Abstract: A variable droop engine speed control system includes a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) engine speed controller as its central component. The PID controller includes the standard proportional, integral and derivative gains associated with the proportional, integral and derivative portions of the controller, and further includes a droop gain associated only with the integral portion. The PID transfer function has a pole associated strictly with the droop gain such that a full range of droop may be provided by varying only the droop gain.

Abstract: An electronic engine control monitors engine speed, vehicle speed and determines various engine RPM values and RPM ranges used in fueling a motor vehicle engine to achieve desired engine speeds prior to and during an automatic gear shift sequence. The engine is coupled to a manual/automatic transmission that includes manually selectable gear ratio operation modes and automatically selectable gear ratio operation modes. In order to verify engagement of the automatically selectable gear ratio operation modes, a predetermined reverse torque is introduced into the drivetrain by fueling the engine to certain predetermined levels after an automatic gear shift sequence begins and monitoring engine speed to test whether engine speed is within calculated synchronous engine speed ranges corresponding to the gear ratio of the desired automatically selectable gear ratio operation mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating calibration information in which a subfile type is defined for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data. A separate subfile is created in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of the data categories. Each subfile is automatically provided with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level, and data entries are automatically verified base on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of the subfile types having an associated rules file, and each of the rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type.

Abstract: A self-cleaning smoke-monitoring system that is used in measuring opacity of exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The invention includes a pair of air passages that supply a flow of filtered air over the optic elements of the smoke-monitoring system. The flow of particulate-free air is the result of a venturi effect created in the exhaust flow such that ambient air is continuously drawn in through the air ducts.

Abstract: A control system for controlling automatic shifting of a manual/automatic transmission is disclosed including a cruise control system and an auto-shift mode for controlling automatic upshift and downshift operations between the top two gears of a heavy duty truck transmission. Certain failures of equipment or incorrect driving habits of operators are corrected for with algorithms which prevent undesirable operating conditions which compromise the acceptability of an electronically controlled heavy duty truck transmission equipped vehicle. The mechanism by which auto-shift operation of the transmission is requested is also compared with parameters such as vehicle speed and engine speed in order to determine whether gears should be engaged or disengaged, the gears being those subject to auto-shift control of the system controller.

Abstract: An engine compression brake control device is disclosed. The control device is electronic and prevents activation of the engine compression brakes during operating states wherein undesirable conditions will result if the engine brakes are active. The electronic control device monitors various conditions and activates the engine brakes only if all of the following conditions are simultaneously detected: a valid gear ratio is detected; the driver has requested or enabled engine compression brake operation; the clutch pedal is out; the throttle is at a minimum engine speed position; and the electronic controller is not presently attempting to execute an electronically controlled final drive gear shift.

Abstract: An engine-transmission control system is disclosed which provides for variable shift points of a manual/automatic transmission during cruise control and non-cruise control operation of the vehicle. Vehicle speed, engine speed, and engine loading are variables used individually or in combination in order to determine when shifting of the automatically controllable gear ratio operation states of the manual/automatic transmission will occur. In addition, the system includes modes of operation which include algorithms for determining varying gear shift points so that gear shifting of the top two gears occurs at various vehicle speeds dependent upon input parameters to the cruise control system and additionally in response to which cruise control mode of operation is currently selected by the driver.

Abstract: A forward scattering loss compensated smoke sensor or smoke detector and a back scattering loss compensated smoke detector are disclosed. Both systems include first and second light sources for supplying a light signal into a fluid containing particulates. Both systems also include first and second photodetector devices for detecting directly transmitted, forward scattered and/or back scattered light. A ratiometric value or signal is produced in accordance with direct versus scattered detected light levels. The selection of forward versus back scattering particulate detection devices and methods is driven by the efficiency of the scattering which is a function of light source frequencies and particulate size.

Abstract: A configurable vehicle monitoring device is disclosed that provides two discrete levels of access to configuration routines. In the first level, the owner/operator can configure the unit at a full access configuration level. At the second configuration level, the driver accesses a limited configuration capability to configure certain non-critical operating features. The configurable vehicle monitoring device gathers data from an engine controller over a standard public domain defined data link. The data is analyzed and vehicle operation data is produced including miles per gallon, fuel consumed, trip time, idle time, fuel consumed during idle versus fuel consumed during driving and other pertinent information relevant to fleet or vehicle operation. An electronic audit trail and data regarding power losses provide an indication of device tampering.

