Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Wade G Johnson

Jeffrey James Hoorn

Robert Halsall

Craig Atiyeh

Jeffrey R Nowicki

Brian J Ciesinski

Donald R Seyerle

Matthew Darin

Shane A Isenhoff

Gonzalo Gonzalez

Tracy L Mack-Askew

Joseph T Peplinski

Terrence B McCloud

An automotive vehicle includes a switch detection system with a hardware controller having a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage. A first switch assembly includes an input terminal configured to receive the supply voltage. The first switch assembly includes a first switch configured to operate in a first plurality of switch states. A second switch assembly is connected in series with the first switch assembly and includes an output terminal connected to a voltage reference point. The second switch assembly includes a second switch configured to operate in a second plurality of switch states. Based on a voltage potential across the input terminal and the output terminal, the hardware controller determines the first plurality of switch states independently from the second plurality of switch states, and determines the second plurality of switch states independently from the first plurality of switch states.

Vehicle including multiple analog switch monitoring system with simultaneous switch-state detection

A resettable circuit protection system for a vehicle includes a power outlet, a resettable circuit protection device, a resettable switch, a control module, and a user interface. The resettable circuit protection device is disposed in power communication with the power outlet, is operable between open and closed positions, and is configured to automatically open in response to an electrical overload condition at the power outlet. The resettable switch is electrically disposed in series with the circuit protection device, and operates between open and closed positions. The control module is disposed in signal communication with the circuit protection device and the switch. The user interface is disposed in signal communication with the control module. When the circuit protection device is open, the control module is responsive to facilitate display of a message at the user interface indicative of the circuit protection device being open, and to facilitate opening of the switch.

Resettable circuit protection system and vehicle with same

A fuel sender unit is provided for deployment on a vehicle having a fuel tank. The fuel sender unit includes a float arm configured to move in relation to the volume of fuel held within the fuel tank. A fuel level sensor is coupled to the float arm. The fuel level sensor produces a resistance that varies with the position of the float arm to thereby produce a multi-slope sender profile including at least first, second, and third successive profile segments. The first profile segment has an average slope that is greater than that of the second profile segment, and the second profile segment has an average slope that is greater than that of the third profile segment.

Multi-slope variable resistance fuel sender unit

An switching interface is provided for use on a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment the switching interface comprises a receiver and a switch assembly. The receiver may include an input node; a regulated power supply electrically couple to the input node; and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to measure a voltage potential between the input node and the receiver ground. The switch assembly may include a first resistor electrically coupled to the receiver input node, the first resistor having a first resistive value; a first switch electrically coupled between the first resistor and a switch assembly ground; a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor and the first switch, the second resistor having a second resistive value; and a second switch coupled between the second resistor and the switch assembly ground. The first and second resistive values may be selected such that the switch assembly has a separate switch assembly state for each switch with an associated voltage potential measured between the input node and ground for each of the switch assembly states.

Method and structure for implementing a resistor ladder

An automobile circuit includes a power source, a temperature sensor outputting temperature measurement data, a voltage sensor outputting system voltage measurement data, a voltage adjusting module configured to receive the temperature measurement data and the voltage measurement data, and responsive thereto, to output a pulse width modulation signal, a switch that is electrically coupled to the power source and to the voltage adjusting module, the switch being operable to receive the pulse width modulating signal and thereby regulate a duty cycle for voltage from the power source, and a lighting component coupled to receive the voltage from the switch.

Automobile lighting pulse width modulation duty cycle control with voltage and temperature compensation

An apparatus is provided for a switching interface for a first receiver, a second receiver, and a resistor ladder. A first terminal is coupled to a first resistor of the resistor ladder. A second terminal is coupled to the first resistor. A third terminal is coupled to a reference voltage. A switch has a first state coupling the first terminal to the third terminal and a second state coupling the second terminal to the third terminal. A first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter is coupled to the resistor ladder and the first receiver. The first A/D is configured to compare a first voltage with a second voltage to determine if the switch is positioned in the first state or the second state. A second analog-to-digital (A/D) converter is coupled to the resistor ladder and the second receiver and also configured to perform a voltage comparison.

Interface for multiple receivers and a resistor ladder

A switch assembly is provided for use on a vehicle having a source of supply voltage. The assembly comprises a switching network having an input terminal configured to be coupled to the supply voltage and an output terminal. The network comprises: (1) nine series-coupled resistors coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal, each resistor having a substantially predetermined resistance; and (2) nine switches each coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and capable of being opened and closed by an operator of the vehicle. Eight of the switches are each coupled to a different junction of adjacent resistors, and the ninth switch is coupled between the output terminal and the ninth resistor. The switch assembly further comprises a control module coupled to the output terminal for determining which, if any, of the nine switches is closed.

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Oxford, MI, United States of America

Wade G Johnson