Abstract: A wire feeding device is for placing wire that is restrained in troughs. The device has a housing. A wire feeding assembly is mounted to the housing. The wire feeding assembly includes a feed tube for the wire to pass through. The feed tube directs the wire for placement in a trough. The trough extends at least one axial direction and has an opening for the wire to be placed in the trough, and the trough includes a restraining mechanism positioned over the opening to the trough. A wedge is adapted to be inserted into the trough to move the restraining mechanism for placement of wire into the trough. The wedge moves the restraining mechanism from a first position to a second position, the first position being over the opening to the trough and the second position being away from first position.

Abstract: A method and firmware motor control and fault operation system for positioning motors of a Heater-Ventilation-Air Conditioner Unit in response to request of chosen comfort levels in the interior of a motor vehicle. The positioning being accomplished by moving the shafts of the motors in a direction and for a period of time determined from mathematical computations. The system controls motor shaft movement of motors arranged to operate as hybrid closed and open loop motor control systems and all motor shaft movement performed with respect to purely time period measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for testing an automotive electronic microcontroller includes a multi-chip module comprised of a microcontroller chip and at least one memory chip. This multi-chip module is packaged in the same connection configuration a production single chip microcontroller urgently designed for the controller. The multi-chip module, thus, replaces the single chip module on the controller board itself and provides extra memory. A PC work station may be connected to the controller board via a reserved 8-pin interface. Once development and/or testing is complete, the multi-chip module is then replaced with the single chip module.

Abstract: A security casing for an electrical connection wherein the security casing has an end wall for engaging a resilient seal in the connector, a pair of longitudinally extending side walls with slots therein and opposed top and bottom walls with a latching flap pivoted to the top wall by a living hinge. The casing overlies one connector member which has a pair of laterally projecting detents and a spring arm with a slot for receiving a detent of a mating connector member. The latching flap has detents thereon which snap into latching engagement with the spring arm to hold the casing in position. The casing ensures that a resilient seal within the connector member does not blow out and helps ensure that the electrical connection is retained.

Abstract: A noise control system for a FM stereo receiver senses the presence of noise outside of the FM stereo transmission bandwidth at an output of a FM detector and uses variations of amplitude of the sensed noise to control stereo channel separation and audio bandwidth control circuits of a stereo decoder circuit of the stereo receiver.

Abstract: A ground translation circuit in a transmitter of a transceiver of a data transmission network for transferring symbol information contained in analog pulses from circuits referenced to logic signal power to circuits referenced to an independent DC voltage ground return for transmission over a bus. Complementary ground translation circuits in a receiver of the transceiver for transferring the analog pulses referenced with respect to the independent DC ground return back to circuits referenced to logic signal power.

Abstract: A female electrical terminal element for connecting a wire lead to a male contact pin has a first end which is crimped to the wire lead and a second end in the form of a socket. The socket includes a cantilevered contact floor and a unitary separate spring contact in opposed relation to the cantilevered contact floor. The male contact pin is inserted between the spring biased contact surface and the cantilevered contact floor to establish an electrical connection. In order to improve the reliability and current carrying capacity of the female component, the cantilevered contact floor is supported at a bight portion thereof while the contact floor is being bent through 180.degree.. After the cantilevered contact floor is bent 180.degree., the side flanges of the female component are folded over to make an enclosure for defining the socket and retaining the unitary spring contact in the socket.

Abstract: A tester for individually testing diode packages, double pole relays and single pole relays includes a circuit contained within a housing, which circuit connects the diode package or relay being tested to a source of 12-volt direct current and transmits the direct current through the diode package, or relay, to an array of indicator lamps under the control of one normally open and two normally closed switches. A forward and reverse bias switch controls the direction of current through the diodes of the diode package and the internal diode of the relays to determine if the diodes and internal diode are oriented properly and conduct current properly.

Abstract: A symbol width measurement system for detecting and analyzing the effects of ground offset voltages and signal noise on J1850 symbol widths appearing on a multi-node multiplexed data communications system.

Abstract: A microprocessor based temperature determination system for displaying outside ambient temperature inside of an automotive vehicle. The system utilizes sensors for vehicle speed, engine temperature and exterior temperature measurements in order to accurately determine a true temperature indication, taking into account non-ambient heat sources. The temperature displayed to the vehicle's occupants is either the current reading from the exterior temperature sensor, or is an averaged temperature value. The averaged temperature value is determined by averaging the value of the temperature sensor's readings over a ten second interval, taking a sample every one half second.

