text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Publication date
|Sep 16, 1975
|Filing date
|May 10, 1973
|Priority date
|May 10, 1972
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Bernard Bertuol, Claude Leichle, Jean-Pierre Rivere
|Original Assignee
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (6), Referenced by (81), Classifications (24)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
United States Patent n91 Rivere et a1.
CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE ANALOGUE-DIGITAL-ANALOGUE TYPE WITH A DIGITAL COMPUTER HAVING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS FOR AN AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE Inventors: Jean-Pierre Rivere; Bernard Bertuol; Claude Leiehle, all of Billancourt, France Assignees: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault,
Billancourt; Automobiles Peugeot, Paris, both of France Filed: May 10, 1973 Appl. No.: 358,963
Foreign Application Priority Data May 10, 1972 France 72.16823 Oct. 21, 1972 France 7238208 US. Cl 235/1502; 73/] 17.3; 123/32 EA;
235/150.21 Int. Cl. G06F 15/50; G01M 15/00 Field of Search 235/1502, 151.3, 151.1,
235/151, 150.21; 340/1725; 444/1; 73/116, 117.2,117.3,119 R, 119 A; 123/32 AB, 32 EA Clock 0F dare 3 q. R Q L selling U 1'0 work 1' T Synchromof'cr Synchromok n Calculation unil [4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,485,093 12/1969 Muller et a1. 235/1502 X 3,683,683 8/1972 Demidov et al. 73/1173 X 3,722,265 3/1973 Metz et a1 73/1173 3,731,070 5/1973 Urban 444/] X 3,750,465 8/1973 Howell ct 73/117.3 3,816,717 6/1974 Yoshida et a1. 235/1502! Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Ruggiero Attorney, Agent or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT A control system of the ana|ogue-digital-analogue type for an automobile vehicle comprising a multiplefunction digital computer of the function-generation type comprising a central unit coupled to the various members of the vehicle by a plurality of information detectors and by a plurality of control circuits in tended to transmit to the said members functional instructions.
14 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures Ad cc van Ignition a Injector 1 and Injector 2 HQ! Injecl'or 3 Injector:
Injector 4 m mmsirusma 3,906,207
Coming From conrr-ol uni? Inlroduct'ion 0F dig ilal dala Muifipiexer 32a Mulhpiexer Multiplier Memory 306 Me mory 3 M E H O R Y 308 Adding dcvicc Memory Memory am usm Coem'cienl' Memory Memory PATENTEDSEP 1's ms 3. 906.207
SHEET 5 FIG. 7 I switch 1 7P1 7F'2 L Inpul' Marching Compa- *Impedancl 70 -q refer COunl'cr 7c 7D 6 i i 6 Binary oulpul' 7/72 1 7.7),
5 8b Clock 8c y 8d 804 30 I 805 Tripping E 5 M 63 3 5 Y a 3 Resulr cF OUTPUT calculalion 8 Comparison P180045 nnel Panndi Mixing Flip- Flop J'L PATENTEUSEPISIHYS SHEET N o Q- 5 PATENTH] SEP 5 i975 Normalized richness 1 Normal use Fig- 4 Richnass Eu" load PATENTED 1 51975 3.90620? SHEET 10 CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE ANALOGUE-DIGlTAL-ANALOGUE TYPE WITH A DIGITAL COMPUTER HAVING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS FOR AN AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE The present invention relates to a control system of the analogue-numerical-analogue type with a central digital computer, intended to ensure the control of the various functions of an automobile vehicle.
The progress made in electronics, in particular in the direction of reliability, reduction of overall size and reduction of the production cost of the components on the one hand, and in addition, the increasing requirements in respect of control of pollution, safety, and driving conditions, have made it necessary to contemplate the control of such functions by means of a programmed central computer, ensuring the rapidity, precision and simultaneous action of these functions of control and operation which are provided by electronic means.
The use of these means in automobile technique has encountered up to the present time the numerous obstacles of the conditions inherent in this technique, which has remained essentially mechanical, in particu lar the adaptation of electronic means to the highly complex physical phenomena relating to the operation of an automobile, in the absence of common points between these techniques, their requirements and their language, and especially to the translation of these phenomena into electronic language and to their control by electronic means.
Reference has been made to numerical computers utilized in electronic injection devices intended to control the opening time of injectors. These devices only carry out a quite special function of the vehicle engine, and their limited purpose renders their relative cost large, which has up to the present time adversely affected their diffusion. More economical simplified models have been produced for example, following the method of electronic selection of control forming the object of French Patent No. 71/18,]25 of May 19, 1971 in the name of the present Applicants.
Applications of electronic control to the transmission of the vehicle are also known, as described for example in French Patent Nos. 1,453,300 and l,457,550, and also in French Patent Applications Nos. 71/28,168, 70/43.696 and its Addition No. 71/l9,897 also in the name of the present Applicants (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3403747 and 3403587 and 267,208 of June 28, 1972 and 204,214 of Dec. 2, 1971).
In this case also, specific electronic control means are utilized for particular functions of the vehicle.
Safety devices, especially braking and control of skidding also form the subject of electronic controls.
