Abstract: A system for measuring a battery voltage is provided. The system includes a battery, a time encoding circuit, and a controller. The time encoding circuit is in electrical communication with the battery to receive the battery voltage. The time encoded circuit is configured to generate a time encoded signal corresponding to the battery voltage. The controller is in electrical communication with the time encoding circuit to receive the time encoded signal and configured to determine the battery voltage based on the time encoded signal.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system including a synchronous drive system having a resonance control module. The resonance control module includes a primary coil module with a primary LC circuit. The resonance control module seeks and detects the resonant frequency of the primary LC circuit. The synchronous drive system further includes a switching coil amplifier for selectively energizing the primary coil to keep the primary LC circuit operating at or as close as possible to its natural resonant frequency. The inductive power transfer system may further include a secondary receiving unit. The secondary receiving unit includes a secondary LC circuit coupled with the primary LC circuit for inductively receiving power. The secondary LC circuit includes an LC filter and a rectifier unit for operating the secondary LC circuit at a mutual resonance with the primary LC circuit.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system including a synchronous drive system having a resonance control module. The resonance control module includes a primary coil module with a primary LC circuit. The resonance control module seeks and detects the resonant frequency of the primary LC circuit. The synchronous drive system further includes a switching coil amplifier for selectively energizing the primary coil to keep the primary LC circuit operating at or as close as possible to its natural resonant frequency. The inductive power transfer system may further include a secondary receiving unit. The secondary receiving unit includes a secondary LC circuit coupled with the primary LC circuit for inductively receiving power. The secondary LC circuit includes an LC filter and a rectifier unit for operating the secondary LC circuit at a mutual resonance with the primary LC circuit.

Abstract: A behavioral attention control apparatus and method for treating the short attention span of a child viewing a television that requires the child to respond to an alert signal within a specific window period to prevent the television from turning off. A specialized remote control component has a switch that must be triggered by the child to initially turn on the television and then retriggered periodically to keep the television turned on. A timer defines a window period during which the child must make a valid retrigger. After an interval with the television on, the window period opens and the child is alerted to the opening of the window period by lights and sound. If a valid retrigger is not made during the window period, the television is turned off. The remote control component is desirably housed in an enclosure that would be appropriately attractive to a child. In one embodiment, the enclosure is shaped like a frog and the sound alert is a frog-like “ribbet” sound.

Abstract: The system includes a fuel sender and a controller. The fuel sender has a variable resistance and the variable resistance varies based on the quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. The controller is in electrical communication with the fuel sender. Further, the controller includes a voltage input for sensing a voltage across the fuel sender, and a voltage output that provides a biasing voltage to the fuel sender. The biasing voltage causes the voltage across the fuel sender to vary with relationship to the variable resistance of the fuel sender. Further, the voltage output is in communication with a circuit that is configured to alternate a direction of current flow through the fuel sender based on the voltage output. By alternating the direction of current flow through the fuel sender, corrosion to the fuel sender due to a reaction with the fuel is minimized.

Abstract: A system for identifying the location of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a sensor, a receiver, a processor, and a database. The sensor is configured to determine the status of a component and transmit a component ID signal and a component status signal to a controller for monitoring status of the vehicle. The receiver is located external to the vehicle and configured to collect the signals from the sensor. The processor is in communication with the receiver and adapted to correlate the component ID signal and the location of the receiver. The database is in communication with the processor and configured to store the component ID and the receiver location.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for driving and homing a stepper motor. In a preferred embodiment, 24 micro step pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage signals are used to drive the coils of the stepper motor. The phases between the driving signals are 90° out of phase. Thus, a sine/cosine methodology is used to drive the motor. Using micro-programmable pulse width modulation (PWM) levels involves the microprocessor reading stored voltage levels from a table stored in memory which corresponds to the amount of angular displacement desired by the motor. These voltage levels are then applied to the motor's coils. The microprocessor performs these operations by executing software instructions stored in memory. The software can be stored in memory located in the controller or in a separate logic block or logic chip.

