Delco Electronics Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Borgwarner Inc.

William P Whitlock

Mark Billings Kearney

Dennis Michael Koglin

Brian K Good

John Robert Shreve

Douglas Bruce Osborn

Michael E Kirk

Gary K Mitchell

Randy L Andis

Rodney E Spangler

A starter assembly which includes a switch for energizing a solenoid. Energizing the solenoid biases a starter gear into engagement and energizes the starter motor. A thermally responsive switch is positioned to absorb heat generated by operation of the electric motor and is disposed in an electrical line controlling operation of the switch controlling the solenoid wherein opening of the thermally responsive switch results in the opening of the solenoid switch. The use of such a thermally responsive switch de-energizes the electric motor when the electric motor is subjected to elevated operating temperatures that might otherwise cause damage to the electric motor. The starter assembly may also include control circuitry that includes a microprocessor wherein the control circuitry is operably coupled with the switch controlling the solenoid. The control circuitry is programmed to de-energize the solenoid upon the satisfaction of predetermined conditions to thereby prevent damage to the electrical motor.

Vehicle starter with integrated thermal protection

A system for balancing current in a circuit is provided. Embodiments of the system include: a plurality of parallel load paths of the circuit, each of the plurality of parallel load paths comprising a single load or a plurality of loads connected in series; a current source electrically connected to the circuit, the current source configured to provide a constant current to the plurality of parallel load paths, the current comprising the constant current; a plurality of bipolar transistors, each of the plurality of bipolar transistors electrically connected in series to one of the plurality of parallel load paths, and each of the plurality of bipolar transistors comprising a base, an emitter, and a collector; a plurality of emitter resistors, each of the plurality of emitter resistors electrically connected to a respective emitter of an associated one of the plurality of bipolar transistors; a plurality of base resistors, each of the plurality of base resistors electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of bipolar transistors to create a connection, wherein the connection electrically connects a base and a collector of one of the plurality of bipolar transistors; and a common base node electrically connecting each of the bases of each of the plurality of bipolar transistors.

Methods and apparatus for balancing current across parallel loads

A 'zener-zap' memory cell with pretest capability for testing effects that would be realized from permanently programming the memory cell is provided. The memory cell is addressable and provides a binary signal at an output. The memory cell uses a zener diode as a memory element which is permanently programmed when selectively coupled to a programming voltage which exceeds the reverse breakdown voltage of the zener diode. The memory cell has a test circuit for generating the programmed binary signal at the output of the memory cell prior to permanently programming the zener diode and when coupled to a pretest voltage.

Integrated zener-zap nonvolatile memory cell with programming and

A band-gap voltage regulator having a self-regulating characteristic which improves the operation of the regulator includes a feedback circuit coupling a gain stage of the regulator to a voltage reference circuit which influences the regulated voltage. Changes in the operation of the gain stage which would otherwise change the regulated voltage produce counteracting changes in the voltage reference circuit, causing the supply voltage to remain substantially constant.

Self-regulating band-gap voltage regulator

An apparatus for developing a signal voltage that represents the angular position of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a variable reluctance sensor that has a pick-up coil. The sensor is associated with means driven by the crankshaft of the engine for causing an alternating voltage to be induced in the pick-up coil as the crankshaft rotates. The apparatus includes a negative voltage clamp which clamps the voltage of a junction of the clamp circuit to substantially ground potential during negative half-cycles of the alternating voltage induced in the pick-up coil. The clamp circuit is adapted to be connected to a control circuit that is an integrated circuit having a bulk substrate diode. The clamp circuit prevents forward biasing of the bulk substrate diode.

Growing community of inventors

Cicero, IN, United States of America

William P Whitlock