The object of the present invention is a control system with a digital central computer for an automobile vehicle, providing a synthesis of the above functions which have up to the present time been carried out by separate devices. In the most general case, these functions are in particular:
- The control of electronic injection;
- The control of mixture richness by analysis of at least one polluent or non-polluent gas entering into the composition of the exhaust gases;
- The control of the point of advance of the ignition;
- The control of injection during deceleration in order to obtain minimum pollution (control of accelerated idling speed, of injection cut-off);
- The control of air injection in the case where a postcombustion reactor or a catalytic bed reactor are employed;
- The thermal protection of the said post-combustion pots or catalytic beds, either by cutting-off the air injection or by-passing the reactors or catalytic pots;
- The measurement of the temperatures, the levels and the pressures of water and oil in order to warn the user of a possible failure of a component such as the water-pump, the oil-pump, the lack of oil or water, etc., with display of the measured quantities on the dashboard;
- Measurement of the speed of rotation of the engine with display on the dashboard;
- Measurement of the speed of the vehicle with display on the dashboard;
Control of the anti-locking of the wheels by controlling the pressure of the fluid-pressure circuit which conveys the braking" information;
- Control of antiskidding of the wheels during acceleration by action on the point of advance of the ignition;
Control of the automatic clutch;
- Control of the air-conditioning of the vehicle;
- Control of the wear and the temperatures of the brake linings;
- Protection of engines against excessive speed (cutting-off the injection or the ignition above a perfectly definite engine speed);
- Control of the stabilized speed of the vehicle on a motorway;
- Control of the re-circulation of the exhaust gases;
- Automatic display of failures of the detector or the computer (diagnosis);
- The operation and control of lighting, indication and safety devices (locking of doors, putting-on safety belts) etc.
The computer according to the invention is a function-generation computer, the central unit of which operates in real and divided time for the execution of these various functions. It receives the information from a series of so-called primary detectors which translate physical quantities into electrical quantities which can be assimilated by the computer. After treatment of this information, it transmits, by so-called sec ondary detectors or control members, operation instructions to the various components of the vehicle.
It comprises:
1. A central unit, comprising a calculation block ensur ing the following elementary operations:
- Addition,
- Complementation of binary numbers (in order to prepare subtractions),
- Multiplication,
- Crossing of thresholds,
- Comparison of numbers,
- Transfer of information,
- Calculation of derivatives or integrals.
it will however be noted that in view of the size of the problem on the one hand and of the maximum simplic ity to be looked for in the design of the computer on the other hand, it is necessary to define the computer structure as a function of the elementary operations necessary for calculating each of the functions indicated above.
Thus, division is not specified in the list of elementary operations specified above, in view of the cost of the installation necessary for its production and of the prohibitive calculation time which it necessitates. How ever, the ultimate introduction of a wired divider is not excluded if the need for this became apparent.
2. An analogue-digital converter.
The said calculation block and the said converter operating in real and divided times from calculation programmes ensure a cycle of calculations of each of the fimctions at least once per revolution of the engine. 3. A set of auxiliary memories containing all the operating constants of the vehicle (for example, as regards the engine, the mixture-richness cards and the advance of the ignition).
At the same time as these auxiliary memories, the access means of the computer are especially characterized as regards the temperatures, by the use of logarithmic amplifiers, permitting for example the conversion of the value of a resistance to a voltage proportional to the temperature, this voltage being then treated by the converter.
Thus, this assembly of arrangements ensures the production of a computer which enables the introduction of several programmes, each controlling a different function, so that each of the functions is calculated at least once per engine'cycle.
The production of the various functions of the computer will necessitate the following detectors or control devices:
a. Primary detectors By primary detectors, there will be understood those which ensure the translation of a physical quantity to an electrical quantity which can be assimilated by the computer. There are in particular the following detectors:
- Continuous or threshold temperature detectors:
of engine water and engine oil, of the brake friction-linings, of air admitted to the engine, of the post-combustion reactor, of the interior space of the vehicle.
Continuous or threshold pressure detectors:
- of air admitted downstream of the engine oil butterfly-valve,
of engine water,
of the fluid of the braking circuit.
Speed detectors:
of rotation of the engine,
of rotation of the vehicle wheels.
- Detectors of analysis of exhaust gases:
- Carbon monoxide,
- Oxygen,
Carbon dioxide,
- Oxides of nitrogen.
(See for example French Patent Application No. 71122690 and its Addition in the name of the present Applicants) (U.S. pat. appl. No. 264,333 of June 19, 1972).
b. Control members The control members permit the conversion of an electrical quantity resulting from a calculation of the vehicle computer to a physical quantity controlling a function of the vehicle. These are especially the following devices:
- Electro-magnetic injectors;
- Electronic ignition devices;
- Electro-valves: regulation of air injection at the exhaust of by-pass of thermal or catalytic reactors;
- of the by-pass of the braking circuits;
- of control of deceleration (accelerated idling);
- regulation of recirculation of exhaust gases.
- Electro-magnets for priority control of the butterfly-valve.
- Light indicators arranged on the dashboard and permitting the indication in a simple manner (possibly numerical) of anomalies:
- of pressure of engine water,
- of engine oil,
- of fluid in the braking circuits.
of temperatures of engine water,
- of engine oil,
- of brake friction-linings.
- of the levels:
of engine oil, of engine water, of fluid in the braking circuits.
- of the wear of the brake linings of excessive engine speed of defective operation of the computer Speed indicator (of rotation of the vehicle engine).
- Air-conditioning compressor of the heating circuit supplied by the engine.
Thus constructed and connected to the vehicle with its cyclic operation in divided time, with its simplified means common to all the functions (converter and calculation block) or to a number of functions (detectors) and its structure also simplified, specific to the carrying-out of the said functions, the computer forming the object of the invention leads to a production cost which is compatible with mass production of automobile vehicles, while the price and the type of construction of known ordinators render this application difficult to envisage up to the present day.
