Abstract: A device for measuring current in a line supplied by a voltage with noise includes a shunt mounted in series in the line, a floating shunt signal amplifier, a floating supply to supply the floating amplifier with a voltage that follows the supply voltage of the shunt, and a differential amplifier whose inputs are connected, on the one hand, to an input terminal of the shunt, and, on the other hand, to the output of the floating amplifier.

Abstract: A method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engine is shut off, implemented by a system, the method including obtaining a start temperature and start pressure, providing an evaluation temperature, calculating a temperature differential between the start temperature and the evaluation temperature, evaluating whether a pressure switch is closed if the temperature differential is greater than a temperature control value, incrementing a time counter if the pressure switch is not closed and comparing the time counter to a time control value if the pressure switch is not closed.

Abstract: A method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engine is shut off, implemented by a system, the method including providing pressure switch and a time counter, closing a shut off valve, waiting for a no test delay, evaluating whether the pressure switch is closed, incrementing the time counter if the pressure switch is open and comparing the time counter to a time control value if the pressure switch is open. The system includes a pressure switch, a shut off valve and a processor operatively coupled to the pressure switch and the shut off valve. The processor receives pressure signals from the pressure switch and sends signals to the shut off valve, wherein the processor closes the shut off valve, waits for a no test delay, determines whether the pressure switch is closed, increments a time counter and compares the time counter to a time control value.

Abstract: The injectors (6i) allocated to the cylinders are supplied with fuel by a common injection train and their opening time is calculated and controlled by a computer. According to the invention, a) any possible overlap in the opening time of at least two injectors (6i) is detected, b) in the absence of an overlap, the fuel pressure in the train outside the opening time of the injector concerned is determined, c) if an overlap is present, the pressure of the fuel when the injector concerned is opened is determined and d) the measurement established is corrected according to a predetermined variation in the pressure of the fuel caused by the injector(s) opening.

Abstract: A method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle while an engine is running, implemented by a system, the method including providing a pressure sensing element that obtains at least one pressure signal, closing a control valve and a shut off valve to seal the system from the engine and an atmosphere, generating a vacuum by opening the control valve, analyzing the at least one pressure signal at threshold times, comparing the at least one pressure signal to at least one pressure control value, and determining a leak condition if the at least one pressure signal is not less than the at least one pressure control value. The system including a pressure sensing element, a control valve, a shut off valve, a processor operatively coupled to the pressure sensing element and the shut off valve and receiving pressure signals from the pressure sensing element and sending signals to the control valve and the shut off valve.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing components used for leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, implemented by a system, the method including providing leak detection components including a pressure switch that moves at a given relative vacuum, a control valve that operates to allow and prevent flow therethrough, and a shut off valve that operates to allow and prevent flow therethrough, running an engine, determining whether the pressure switch is closed, purging a canister, specifying a fail condition if the control valve is inoperative after purging, ascertaining whether the control valve is inoperative in a flow-through condition or inoperative in a non-flow-through condition if a fail condition is specified, specifying a pass condition if the control valve is functioning after purging, determining whether the shut off valve and pressure switch are malfunctioning if a pass condition is specified based on whether the pressure switch is open, and displaying an error if a component is ma

Abstract: A device adapted to limit the bending of a flexible tongue (15) in a bending direction includes an abutment (18) disposed in this direction at a distance (19) from the deformable end of the tongue (15). As a confinement device for a substantially flat object (7), includes a lower portion (1) supporting at least one locking element (15) flexible in a bending direction, and a member (18) for limiting bending of the locking element (15) in this direction. Application particularly to an electromagnetic automotive key housing with a removable button battery (7).

Abstract: A power relay module includes a thick support having receiving portion for the pins of fuses, relays and a battery connector, internal lead ways suitable for the passage of current of predetermined intensity, and a circuit board supporting the control electronics of the relays, the support being disposed facing the circuit board, and having at lest two zones bearing on the board.

Abstract: A process for determining the pressure prevailing in a fuel injection manifold of an internal combustion engine includes supplying the feeding pump (11) with fuel such that the injection manifold will be supplied with fuel at the feeding pressure, measuring the pressure prevailing in the injection manifold (14) with the pressure sensor (18) when the fuel is at the feeding pressure, deducing therefrom the percentage of error (e) of the pressure sensor, and memorizing this error, establishing a law of linear decrease of this error, between the feeding pressure and the lower limit of the range of maximum precision of the sensor, and deducing therefrom, for each value of pressure measured by the sensor between the feeding pressure and the lower pressure limit, the real value of the pressure of the fuel in the injection manifold, to correct the quantity of injected fuel.

