Abstract: An apparatus for producing an ignition spark in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises an inductive ignition device having a primary coil and a secondary coil, flow of current through the primary coil being controlled by an electronic switching element (e.g., a transistor) responsive to a triggering signal. A rotatable body (e.g., the engine flywheel) having detectable features on a periphery thereof is also provided. A sensor device is located adjacent to the rotatable body at a fixed position and is operative to produce an output in response to the detectable features. The apparatus also includes a controller operative to receive an output from the sensor device and responsively produce the triggering signal so as to have a selected dwell time and ignition position.

Abstract: A control valve module for gaseous fuels on spark ignited reciprocating engines is presented. The control valve module has a valve that controls gaseous fuel flow to a mixer or other device for air/fuel ratio control, an actuator for moving the valve position, and a controller. The controller receives a signal from a heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor that is an indication of the fuel/air ratio and actuates the valve to control the combustion mixture to a precise stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: A control valve module for gaseous fuels on spark ignited reciprocating engines is presented. The control valve module has a valve that controls gaseous fuel flow to a mixer or other device for air/fuel ratio control, an actuator for moving the valve position, and a controller. The controller receives a signal from a heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor that is an indication of the fuel/air ratio and actuates the valve to control the combustion mixture to a precise stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: An electric clutch actuator includes a coil having first and second windings, a first end of the first winding being connected to a source of electrical power and a second end of the second winding being connected through a switch such as an FET (field effect transistor) to ground potential. The opposite ends of the windings are connected together through another FET switch to the ground potential. An actuation circuit is responsive to a control signal to turn on the FET switches and cause electrical current to flow primarily through the first winding. The actuation circuit includes a timing circuit which turns off the FET connected to the opposite ends of the windings after a predetermined period of time to cause electrical current from the power source to pass through both of the windings.

Abstract: A voice actuated vehicle security system includes both internal and external microphones for receiving vocal instructions and internal and external speakers for delivering vocal messages. During a training period, a plurality of voice recognition templates are stored in memory representing one or more authorized vehicle operators. A voice recognition and synthesis unit interfaces the microphones and the speakers with a microcomputer and the memory. Various vehicle condition sensors and controls are connected to the microcomputer to permit the system to respond to changes in vehicle conditons by delivering the associated vocal messages and to respond to vocal instructions to control vehicle elements such as door locks, lights, etc.

Abstract: An improved electronic system for automatically maintaining the actual speed of a vehicle at or near a desired speed is disclosed. The system includes means for generating electrical signals representing both the actual and desired speeds of the vehicle. The desired speed signal generating means includes a digital memory circuit and an analog memory circuit. The digital memory circuit and the analog memory circuit are provided to generate and store electrical signals which are representative of the desired speed of the vehicle during different phases of operation of the system. The digital memory circuit is utilized to supply the desired speed signal to the comparison circuit during normal operation of the system. The analog memory circuit is utilized to supply the desired speed signal to the comparison circuit when the resume or accerleration features of the system are activated. The outputs of the digital memory circuit and the analog memory circuit are both connected to a memory buffer circuit.

Abstract: An electronic system for monitoring the operation of a vehicle friction clutch assembly and for generating an indication when the clutch brake of the assembly is frictionally engaged is disclosed. The system generates an electrical signal which is representative of the rotational speed of the clutch brake. To accomplish this, a plurality of magnets or a plurality of radially outwardly extending teeth are secured to the clutch brake. A sensor is disposed near the clutch brake which is responsive to the passage of the magnets and teeth rotating thereby. The sensor generates an electrical pulse train signal having a frequency which is proportional to the rotational speed of the clutch brake. An electronic control circuit is provided for generating an indication when the value of the clutch brake rotational speed signal approaches zero, indicating that the clutch brake is frictionally engaged. A similar sensor be provided for determining the rotational speed of the flywheel of the friction clutch assembly.