The combination of the structure of the computer and the choice of the access and detection means of the computer forming the subject of the invention permits great rapidity of treatment necessary for effectively controlling the transient phenomena of the engine and the vehicle. This control is made possible by the rapidity of calculation of the whole of the functions (less than one ms) combined with the rapidity of detection of information, especially information relating to speed and pressure.
It is furthermore possible to propose the utilization of a mixed computer for the injection time and ignition point of heat engines, the said computer especially incorporating the elements referred to above.
It is known that recourse is being made more and more to methods of electronic injection of the air-fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber of heat engines, or indirectly into the admission pipes. These methods require especially a regulation of the operating richness of the mixture. The regulation systems known at the present time are not sufficiently accurate and do not permit good reproducibility in mass production, either due to the fact that the detectors do not permit this accuracy to be obtained functionally, or that the conception of the treatment of the information effected following the data supplied by the said detectors does not permit this object of precision to be attained.
The traditional commercial systems have generally poor response times and the regulation of the richness is inaccurate during transient phases, which however represent the most important part of the utilization of the vehicle engine.
The known solutions do not enable measurement to be made of the mass flow of air introduced into the cylinders, and this is replaced by constant depression measuring systems or by systems for measuring the manifold pressure. the air temperature and the engine speed, or even the volumetric flow without correction for air temperature and barometric pressure, so that the equivalent measurement does not exactly represent the mass of air introduced into the engine. It follows that the treatment of the information cannot restore an exact result as regards the richness.
The object to be attained is to remedy the abovementioned drawbacks by utilizing exact measurement means for the mass flow. with which there is associated a high performance computer utilizing the data of the detector; the said computer must carry out the calculations of richness (expressed in injection time for example) as rapidly as possible, in synchronism with the suction of the cylinders. There is then adopted an arithmetic computer comprising a calculation block, a control block. systems of conversion of data at the input of the computer (a synchronous sampling device in particular). Taking into account the importance of the sampling device, this latter is employed in real and divided time for all the measurements carried out on the engine.
The computer is designed for a specific application on a conventional internal combustion engine since:
- the teeth of the starter ring are utilized for measuring the speed of the engine and for carrying out position checks (calculation of the ignition advance in particular);
- Top-Dead Centre and Bottom Dead Centre signals are used in order to synchronize the calculation sequences with the suction phases of the engine (the response time of the computer is therefore a halfrevolution of the crankshaft);
' the information of mass flow is utilized;
- the information of water temperature is used to carry out the function enrichment during the heating phase of the engine."
All known internal combustion engines work on the same principle and it is clear that any engine may be represented by a system of constants (recorded in a permanent memory) and that the treatment processes are identical from one type of engine to the other. This fact has furthermore repercussions on the structure of the computer according to the invention, which does not comprise any working memory but only a few buffer registers which retain in a fleeting manner the intermediate data or calculations.
It will further be noted that the computer forming the object of the present alternative is designed not only to treat the functions of ignition advance and richness of the carburetted mixture, but also for treating all the known functions on a vehicle which have previously been enumerated.
The structure of the system of control forming the object of the invention and in particular of its computer will be brought out in the description which follows below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 represents a synoptic diagram of the control system of the parts of the vehicle according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a general diagram of the multiplier of the calculation unit;
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the calculation unit;
FIG. 4 shows the connection diagram of a temperature probe;
FIG. 5 shows the diagram of an impedance matching device preceding the logarithmic amplifier utilized with the said temperature probe;
FIG. 6 represents the diagram of the said logarithmic amplifier;
FIG. 7 shows the diagram of an analogue-numerical converter utilized for the conversion of data;
FIG. 8 shows the diagram of the inlets and outlets of the control unit for regulating the ignition of the vehicle engine;
FIG. 9 shows the diagram of the control circuits of the unit controlling the injection of the vehicle engine;
FIG. 10 shows an example of an operating curve of the engine for a given speed (injection time as a function of the admission pressure);
FIG. 11 shows the method of generating the signals 8,, and H FIG. 12 shows the ordinal counter of the X control unit;
FIG. 13 is a synoptic diagram of another form of construction of a computer according to the invention;
FIGS. 14 to 19 are curves showing the input func tions of this computer.
Structure of the Computer The calculation, control and memory functions utilized (see FIG. 1):
a. The primary detectors (this list is not limitative as in the diagram of FIG. 1).
Each detector having the purpose of converting any physical quantity (temperature, pressure, speed. etc.) to an electrical quantity which is proportional (or not proportional) to this quantity, it is necessary to convert the analogue voltage delivered by the detector to a digital quantity in an appropriate code which can be assimilated by the calculating unit when the computer is purely digital. The analogue-digital converters for treatment of data (see FIG. 7) have therefore been shown.
b. The electronic assembly of the calculation unit (FIG. 3) comprising the following devices:
- A multiplier of two numbers of IO binary figures as a maximum with memorization of these two numbers during the time for which the operation lasts, and memorization of the result up to the wipe-out order;
- an adding device for two numbers of IO binary fig ures as a maximum with memorization of these two numbers up to the wipe-out order. and memorization of the result up to the wipe-out order;
- multiplexing devices for the various numbers which it is desired to multiply. There are provided at least two multiplexers, one for the multiplier and the other for the multiplicand. It will be recalled that a multiplexer is a device permitting the selection at its output of an input information from n informations which are simultaneously presented at its input under the control of a selection signal applied to an input selection line from amongst n;
' multiplexers for the various numbers which it is desired to add; there are provided at least two multiplexers, one for each of the two numbers;
- a live memory of l binary figures connected to an input of each of the multiplexers, of the multiplier, including the wipe-out information of the output memory of the multiplier;
- a live memory of binary figures connected to an input of one of the multiplexers of the adding device, the wipe-out information coming from the output memory of the algebraic adding device.
