Nartron Corporation

Stephen R Cooper

David W Shank

Carl Andrew Munch

Michael J Rymut

Mark R Wheeler

John M Washeleski

Mario P Boisvert

Ronald D Ingraham

David W Bull

Marty M Zoerner

Nadi S Findikli

Guangyu Zhang

Daniel Wilheim

Anne Gebauer

A controller for energizing a power-operable element, such as a sunroof, window, door, vehicle seat, a component of a major appliance or of a machine or of a conveyor system. The disclosed controller senses both hard and soft obstructions and de-activates or otherwise alters operation of a motor that drives the element when an obstruction is detected. The controller can also be used to actuate a brake. The controller senses obstructions during start-up of the motor and regulates the speed of the power-operable element by pulse width modulating motor energization signals.

Power window or panel controller

The present invention relates to an improved glow plug controller. The glow plug controller includes an analog temperature sensor, circuitry for converting an analog temperature signal to digital form, a microprocessor for analyzing temperature and other operating parameters and for controlling glow plugs and monitoring indicators in accordance with algorithms defined in the microprocessor. The temperature and control signals from the microprocessor are converted to analog form and applied to actuate glow plugs and indicators in accordance with determinations made by the microprocessor. A specific embodiment includes a manual override for facilitating operation even if the microprocessor should fail. A false temperature input is provided so that a false temperature representation can be directly applied to the microprocessor for factory and service center testing of microprocessor operation. Glow plug operation is controlled by way of a relay and multiple, independently fused glow plug circuits. Diagnostic devices are provided for indicating to an operator when a glow plug short circuit has caused a fuse to open the glow plug circuit, and to indicate as well the number of such circuits which have been opened by short circuit malfunctions. Disabling devices are provided for cutting off power to the glow plugs in response to engine temperature exceeding a predetermined maximum of 88.degree. Celsius. The programmed microprocessor includes devices for establishing a preglow period as a function of engine temperature, and for initiating the afterglow in response to the cessation of cranking the engine.

Glow plug controller

A control circuit electrically coupled to the conductive coil of the elongated probe includes an energization circuit for coupling an alternating current signal to the coil. A monitoring circuit monitors a signal from the coil as the alternating current signal is applied to the coil that changes with a degree of overlap between the coupling member and the elongated probe and for providing an output signal related to the relative positions of two moveable members. A feedback control circuit adjusts the alternating current signal coupled to the coil to a control level based on the monitored signal from the monitoring circuit. Use of the feedback control enhances a dynamic range of the output signal from the monitoring circuit.

Single coil position and movement sensor having enhanced dynamic range

Several embodiments of a rotational position sensor having a variable coupling transformer are disclosed. Each sensor employs at least one magnetically permeable transformer core and a primary and secondary coil. The primary coil in coupled to a time varying electrical signal and is mechanically coupled through a transmission to a rotatable shaft whose position is to be measured. As the shaft is rotationally displaced, the primary coil changes orientation thereby changing an output signal induced in the secondary. A detector is coupled to the secondary coil to monitor the output signal and correlate the signal to the shaft's rotational displacement.

Rotational position sensor having variable coupling transformer

A gas density sensor having a prism in contact with a fluid whose density is determined. A light source shines light into the prism. The light is reflected off prism surfaces in contact with the fluid. As the fluid density changes, the amount of light reflecting off these surfaces changes depending upon fluid density. A detector placed to receive light reflecting off the surfaces determines density from sensed light.

Fluid composition sensor using reflected or refracted light monitoring

A magnetic motor is shown having magnetic members situated in relatively close proximity to each other; relative movement between the magnetic members is brought about by bringing the temperature of at least one of the magnetic members to the curie temperature thereof, and subsequent relative movement between the magnetic members is brought about by having the temperatures of all of the magnet members less than the curie temperatures thereof.

