Abstract: A supercharger system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle driveline that includes a catalytic converter for oxidizing undesirable exhaust gas emissions including a single, dual-purpose air pump for establishing combustion airflow for the engine as well as for the catalytic converter including an automatic control valve system having an electronic microprocessor that monitors varying engine operating conditions for establishing optimum airflow for fuel combustion purposes and for oxidizing exhaust gas emissions throughout a range of operating conditions for the engine, the system including a variable ratio mechanical drive between the engine and the air pump.

Abstract: A plurality of first accelerometers are positioned forward of the passenger compartment and interconnected between vehicular ground and an airbag ignitor. At least one second accelerometer is positioned with the passenger compartment and electrically connected in series between the airbag ignitor and a reserve source of electrical power thereby providing a first firing path. Electronic circuitry positioned within the passenger compartment and connected to the airbag ignitor provides a second firing path through the ignitor to a passenger compartment ground independent of the vehicular ground which the first accelerometers are connected. This second conductive path is provided for a predetermined or dwell time in response to actuation by any of the first accelerometers. The electrical circuitry also includes prefiltering circuitry.

Abstract: The watchdog timer circuit which performs both the power-up initialization and program resetting function to an associated microprocessor utilizing a single astable multivibrator circuit with a single pair of complementary transistors and a single capacitor to affect timing and regenerative feedback between the transistors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for periodically checking the critical resistance value of an airbag igniter ("squib") component and determining if the resistance exceeds a predetermined maximum value.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for sensing the removal of an ignition lock assembly from its housing utilizing a grounding switch within the housing that is biased to disconnect an electrical path when the ignition switch is forcibly removed. An associated circuit provides continuous monitoring of the conduction path within the housing when the ignition switch it turned off.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier control switch for controlled operation of a power amplifier connected to the output of an audio signal generating device and having an associated electronic equalizer/attentuator switching circuit that is switchable between its two modes by a manually settable switch.

Abstract: A television receiver is disclosed including a varactor-type tuner selectively coupled to a synthesizer. Illustratively, the synthesizer includes a keyboard for selecting the desired channel within the UHF or VHF band, a channel memory for receiving and storing the selected channel and a programmable divider which divides selectively the output of the tuner's local oscillator in accordance with the selected channel to generate and apply its output to a phase comparator. The output of a reference oscillator also is applied to the phase comparator, whereby the output of the programmable divider is mixed therewith to obtain a tuning voltage to be applied to the tuner, which is associated with an automatic fine-tuning circuit (AFT); the AFT is adapted to be detuned selectively to increase the amplitude of the picture carrier signal and therefore, enhance the quality of the displayed images for weak signals, such as received from distant stations.

Abstract: A single, combined contrast/brightness control is disclosed herein for a television receiver. A contrast control in the form of a variable potentiometer, is coupled to the output, driver transistor of the video amplifier, which serves to amplify and apply the video signal to the cathode ray tube (CRT) and including AC/DC coupling in the form of a resistor and a capacitor. The DC coupling resistor sets the DC bias level to the output transistor and in particular to its base at a level dependent upon the DC level established across the constrast/brightness control potentiometer. Further, the AC coupling capacitor is selectively charged to further adjust the DC bias of the output transistor to a level with the DC coupling resistor whereby the black level of the output signal applied to the cathode ray tube is maintained relatively constant with regard to a predetermined level.

Abstract: An automatic hue control circuit is disclosed for a color television receiver, wherein the flesh-tone signals of the reproduced image are enhanced by spreading the phase angle between the R-Y and the B-Y reference signals before applying them to their respective demodulators. In one aspect of the invention, the flesh-tone enhancement by phase-shifting the R-Y and B-Y signals occurs only for positive values of the flesh-tone signals. In a further aspect of this invention, a simplified automatic hue control circuit is disclosed as comprising a matrix for receiving, respectively, the R-Y, the G-Y and the B-Y color signals to obtain a DC quiescent voltage with which the flesh-tone signal, as indicated by the sum of the R-Y and the G-Y signals, is compared to render conductive a switch, illustratively in the form of a diode, whereby the phase-shift is imparted to the R-Y and B-Y reference signals.