c. Memory units, the whole of the fixed memory or socalled dead type. carrying out the function of memorizing the various coefficients characteristic of the vehicle and the engine. Each of the coefficients is written in 8 binary figures. It is obvious that the number of binary figures used depends on the accuracy which it is desired to obtain.
d. Operating units ensuring the control, as a function of the various information of the calculation unit, the memory unit and the memories for inscription of the results for the purpose of calculating the functions, for example calculation of the injection time and of the time determining the advance of the ignition, which calculation is made every half-revolution of the engine.
- Taking into account the complexity of the apparatus and the possibility of faults. it is necessary that the control system should be able to determine and to indicate in the first place the failures of the information detectors; these may be displayed on the dashboard by means of a light indicator or a combination of light indicators, and providing for the introduction of a failure test in the programming.
- When the physical quantity measured is known in the digital form, it is necessary to retain its digital value in a register for the whole of the time necessary for its utilization.
- The detector or detectors of speed, temperature, pressure may address a fixed memory containing a system of coefficients proper to the vehicle; only this fixed memory will be different from one vehicle to another by its contents, all the other circuits being invariable from one vehicle to the other. The operation of this memory will be explained later. The addressing of this memory may be effected by appropriate coding of a group of information delivered from the primary detectors.
- The information delivered by the detectors on the one hand and by the fixed memory on the other are transferred to the input of the calculation unit by means of the multiplexers. The calculation unit proper is intended to carry out the overall functions following: algebraic addition and multiplication.
- The calculation unit is actuated by a programme unit in which are recorded the calculation programmes of the various functions which are required.
- At the output of the calculation unit is located a group of registers containing the calculation results; these registers have the purpose of retaining the calculated information for all the time required for their utilization in order to ensure the desired function or functions.
At the end of the chain are located the electromechanical transducers permitting the calculated numerical quantities to be converted to physical quantities, the utilization of these quantities being cadenced by a system of external conditions and by various synchronizations entered in the block-programme.
General diagram and operation of the computer The computer forming the object of the invention comprises (see FIG. I
- A calculation unit 116, the basic cell of the apparatus.
- An operating unit 115 which regulates the operation of the said calculating unit.
- Detectors measuring the various parameters (l0l,
- Decoding devices, converting the information supplied by the above detectors in numbers which can be assimilated by the calculation unit (105, 106, I07, 108).
- Each of these decoders is provided with a system giving a visual indication of the failure of the corresponding detector and permitting the running of the vehicle to continue in spite of this failure 109,
HO, lll, 112).
- A clock which cadences the overall operation A data treatment unit giving the choice of the calculation to be effected (l 13) by virtue of the information supplied by the detectors.
- Operating or output members 117 and 1 l8 translating the numbers coming from the computer to information compatible with the controlled members.
-The number of input detectors and output devices (calculation) is only indicated here by way of example and is in no way limitative.
Buffer memories (not shown) may be provided between the decoders and the calculation unit.
The operation of the whole assembly can be deduced from FIG. 1:
The information measured be by detectors and decoded is introduced into the computer at d. On the other hand, this same information, analyzed at 113, selects a method of calculation in the form of signals. The latter, introduced into the control unit with the rhythmic signals 114 permit the correct operation of the calculation unit. The results, present at c and d are then decoded so as to control the external devices, which are in the present example those of the ignition and the injection. This example is in no way limitative as regards the number of devices controlled.
In the detail of each of the devices presented below, the integrated circuits employed belong to the following list taken from the references of the American Company TEXAS INSTRUMENTS lNC., the figure following each reference being the corresponding page number of the catalogue sold commercially and entitled: The Integrated Circuits Catalog" Fourth Edition July 1971, of that Company.
SN 7415] N 9.339 SN 74 I50 N 9.339 SN 74 83 N 9.27] SN 74 82 N 9.264 SN 74 96 N 9.86 SN 74 N 9.4 SN 74 42 N 9.l48 SN 74 74 N 6.65
The binary figures will be hereinafter designated by the Anglo-Saxon term more commonly utilized, namely bits" (a contraction of binary digits").
Calculation unit (see FIG. 3)
This unit comprises:
-An adding device 308 and its inputs and outputs.
A multiplier device 303 with its inputs and outputs.
-Buffer memories 310 and 311 which temporarily record the result of the calculation.
The line Introduction of digital data is functionally connected to the outputs of the buffer memories interposed between the information detectors and the calculation unit.
The multiplexers 301 and 302 supply at their outputs the multiplier and the multiplicand of the multiplication to be carried out, while the multiplexers 304 and 305 supply the two numbers to be added.
1. The adding device (see FIG. 3)
The adding device 308 must permit the addition of two numbers of IO binary figures. It is only necessary to display them at 308 at the input so as to have the result at the output (to within the transfer time).
It is formed for example by two circuits of the type SN 7483 N which add together 4 binary figures each and of a circuit which adds together 2 binary figures, or binary figures in all, this latter being for example a circuit of the type SN 7482 N.
