United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Burroughs, Inc.

Essex Group, Inc.

Nathaniel Webb

David L Juzswik

William M Floyd

Jimmie Neill

James A Wright

Frank Buccinna

Harry F Olmstead

Norman F Hartig

A magnetic automotive lamp current sensor has a coil 12 connected in series with an automotive lamp 14 (FIG. 2). The coil is mounted on a core 15 having a channel 16 through which the turns of the coil pass an has an opening 18 in which a magnetic flux sensor 20 is inserted. Whenever the lamp is powered and functioning, a current flows through the coil inducing a magnetic field in the core which concentrates in the opening. The flux sensor detects the magnetic field and generates an output which is regulated by a transistor 50 to drive an automotive circuit 53 that monitors the operation of the lamp.

Magnetic automotive lamp current sensor

An improved control system is provided for controlling the variable characteristic associated with automotive peripheral devices, such as seats, mirrors, seat bladders or the like, having a 'memory' capability. The control system avoids overloading a central controller and/or a data link between the central controller and the device being controlled, by approximating the 'run' interval required to vary the relevant characteristic, i.e. seat position, from its present value to a target value recalled from memory. Pulses are generated by variations in the seat position and accumulated in a counter which may be separate from the central controller. At the completion of a 'run' for the approximated interval, the accumulated count is used to update a count representative of the 'present' seat position. The updated position is again compared to the target position and, if it differs by more than some acceptable tolerance, a new interval is determined and is 'run'. Provision may be made to compensate the determination of the interval for changes in the rate at which the seat responds.

Multiplex control system for memory seat or the like load

A control system, as for controlling automotive body functions, is powered by a limited capacity electrical power source and is structured and controlled in a manner to minimize consumption of electrical power. The control system conducts data transactions between a central control station and one or more remote controllers connected therewith, and the central control station includes a provision for electronic signal processing for controlling the data transactions with the remote controllers. A power FET is operatively connected to the power source and to a portion of the control system for selectively connecting or disconnecting power to that control system portion. The system employs a NMOS microprocessor. The portion of the control system from which power may be disconnected will typically include the processor. The level of system activity is monitored and a power-down, or 'sleep' control signal is automatically provided if a predetermined condition of inactivity occurs. That power-down control signal is operatively applied to certain control circuitry for in turn causing the power switch to disconnect power when the power-down control results. Correspondingly, a timer, which preferably is continuously powered, times a 'sleep' interval during which power is disconnected from the relevant control system portion and generates a power-up control signal at the end of some predetermined time. The control circuitry responds to this power-up control signal by causing the power switch to reapply power to the previously disconnected portions of the control system.

Power-conserving control system for turning-off the power and the

A serial data communications system, particularly for use in an automotive environment is disclosed in which bidirectional serial data communication is effected between a central control station and one or more remote stations with high integrity. The central control station includes a central controller and at least two multiplex controllers. A serial signal bus is arranged as a loop connected at its opposite ends to respective ones of the two multiplex controllers. A remote multiplex controller, located at each of the remote stations, includes input/output signal ports for input and output, respectively of signals respectively from and to remote input devices and remote load devices. Each remote multiplex controller is parallel 'T' connected to the serial bus intermediate its end terminals, has a respective address, and is responsive to a serial communication containing its respective address from the central control station for providing a response to the communication. The central controller selects one of the multiplex controllers to be the master in accordance with a preselected bias, and selects the other of the multiplex controllers to be the master when data communication of acceptable integrity with an addressed one of the remote controllers by the designated master multiplex controller is unattainable.

Multiplex control system having enhanced integrity

A system is shown for enhancing signals produced by the scanning components of an optical character reader. Analog video signals produced by a scanner are converted to digital video signals representing a plurality of pixels. Digital video signals representing a matrix of pixels where the matrix is smaller than the individual characters are summed together to provide a reference base of brightness. A digital video signal located at the center of the matrix of interest is scaled to a value corresponding to the number of pixels in the matrix times its brightness level. The scaled center signal is then compared with the summed signals. The scaled center signal is made to read 'white' if it is brighter than the summed signals and made to read 'black' if it is darker than the summed signals.

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Detroit, MI, United States of America

Nathaniel Webb