Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Siemens Vdo Automative Corporation

John C McCoy

Lou Vierling

Richard A Bakowski

Robert S McKee

Larry Hiltunen

Ralph D Salle

Piero Caporuscio

John M Donato

Herbert Lacher

A method for identifying particular characteristics of a physical system includes assigning codes information to the system based upon two distinct characteristics. The code increases in value, with increasing code numbers being assigned to combination of the characteristics in such a way that between any two adjacent code values, only one of the two characteristics change, and the increasing value only changes by one value level.

Method for assigning coded incremental values

A fuel injector assembly includes a plurality of fuel injectors ( ), each of which may have a different performance characteristic. After the performance characteristics have been determined, an internal, energizable voltage or current source ( ) is provided within the injector housing ( ). Each time the vehicle ignition is turned on, a controller ( ) queries each injector ( ) to obtain a signal from the individual, internal, energizable voltage or current sources ( ). The controller ( ) then uses the output of the internal voltage or current source ( ) as an indication of the performance characteristics of each injector ( ). The controller then customizes the power signal supplied to each injector to accommodate for different performance characteristics.

Internal energizable voltage or current source for fuel injector identification

A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Matrix injector driver circuit

A fuel injector coil control circuit includes high side and low side gates. The current through the coil is increased while being monitored by low side shunt circuitry. The current continues to increase until a predetermined value is reached. When the predetermined value is reached, the low side gate is switched off and the current begins to decay. The off time of the low side gate is controlled for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time elapses, the low side gate is switched back on, causing the current to rise again toward the predetermined value.

Control of driver current via low side gates

A control for a camless engine is provided with a plurality of modules each associated with an individual cylinder. The modules are programmed to operate their respective cylinders once on each of two revolutions of a crankshaft. Thus, the control modules must have an indication of the point in the rotational cycle of the crankcase, but also a signal of which of the two revolutions in the two-revolution cycle is ongoing for the crankshaft. The crankshaft preferably provides a uniform signal for each of the two revolutions. The uniform signal is modified by a signal modification method such that the signal sent to the modules is distinct for each of the two revolutions. In a preferred embodiment the signal is provided with a space which is indicative of a particular point in each revolution. A modifier is controlled by a switch which alternates between one of two positions, and which modifies the space in one of the two positions. In another embodiment at least a portion of the signal is inverted between the two revolutions. In yet another embodiment, the pulse width of at least a portion of the signal is changed between the two revolutions.

Camless engine with crankshaft position feedback

A method for identifying particular characteristics of a fuel injection system places a characterization resistor into a power circuit for each fuel injector. The resistance is selected once the characteristics of the fuel injector have been tested after assembly. The control for the fuel injector is able to query the particular fuel injector and determine its characteristics based upon a voltage which has been influenced by the characterization resistance. In another feature of this invention, coded information, such as the characterization resistance, is assigned to a number of possible combinations of characteristics in a spiral fashion if the characteristics were stored in a two dimensional array.

Identification of diesel engine injector characteristics

A manual two-speed automotive transmission adapted to being driven by an electric motor. The transmission includes an input shaft assembly driven by the motor via its armature, a flywheel and a clutch, an input gear assembly axially aligned with and separated from the input shaft assembly, and a transfer shaft assembly parallel to the input assemblies. A two-gear speed reducer rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly connects a fixed gear of the input shaft assembly to a fixed gear of the input gear assembly. Additional gears are rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly and secured to the input gear assembly, such that a synchronizer assembly on the transfer shaft cooperates with the various gears to drive the transfer shaft and a final output gear mounted thereon at a low or high speed. Reverse is accomplished by reversing the electric motor.

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Fayetteville, TN, United States of America

John C McCoy