In order to carry out subtractions, there is employed the representation of negative numbers, known as the complement, but in order to facilitate this representa' tion, the restricted complements are employed which are obtained by replacing each binary figure by its opposite. This arrangement only changes the accuracy by about two thousandths.
In order to carry out a subtraction (A-B), there is added to A the complement of B; the result is to be uti- 1 N SI N N um 9 io 1 M lized without subsequent modification; if it 0, there will be an error on the last bit; if it is negative, the carry over is zero. It is called Cr and is utilized for testing one number with respect to another.
Multiplexers 304 and 305 with 16 inputs are sumcient for the multiplexing of the inputs of the adding device.
-Each of the input signals is composed of IO bits.
-Integrated circuits of the type SN 74 I50 N are chosen for each of the two multiplexers 304 and 305.
The transfer of the information is effected by an information 0 on the wires 34a and 35a (probe of 304, probe of 305). An inverter is added in order to have controls for +1 informations. There is understood by probe a circuit input which ensures a synchronizing function permitting the execution of an order, even if this is not released at the level of the said circuit.
An input is chosen from the 16 possible inputs by means of appropriate coding combining two of the four wires 3A4, 3B4, 3C4, 3D4 and 3A5, 3B5, 3C5, 305, for each of the multiplexing devices 304 and 305.
An the inputs and at the output of the adding device are placed memories 306 and 307 of the same type as those used as buffer memories (see below).
2. The multiplier (FIGS. 2 and 3) In the design of such a unit, two essential factors are to be considered. These are:
-Rapidity of execution (time) -Complexity of the circuit and its volume (space) It should be observed that these factors are closely bound-up and vary in the same direction.
In the particular case of an automobile vehicle, even for a clock frequency of 1 MHz, the necessary time is amply available, but on the other hand, the available volume is limited.
The multiplier (FIG. 2) operates following the princi ple of binary multiplication:
To multiply two binary numbers A and B:
The multiplication of the number A by a binary FIG. Bi (of row i of the binary number B) has for a result either A displaced by 1' rows towards the left, or 0, depending on whether Bi=l or Bi=O.
The multiplication bit by bit is brought to an AND function between each bit of the word A and Bi bit of the word B.
Technique employed:
The numbers A and B to be multiplied are of IO bits These will be written:
If the formal product ofA for B is written in the form:
It should be observed that it is not possible to add more than 3 binary numbers of the same mass n, the mass being the number of binary figures of the number in question expressed in binary code, for example if it is desired to have a result limited to 2 figures, S of massn and the other R of mass n+1, namely:
in which S is the row bit of the sum, and R is the row bit (n+1) equivalent to a carry-over.
There is given below the example of the principle of obtaining results for numbers of 3 bits by putting:
The result of the multiplication of x by is a number with a maximum of 6 bits. We have:
in which R and R1, are the carry-overs from row 3. 25
in which R is the carry-over from row R and P ==R In view of the foregoing remarks, the preparation of P (addition of the maximum of factors A 8,) is ef- 3O fected as follows:
(1 13 C,,. R were generated during the preparation of P NA l4 of that Company, entitled Arithmetical Operations using the double adding device T 152.
The carry-overs are generated at each operation of the arithmetical cell and they must be stored and regenerated for the next following arithmetical operation. Trigger devices, for example of the type D. ref. SN 74 74 are perfectly suitable for this kind of operation.
The input and output of the multiplier are constituted by:
-A multiplicand register 21: this is in fact an asynchronous register. independent ofthe clock signals.
-The words to be entered being of IO bits. integrated circuits of the type SN 74 96 N will be employed.
-A multiplier register 22. constituted by a displacement register followed by a series register. These two registers may for example be of the type SN 74 96 N.
The input in series of the results to the second register requires 21 clock impulses and conditions the duration of the multiplication which necessitates:
l Wipe-out impulse,
-l Inscription impulse,
-21 Clock impulses.
-l Impulse for re-setting the counter to zero.
This counter determines the rhythm of calculation and blocks the result in the output register up to a fresh multiplication.
At the 2lst clock impulse, the multiplier register is empty, and zeros will therefore be displayed at its output, this permitting carry-overs (u, b, c,,,) to be generated, which will be in a state permitting the beginning of the next following calculation,
UM 5 1 N +B,A,, 5 carryover a S;- Czlrry-over e,, +11 +B:A 5- +c carry- UVCT 810A n r +B|A,-, S2, carry over h,, h, 5 arry-over (1,, +8, S, i-. c- +5, carry- UVCI' ra +B7AL. Sn. carry-over r: +BKA,
and finally: 50 It is also necessary to study the clock impulses which permit multiplication. [t is thus necessary to determine 3 S 8 Carry over C 3 CH PD carryover R the clock frequency in the first place. The said clock 6 v A Ii 1 *0, +P.. frequency IS determined by the longest operation to be 55 carried out, namely: 0 b C d e ,f g R serve in the preparation of Pm -A displacement of the multiplier register: 40 ns; NOTE. -passage through a NAND gate circuit: 15 ns;
The carry-overs a R are always generated. At the outset a,=0, R,=O and during the course of the calculation, these carry-overs assume suitable values.
S, is the most difficult sum to generate and it is therefore this which determines the basic cell of the multiplier.
This is designed by means of double-adding devices of commercial type (for example an adding device of the type T 152 of the Societe Generale des Semiconducteurs), as defined in the Note of Application passage through the arithmetic unit, and therefore through 5 adding devices: (5X25) us or a total of 180 ns.
There may be chosen a frequency of 1 MHz which corresponds to a clock impulse period of 500 ns.
