Abstract: A phaser for an engine having at least one camshaft comprising a housing, a rotor, a control valve, an actuator, and a pulse wheel. The rotor connects to a camshaft coaxially located within the housing. The housing and the rotor define at least one vane separating a chamber in the housing. The vane is capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the housing and the rotor. The control valve is received by the rotor and directs fluid to the chambers of the phaser. The actuator positions the control valve and has at least one integrated position sensor, such that electrical connections for the actuator and the integrated position sensor are made through one connection, decreasing leakage of fluid from the phaser. A pulse wheel is mounted on the phaser for rotation therewith and in alignment with the integrated position sensor of the actuator.

Abstract: A variable cam timing control module for an internal combustion engine having at least one cam position sensor, at least one solenoid to actuate a cam phasing device, a driven outer cam sprocket position sensor and a microcontroller. The microcontroller may receive a set point angle signal from the engine's Electronic Control Unit, which it compares with input signals from the driven outer cam sprocket position sensor and the at least one cam position sensor to determine the proper cam phase angle. The microcontroller then sends a signal to the at least one solenoid to adjust the corresponding cam phasing device so that the cam phase angle matches the commanded set point.

Abstract: A method for compensating for variable cam timing of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes: a) providing a periodical crank pulse signal; b) providing a periodical cam pulse signal; c) determining a segment, wherein the internal combustion engine speed induces a volatile change upon Zphase values; d) dividing the segment into sub-segments; and e) calculating Zphase values of a plurality of points within the sub-segments.

Abstract: A method that provides increased flexibility to measure dynamic range of a rotating system is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a first rotating member; providing a second rotating member suitably engaged to the first rotating member; providing a set of sensors disposed to sense variations in characteristics along a circumference of the first member and the second member respectively; providing a controller for receiving information sensed by the sensors; determining a rate of rotation of the rotating members; selectively using the sensed information thereby at different rate of rotation different amount of the sensed information is used.

Abstract: In a variable cam timing (VCT) system (10a) which has a feedback control loop wherein an error signal (36) relating to at least one sensed position signal of either a crank shaft position (24a) or at least one cam shaft position (22a) is fed back for correcting a predetermined command signal (12). The system further includes a valve (14) for controlling a relative angular relationship of a phaser (42); and includes a variable force solenoid (20) for controlling a translational movement of the valve (14). An improved control method comprising the steps of: providing a dither signal (38) sufficiently smaller than the error signal (36); as temperature varies, changing at least one parameter relating to the dither signal (38); and applying the dither signal (38) upon the variable force solenoid (20), thereby using the dither signal (38) for overcoming a system hysteresis without causing excessive movement of valve (14).

Abstract: In a Variable Cam Timing (VCT) control system, there are conditions when the system must operate in an open-loop mode, and other situations where closed-loop operation is desired. A number of operating states is provided for VCT control system to switch between the states. A control methodology for switching between these two modes of operation, with minimal disturbances, is described. Further, during switching from open loop to closed loop, a scheme that impedes the impact upon the VCT system is provided.

Abstract: A method that uses a dither signal for reducing hysteresis effect in a variable cam timing system is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a dither signal having at least two switchable frequencies; b) determining the frequency characteristics of an engine speed; c) determining at least one frequency beating point in relation to a neighborhood of an engine crank RPM values; and d) changing the dither signal frequency when the engine is operating within the neighborhood of the engine crank RPM values. Thereby frequency beating effect is reduced.

Abstract: In a variable cam timing (VCT) system (10a) which has a feedback control loop wherein an error signal (36) relating to at least one sensed position signal of either a crank shaft position (24a) or at least one cam shaft position (22a) is fed back for correcting a predetermined command signal (12). The system further includes a valve (14) for controlling a relative angular relationship of a phaser (42); and includes a variable force solenoid (20) for controlling a translational movement of the valve (14). An improved control method comprising the steps of: providing a dither signal (38) sufficiently smaller than the error signal (36); as temperature varies, changing at least one parameter relating to the dither signal (38); and applying the dither signal (38) upon the variable force solenoid (20), thereby using the dither signal (38) for overcoming a system hysteresis without causing excessive movement of valve (14).

Abstract: A method that uses a dither signal for reducing hysteresis effect in a variable cam timing system is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a dither signal having at least two switchable frequencies; b) determining the frequency characteristics of an engine speed; c) determining at least one frequency beating point in relation to a neighborhood of an engine crank RPM values; and d) changing the dither signal frequency when the engine is operating within the neighborhood of the engine crank RPM values. Thereby frequency beating effect is reduced.

Abstract: A method for compensating for variable cam timing of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes: a) providing a periodical crank pulse signal; b) providing a periodical cam pulse signal; c) determining a segment, wherein the internal combustion engine speed induces a volatile change upon Zphase values; d) dividing the segment into sub-segments; and e) calculating Zphase values of a plurality of points within the sub-segments.

Abstract: In a Variable Cam Timing (VCT) control system, there are conditions when the system must operate in an open-loop mode, and other situations where closed-loop operation is desired. A number of operating states is provided for VCT control system to switch between the states. A control methodology for switching between these two modes of operation, with minimal disturbances, is described. Further, during switching from open loop to closed loop, a scheme that impedes the impact upon the VCT system is provided.

Abstract: A front cover for an internal combustion engine comprises variable cam timing (VCT) controls integrated into the cover, including a variable force solenoid (VFS) and a cam position sensor located in front of and operably connected to a cam phaser. In an embodiment of the invention, the engine cover, once assembled, comprises a single unit having an electronic interface module (EIM), VFS and position sensor integrated within said cover.

Abstract: A control architecture for controlling continuously variable transmissions includes two microcomputers. A first microcomputer receives certain input signals and performs certain tasks, and a second microcomputer receives other input signals and performs other tasks. A data bus is provided for communicatively interconnecting the microcomputers, and a transfer table associated with each microcomputer has a transmit section of pointers referencing memory locations containing data to be transferred and a receive section of pointers referencing memory locations to receive transferred data. Data is transferred between the microcomputers at regular intervals enabling real time output control signals to be generated.

Abstract: A control system for continuously variable transmissions is operative in a number of functional modes. A "neutral mode" fully disengages a clutch and sets a variable ratio to an extreme low ratio when a gear shift is in a neutral position. A "hold mode" slightly engages the clutch to cause a finite amount of vehicle creep when the gear shift is in a forward or reverse position and a throttle is fully released. A "normal start mode" partially engages the clutch when the gear shift is in a forward or reverse position and the throttle is depressed. A "drive mode" fully engages the clutch and sets the variable ratio to maintain a predetermined engine speed when the vehicle is travelling at greater than a predetermined minimum vehicle speed and the clutch is slipping at less than a predetermined amount of clutch slip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for indicating when it is safe and unsafe to insert a memory cartridge into and remove a memory cartridge from a cartridge receiving device. In one embodiment, the cartridge receiving device includes at least one buffer for buffering information signals to be supplied to the memory cartridge althrough such buffer need not necessarily be located within said cartridge receiving device. The apparatus includes an indicator which is caused to assume a first state to indicate to a user that it is unsafe to insert the memory cartridge into or remove the memory cartridge from the receiving device when at least one of the two following conditions occurs: (1) an attempt is being made to write data to or read data from the memory cartridge, (2) at least one buffer is enabled at the same time the memory cartridge is not present in the receiving device.