Charles A Weber

US Patent:

6853162, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Dec 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/310370

Inventors:

Stephen L. Betts - Canton MI, US
Ronald P. Russ - Farmington Hills MI, US
Charles F. Weber - South Lyon MI, US
Douglas Hughson - White Lake MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

International Classification:

G01R005/00
H02P008/32

US Classification:

318696, 116284

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for driving and homing a stepper motor. In a preferred embodiment, 24 micro step pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage signals are used to drive the coils of the stepper motor. The phases between the driving signals are 90 out of phase. Thus, a sine/cosine methodology is used to drive the motor. Using micro-programmable pulse width modulation (PWM) levels involves the microprocessor reading stored voltage levels from a table stored in memory which corresponds to the amount of angular displacement desired by the motor. These voltage levels are then applied to the motor's coils. The microprocessor performs these operations by executing software instructions stored in memory. The software can be stored in memory located in the controller or in a separate logic block or logic chip. The magnitude of the bounce of a pointer attached to the output shaft of the motor and the magnitude of the noise generated as the pointer contacts a mechanical stop, are both directly related to the applied voltage and speed or frequency of the homing strategy.

US Patent:

6899080, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Jul 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/194635

Inventors:

Ross Dykstra Pursifull - Dearborn MI, US
Robert James Wilker - Macomb MI, US
Charles Francis Weber - Dexter MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02D009/00

US Classification:

123399

Abstract:

A method and system for selecting one of a plurality of voltage signals generated by a plurality of sensors in response to a common sensor input. The method determines which sensor to use based on a comparison the of the output of the sensors to each other and to known values.

US Patent:

7239957, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/684278

Inventors:

Benjamin David Sweet - Southfield MI, US
Charles Francis Weber - South Lyon MI, US
Jack Bruce Marshall - Detroit MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

International Classification:

G06G 19/00

US Classification:

701114, 701102, 701115

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for processing multiple sensor output signals of different ranges/sensitivities so as to provide a seamless transition when switching between the different ranges. More specifically, a determination is made as to whether a selected sensor output range is of a sensitivity higher than a predetermined sensitivity. If the sensitivity is higher, the value of a higher sensitivity sensor output is converted to a value corresponding to the predetermined sensitivity range. An error value is then determined between the converted sensor output value and a sensor output corresponding to a range having the predetermined sensitivity. The sensor output is then modified based on the error value when the control process switches from the selected sensor output to the sensor output corresponding to the predetermined sensitivity. This insures that no glitches will occur in a controller output at the time of switchover.

US Patent:

20030079672, May 1, 2003

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/003986

Inventors:

Sergei Kalashnikov - West Bloomfield MI, US
Michael Luettgen - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Charles Weber - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

G01D011/28

US Classification:

116/288000

Abstract:

A high efficiency, high brightness instrument pointer illuminating apparatus includes a gage motor with a gage motor shaft extending therefrom, an instrument pointer mounted on the gage motor shaft and a plurality of light sources positioned radially around the gage motor shaft to supply light upward into the instrument pointer, wherein the instrument pointer includes a needle portion and a light reflecting portion that is flared outward from the needle portion and has a first reflective surface presenting an internally reflective surface adapted to reflect light received from the light sources outward into the needle portion at any angular position of the needle portion.

US Patent:

20130107398, May 2, 2013

Filed:

Oct 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/645572

Inventors:

Lear Corporation - Southfield MI, US
Charles F. Weber - Dexter MI, US

Assignee:

LEAR CORPORATION - Southfield MI

International Classification:

H03K 17/08

US Classification:

361 2

Abstract:

A circuit for interfacing to a limit switch configured to be closed when a wire connected to the limit switch is relatively hot and configured to be opened when the wire is relatively cold includes an input, an output, and a control portion. The input is configured to receive a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a duty cycle with a high pulse and a low pulse. The output is configured to apply the PWM signal to an external transistor associated with the wire, and a control portion. The high pulse actuates heating of the wire when the high pulse is applied to the external transistor. The control portion is configured to cause voltage across the limit switch to be substantially zero, whereby arcing of the limit switch is relatively minimal, when the limit switch closes while the high pulse is being applied to the external transistor.

US Patent:

57175926, Feb 10, 1998

Filed:

Nov 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/554178

Inventors:

Kah Seng Oo - Farmington Hills MI
Charles Francis Weber - South Lyon MI
Darrel Alan Recker - Belleville MI
Paul Michael Suzio - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60K 4100

US Classification:

364426031

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for positioning a gasoline engine throttle in response to an angular position input command signal. A multi-phase variable reluctance motor positions the throttle in response to motor current commands from a micro-controller. The micro-controller receives and processes the position input command and throttle position feedback signals from a multi-phase variable inductance position encoder rotatably coupled with the motor shaft. The motor current command are obtained from look-up tables that are derived from empirical data of the motor. The motor current command tables are a mapping from motor rotor position and desired motor torque to desired motor currents in the appropriate phases of the motor to hold the load.

US Patent:

62638580, Jul 24, 2001

Filed:

Jan 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/488627

Inventors:

Ross Dykstra Pursifull - Dearborn MI
Allan Joseph Kotwicki - Williamsburg MI
Charles Francis Weber - South Lyon MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02D 700

US Classification:

123399

Abstract:

A powertrain control method for an internal combustion engine having a throttle responsive to a throttle position command. The method comprises the steps of determining the engine speed, determining the actual throttle position, and generating a desired throttle position value. In one aspect of the invention, the desired throttle position value is generated as a function of the actual throttle position and engine speed. In particular, the throttle position divided by the engine speed can be resolved to a single constant. As such, a simplified powertrain control monitor can be obtained by comparing the throttle position divided by engine speed to a predetermined constant. If the throttle position is greater than the desired throttle position value, the commanded throttle position is limited to the desired value.

US Patent:

50566130, Oct 15, 1991

Filed:

Jul 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/558918

Inventors:

David L. Porter - Westland MI
Charles F. Weber - South Lyon MI
Kah S. Oo - Farmington Hills MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 5524

US Classification:

180178

Abstract:

A vehicle speed control system having phasing circuitry which provides a sequence of electrical phase steps in response to a comparison of actual vehicle speed to a desired vehicle speed. A stepper motor coupled to a pinion shaft rotates by discrete phase steps in response to the phasing circuitry. An anti-backlash/transfer gear assembly includes a first sprocket gear coupled to a second sprocket gear by integrally formed compression or flexure members which hold the sprocket gears together and a spring assembly which displaces the circumferential teeth of the two sprocket gears relative to one another. Another gear assembly couples rotational movement from the stepper motor to the engine throttle.