Abstract: A magnetochemical sensor for continuous and in-situ sensing of a given chemical species/stimuli includes two magnetically-soft magnetic film layers and a chemical transduction layer that shrinks or swells in the presence of that given chemical species/stimuli. The magnetic switching characteristics of the sensor are dependent upon the thickness of the chemical transduction layer. A method for remotely interrogating the magnetic switching characteristics of the sensor is also provided. In the method, magnetic flux detecting coils are utilized to monitor the sensor.

Abstract: A device for and method of providing reliable audible and visual warnings of incipient preignition in a combustion chamber is disclosed. The current flow through at least one engine spark plug is monitored at specified times throughout a number of engine revolutions during which there should be no current flow and both an audible alarm and a visible alarm are activated in the event the monitored current flow exceeds a predetermined threshold. Circuitry establishes time intervals during which there should be no current flow through the monitored spark plug and additional circuitry temporarily provides both an audible alarm and a visible alarm for each occurrence of the monitored current exceeding the predetermined threshold. Such a temporary alarm typically has the same duration as the detected excess current. There is also circuitry for continuously enabling both the audible and visible alarms in the event of an excessive number of excessive monitored current flows within a specified length of time.

Abstract: Chemical sensors can detect the presence of chemical species in solution based upon polymer swelling in response to the chemical species. Polymer swelling is indirectly determined by measuring light reflected from a reflector affixed directly or indirectly to the polymer. Such that increase or decrease in the size of the polymer changes the distance between the reflector and a light source. Measurements of the light reflected from the reflector indicate the amount of swelling or shrinkage of the polymer in response to the chemical species.

Abstract: The concentration of a selected alkali metal cation in an aqueous sample is determined using an aqueous fill solution containing a dissolved polymeric cationic material (e.g., copper--PEI) and a dissolved fluorescent anionic material (e.g., ANS) and, in contact with the fill solution, an ionophore selective for the selected alkali metal cation. The aqueous fill solution is contacted with an aqueous sample through a membrane, the membrane being permeable to alkali metal cations, but impermeable to the polymeric cationic material. Fluorescence is detected either from molecules of fluorescent anionic material which have migrated from adjacent to the polymeric cationic material to adjacent to ionophore-complexed alkali metal cations or from molecules of fluorescent anionic material which have remained adjacent to the polymeric cationic material, or from both, especially through a fiber optic.

Abstract: An electronic controller for a predetermined temperature coefficient heater provides solid state control of the application of power to the heater. In particular, a positive temperature coefficient glow plug wherein the heater is plated on a ceramic substrate glow plug is controlled by contactless solid state controller. The temperature of the glow plug is sampled by a clock signal and compared with a predetermined temperature value. Pulsed power is supplied to elevate and maintain the temperature of the heater to the predetermined value. In a complete motor vehicle engine wherein one glow plug is used in each cylinder, one glow plug is sampled and controls the remainder of the plugs.

Abstract: A safety restraint system having a seat belt retractor actuated by an electric motor, a logic control responsive to the state of a buckle switch and the outputs of a motor current sensor, a motor terminal voltage sensor and a crash sensor for generating mode signals corresponding to the operational state of the system, and a motor power control responsive to the mode signals for adjusting the seat belt for optimum safety of the occupant. When the seat belt is buckled the logic control will sequentially generate signals activating the power control to energize the retractor's motor to snug up the seat belt against the occupant's shoulder, then reverse its direction to provide a predetermined slack. The crash sensor will cause the motor to be energized to remove most of the slack before the crash loads are imposed upon the seat belt and the retractor. Unbuckling the seat belt energized the motor to stow the seat belt.

Abstract: A fluorescence-based optical sensor includes a membrane immobilized fluorophor secured to one end of a bifurcated fiber optic channel for exposure to the sample to be analyzed. The fiber optic channel also has an input end coupled to a radiation source arranged to supply radiation at two different wavelengths and an output end coupled to a bandwidth limited photosensor. The radiation source alternately excites the fluorophor at a first wavelength that excites an acid form of the fluorophor and at a second wavelength that excites a base form of the fluorophor, and a ratio of the resulting fluorescence intensities is taken as a measure of a characteristic of the sample being analyzed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a moving map display having a mass memory storing a complete map of the terrain to be traversed by a vehicle, a scan memory storing a portion of the complete map corresponding to the area immediately surrounding the vehicle, a computer for controlling the updating of the portion of map stored in the scan memory and for controlling the refreshing of the map data displayed on a cathode ray tube display, a scan memory address generator receiving parameters computed by the computer for generating addresses sequential outputting the digital map data stored in the scan memory in a predetermined sequence, a video display generator for converting the map data output from the scan memory for utilization by the cathode ray tube display, and a timing generator for synchronizing the generation of the addresses by the scan memory address generator with the scan field of the cathode ray tube display.

Abstract: Means for improving the fuel economy and hence efficiency of an internal combustion engine having electronic fuel injection where the amount of fuel delivered to the engine is proportional to the width and frequency of injector pulses. The engine is operated at constant speed and a nominal pulse width is established according to ambient conditions. The pulse width is varied, either increasingly or decreasingly, and the width is measured and stored at one point in time and compared with the width at a later time. If the comparison shows the width at a later time to be narrower than the stored value, variation is continued in the original sense. When the comparison shows that the later value of pulse width is greater than the earlier value, the sense of variation is reversed.

Abstract: A compressor having an inlet valve which includes a valve housing and a control tube having a portion adapted to be in communication with a source of fluid. A piston is normally spring biased away from a valve element which is adapted to be alternately placed in sealing contact with a valve seat and withdrawn from such contact. The piston and valve element are movably mounted on the exterior of the control tube. Orifices in the control tube are adapted to control movement of the piston against the bias of the spring and also to provide a modulating influence as well as additional pressure balancing characteristics. The valve is also adapted to function as a bypass valve, a check valve and a blowdown function.

Abstract: An integrated closed loop engine control is disclosed in which the fuel delivery and timing functions of the engine are closed about a measurement of the engine's instantaneous rotational velocity. Signals indicative of the profile of each torque impulse imparted to rotary output member of the engine from the burning of an air/fuel mix in the engine's combustion chambers are generated and electrically analyzed to detect perturbation caused by deviations of at least two different engine operational parameters from desired values. Feedback correction signals indicative of the magnitude of the detected perturbations are generated to correct the fuel delivery and timing functions of an engine control to minimize the difference between the actual operating parameters and the desired values.

Abstract: A closed loop engine control system for internal combustion engines is described. The control system includes a comparator which is responsive to signals indicative of the presence or absence of oxygen in the exhaust gas of the engine and a set point or reference and is operative to generate an output signal for receipt by a fuel delivery controller which will cause that fuel delivery controller to increase fuel delivery in the presence of oxygen molecules in the exhaust gas and to decrease fuel delivery in the absence of oxygen molecules in the exhaust gas in order to maintain the fuel delivery at the predetermined, and preferably the stoichiometric, air/fuel ratio mixture point. An oscillatory stabilization signal is also applied to the comparator to reduce the amplitude of the limit cycle.

Abstract: A closed loop control system is disclosed for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. An oxygen sensor is connected into the control loop after engine warm up when the temperature has reached its operating temperature to maintain the air-fuel ratio close to the stoichiometric value. An engine roughness detector is connected into the control loop before the oxygen sensor has reached its operating temperature to maintain the air-fuel ratio close to a predetermined lean limit. A temperature sensor and switching means controlled thereby are provided to alternately connect the roughness detector and the oxygen sensor in the control loop.