Abstract: A method and a circuit for determining the optimum gear, in terms of fuel consumption, of a motor vehicle drive is proposed, in which after upshifting, a driving power sufficient for accelerating the vehicle is to be made available regardless of such power parameters as total vehicle weight, roadway grades and the like and also regardless of the gear ratios of the gear steps. To this end, during driving, the gear ratios of the gear steps are ascertained by comparing the speeds (n, n.sub.1) before and after the transmission (12). Furthermore, these speed values (n, n.sub.1) as well as the gas pedal position (.phi.) are continuously stored briefly in memory during the drive, and a standardized power is ascertained based on the change in the driving speed (n.sub.1). After a gear shifting operation, the newly ascertained standardized power is compared with the standardized power ascertained prior to shifting, and if the new standardized power is the same or greater, the values for the driving speed (n.sub.

Abstract: A commutator-type d-c motor has its line current connected through a sensing resistor (18) or transformer (18'), the pulses of which, upon energization, are counted in a counter (C) and also passed to a speed sensing circuit (S) in a control circuit (30), energization of the motor being disconnected if the frequency of undulations or waviness of the motor current drops, thus indicating that the positioned element, for example an antenna, window, or sliding roof of an automobile has reached a limiting position. The counter can be used to establish intermediate positions, upon suitable control by a selector switch (27) or a reference count number stage (C-Ref) controlled, for example, by a potentiometer (P) or from the selector switch (27). A timing circuit (T) prevents short-circuit through the motor upon manual sudden reversal of command of direction of rotation.

Abstract: To measure a wide range of flow rates, and particularly such low flow rates as 0.5 liters per hour, while being able to accurately also measure rates of about 100 liters per hour, fluid is introduced axially into a rotor (14, 36, 40) which has outlet openings (24, 36, 45) positioned at their circumference, the rotor being rotated by reaction on the rotor upon fluid flow from the outlet openings. The rotor operates within a fluid flow chamber (15) from which is conducted outwardly through a duct positioned thereabove. Inflow of fluid may be guided for linear flow by guide ribs (13). The rotor may be a hollow disk-like structure (FIGS. 1-3) with spiral guide vanes therebetween, or a T-shaped tubular structure (FIGS. 4-6).

Abstract: To provide for uniform timing of program control cycles in which different control cycles have different cycling time, the control cycles being connected in parallel to a program control arrangement, timing elements are connected in the respective signal paths controlling the respective cycles and adding time increments to the signals coursing in the respective paths between the input and the output to at least approximate the coursing time of all signal paths to a uniform time duration; if the coursing time periods of the signals through the respective paths do not differ substantially, a fixed delay can be added to all the coursing times so that the percentage variation between the coursing time of different cycles, considering the overall time, is small.

Abstract: To eliminate separate clock, control, and acknowledgment communication lines in a ring-connected remote-control operating system, for example a system applied to a vehicle in which switches (29) or command signals derived from a central station (10) generate code signals to which receivers (11, 12) are responsive to carry out commands, such as energization of a relay (18), a lamp (17), a motor (16, 20) or the like, or cause retransmission to the central station of a sensed operating signal, for example fuel level, for display on a display unit (28), only a single communication line (8), preferably in form of a light guide (15), is provided coupled to the central station (10) and to the respective receivers. The coding is effected by applying to the single line (15) cyclical pulse sequences.

Abstract: The current consumption of a microprocessor is decreased by a switch which connects it to the electrical supply only when a control signal is received which indicates that the microprocessor is to execute a program. Specifically, an electronic switch such as a transistor is switched to the nonconductive state unless a control signal is received. For programs whose execution time is greater than the duration of the control signal, the microprocessor supplies a signal to the switch keeping it in the conductive state until the program has been fully executed.

Abstract: A diaphragm having a plurality of apertures each associated with a title block on the front panel of an indicator unit is provided to cause the various title blocks to be illuminated evenly from a light source positioned behind the diaphragm. The size, number and shape of the apertures is so chosen that all of the title blocks are equally illuminated regardless of their size and regardless of their distance to the light source. Indirect light is used to prevent the formation of shadows and light spots on the title blocks.

