Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control mechanism for automatic transmission in a motor vehicle to prevent operation of a selector lever under certain conditions. For example, the selector lever can be locked into the park position and shifted out of this position only after the brake pedal has been operated. The locking mechanism includes a manually controllable catch mechanism which cooperates with an electro-magnetically operated mechanism to achieve the desired selector lever control.

Abstract: The invention proposes a rotor arrangement for use with an automotive Hall generator for detecting the precise position of a select or predetermined one of a plurality of pistons, or the precise rotational position of the crank shaft, of an Otto cycle engine, by providing a distinct marking on a trigger wheel preferably mounted for rotation with the drive shaft of a distributor for generating a signal in a Hall element which signal is then detected by evaluation or discriminating circuitry.

Abstract: An internal-combustion engine having an electric starting motor, an ignition system, and an electric power source is provided with a control system allowing the engine to be stopped and restarted very easily. This system comprises a main ignition switch connected in series between the power source and the ignition system and closable to energize the ignition system from the power source. A manual start switch and an automatic start switch are connected in series between the main ignition switch and the electric starting motor and both are closable when the main ignition switch is closed to energize the starting motor from the power source. A speed-sensing circuit is connected to the engine and to the automatic start switch and is set up to open the automatic start switch and thereby deenergize the start motor when the engine is operating above a predetermined rate of approximately 500 rpm.

Abstract: The pressure of lubricating oil in an internal-combustion engine of an automotive vehicle is monitored with the aid of an oil-pressure sensor and an engine-speed sensor jointly controlling an alarm-signal generator which is activated when the oil pressure falls short of a minimum value assigned to a given engine speed. Also disclosed are test circuits for determining the correct functioning of the two sensors.

Abstract: The input dc voltage is used to operate an astable multivibrator, the output of which is supplied to an emitter-follower that is coupled to an amplifier through a current-limiting resistor, so that a transistor across the input of the amplifier can controllably reduce the amplification of the amplifier. The amplifier output is supplied to the primary winding of a transformer which has a secondary winding that feeds a rectifier to supply the output dc voltage. The output dc voltage is coupled back to the control transistor through a Zener diode and a resistor in series, so that when the output voltage exceeds the Zener diode voltage, the control transistor will reduce the amplification of the amplifier, reducing the amplitude of the rectified ac voltage and hence regulating the output voltage.

Abstract: To control the ignition timing in a multicylinder engine, the computer output signal which controls the current flow through the ignition coil for generating the spark in the first cylinder is delayed and then applied to the ignition coil controlling the spark in a subsequent cylinder. The computer output signal is delayed by passing through a shift register whose clock input is derived from a pulse generator generating a pulse for each predetermined incremental angular rotation of the crankshaft. If a single ignition coil and a distributor are used, the computer output signal and the delayed computer output signal are applied to an OR gate whose output controls a switch controlling the current through the ignition coil. When more than one ignition coil is used, the computer output signal is applied to a switch controlling the current through the first coil, the delayed computer output signal to a switch controlling the current to a second coil.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for converting an inductance value into a specific frequency particularly for producing a pressure-dependent frequency fully compensated against variations in temperature for injection systems in internal combustion engines. The circuit arrangement comprises a comparator, the output of which is connected to a series circuit comprising at least one diode, a coil with variable inductance and a temperature-dependent resistor, all connected to a current supply line with the end of the coil opposite the comparator output coupled back to a first input of the comparator. The potential of the second input of the comparator can be affected by the output value of a voltage divider between the two current supply lines and a regenerative feedback line emanating from the output of the comparator. During the operation of the circuit arrangement, a pulse sequence is obtained, the frequency of which is determined by the inductance.

Abstract: For a four cylinder engine, a first and second ignition coil, each having a primary and secondary winding is provided. A first and second electronic switch is connected in series wit the primary winding of each ignition coil and the so-formed series circuits are connected in parallel. A power switch is connected in series with the parallel combination. The power switch is switched to the conductive state a predetermined time interval prior to the ignition time and to the nonconductive state at each ignition time. The series switches are switched to the conductive state alternately during each cycle, but the switching occurs only when the power switch is in the nonconductive state. The on-offswitching of the series switch is controlled by a flip-flop which is clocked at the ignition time and which is initially synchronized to the ignition cycle by a signal derived from a sensor sensing a mark on a rotating shaft in the engine.

Abstract: A pressure transducer, especially for measuring induction tube pressure in an internal combustion engine. The transducer includes an electrical inductor with a movable core displaced by pressure differences. The inductor is connected to a power source across a switch actuated by periodic triggering pulses. The voltage across the inductor is applied to a threshold detector which generates a binary level output signal, the duration of which is related to the inductive impedance of the inductor and thus to pressure. A logic gate receives the triggering pulses and the threshold detector output and generates an output pulse whose duration is related to the pressure. In another embodiment, the binary level output signal from the threshold detector is the output signal of the transducer.

Abstract: To permit real-time counting of pulses representative of operating parameters of a moving body, for example in an internal combustion engine to control the ignition timing as a function of speed and other parameters in which, upon increase in speed of the engine, the ignition pulses follow each other rapidly and to permit sufficient current flow through the ignition coil for proper ignition, pulse sequences derived from the engine, for example as a function of speed, are converted into a higher frequency and the original pulses and the higher frequency are supplied to the counter as pulse trains so that the counter will reach the appropriate count state for which the ignition angle is to be computed at a time sufficiently in advance of the triggering of the ignition current, so that the time available for flow of ignition current will be increased, even at high engine speeds.

Abstract: Operating parameters, such as speed and loading of the engine are converted in electrical signals which are converted into pulse rates, to control counting of an address counter, addressing a read-only (ROM) memory in which characteristics of the engine are stored. To provide easy introduction of additional parameters such as temperature, idle condition, maximum speed, start condition, etc., the final value of an accumulator counter, the number of which at a given time controls the ignition timing, can be changed; further, to simplify the system, the speed and load signals are processed during a portion of the time between successive ignition events, the remaining portion of the time being controlled solely by one of the parameters (preferably speed), thus simplifying the circuitry by providing a transfer switch connecting for the remaining period only the selected (preferably speed) signal to the accumulator counter, the count state of which controls the ignition instant.