An in situ self-diagnostic automotive alternator battery charging system is disclosed. Included are: a battery; voltage regulator sensing battery voltage and generating an excitation signal; and an alternator driven by a vehicle engine provide a rectified electrical signal to charge the battery in response to the excitation signal. Electronic circuit status detectors, variously coupled to the battery, voltage regulator and alternator, maintain a first logic state when a corresponding signal characteristic is within a predetermined range and a second logic state when the corresponding characteristic is outside the predetermined range. Combinatorial logic means respond to a logic state sequence from the detectors to identify predetermined sequences of the logic states resulting in the identification of faults in the charging system. The logic means also provides a warning to the operator of detection of a fault and a display of the location of the fault as occurring in one of the major components of the charging system.

Fault detection and diagnostic system for automotive battery charging systems.

A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

Method and apparatus for multivariate active driveline damping

A control system for a continuously variable transmission has a transmission ratio control valve having a spool for controlling oil supplied to a cylinder of a drive pulley to change the transmission ratio. The control system operates to control the transmission ratio in accordance with a desired ratio including a desired overdrive ratio for providing an overdrive transmission ratio. In a low vehicle speed range, the overdrive transmission ratio is controlled to a value slightly larger than the overdrive transmission ratio.

Transmission ratio control system for a continuously variable transmission

An alternator-battery electrical system test apparatus which, in one modification, includes a four stage voltage level sensing system, each stage being operative in response to a particular condition of the electrical system under test. The first stage senses the filtered and unfiltered output of the alternator to provide a pulsed output which provides an indication of any diode failure or winding failure in the alternator. The remaining three stages sense the voltage output from the alternator as compared to a fixed reference, each particular voltage condition providing an indication of a preselected electrical condition within the circuit. The entire system is calibrated by a single calibrating resistor. The second modification of the system provides two outputs, one output indicating a regular defect and a diode condition indicator and the other indicator providing an indication of no defects in the system if conducting alone, or an alternator defect if conducting simultaneously with the above mentioned one output. The circuit is substantially identical to the first modification, with certain elements eliminated.

Electrical system test apparatus

Method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle for transmitting an output of an engine of the vehicle to its drive wheels, comprising a step or device for detecting an engine speed, a step or device for detecting a vehicle running speed, a step or device for sensing a vacuum pressure in an intake manifold connected to the engine, a step or device for determining an actual engine output based on the detected engine speed and the sensed intake vacuum pressure, a step or device for determining a target engine speed based on the detected vehicle running speed and the determined actual engine output, and according to a predetermined relation among the target engine speed, the vehicle running speed and the actual engine output, said relation being predetermined to attain a required output of the engine with a minimum specific fuel consumption, and further comprising a step or device for controlling the speed ratio such that the detected engine speed coincides with the target engine speed.

Method and apparatus for controlling continuously variable transmission for vehicle

In a transmission mechanism having an actuator member which is movable to adjust the speed ratio of the transmission, the rate of movement of the actuator member is controlled to provide a desired overall response function. When the ratio error is less than a reference value, the actuator rate of movement is controlled as a function of speed ratio such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces stable response. When the ratio error is at or greater than the reference value, the actuator rate of movement is controlled as a function of ratio error such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces fast response consistant with driveability.

Continuously variable transmission ratio control system

A fault indicator for a motor vehicle battery charging system of the type in which a diode-rectified alternating current generator supplies charging current to the vehicle battery and supplies other loads on the vehicle. The fault indicator is capable of detecting certain faults in the diode-rectified alternator and is capable of detecting certain faults in the generator voltage regulating system. The fault indicator system utilizes current difference operational amplifiers, one of which is connected to detect sharp negative voltage transitions caused by certain faults in the system. The fault indicator also has Zener diodes connected to provide an indication of faults that cause abnormally low or high voltage outputs of the diode-rectified alternator such as an open or shorted voltage regulator. The signal indicator utilized is a light emitting diode and the fault indicator circuit is arranged so as to cause continuous illumination of the light emitting diode under certain fault conditions and a blinking of the light emitting diode during other fault conditions.

Fault indicator for motor vehicle battery charging systems

An optical sensor has a gap for a toothed modulator wheel and accurately aligned optical fibers on either side of the gap. The fibers form a U-shape to allow compact sensor design. The sensor is fabricated by inserting a single optical fiber in a mold and supporting the fiber in a U-shape such that the bottom of the U bend includes a straight portion. A thermosetting material is molded around the fiber to form a body and encapsulsate the fiber. A gap is formed by excluding or removing the resin from the region of the straight portion. A part of the straight portion of the fiber at the gap is removed so that the remaining spaced ends are inherently aligned across the gap.

Optical sensor and method of making same

An improved surge suppression control for a motor vehicle drivetrain detects and suppresses drivetrain oscillation in a predetermined range of frequencies centered on an estimate of the natural frequency of the drivetrain The drivetrain natural frequency is determined based on the current speed ratio of the vehicle transmission and empirically determined vehicle characteristics, and is used to define the center frequency of a band-pass filter responsive to engine speed The filter output represents the AC component of the engine speed in a range of frequencies centered on the driveline natural frequency, and such component is differentiated to form an acceleration component in phase synchronism with the torque causing the detected resonance An electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine is energized in accordance with the inverse of the acceleration component to actively cancel the detected resonance whenever the acceleration component exceeds a noise threshold that also is adjusted based on the estimated natural frequency of the drivetrain

Surge suppression control for a motor vehicle drivetrain

In a transmission mechanism having an actuator member 98 which is movable to adjust the speed ratio of the transmission, the rate of movement of the actuator member is controlled to provide a desired overall response function. When the speed ratio error is less than a reference value, the rate of movement of the actuator member is controlled as a function of speed ratio, such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces stable response. When the speed ratio error is at or greater than the reference value, the rate of movement of the actuator member is controlled as a function of speed ratio error, such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces fast response consistent with drivability.

Gerald T. Fattic

Papers

Continuously variable transmission ratio control system

Fault indicator for motor vehicle battery charging systems

Optical sensor and method of making same

Surge suppression control for a motor vehicle drivetrain

Continuously variable ratio transmission control system