In fact, it would be possible to work at three times this speed if necessary.
From the foregoing study, there is deduced the overall diagram of the multiplier as shown in FIG. 2.
The diagram of FIG. 2 makes it possible to see that the multiplier is composed of:
-a multiplicand register 21 working as a memory;
-a multiplier register 22, working as a displacement register -a calculation cell 23 permitting of elementary additions',
-a carry-over register 24 enabling the carry-overs between two elementary operations to be memorized;
-a product register 25 working as a series-parallel converter and enabling the result to be memorized;
-a counter 26 permitting the operation of the above assembly.
The cell 23 is constituted by logical gates of the NO- AND or AND type and complete adding devices. The whole assembly of the circuits of this cell enables the multiplication to be carried out following the principles previously stated.
The information introduced is as follows:
-2f-input B.
These are the two numbers to be multiplied. 2E; resetting to zero of the inputs and wiping-out the numbers previously introduced, -2I: inscription of the numbers to be multiplied; -2c,' clock for determining the working speed. -The output: 2g, at which the result is available 23 clock impulses after the beginning of multiplication.
Operation After re-setting to zero, the input registers by the signal 2B, the simultaneous presence of the numbers to be multiplied at 2e and 2f and of the inscription signal (2I) causes the putting into memory of the numbers inside the multiplier. This same inscription signal 2] causes the starting-up of the counter and the successive displacements which select the numbers passing into the cell, memorizing the carry-overs, will permit the introduction of the result into the product register.
When the result is fully entered in the register 25, the counter is locked, thus permitting the reading of the result. This latter is available until a new inscription signal (2]) is received.
Multiplexers are provided at 8 with inputs at 301 and 302, sufficient for multiplexing the inputs of the multiplier 303 (see FIG. 3).
Each of the inputs is composed of 10 bits.
Integrated circuits are therefore chosen which permit the multiplexing of 8 inputs, for example of the type SN 74 I51 N.
As there are 10 bits to be multiplied, the multiplexers 301 and 302 (FIG. 3) are composed of 10 integrated circuits of this same type.
The transfer of the information is controlled by an input on the wires marked 31a and 32a (FIG. 3). A reversing device will be mounted on the probes S6 and S7 in order to have controls for the +1 information.
An input is chosen (that is to say an input signal of bits) from the eight possible, by means of a coding on three wires 3A2, 3B2, 3C2 and 3A1, 38], 3C1 for each of the multiplexers 302 and 301 respectively.
3. The buffer memories of the control unit All the memories are mounted with integrated circuits, for example of the type SN 74 96 N. Each of these circuits permits the memorizing of 5 bits, with input and output in parallel.
For each memory. the wipe-out is controlled by an input marked 3E 3E 3E,-, and the inscription is controlled by an input 3| 31 index of the memory.
This is valid for the memories 306, 307, 309, 313, 314, 310, 3 l l; the controls 3|, are in positive logic.
For the controls 3E,-, reversing devices are added in order to obtain a control in positive logic.
The particular characteristics of the dead memories are determined from the following considerations:
A general study of the problem of injection has brought out the quadratic laws in which appear coefficients a, 1), etc. The calculation unit must have these coefficients available in a binary form of words of 8 figures.
The coefficients necessary are variable as a function of the vehicle speed, but it has been possible to divide the range of speed of the engine into levels of lOO r.p.m., inside which the use of a fixed value for u, b, etc., does not lead to calculation results which are outside the tolerances for injection and ignition.
The range of engine speed has been divided into 64 parts, and the calculation necessitates for each of these 8 coefficients of 8 figures, or a total of 64=8=8=4096 binary figures.
It has appeared that a dead memory system could carry out the function of generator of the coefficients.
By way of example of equipment which is suitable for this purpose, there may be cited the memories ROM 0512 of the HARRIS ELECTRONICS COMPANY (Radiation Inc.) which have the advantage of being programmable by the user, in accordance with the technical note of July I970, entitled Programmable read-only Memory published by this Company.
This is a memory of 512 figures consisting of 64 words of 8 binary figures.
The addressing is carried out by the application to the 6 address terminals of the pure binary number representing the number of the word chosen (0 to 63).
Several buffer memories may be connected in parallel, thus enabling the number of words stored to be increased. In this case, the addressing is carried out in parallel on all the memories, the active input of the chosen memory alone passing to the condition 1, by virtue of the inscription signal 3 I I2,- of the coefficients memory 312 (see FIG. 3), i being the index of the selected memory.
The coefficient memory may in fact comprise 8 partial memories. According to an alternative form, there could be provided a single memory divided into sub' memories by addressing.
The input address signals of the fixed memories are preceded by a double inversion having only one load factor of one unit.
The output signals being followed by a double inversion in order to ensure an output of 10.
Other types of memories may also be utilized in replacement of those of the example cited.
From the foregoing there is deduced the arrangement of the calculation unit shown in FIG. 3:
308: The adding device.
304: The multiplexer with 16 inputs and 1 output comprised in the adding device.
305: The multiplexer with 16 inputs and 1 output comprised in the adding device formed of 10 inte grated circuits SN 74 N.
312: The coefficients memory.
303: The multiplier unit.
301: The multiplier.
. 31,. where i is the 302: Identical with 301, but it returns the multiplicand to the multiplying unit 303.
306: Memory of the input of a number of the adding device.
307: Identical with 306 for the other input number of the adding device.
309: Identical with 306 for the output of the adding device.