Abstract: In order to mount the control circuit for the ignition system at a location remote from the spark plug and ignition coil, i.e. at a location not subject to electromagnetic or electrical interference, photoconductors are used to interconnect the control circuit with the final output stage. Photoconductors are also used to interconnect the basic synchronization unit, that is the unit which furnishes a pulse for each rotation of a shaft of the engine, to the input of the control circuit. A theft prevention device is also incorporated. Specifically, the control circuit compares a sequence stored in a microprocessor to the on/off pattern of a received light pulse sequence. The latter is applied from a light emitter through a convex lens and a photoconductor to a second input of the control unit. Only if the stored pattern corresponds to the received light pattern can control signals initiating a spark be generated.

Abstract: In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, a digital system for computing the timing advance is provided. Constants approximating the curve of timing advance v. engine speed are stored in a microprocessor. The positive half waves of primary current in the magneto generate the ignition energy and also generate a reference signal for controlling the actual ignition time. The sequence of reference signals is also used to generate a digital value indicative of engine speed. The latter is used to address the read only memory in which the constants for approximating the timing advance curve are stored. After each reference signal, the value read out from the read only memory is counted down by a counter. When the counter reaches the value of zero, ignition is started.

Abstract: In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, reference mark signals are furnished during the rotation of a shaft of an engine. These signals are also used to compute engine speed. The microcomputer contains a storage (ROM) in which the constants required to approximate one or at the most two characteristic curves of ignition timing advance angle v. engine speed are stored. Interpolation between the one stored curve and a fixed ignition timing angle or by interpolation between the two stored characteristic curves, a family of other characteristic curves can be generated without requiring any further storage locations. The values required for the other characteristic curves are arrived at by interpolation and, preferably, by division or multiplication by factors of 2 which are accomplished by shifting numbers in a register. After the required values have been computed, they are counted down in a counter which, when it reaches a reference value causes the ignition timing signal to be generated.

Abstract: Clock pulses are counted to provide a count indicative of speed in a counter that is reset with every revolution of a reference mark. The difference between successive counts is multiplied by a fractional factor, which is not necessarily the same for acceleration and deceleration, then added algebraically to the current count value. The acceleration-corrected speed value is then multiplied by a parameter-dependent digital value obtained from a summing circuit to which various engine condition parameters are supplied and the output of the last-mentioned multiplier is supplied to a comparator to which the current count of clock pulses beginning with the reference mark passage is compared. When the comparator finds the match, spark ignition takes place. Another counter counts the clock pulses following each reference mark for sequencing multiplexers that enable some components to serve in more than one operation, in effect controlling the flow of digital values around various loops in the circuit.

Abstract: A disk mounted on a rotating shaft of an internal combustion engine has a signal generating segment which causes generation of a pickup signal having a leading and a trailing edge. The two different edges control different processes, as for example ignition processes of different ignition coils, fuel injection processes, or ignition processes during normal and starting operation. A basic counting value is counted down between two sequential edge signals in a counter. This is a speed-dependent value from which different countdown values for the next cycle are computed. To allow adjustment of the angle at which one process takes place without simultaneous adjustment of the angle at which the other process takes place, one or both of the edges of the segment from which the control signals are derived have slanted portions, so that movement of the pickup relative to the slanted portions will effectively cause a change in the angle at which a process is initiated.

Abstract: A microprocessor has a first and second set of output terminals, the second set also being utilized as input terminals. A matrix is provided which has a first set of lines connected to the first set of output terminals and a second set of lines connected to the second set of output terminals. A switch-diode combination is connected at selected points of intersection of the two sets of lines. For data input, each input signal to be entered into the microprocessor is applied to close a respective one of the switches. Lines connected to the first set of terminals are then interrogated individually, by application of an "O" signal on the line. This is transferred to the corresponding one of the second set of lines only when the associated switch is closed. The so-transferred "O" signals are stored in a register in the microprocessor which is assigned to the interrogated line. For data output, all lines connected to the first set of outputs carry a "1" signal.