Abstract: A system for generating an analog signal to produce sound using a precision multiple pulse width modulator circuit is disclosed. The system includes a control circuit, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a mixer circuit. The control circuit includes a memory for storing sound tables. The control circuit senses an event, accesses the sound table associated with the event, retrieves an entry value from the sound table, and communicates the entry value with the pulse width modulation circuit. The pulse width modulation circuit includes (I) number of pulse width modulators and the entry value is represented by a number having (I) places where each pulse width modulator represents a place of the number representing the entry value. The mixer circuit includes multiple resistors. Each resistor is connected to a pulse width modulator from the pulse width modulation circuit on one end and the common node of the mixing circuit on the other end.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for driving and homing a stepper motor. In a preferred embodiment, 24 micro step pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage signals are used to drive the coils of the stepper motor. The phases between the driving signals are 90° out of phase. Thus, a sine/cosine methodology is used to drive the motor. Using micro-programmable pulse width modulation (PWM) levels involves the microprocessor reading stored voltage levels from a table stored in memory which corresponds to the amount of angular displacement desired by the motor. These voltage levels are then applied to the motor's coils. The microprocessor performs these operations by executing software instructions stored in memory. The software can be stored in memory located in the controller or in a separate logic block or logic chip.

Abstract: A high efficiency, high brightness instrument pointer illuminating apparatus includes a gage motor with a gage motor shaft extending therefrom, an instrument pointer mounted on the gage motor shaft and a plurality of light sources positioned radially around the gage motor shaft to supply light upward into the instrument pointer, wherein the instrument pointer includes a needle portion and a light reflecting portion that is flared outward from the needle portion and has a first reflective surface presenting an internally reflective surface adapted to reflect light received from the light sources outward into the needle portion at any angular position of the needle portion.

Abstract: A method and system for determining absolute rotor position with a Variable Reluctance (VR) motor. An inductance sensor is compatible with the VR motor and is adapted to generate a plurality of variable inductance values corresponding to the position of the rotor. The inductance values may be plotted during calibration as phase-separated pseudo-sinusoidal waveforms with a resultant inductance/position profile having near-linear regions with determinable slopes and offsets. Excitation electronics converts variable inductance values to corresponding digital values which are suitable for computer processing. A micro computer is adapted to determine which of the digital values is a mid-value and to convert the mid-value to high resolution motor rotor angular units in accordance with the calibration-determined slopes and offsets.

Abstract: A switching circuit is provided for protecting semiconductors such as switching transistors against transients occurring in system voltage provided by an associated source of electrical energy. The circuit uses one or more avalanche transistors (124, 126, and 128) to apply electrical energy from the source thereof to associated loads (130, 132 and 134) with which they are in series. A processing device (116), which includes a microprocessor (150), monitors the system voltage and generates an output control signal that switches the avalanche transistors into a state of conduction so that the system voltage, including any voltage transients, appears substantially entirely across the loads. Using avalanche transistors as switching transistors provides a significant margin of time for the detection, processing and switching actions to occur without damage being done to the switching transistors by a voltage transient.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes an annular elastomeric seal element, and a resilient annular reinforcing element nested within the elastomeric element to exert a radial biasing force that increases the effective sealing force even in the presence of shrinkage, wear or loss of elasticity in the elastomeric element. The reinforcing element preferably is a spring steel band having a sinuous circumferential configuration so that the band can expand or contract to exert a desired force on the elastomeric element and can expand or contract to facilitate its installation in certain applications.

Abstract: A circuit with hysteresis for converting an analog signal into a logic signal. In response to the state of the feedback signal from a microcomputer, a signal proportional to the analog signal is either intensified for providing a lower threshold value or diminished for providing an upper threshold value. By recognizing the intensified and diminished signals with respect to a predetermined value, the analog signal is converted to a two-state signal.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system having phasing circuitry which provides a sequence of electrical phase steps in response to a comparison of actual vehicle speed to a desired vehicle speed. A stepper motor coupled to a pinion shaft rotates by discrete phase steps in response to the phasing circuitry. An anti-backlash/transfer gear assembly includes a first sprocket gear coupled to a second sprocket gear by integrally formed compression or flexure members which hold the sprocket gears together and a spring assembly which displaces the circumferential teeth of the two sprocket gears relative to one another. Another gear assembly couples rotational movement from the stepper motor to the engine throttle.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for assembling a polytetrafluoroethylene shaft seal to a wear or service sleeve while simultaneously forming the polytetrafluoroethylene wafers into a desired configuration. The seal is formed and introduced onto the sleeve with a single reciprocation of the tool. The tool includes a series of specially arranged surfaces having different diameters for forming the wafers of the seal into a frustoconical shape, aligning the seal and sleeve, and inserting the sleeve into the seal.