Volvo Car Corporation

Volvo Lastvagnar Ab

Volvo Technology Corporation

Volvo Personvagnar Ab

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Erland Max

Marcus Steen

Martin Petersson

Anders Unger

Peter Larsson

Staffan Lundgren

Edward Jobson

Lars Gertmar

Ingemar Denbratt

Anders Larsson

Peter Claes Alleving

Göran Wirmark

Anders Höglund

Jan Skold

Joop Somhurst

Jan Sk&ouml;ld

Peter &angst;lleving

Peter Älleving

Jan Sköld

Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system () including at least one piston (), at least one combustion chamber () having at least one inlet () and at least one outlet () with inlet and outlet valves (). At least one controllable inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is also provided. A fuel supply is provided () for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen is provided for induction into the combustion chamber (). An electric machine () is arranged to interact directly or indirectly with the piston () in an electromagnetic manner such that it produces electrical energy from the piston movements, as well as uses electrical energy to affect the piston movement. A control unit () controls the combustion system () and the electric machine (). The energy converter is arranged to adapt its power output depending on the required load of the energy converter. The invention also relates to a method for starting an energy converter.

Energy converter

An electric machine including a first member and a second member. The second member is movable in relation to the first member. The first member has at least one coil and the first and the second members both include a plurality of segments, where each segment of the first member comprises a plurality of sections have a first magnetic conducting material. Each segment of the second member includes a plurality of sections having a second magnetic conducting material, and in which the first and the second member includes a closed magnetic circuit.

Electric machine

A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a radiator in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on a heat exchanger in a cooling system connected to an engine in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an engine, a cooling circuit, a heat exchanger having at least a partially externally coating of a catalytic material for converting environmentally harmful substances in ambient air. A sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by comparing a parameter on one side of the heat exchanger with a parameter on the other side of the heat exchanger. The sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by measuring untreated air and air that is treated by passing through the heat exchanger. A fan is used to reverse the flow of air to and from the heat exchanger. The sensor can also determine the degradation of a test cell which degrades in a similar manner as the catalytic coating on the heat exchanger.

System for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a radiator in a motor vehicle

Method and apparatus for measuring and quantifying surface finishing defects on a coated opaque test surface including utilizing at least one light source, at least one camera, and a central unit that has image analysis capability. At least two partial images are recorded with the camera while illuminating the opaque test surface using the light source. The two partial images are produced from the test surface by differing the angle of incident light for different partial images. The two partial images are processed by the central unit thereby establishing a difference image that is analyzed to quantify the degree of surface finishing defects on the coated opaque test surface. Optionally, the central unit further has operational control capabilities over at least one of the light sources and camera.

Method and device for measuring and quantifying surface defects on a test surface

An arrangement and method for measuring surface irregularities of an object comprising at least one source of light arranged to illuminate the object from at least two different positions at a small angle of incidence towards the object, a camera arranged to measure the shadow formation generated by the illumination of the surface microstructure, and an evaluator for determining the surface microstructure from the generated shadow formation by means of signal processing of an input signal from the camera.

Arrangement and method for measuring surface irregularities

A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter which is downstream from a heat exchanger connected to a cooling system in an engine in a motor vehicle. The catalytic converter is arranged to be heated by an air flow passing through the catalytic converter. The catalytic coating on the catalytic converter converts environmentally harmful substances in ambient air into substances which are not harmful to the environment. The motor vehicle also includes a control unit and a sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit and is able to determine a degree of conversion of one or more environmentally harmful substances by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter.

System for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a method for substantially temperature-independent detection of the position of a moving element ( ) by way of an inductive position sensor ( ), comprising a coil ( ) and a core ( ) movable within the coil, the position of said core in relation to the coil ( ) being dependent on the position of said element ( ), whereby a measurement of the inductance of said coil ( ), corresponding to the core ( ) position, is detected by connecting a voltage to said coil ( ) and measuring the time period in which a current (i) through the coil ( ) is changed between two predetermined levels. The method follows the steps of feeding a regularly alternating voltage to the coil ( ), measuring the current (i) flowing through the coil ( ), measuring the period of time (t ) needed for the current (i) to change from a first predetermined level (i ) to a second predetermined level (i ), and determining a measurement of the core ( ) position through measuring the period of time (t ). Through the invention, an improved position detection is provided, primarily intended for automotive vehicle gearboxes, achieving a highly reduced temperature dependence.

Method and apparatus for reduced temperature dependent position detection

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Västra Frölunda, Sweden

Erland Max