Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Robert C Wind

John G Hatfield

M S Mahadevappa

Daniel W Sullivan

Greg P Goudie

A data acquisition module that monitors the operation and duration of the operation of an electrical vehicle device, such as starter motor, and is readily mounted at an inconspicuous location in the vehicle. The data acquisition module stores each activation of the vehicle device and its duration in an electrical erasable programmable read-only memory to be downloaded at a future time. A microprocessor and a bank of EEPROMs are provided where the activation count is stored in the microprocessor and the duration is stored in the bank of EEPROMs. The address of a particular EEPROM is the location where an event duration is stored.

Hidden acquisition module for acquiring data from a vehicle

An apparatus and method for controlling low engine idle RPM without discharging a vehicle battery by monitoring the vehicle alternator field modulation. The apparatus includes an engine control module, an alternator, electrical loads and a switch module. The engine control module includes a first input and a first output forming a portion of a first feedback loop. The first input and first output enable the engine control module to sense and control the idle RPM of the engine. The alternator includes an armature and a field coil where rotation of the armature and modulation of the field coil controls the amount of current supplied by the alternator. The switch module modulates the field coil upon receipt of a drive signal from the engine control module. The switch module forms a part of the engine control module such that the engine control module can adjust the idle RPM of the engine to a minimum idle RPM necessary to supply current to the electrical loads by determining the idle RPM of the vehicle with the first feedback loop and by automatically knowing the field coil modulation of the field coil by generating the drive signal.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Robert C Wind