Abstract: A method for detecting a misfire in at least one truck or motor vehicle internal combustion engine cylinder by analysing the values (Cg, n, i) of a quantity (Cg) characteristic of combustion and generated by observing the rotation of the crankshaft to detect the occurrence of a misfire. According to the method, misfire detection is suspended for a predetermined time when the analysis of said values (Cg, n, i) reveals anomalies originating in the transmission power line between the drive shaft and the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of commanding the heating of a motor vehicle rear-view mirror, said vehicle being, in particular, equipped with an electrical device for commanding the movement of the windows, said method being characterized in that the device for commanding the lifting and lowering of one and the same window is used as a command to heat the rear-view mirror. The present invention also relates to a corresponding rearview mirror heating device.

Abstract: The power relay module comprises a thick support (2) comprising receiving means (4, 7, 8, 10, 11) for the pins of fuses, relays and a battery connector, internal lead ways (6, 9, 12) suitable for the passage of current of predetermined intensity, and a circuit board (3) supporting the control electronics of the relays, said support being disposed facing the circuit board, and comprising at least two zones bearing on said board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for regenerating a fuel vapor filter for a direct injection engine, and to a corresponding device. The process according to the invention comprises the following steps, while the engine is running on stratified charge: authorizing the purging of the fuel vapor filter (18), letting the fuel vapors into at least one of the cylinders (11), and performing homogeneous combustion in the cylinder receiving the fuel vapors. The invention also relates to a corresponding device (24). This device comprises, in particular, a pump (19) allowing the fuel vapors to be circulated from the filter (18) to the cylinders (11).

Abstract: A process for controlling an internal combustion engine (1), whereby a set of set-point values (y_sp) of output variables (y) of the engine is determined. These set-point values are applied to an inverse model (M−1) of the engine produced from the iterative exploitation of a loop with a direct model (M) of the engine and a correction matrix (J−1) for correcting the inputs of the direct model as a function of its outputs. The result is that a set of commands (u) that can be applied to means (11) for adjusting the engine is obtained.

Abstract: Process for controlling an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation device (5) comprising a recirculation valve (51) and a device for regulating an air/fuel mixture injected into an inlet circuit as a function of the signal (LAM_AV) of an oxygen probe (41) placed in the exhaust circuit (4), characterized in that the controls of the valve (EGR_CTRL) are synchronized with at least one transition of a correction (LAM_COR) of the richness of the mixture in order to reduce the transient pollution peaks generated by the operating of the exhaust gas recirculation valve (51).

Abstract: A method for fuel injection for starting an internal combustion engine, whereby upon closure of a starting contact, fuel injectors are operated simultaneously to deliver a first amount (IDi) of fuel to a number of cylinders (Ci) and, after a synchronization signal (Scyl, Srep) has been recognized, the injectors are operated sequentially. An angle of rotation (ANG) separating the angular position (START) of the engine upon closure of the starting contact from the angular position (SYNC) reached upon recognition of the synchronization signal is measured. This angle is compared with a predetermined value (THR), and when the angle of rotation is greater than the predetermined value, an additional amount (CMP) of fuel is injected into a cylinder (C2) determined on the basis of the cylinder (C3) in respect of which the synchronization signal was recognized.

Abstract: The device comprises a busbar (1′) connected, on the one hand, to the source of electrical energy and, on the other hand, to a plurality of electrical contacts (3′i) each forming part of one of the circuits. According to the invention, several self-resettable fuses (5′i) for protecting said circuits are soldered to said busbar (1′), these fuses each consisting of a layer of a dispersion of an electrically conductive particulate material in a polymer, said layer being laminated between first and second, plane and parallel, electrodes electrically connected to the busbar (1′) and to said electrical contacts (3′i) of an associated circuit, respectively.

Abstract: It comprises a) a cylindrical base (1) formed of an axial barrel (2) protruding from an annular shoulder (3), through both of which there passes an axial hole (4), b) a washer (6) made of a piezoelectric material slipped over the barrel, c) means (71, 72) for picking off the electrical voltage there is between two radial faces of said washer, e) an annular mass (9), also slipped over the barrel (2) and e) a retaining means collaborating with the annular shoulder (3) to trap said washer (6) and said mass (9) between them. The retaining means consists of a bulge (17) protruding radially from said barrel (2) and formed of the material of a predetermined portion thereof, deformed under an axial force for crushing said base (1).

Abstract: Method and device (1) for controlling an alternator (2) delivering an electrical current which supplies power to electrical consumers (4) in a motor vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and which recharges a battery (3), in which method and device, for each journey, the intensity of an excitation current (Ie) for the alternator is controlled as a function of a time profile Ie(t) constructed from a probable time profile (&OHgr;a (t)) of the rotary speeds of the alternator and from the current (Ic) absorbed by the consumers. Preferably, the time profile of the rotary speeds of the alternator is determined from data provided by a navigation device (7) optionally combined with a traffic density information receiver (7′).

Abstract: The diagnosis of an open-circuit fault or of a short-circuit in an ignition system is effected by performing asynchronous periodic extraction of samples of current in a switch. A check is made to ensure the satisfaction of certain temporal conditions in respect to a moment of extraction of the samples and comparing the samples, on the basis of that the temporal conditions are satisfied, with predetermined fault threshold values.