Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assisting the parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle position relative to an obstacle. When the relative position meets a first set of criteria, a first torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the first direction to cue an operator of the vehicle to turn the steering wheel in the first direction. When the relative position meets a second set of criteria, a second torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the second direction, opposite to the first direction to cue the operator to turn the steering wheel in the second direction. A system for assisting the parking of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system including a node, wherein the node includes two separate controllers, each of which is configured to output data to a bus, or receive data from a bus, or output data to and receive data from a bus. At least one controller is configured to monitor the output of the other controller and is configured such that if the at least one controller determines that the other controller is providing improper data or signals, at least part of the output data of the other controller is nullified, overridden or superseded by an output from the at least one controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a motor shorting relay failure. Exemplary embodiments include methods and systems for determining a motor shorting relay failure in a motor, the motor having first phase winding in a first leg of the motor, a second phase winding in a second leg of the motor, and a third phase winding in a third leg of the motor, the method including applying a first voltage signal to the first leg, applying a second voltage signal to the second leg, applying a test voltage to a test circuit electrically coupled to the third leg, measuring a third voltage signal in the third leg at a first predetermined time in response to the application of the first and second voltage signals and determining a motor shorting relay in the motor, based on the amplitude of the third voltage signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assisting the parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle position relative to an obstacle. When the relative position meets a first set of criteria, a first torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the first direction to cue an operator of the vehicle to turn the steering wheel in the first direction. When the relative position meets a second set of criteria, a second torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the second direction, opposite to the first direction to cue the operator to turn the steering wheel in the second direction. A system for assisting the parking of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A watercraft steer-by-wireless control system including: a directional control system responsive to a directional command signal for steering a watercraft, the directional control system including a rudder position sensor to measure and transmit a rudder position signal, and a helm control system responsive to a helm command signal for receiving a directional input to a helm control unit from an operator, the helm control system including a helm position sensor to produce and transmit a helm position signal to a master control unit in operable communication with the helm control system and the directional control system; the master control unit includes a position control process for generating the directional command signal in response to the helm position signal; and wherein the helm control unit wirelessly communicates with the helm control system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a motor shorting relay failure. Exemplary embodiments include methods and systems for determining a motor shorting relay failure in a motor, the motor having first phase winding in a first leg of the motor, a second phase winding in a second leg of the motor, and a third phase winding in a third leg of the motor, the method including applying a first voltage signal to the first leg, applying a second voltage signal to the second leg, applying a test voltage to a test circuit electrically coupled to the third leg, measuring a third voltage signal in the third leg at a first predetermined time in response to the application of the first and second voltage signals and determining a motor shorting relay in the motor, based on the amplitude of the third voltage signal.

Abstract: In a vehicle window wiper system having an electric drive motor with high, low and common brushes, electric motor energizing apparatus and forward and reverse motor operation, an auto-resetting current limiting device provides non-sacrificial protection to motor windings and associated circuitry during the various modes of motor operation.

Abstract: In a vehicle suspension control in which the output of a vehicle body mounted absolute vertical acceleration sensor is integrated to provide an absolute vertical velocity signal, the sensor output is high pass filtered to remove DC components but pass components in the frequency range 1-2 Hz. The filter comprises a second order digital all-pass filter embodied recursively on a 16 bit, fixed point, digital signal processor (DSP). A first stage normalized lattice two-pair network reduces to a unity gain stage; and a second stage single multiplier two-pair lattice network minimizes computational time. The 32 bit internal accumulators of the 16 bit DSP are used advantageously to prevent errors due to internal overflow of the recursive variable.

Abstract: A vehicle window washer in which the pump outlet pressure is varied in an inverse manner with temperature of the washer fluid so as to maintain a more consistent fluid deposit on the window as fluid viscosity changes with temperature. In particular, it uses a motor driven pump which provides a higher pump outlet pressure with the motor driven in a first direction than with the motor driven in the opposite direction and switches activation of the motor between the two directions based on sensed temperature of the fluid in the washer fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A window wiper control for a motor vehicle in which a relay has an armature connected in series with a motor, an electric power source and a pulse switch through a normally closed contact and further connected in series with the motor, a park switch and source of electric power through a normally open contact. The park switch is responsive to the wiper mechanism to open when the wiper is in a park position and close throughout the rest of the wipe pattern. An electrically controlled switch is connected in series with the relay activating coil and electric power source with a base connected to a capacitor connected to be charged quickly through the park switch and discharged slowly through a resistance.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus using a three brush, permanent magnet motor in which a zener diode has a cathode connected to the low speed brush and an anode connected to the high speed brush. The zener breakdown voltage of the zener diode is chosen so that it reverse conducts during at least some portion of each wipe cycle during operation with the high speed brush on a wet window to limit peak wiper speeds and reduce strain on the wiper mechanism. Variations including a transistor, relay or additional zener diode controlled by the zener diode and connected in parallel therewith provide for reduced current and therefore power dissipation in the zener diode at the expense of somewhat limited speed limiting.

Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper control circuit in which the first wipe cycle is initiated with closure of the wiper activation switch in intermittent operation. The control circuit uses a voltage comparison arrangement in which a voltage divider, with an instant wipe capacitor connected across the output, has a normal output voltage ineffective to produce motor drive for wiper actuation but produces a different output voltage through electric current diversion from one of its series resistors with the wiper activation switch open which is effective, immediately upon closure of the wiper activating switch, to initiate a wipe cycle, the instant wipe capacitor thereafter charging to the normal output voltage before another wipe cycle can be initiated.