Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit and method for calibrating a transmission shifter and compensating for temperature variations. The electronic control circuit includes a power supply circuit comprising a bias voltage supply and a voltage surge protection circuit; at least one position sensor that receives a surge-protected output bias voltage from the power supply circuit; and a microprocessor that receives one or more position values from the position sensor relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter. The power supply circuit provides a calibration reference signal to said microprocessor. The voltage surge protection circuit protects the calibration reference signal against a surge voltage condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit that detects a short-circuit or excess current condition and, in response thereto, cuts off the output current from the system power supply. The circuit is disposed between a system power supply and a load device. An output transistor is connected between the system power supply and the load device to control the level of current supplied to the load device, including cutting off the current supply entirely in case of a short-circuit or excess current condition. The output transistor is controlled by a pre-drive transistor which, in combination with pre-drive resistors, provides a control signal to the output transistor to control the level of output current supplied to the load device. The control signal produced by the pre-drive transistor is dependent upon the output of an operational amplifier that compares the output potential to a pre-determined reference voltage to determine if the output potential has reached a stable level.

Abstract: A control system/method for controlling inertia brake (19) operation in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) shifted without disengaging the master clutch (16). A value representing inertia brake temperature (T.sub.SIM) is simulated and compared to reference values to determine if inertia brake operation is allowable.

Abstract: A solenoid driver applies an actuation current to a solenoid for a predetermined period and a lower holding current thereafter. A switching device pulses the applied current within upper and lower limits to maintain the actuation and holding current amplitudes, the pulses being integrated by solenoid inductance into a substantially steady-state current. A multiprocessing unit determines the amplitudes of solenoid current. A signal representative of desired current amplitudes is compared with a signal representative of measured solenoid current, and a signal representative of the difference therebetween is used to control the switching device. Voltage developed across a resistor in series with the solenoid is input to a differential amplifier having connected to its output a peak detector that mimics the decay rate of current in the solenoid, the signal representative of measured solenoid current being obtained from the peak detector.

Abstract: The glow plug control circuit (28) is coupled to one or more glow plugs (31,38) and includes a resistance bridge, the resistance (30) of the parallel connection of the glow plugs plus the resistance (76) of lead wire conductors being coupled to the bridge which has a first resistance leg, a second resistance leg, a third resistance leg (53), and a fourth resistance leg (54). A junction (128,130) between two resistance legs (56,53) is coupled to a source of voltage potential and a junction (67) between the other two resistance legs (53,54) is coupled to ground (67). A comparator (72) has plus and minus inputs (70,74) and an output (82). One junction (58) between two of the resistance legs (53,54) is coupled to the minus output (74). One of the other resistance legs coupled between the voltage source and ground includes two series connected resistors (51,52) which define a voltage divider (41) and which are coupled to the glow plugs.

Abstract: The glow plug control circuit (28) is coupled by lead wire conductors to one or more glow plugs (31-38) for energizing same and includes a resistance bridge, the resistance (30) of the parallel connection of the one or more glow plugs plus the resistance (76) of the lead wire conductors being coupled to the bridge which has a first resistance leg, a second resistance leg, a third resistance leg (53), and a fourth resistance leg (54). A junction (128,130) between two resistance legs (56,53) is coupled to a source of voltage potential and a junction (67) between the other two resistance legs (53,54) being coupled to a common or ground (67). A comparator (72) having plus and minus inputs (70,74) and an output (82) is coupled to the bridge. One junction (58) between two of the resistance legs (53,54) connected between the voltage source and ground defines a reference voltage and is coupled to the minus input (74).