Magnetic motor with temperature related activation

An integrated circuit for driving a sensor includes an oscillator for providing a first clock signal synchronized to a periodic waveform supplied by an external source. A second clock signal in the form of a uni-polar square wave is derived from the first clock signal. A sinewave signal is generated by consecutively selecting voltage steps from a resistor ladder under control of the second clock signal. A low-pass filter removes from the sinewave signal higher frequency harmonics generated by switching through the steps of the resistor ladder. A linear amplifier utilizes an external capacitor to couple the filtered sinewave signal to the sensor. Temperature compensation is provided by comparing the voltage of the sinewave signal supplied to the sensor with an external temperature stable reference voltage. The integrated circuit also includes circuitry for amplitude demodulating a signal returned from the sensor to provide a sensor output signal.

Sinewave generating circuit and amplitude demodulator

A multi-turn rotational position sensor. A spirally wound conductor has an inner end coupled to a rotatable shall through a transmission. As the shaft rotates, the spirally wound conductor changes shape. The spirally wound conductor is inductively coupled to a transfcrmer secondary and the transformer coupling between the spirally wound conductor changes as the shaft rotates. An output from the transformer secondary is used to determine the shaft's rotational position.

Multi-turn position sensor having variable coupling transformer

A non-contacting type sensor and method for sensing angular position are provided for sensing the angular position of a body such as a throttle valve. The sensor includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly adapted to be coupled to the body for rotation relative to the stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes a closed-loop magnetic flux concentrator which defines a controlled electromagnetic cavity and generating means for generating a first magnetic field within the cavity. The stator assembly includes a semiconductor device disposed within the cavity and having an electrical property which is a function of the orientation and strength of a resultant magnetic field. The stator assembly further includes a coil wound about the device for producing a second magnetic field which substantially cancels the effects of the first magnetic field on the device so as to obtain the resultant magnetic field. The electrical current in the coil required to produce the second magnetic field provides an indication of the angular position of the body.

Linear-output, temperature-stable rotational sensor including magnetic

A position sensing device including two spaced conductive coils constituting a primary and secondary winding of a transformer. A coupling member is mounted to a moveable object such as an automobile steering mechanism and moves relative the primary and secondary windings. This movement adjusts or alters the transformer coupling between the primary and the secondary and produces a variable output signal which can be correlated through use of appropriate circuitry to the position of the moveable member. Two alternate designs are disclosed. In a first design, the transformer primary and secondary are disposed side-by-side and the coupling member slips over the primary and secondary for relative linear movement. In a second design, the primary and secondary are disposed one within the other and the coupling member fits within a gap between the primary and secondary. A control system for multiple position sensors includes circuitry for activating multiple sensors as well as monitoring return signals from multiple signals. Such a control system can interface other computers within the vehicle such as body control and engine control computers.

Linear position sensor having coaxial or parallel primary and secondary

A fuel sensing and monitoring apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes two spaced conductive coils constituting a primary and secondary winding of a transformer. A short coupling member is mounted to a movable member to which a float is attached, the float being located in the fuel tank of a vehicle. The float and movable member move in response to a change in fuel level in the tank. When the fuel level changes, the short coupling member moves relative to the primary and secondary windings. This movement adjusts or alters the transformer coupling between the primary and secondary and produces a variable output signal which can be correlated, through the use of appropriate circuitry, to a representation of the level or fuel in the tank as indicated by the position of the movable member to which the float is attached.

Liquid level sensor

A position sensing device including two spaced conductive coils constituting a primary and secondary winding of a transformer. A coupling member is mounted to a moveable object such as an automobile steering mechanism and moves relative the primary and secondary windings. This movement adjusts or alters the transformer coupling between the primary and the secondary and produces a variable output signal which can be correlated through use of appropriate circuitry to the position of the moveable member. Two alternate designs are disclosed. In a first design, the transformer primary and secondary are disposed side-by-side and the coupling member slips over the primary and secondary for relative linear movement. In a second design, the primary and secondary are disposed one within the other and the coupling member fits within a gap between the primary and secondary.

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Tustin, MI, United States of America

Stephen R Cooper