Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gary R Denton

David Andrew Shal

James M Petrofes

David A Hoptry

Donald E Graham

Jeff Allan Foust

Richard E Wainwright

A motor vehicle suspension system has a damper with a member rotatable through positions producing separate discrete damping characteristics. Feedback apparatus comprises a contact pad for each position, a brush rotating with the rotatable member, and an electric circuit generating an output voltage in a first voltage range when the brush does not contact a contact pad and in a second range when it does. The output voltage is repeatedly sampled to control a position count. A count control increments the count with the first sample in the second range following a predetermined number of consecutive samples in the first range but prevents further increment of the count until after a predetermined number of consecutive samples in the second range. The rotatable member can thus be stopped immediately upon the first detection of the selected position while the counting control is changed only once in each new position of the rotatable member.

Motor vehicle suspension with damper having a quickly stopped rotatable

A motor vehicle suspension system has a damper with a member rotatable through positions producing separate discrete damping characteristics. Feedback apparatus comprises a contact pad for each position, a brush rotating with the rotatable member, and an electric circuit generating an output voltage in a first voltage range when the brush does not contact a contact pad and in a second range when it does. The output voltage is repeatedly sampled to control a position count. An overrun detector responds to a predetermined change of the sampled output voltage from the second range to the first voltage range after deactivation of the motor at a selected contact pad to restart the motor so as to resume rotation of the rotatable member toward the selected contact pad.

Motor vehicle suspension with damper having rotatable member overrun

A motor vehicle suspension system in which a motor drives a rotatable member through a plurality of rotational positions producing distinct damping characteristics provides a position feedback voltage on a single feedback line for low cost, easier packaging and greater reliability. Contact pads for the rotational positions are separated by electrically insulating regions; an electric contact member moves circularly with the rotatable member over the contact pads; and an electric circuit generates the position feedback voltage in a first voltage range when the electric contact member contacts any of the insulating regions, in a second voltage range when the electric contact member contacts a home position contact pad and in a third voltage range when the electric contact member contacts any other contact pad. A control updates a position count whenever the output voltage changes from the first to another voltage range; and the count is corrected, if necessary, when the third voltage range is detected.

Motor vehicle suspension with damper having rotatable member position

Power antenna control apparatus is disclosed for a vehicle having an ignition switch with off, run and start positions, engine start means responsive to the ignition switch in its start position, a radio receiver effective to generate an extend signal when activated and a retract signal when deactivated and means effective to deactivate the radio receiver with the ignition switch in its off and start positions. The control comprises control means responsive to the extend and retract signals to activate the drive means toward, respectively, fully extended and retracted antenna positions and further comprises control means responsive to the ignition switch in its start position to deactivate the drive means at least in the extend direction and for at least a predetermined period of time deemed sufficient for engine starting, whereby reversal of antenna extension during engine starting is prevented. The last control means may be deactivated when the antenna is in its fully extended position to permit immediate antenna retraction when the ignition switch is turned off.

Vehicle power antenna control with inhibit during cranking

A power antenna control for a motor vehicle comprises a Hall effect device responsive to motor armature rotation to generate pulses for equal predetermined increments of antenna travel. These pulses are applied to both position and stall counters. In extension, the antenna drive is stopped when the position counter reaches a number corresponding to a predetermined extended position, which may be full extension or some lesser extension. In retraction, the stall counter is used with a clock to indicate stall which, when detected, causes the antenna drive to be stopped. Automatic current limiting for drive torque limitation during stall is activated only when the position counter indicates a limited position range near full retraction. Further during retraction, if the antenna is stopped within a small position range of full rectraction, it is reset to a count indicating full retraction. The system eliminates the need for hard stall sensing reaction switches and thus reduces antenna drive cable fatigue.

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Erie, PA, United States of America

Gary R Denton