Abstract: In order to permit alternate transfer of different sets of data to a microprocessor over the same input/output lines, a coupling-decoupling circuit includes series-connected diodes and inverters. The input/output lines are coupled to a diode matrix which is scanned line-by-line and determines the transfer of a set of primary data in a first time interval during which the admission of supplementary data from secondary data lines is blocked. In a second time interval, the rows of the diode matrix are all placed in the same logical state while the supplementary data is admitted by the coupling-decoupling circuit to the same input/output lines which received the primary data.

Abstract: To supervise a program controlled device which is subject to stray noise or disturbance pulses, particularly microprocessor controlled automotive vehicle electronic systems, a timing circuit is provided responsive to check pulses added to the program and defining a timing interval, the monitoring system distinguishing between disturbance pulses and static defects by supervising the control pulses and, upon failure of the control pulses, generating a program restart or interrupt signal, respectively, which both initiate a new start of the program cycle or, respectively, define a timing interval which, upon failure to sense further control pulses, initiates energization of an emergency switching system. Continuous failure to receive control pulses also can initiate the emergency switching system.

Abstract: In order to permit a simplification of the crankshaft rotation sensor device which provides the computer of the control system with angular speed and position information for ignition and/or fuel injection timing, a signal generated by one pickup for every two engine cylinders from a single reference mark on the crankshaft is formed into a signal pulse which is used to trigger the counting of clock pulses from a clock into a counter. These are then periodically transferred to a computer as a numerical signal which represents the required information. In a first mode the counts are transferred every other period between pulses and the counter counts in the cycle periods between the pulses in which the counter is not transferring to the computer. In a second mode, the counter counts every cycle between pulses and the counts are transferred during every pulse itself.

Abstract: A plurality of selectively switchable loads can be addressed from a central station over a ring bus system which has at least a clock bus and a control bus. The central station includes a timing counter which sends signals, for example in groups of pulses, on selected buses forming selection cycles to address specific loads and control signals to separate sequential selection cycles. These signals can be decoded at the receivers. To ensure operator supervision of proper operation of the system, a pulse interrogation stage is connected to at least the clock bus of the bus system and responsive to the occurrence of pulses thereon, and providing an alarm output or warning signal, possibly operating a warning device if the pulses do not occur as they should.

Abstract: To connect cyclically intermittently operating loads to a pulse controlled remote control system, for example having a central system controlling connection of loads on board of a vehicle, such as an automotive vehicle, cyclically operating loads are intermittently connected to the power line, although the main control switch may be constantly connected, thus using the pulse source of the control system, additionally, as the cyclical control element for intermittent connection. A typical load is, for example, a direction or warning flasher in a vehicle, a windshield wiper with intermittent operation, washer-wiper combinations, and the like.

Abstract: A plurality of receivers which can be respectively addressed by addressing pulses provide reply pulses on a separate reply signal bus indicative of a single digit, or multi-digit binary response condition. To permit extended indication, the central station includes a holding stage which holds the output received from the reply receivers for the duration of a selection cycle during which the plurality of loads can be addressed, for example during a predetermined counted number of such cycles or during a predetermined counted number of pulses to permit averaging-type instruments to respond to said number of pulses --if present--or to permit extended indication of single digit binary output--if present.

Abstract: By means of an auxiliary voltage the semi-conductor controlled rectifier of a capacitor discharge magneto ignition system is at some limiting speed of the engine kept in its conducting condition from a time before the initiation of a charging halfwave until at least after the end of the charging halfwave. The auxiliary voltage is derived from a halfwave of polarity opposite to that which charges the ignition capacitor, and acts through a transistor to keep the SCR continuously conducting while the overspeed condition continues. The overspeed limit will be determined by the bias applied to the transistor.