313: Memory of the calculation results of the injection time.
314: Memory of the results of the calculation of the ignition advance.
310: The buffer input memory of the adding device.
311: The buffer input memory of the multiplying device. OPERATION OF THE CALCULATION UNIT (Refer to FIG. 3)
l. Multiplication of 2 numbers These 2 numbers given by the information from the detectors and the calculation programme are each present in an input of the multiplexers 301 and 302. The application to each of these latter of the corre sponding address of the probe signal on 31a and 32a, and of the inscription order of the numbers in the mul tiplying unit (previously re-set to zero) causes the starting of the multiplication. The result is available, 23 clock inpulses later, on the output of the multiplying device 303.
2. Addition of 2 numbers In the same way. 2 numbers to be added, from instructions of the calculation programme, treating the information from the detectors. are present on one input of the multiplexers 304 and 305. The application on each of these latter of the corresponding address of the probe signal on 340 and 35b and of the inscription order of the intermediate memories 306 and 307 (previously re-set to zero) causes the presence of the result at the output of the adding device 308. The inscription signal of the output memory 309 (previously re-set to zero) enables this result to be retained for a subsequent use. 3. The memories 310 and 311 are utilized following the same principle (wiping-out by 3 E 10 and 3 E 11 and then inscription by 3 I 10 and 3 I 11) in order to retain the intermediate results and to free the calculating devices for other operations.
The memories 313 and 314 utilized following the same principle, memorize the final results, from one calculation to the other.
The memory 312, of the dead memory type known as ROM" (read-only memory) contains for example predetermined coefficients. The application of a signal on one of the 8 address wires causes the appearance of the selected number at the output. INPUTS-OUTPUTS OF THE CALCULATING UNIT l. Connection of the calculating unit to the control unit Following a pre-established programme, the control unit emits the signals necessary to the calculating unit, such as:
-Addressing of the multiplexers;
reading of the selected numbers;
-inscription and wiping-out of the memories.
2. Introduction of data This is always carried out to the inputs of the multiplexers.
To each input there corresponds a number (such as the pressure for example) and this number is always present there. It will only be used when its address is applied to the multiplexer, together with the reading signal.
3. Reading of results The results are always present at the output of the memories 313 and 314. At each half revolution of the engine, that is to say after each fresh calculation, the memories are wiped-out and the new values are reinscribed. The results cannot be utilized during this short period (2 micro-seconds).
CONTROL UNIT A control unit associated with the calculating unit previously described will be described below.
The control units such for example as that of the in jection time and that of the ignition advance treat the external information given by the various detectors following a programme cadenced by an internal clock known as an ordinal counter. It has already been seen that the measurements and calculations were carried out at each half-turn of the crankshaft in the case of the example given.
The counter which gives a rhythmic frequency to the calculations (and the measurements) will begin its cycle at each half-turn of the crank-shaft.
The synchronizing impulse designated by Sy (FIGv ]1) given by the detector associated with a rotating member of the engine shaft and followed by its shaping system, will give one impulse per half-turn of the crankshaft in synchronism with a corresponding impulse from a clock of 1 MHz.
At the rising front of this signal Sy which releases the calculation sequence from which for example the injection and ignition will be controlled, there is obtained the first rising front of the rhythmic clock known as Hl, which is the first instruction of the programme from which each clock impulse will constitute a particular instruction.
Starting from HI, the counter of the control unit counts the clock impulses and gives, by means of divid ers by ten of binary-coded decimal de coders and inverters, the clock impulses from H! to Hm, where Hm is the last instruction of the programme.
The impulses utilized are synchronous with the l MHz clock, and the progress of the calculations requires a maximum of 400, which corresponds in this case to a programme restricted to the calculation of injection times and ignition advance. The counter will become blocked at 999.
The impulse H] of the counter H1 of the ordinal counter of the control unit has already been defined.
The 1 MHz clock will of necessity be completed before it is returned to the counter, so as to have the counter impulses in phase with the clock (the integrated circuits SN 7490 N, FIG. 12, being triggerd at the falling front of the information).
The blocking system for the clock at the input of the counter is very simple: if the last information is Sy," the clock increments the counter. The trigger device is obtained by means of two NO-AND gates (trigger circuit .IK FIG. 12).
When the clock signals have access to the dividercounter, this access is effected by 10 circuits SN 7490 N corresponding to the units, followed by another circuit type SN 7490 N for the tens and another for the hundreds (see FIG. 11).
The information given by these three dividers is decoded from its binary form. known as BCD to decimal by three circuits SN 7442 N and then reversed in order to obtain the impulses of the ordinary counter in positive logic.
The outputs of these three circuits are known as:
U,, to U for the units;
-D to D for the tens;
-C,, to C for the hundreds.
It has been seen for example that the purpose of the two control units referred to was to treat external information following a cycle rhythmed by the ordinal counter. For that purpose, it must operate the calculating unit in such manner as to ensure this treatment in a logic order. The diagram of FIG. 3 shows what are meant by 31a, 32a, 3 13, 3 E3, 3ya, 35a, 3 E6, 3 E7, 3 16, 317, 3 E9, 319, 3110, 3 111, 3112, 3114, 3 E10, 3 El 1, 3 E13, 3 E14, 3 E3.
The informations coming into action at the same calculation level are first of all grouped together:
31a and 3221 at 312a;
34a and 35a at 345a;
3E6 and 3E7 at 31367;
316 and 317 at 3167;
3110 and 3111 at 31101;
3E10 and 3E1l at 3El0l.