Abstract: A method is provided for computing a stabilized vehicle speed value from a detected vehicle speed pulse signal and a detected engine speed signal, the vehicle speed value being for use by a vehicle speed control system. The method comprises several continuous cyclic steps commncing with generating a measured vehicle speed value from the detected vehicle speed pulse signal and generating a measured engine speed value from the detected engine speed signal. A current gear ratio is calculated from the measured vehicle speed value and the measured engine speed value. This current gear ratio is then passed through a single pole digital filter to filter changes in the gear ratio between consecutive cycles as a function of the current gear ratio and the gear ratio computed in the last preceding cycle of the computation. A current usable gear ratio is generated which is changed from the most recently generated usable gear ratio only if changes in the gear ratio exceed predetermined limit values.

Abstract: An engine control device for electronically controlling fuel injection of an engine is disclosed. The engine control device includes algorithms for instantaneously calculating fueling requirements in accordance with sensory inputs corresponding to engine operating conditions and throttle position. The fueling requirements are instantaneously reflected as modifications of the duration of fueling signals supplied to the fuel injectors, so that instantaneous fueling changes are effected. Fuel is conserved, and engine responsiveness improved in the current or presently occurring fuel injection cycle as a result of the immediate responsiveness of the engine control device operation.

Abstract: An electronic microcomputer based engine brake control device and a method for controlling an engine compression brake is disclosed. An algorithm for enabling engine brake operation includes monitoring a brake enable switch, engine RPM, engine fueling rate, cruise control or power takeoff system activation state, throttle position, manifold pressure and clutch pedal position. Engine brake operation is fully automatic and operates in a safe manner according to the disclosed algorithm.

Abstract: An accelerator control system having an analog pedal position sensor and an idle switch capable of generating complementary output signals indicative of pedal position. The system includes a control circuit which commands the engine to an idle speed if the analog sensor indicates an idle state or if the complementary output signals together indicate an idle state. The system overrides the idle switch in the absence of complementary output signals therefrom and allows operation in response to the pedal position sensor as long as its output signal is within a predetermined range. Provision is made for operation at a reduced performance level in the event of an out-of-range failure of the analog sensor if the complementary output signals together indicate a non-idle condition.

Abstract: An air intake heating system and method for heating intake air for internal combustion engines is disclosed including a microprocessor based controller, intake manifold air temperature monitoring means, engine speed monitoring means, and electrical air heating elements actuated by the controller in response to various combinations of sensed engine speed, sensed intake manifold air temperature and sensed battery condition. Air intake heating is provided to assist cold weather starting of engines as well as for minimizing white smoke pollutants produced by diesel engines after starting of the engine and as required thereafter during engine operation.

Abstract: A filter electrical connector includes a plug housing, a center housing and a receptacle housing connected in series by a number of connecting screws. The plug housing and center housing define a central filter cavity. The plug housing and receptacle housing provide means for receiving electrical connectors associated with an electronic device requiring EMI filtering. A T-type filter arrangement is provided within the filter cavity of the connector adapter. The filter arrangement includes PC board mounted capacitors, each in electrical connection between a corresponding connecting pin and a robust common ground. This ground is extended through the ground plane of the PC board, to the plug housing, through an electrical gasket to the conductive case of the electrical device requiring the EMI filtered signal. Each connecting pin extends through corresponding openings in a pair of ferrite wafers.

Abstract: An improved electrostatic angle resolver is disclosed which eliminates capacitive coupling surfaces from rotor and stator device components of the invention, thus reducing over all space necessary for the resolver. Additionally, the concept disclosed also eliminates the need for rotor guarding techniques to prevent signal loss due to stray and parasitic capacitances. Essentially, current required to maintain capacitor plates at a particular voltage is monitored, and the variations in the current are transformed into voltages, and supplied to an amplifier which, in turn, provides isolation between the sensor, and associated angular decoding circuitry.

Abstract: An electrostatic angle resolver has a stator for producing a patterned electrostatic field, a rotor having sensivitity to the electrostatic field, a capacitive coupling providing a signal interconnection between the rotor and the stator, and an active shield supplied with a voltage signal substantially identical to that signal present on the stator thereby diminishing degradation in the strength of the signal coupled between the rotor and the stator.