A method for providing unequal allocation of rights among agents while operating according to fair principles, comprising assigning a hierarchal rank to each agent; providing a synthetic economic value to a first set of agents at the a high level of the hierarchy; allocating portions of the synthetic economic value by the first set of agents to a second set of agents at respectively different hierarchal rank than the first set of agents; and conducting an auction amongst agents using the synthetic economic value as the currency. A method for allocation among agents, comprising assigning a wealth generation function for generating future wealth to each of a plurality of agents, communicating subjective market information between agents, and transferring wealth generated by the secure wealth generation function between agents in consideration of a market transaction. The method may further comprise the step of transferring at least a portion of the wealth generation function between agents.

Multifactorial optimization system and method

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Centralized control and management system for automobiles

In a multimedia information and control system (100) for use in an automobile, at least one interface (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118) is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options in a display screen (209) of such an interface. Through audio (104b), video (106C) and text media interfaces, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.

Multimedia information and control system for automobiles

A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The 10 PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD.

Personal communication system to send and receive voice data positioning information

A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. In accordance with the invention, the system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user's physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user's physical condition.

Technique for operating a vehicle effectively and safely

A steering wheel (11) is fitted with a control (13) which, when operated in mutually independent control directions (41-45), controls the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, as well as upward and downward gear changing, and activates one of a number of cruise control functions. The control (13) may preferably be mounted immediately adjacent to the steering wheel rim (15) on the upper side of a wheel spoke (12), so that it may readily be operated by the driver's thumb without the necessity of releasing the grip on the wheel. Thus, the control incorporates all of the most essential driving control functions. The control according to the present invention encourages the driver to select, at an early stage, those accelerator and gear-change parameters which are most advantageous to economic driving or are most suited to the prevailing traffic conditions, the control actions required involving a minimum of manual movements. The present invention also relates to an arrangement and a method of controlling servo devices for the driving of a motor vehicle, utilizing the control (13) mounted on the steering wheel.

Operation of servo devices for driving a motor vehicle - control, arrangement and method

The invention relates to a method for detecting ion current in an ignition circuit included in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, where a measuring voltage is applied to the ignition circuit and a measuring device is utilized for detecting ion current possibly present in the ignition circuit. In known solutions of this kind, it has been necessary to use comparatively expensive electronic components, usually not manufactured as standard, to protect the outside voltage source from high voltages occurring in the ignition circuit. The problems are aggravated when the prior art is applied to capacitive ignition systems. The present invention solves the problems involved in an advantageous manner and is essentially distinguished in that a constant measuring voltage is applied to the grounded connection of the ignition circuit between a secondary winding of the ignition circuit and a capacitor in the ground connection, and in that a possible ion current in the ignition circuit is detected in means, by a signal representing the ion current being taken off from the ground connection of the secondary winding.

Method and apparatus for detecting ion current in an internal combustion engine ignition system

Method and arrangement for a capacitive ignition system in an internal combustion engine. In this, the discharging and charging of an ignition capacitor (24) is controlled by a control unit (40) which actuates a first circuit-breaking element (14) in a discharging circuit and a second circuit-breaking element (30) in a charging circuit. The ignition spark which is obtained in an ignition circuit on discharging of the ignition capacitor via the primary winding of an ignition coil is certainly powerful, but of short duration. Under certain operating conditions it is difficult for such a spark to ignite reliably in particular a lean fuel/air mixture. For the purpose of prolonging the said ignition spark, the present invention is chiefly characterized in that the control unit (40), at a time following the ordinary ignition time, actuates the second circuit-breaking element (30) in such a way that this is kept conductive simultaneously with the first circuit-breaking element (14). Current is then supplied from an electrical energy source (33) and via the primary winding (10). Thereafter, the control unit (40) actuates either of the circuit-breaking elements in such a way that the current supply via the primary winding (10) is interrupted, by which means a renewed ignition voltage generation is obtained which prolongs the ordinary ignition spark.

Method and arrangement for generating ignition sparks in an internal combustion engine

Ignition system for a multi-cylinder Otto-type four-stroke engine equipped with at least one spark plug per cylinder, the ignition system including for each spark plug an ignition device (61, 62) connectible to said spark plug in the engine substantially without cables, the ignition system also incorporating a control unit (8) sending signals in response to the engine operating conditions for triggering sparks at the spark plugs in a predetermined order. In order to ensure, in such ignition systems, transmission of maximum ignition voltage to the engine spark plugs and enable simple and safe handling of the ignition system during service and the like, the invention is mainly distinguished in that the ignition devices (61, 62) to at least two adjacent sparks plugs are included in a common, handleable unit, a so-called ignition cassette (70). To advantage, the ignition system is of the capacitive type including an electric low-voltage block (2) and an electric high-voltage block (1), the high-voltage block (1) being included in one or more ignition cassettes (70).

Ignition system for an Otto-type four-stroke engine

Apparatus for sensing the relative position between a fixed first machine component and an axially displaceable and pivotably mounted second machine component includes first and second bar-shaped magnets disposed at mutually right angles and rigidly connected to the second machine component, each of the magnets having a free pole; and a plurality of transducers rigidly connected to the first machine component and facing the free poles of the magnets for sensing the magnetic field of said magnets. At each long side of each of the first and second magnets an adjacent magnet disposed in parallel with the respective first or second magnet, each of these adjacent magnets having a free pole disposed in the vicinity of the free pole of the respective first or second magnet. The free poles of the first and the second magnets have a polarity reverse to that of the free poles of the adjacent magnets, and each magnet has opposite to its free pole a second pole directed away from the transducers. At least the second poles of the mutually parallel magnets are magnetically connected. The location and the orientation of the magnets causes the extension of the magnetic field at the free poles of the first and second magnets to be restricted.

Hans Johansson

Papers

Operation of servo devices for driving a motor vehicle - control, arrangement and method

Method and apparatus for detecting ion current in an internal combustion engine ignition system

Method and arrangement for generating ignition sparks in an internal combustion engine

Ignition system for an Otto-type four-stroke engine

Arrangement in a magnetic position indicator