Abstract: An adjustable probe tip has a female part that includes a ring structure and a hook extending therefrom. The ring structure has a threaded bore. The probe tip also has a male part having a threaded cylindrical surface that is screwably received by the female part. The male part has an inner bore that is not threaded and receives a metal probe tip cap therein. Screwing the male part into the threaded bore of the female part adjusts the relative distance between the hook and the end of the male part. The metal cap is received in the end so that a wire trapped between the metal part and the hook may be pierced by a probe tip of the metal cap. A test probe may be received by the male cap and bore of the male part so that electrical contact will be made between the probe tip and the metal cap. As the probe pierces the wire trapped between the probe tip cap and the hook, a secure contact is made between the conductive core of the wire and the conductive path from the probe tip to the test equipment.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is provided for sensing whether an oxygen sensor is still suitable for use in measuring the fuel-air mixture in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The method involves turning off a heater of an oxygen sensor when the engine is turned off and allowing the sensor to cool. While the sensor cools, the sensor resistance is measured by means of a large pull-up resistor and a small pull-up resistor, with the small resistor being switched into the circuit at regular intervals for a short period of time. The use of the small pull-up resistor not only increases the reliability of the measurements, but also aids in quickly determining when the sensor resistance has increased above a threshold value indicating the sensor is cool. When the sensor is sufficiently cool, the heater is turned on and the sensor is monitored for a decrease in resistance, indicating that the heater is functioning properly.

Abstract: A vehicle has a plurality of studs secured to its frame at predetermined locations. At least one groups of wires used to electrically interconnect electrical components of the vehicle are taped together and routed along the vehicle frame. Clips, each having a beam including a beam opening with a gripping device in the opening, are forced down onto the studs to secure the clips onto the studs. At least one wire of the group of wires is secured to the clip and therefore to the stud. The other wires of the group of wires, which are taped to the at least one wire, are according secured to the stud. A method of securing groups of wires to the vehicle frame incorporates use of the clips.

Abstract: An arrangement for heating upper and lower windshield wiper blades parked proximate the lower edge of a windshield utilizes an electric heating grid placed against the inside surface of the windshield, substantially in alignment with the parked wiper blades. The electric heating grid is comprised of a first wire in alignment with the lower blade, an intermediate wire and an upper wire in alignment with the upper blade. The wires have opposite ends which are connected to busses that are disposed at the lower edge of the windshield, the busses having leads for connection to power circuitry. The power circuitry includes a climate control system having a switch which is rotatable to a defrost position. When the switch is rotated to the defrost position so that the climate control system defrosts the windshield, current flows through the grid. As long as the switch is in the defrost position, the current continues to flow.

Abstract: A lighting control system with self calibration for employing the entire physical travelling range of a dimmer switch. A lookup table and linear interpolation are used in conjunction with the voltage output of the dimmer switch in order to identify the appropriate duty cycle of a Pulse Width Modulated signal which drives the lamps in the system. Two of the values in the lookup table are default minimum and maximum values of voltage which can be expected from a worst case switch device. The system dynamically determines and stores any new maximum or minimum voltage which is received from the dimmer switch. These dynamically determined minimum and maximum values are used to replace the default values in the lookup table thus calibrating the lookup table. The calibrated lookup will take into account the operating parameters of the actual switch in the vehicle and will therefore always produce a corresponding change in illumination intensity over the entire physical range of the dimmer switch.

Abstract: A method and firmware motor calibration system for measuring average system voltage of operating electric motors and time of movement between physical stops of mechanical structures coupled to the output shafts of the electric motors. The system calibrates motors arranged to operate as hybrid closed and open loop motor control systems. Data concerning position of the shafts is determined for the closed loop motor control systems.

Abstract: A transceiver device for use with a microcontroller and a symbol encoder decoder device (forming a node in a communications network) for transmitting and receiving variable pulse width modulated (VPWM) analog signals containing symbol messages over a communications bus. The transceiver accepts digital VPWM signals from the symbol encoder decoder device which were generated by the microcontroller and converts the digital signals into VPWM analog signals and then transmits the analog signal over the bus to other nodes. The transceiver also receives VPWM analog signals placed on the bus by other nodes of the network and transfers the signals in digital form to the symbol encoder decoder device which, in turn, communicates the decoded messages to the microcontroller. The transceiver contains a ground translation circuit for transferring transmitted signals to an independent bus ground return before a bus driver circuit sources message signals in the form of pulse currents over the bus.

Abstract: A method and software/firmware fixed capacity compressor control system for varying the set point temperature of a evaporator in response to changes in ambient temperature in order to produce optimum cooling in the passenger compartment of a vehicle while preventing frost from accumulating on the fins of the evaporator. The system includes an evaporator probe and an outside ambient sensor and firmware for computing set-point steady state temperatures values over a wide range of ambient temperature. Also circuits are provided for cycling ON and OFF a fixed capacity compressor in a manner to achieve optimum cooling in the passenger compartment of the vehicle in response to the computed evaporator set point temperatures.

Abstract: A transceiver device for use with a microcontroller and a symbol encoder decoder device (forming a node in a communications network) for transmitting and receiving variable pulse width modulated (VPWM) analog signals containing symbol messages over a communications bus. The transceiver accepts digital VPWM signals from the symbol encoder decoder device which were generated by the microcontroller and converts the digital signals into VPWM analog signals and then transmits the analog signal over the bus to other nodes. The transceiver also receives VPWM analog signals placed on the bus by other nodes of the network and transfers the signals in digital form to the symbol encoder decoder device which, in turn, communicates the decoded messages to the microcontroller.