the workpiece, with the downstream section having a second contour optimized for supersonic flow of the CO.sub.2. The nozzle includes a throat section, interposed between the upstream and downstream sections, for changing the CO.sub.2 from the gaseous phase to an intermediate mixture of CO.sub.2 gas, liquid and snow within the downstream section at a speed of at least Mach 1.1. A turbulence cavity section is interposed between the throat section and the downstream section for inducing both turbulence within the CO.sub.2 gas flowing therethrough, thereby increasing the nucleation and agglomeration of the CO.sub.