Abstract: Method and instrumentation for the measurement and display of parameters of devices within operating systems where a multiplicity of parameters determine the characteristics of a device. Devices are excited by test signals independent of operating system signals and the responses to the test signals are detected and compared with stored device characteristics. The measurements are processed by searching for the best fit between the response of each device and the corresponding stored characteristics resulting in a set of parameter values that determines the state of the device. In cases where the response of a device depends largely on a single parameter processing simplifies to transformations of the measured responses and comparisons to stored calibration curves. Instrumentation is also disclosed that is particularly adapted for the measurement of the state of charge of batteries.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for modulating engine parameter actuators at speeds and variety of waveforms suited for the detection and elimination of engine performance degradation due to perturbations caused by environmental changes as well as by wear in use, structural and other design limitations. An actuator is made responsive to gas pressure which is modulated by forcing gas flow through a chamber connected to the actuator. The flow enters the chamber through a variable orifice comprising a solid block with bores facing corresponding bores in a drum rotating at a speed synchronized to the engine speed. The modulation of pressure delivered, as a result, to the actuator may be controlled, by computer or manually, by controlling the relative phase between the drum and engine rotations and the pressure of gas supplying the flow through the variable orifice and the chamber.