Eaton Corporation

Edward F Handley

Todd William Fritz

Douglas C Gooch

Alan R Davis

Laverne A Caron

E James Lane

Donald J Rozsi

Steven Louis Melvin

Kevin Dennis Snow

Gerald E Ganski

Matt W Starks

W Paul Kuo

The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit and method for calibrating a transmission shifter and compensating for temperature variations. The electronic control circuit includes a power supply circuit comprising a bias voltage supply and a voltage surge protection circuit; at least one position sensor that receives a surge-protected output bias voltage from the power supply circuit; and a microprocessor that receives one or more position values from the position sensor relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter. The power supply circuit provides a calibration reference signal to said microprocessor. The voltage surge protection circuit protects the calibration reference signal against a surge voltage condition.

Apparatus and method for calibration of transmission shifters

A logistic service system includes a programmable vehicle module, a service computer, a central server, a first data link connecting the module to the service computer and a second data link connecting the service computer to the central server. Component information retrieved from the module and stored on the server is used to service the module. The component may be subjected to diagnostics or updated with new parameters.

Vehicle component diagnostic and update system

The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit that detects a short-circuit or excess current condition and, in response thereto, cuts off the output current from the system power supply. The circuit is disposed between a system power supply and a load device. An output transistor is connected between the system power supply and the load device to control the level of current supplied to the load device, including cutting off the current supply entirely in case of a short-circuit or excess current condition. The output transistor is controlled by a pre-drive transistor which, in combination with pre-drive resistors, provides a control signal to the output transistor to control the level of output current supplied to the load device. The control signal produced by the pre-drive transistor is dependent upon the output of an operational amplifier that compares the output potential to a pre-determined reference voltage to determine if the output potential has reached a stable level. In the event of a short-circuit or excess current condition, a switch network, consisting of a switch transistor, a resistor, and two diodes in the preferred embodiment, deactivates the pre-drive transistor, which in turn deactivates the output transistor. The output transistor cuts off the output current from the system power supply, thereby protecting the system power supply from possible damage.

Power supply with control circuit for short circuit detection and excess current protection

A control system/method for controlling inertia brake (19) operation in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) shifted without disengaging the master clutch (16). A value representing inertia brake temperature (T.sub.SIM) is simulated and compared to reference values to determine if inertia brake operation is allowable.

Inertia brake control

A solenoid driver applies an actuation current to a solenoid for a predetermined period and a lower holding current thereafter. A switching device pulses the applied current within upper and lower limits to maintain the actuation and holding current amplitudes, the pulses being integrated by solenoid inductance into a substantially steady-state current. A multiprocessing unit determines the amplitudes of solenoid current. A signal representative of desired current amplitudes is compared with a signal representative of measured solenoid current, and a signal representative of the difference therebetween is used to control the switching device. Voltage developed across a resistor in series with the solenoid is input to a differential amplifier having connected to its output a peak detector that mimics the decay rate of current in the solenoid, the signal representative of measured solenoid current being obtained from the peak detector. Power dissipation by the solenoid driver is minimal, and the latter is capable of withstanding a continuous short to a source of electric current. The output of the peak detector is monitored by the microprocessing unit for the detection and logging of faults.

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Portage, MI, United States of America

Edward F Handley