Abstract: An improved input circuit for an electronic vehicle speed control unit is disclosed. An ignition current sensor coil is adapted to have a voltage differential signal induced therein each time an ignition pulse is generated by the vehicle engine. Electrical noise signals generated by the vehicle engine appear as common mode signals across the ignition current sensor coil. The ignition current sensor coil is connected at each end to a capacitor, both of which are connected to ground potential. The ends of the ignition current sensor coil are further connected to the inputs of a differential amplifier. The capacitors appear in a series loop with the ignition current sensor coil for the differential voltage signals and, consequently, provide tuning for inductance. However, the capacitors appear in parallel with one another to ground potential with respect to the common mode noise signals, thereby providing high frequency noise rejection for the input circuit.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for disengaging an electronic speed control system when the rate of change of the automobile engine speed exceeds a predetermined amount is disclosed. A ferrite or powdered iron ring current transformer generates an input signal to the electronic circuit from one of the spark plug wires in the engine. The pulses from the ring current transformer are passed through a monostable multivibrator circuit and a filter network to a differentiator. The output of the differentiator is connected to a high limit detector and a low limit detector. When the rate of change of engine speed exceeds a predetermined amount, a signal is generated to disengage the speed control circuit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for automatically maintaining the speed of a vehicle at a desired speed as selected by the vehicle operator. The apparatus includes one feedback loop for monitoring the actual vehicle speed and another feedback loop for monitoring the engine load. The engine load feedback loop enables the speed control to anticipate the effects of changes in road speed so as to minimize or eliminate undershoot or overshoot of the control system. A signal representing the actual vehicle speed is combined with a signal representing the engine load to generate a composite feedback signal to a comparator circuit. The comparator circuit compares the feedback signal with a signal representing the desired vehicle speed and generates control signals for maintaining the speed of the vehicle at the desired speed.

Abstract: A vehicle road speed signal source including a speed sensor and a frequency to voltage converter for generating a pulsed output signal having an average magnitude proportional to the road speed of an associated vehicle. The speed sensor has a high energy product magnet attached to the drive shaft of the vehicle which induces current pulses in approximately spaced pick-up coil. The pick-up coil is connected to a preamplifier having a low input impedance to reduce the effect of spurious signals such as ignition noise. The preamplifier output signal may be shaped into a square wave pulse train or may be applied directly to the frequency to voltage converter which generates a pulsed output signal having a duty cycle and therefore an average magnitude proportional to the vehicle road speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting relative movement between two objects which is illustrated in the preferred embodiment as a vehicle road speed signal source including a reed switch oscillator for generating an output signal having a frequency and a magnitude proportional to the road speed of an associated vehicle. Current flows through a biasing coil proximate the reed switch to generate a magnetic field which is slightly less than the field required to close the switch contacts. A permanent magnet means attached to the drive shaft of the vehicle generates a magnetic field which aids the biasing coil magnetic field to close the reed switch contacts. A transistor responds to the closing of the reed switch contacts to turn off the current to the biasing coil which allows the reed switch contacts to open.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically maintaining the speed of a vehicle at a desired road speed as selected by the vehicle operator. When the operator actuates the control circuit, a desired road speed signal proportional to the vehicle road speed at that moment is generated and stored. The stored desired road speed signal is continuously compared with a signal representing the vehicle road speed to generate a duty cycle modulated control signal to a throttle control which adjusts the vehicle throttle to maintain the desired road speed. The generation of the desired road speed signal is synchronized with the vehicle road speed signal to provide an accurate and highly repeatable desired road speed signal. The control circuit also includes an anticipatory control which responds to the operator actuation of the control circuit to pre-position the throttle control as the desired road speed signal is being generated and stored. This reduces the overall response time of the speed control circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic vehicle speed control with a fluid actuating means. Typically the actuating force is derived from the vehicle engine manifold vacuum applied selectively to a bellows operatively connected to the throttle mechanism. A dead-band type control is provided. When the actual vehicle speed is below the dead band range a valve is operated to allow the control fluid to increase the throttle setting. When the vehicle speed is above the dead band range a valve is operated to allow the control fluid to decrease the vehicle setting. In the preferred and specifically described circuit a circuit is provided to translate a contact closure rate into a D. C. voltage proportional to vehicle speed. A constant current source drives a series circuit including a speed set potentiometer and a dead-band setting resistor. The set speeds at either end of the dead band are compared to the actual speed and vacuum is "admitted" to or "dumped" from the bellows to return the actual speed within the dead band.