There is therefore only left to control: 312a, 313, 345a, 3E67, 3167, 3E9, 319, 31101, 315101, 31513, 3113, 31214, 3E3.
This method of construction results in the following advantages: 1. Certain controls may be carried out at the same time. 2. Certain circulation cycles take place several times in the same order and, in the case where the cycle is not fully completed, it is possible to complete it so as to make it identical with the others.
These arrangements do not affect the calculation in course, but simplify the design of the operating units.
There are therefore grouped together 3167, 345a, 3E3, this group being designated by 3167*, and subsequently 313, 312a, designated by 313*.
The pre-determned cycles are as follows:
Only with the calculation units, the first control of each cycle is generated, the subsequent controls being de-phased by a clock impulse with respect to each other, this de-phasing being carried out electronically.
The operating unit-calculating unit connections are very simple and are automatically deduced from the detail of the calculating unit.
Each control unit, for example of the injection and ignition type, gives corresponding information to the same Wires of the calculating unit. It is therefore necessary to join them together by means of an OR gate; it is for that purpose that the information has been complemented before the output of the operating units.
The principal technological characteristics of the computer forming the object of the invention and previously described, are completed by the particular features of the input and output devices which ensure its connection to the parts of the vehicle, and corrsponding functionally to the peripheral devices of a conventional computer.
These particular technical features which ensure effective communication between the computer and the vehicle, taking into account their respective characteristics, are essentially:
-Measurement of the speed;
-the conversion devices for the informatiion given by the temperature probes;
-measurement of the pressure;
measurement of the temperatures.
The temperature-voltage conversion devices ensure the treatment of the temperature measurements (air, water, etc.) from thermistances of known type, either by means ofa logarithmic amplifier permitting the conversion of a value of the resistance to a voltage proportional to the temperature or of a function generator, permitting the conversion of the value of the resistance to a voltage which is a nonlinear function of the temperature, for example in order to carry out specific corrections of richness on a given type of engine.
This amplifier is followed by an analogue-digital converter permitting the treatment of the corrections in a digital computer.
Analogue-digital converter which may be utilized is di vided or real time.
A device is employed which operates, using the charge of a condenser by the voltage to be converted, the time of linear discharge enabling the impulses to be counted of a constant-frequency clock, proportional to the voltage to be measured. Measurement of the speed There is utilized the counting of the teeth of the starter toothed-ring in order to measure the speed, following the method forming the object of French Pat. No. 7l/2l,5 l4 ofJune 14,1971 andits Additiomin the name of the present Applicants. (US. Pat. app. No. 261,974 of June 12, 1972).
Temperature measurements The temperature probes are thermistances, the resistance of which is of the form:
where A and B are constants, and T is the absolute temperature.
This variable resistance must be converted to a voltage which is a linear function of the temperature. First of all, this resistance must be measuredv It is supplied with a constant current and the voltage at its terminals is measured. This solution gives directly a voltage proportional to the resistance, and therefore to eB/T.
In order to obtain a voltage which is a linear function of the temperature, a logarithmic amplifier is used.
However, the input resistance of an amplifier of this kind being of the order of 10 kilo-ohms and the resistance of the probes reaches 20 kilo-ohms.
An impedance-matching device must be inserted as in the block diagram.
Probe Current Impedance Logar- Analogue generator matching ithmic digital device amplifier COW ve rter
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
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|Dec 23, 1969
|Universal Testproducts Inc
|Engine performance analyzer
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|Aug 15, 1972
|Zelik Alexandr Ivanovich
|Automatic diagnostic station for automobiles
|Mar 15, 1971
|Mar 27, 1973
|Conoflow Corp
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|Apr 27, 1971
|May 1, 1973
|United Aircraft Corp
|Gas turbine engine analyzer
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|Howell Instruments
|Engine performance indicator
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|Nippon Denso Co
|Electrical fuel control system for internal combustion engines
|Citing Patent
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|Jul 13, 1976
|Ford Motor Company
|Method and apparatus for engine control
|Apr 30, 1975
|Nov 16, 1976
|Nippon Soken, Inc.
|Electronically controlled fuel injection system
|Jan 3, 1975
|Mar 22, 1977
|Mcglynn Daniel R
|Vehicle operation control system
|Jun 9, 1975
|Jul 12, 1977
|Texas Instruments Incorporated
|Analog computer, particularly for an ignition system for internal combustion engine
|Aug 10, 1976
|Sep 13, 1977
|Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
|Fuel economizing system
|May 20, 1976
|Nov 29, 1977
|Chrysler Corporation
|Input sensor circuit for a digital engine controller
|Sep 10, 1975
|Feb 7, 1978
|Mcglynn Daniel R
|Vehicle usage monitoring and recording system
|Jun 24, 1976
|Feb 14, 1978
|Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
|Electronically-controlled fuel injection system
|Jul 28, 1976
|Apr 11, 1978
|Chrysler Corporation
|Mass production of electronic control units for engines
|Aug 30, 1976
|Jul 11, 1978
|Robert Bosch Gmbh
|Method and apparatus to determine the timing of a periodically repetitive event with respect to the position of a rotating body, and more particularly ignition timing, fuel injection timing, and the like, in automotive internal combustion engines
|Feb 24, 1977
|Aug 15, 1978
|U.S. Philips Corporation
|Vehicle power transmission arrangements and electronic power controls
|Dec 1, 1977
|Dec 19, 1978
|General Motors Corporation
|Fuel control system with calibration learning capability for motor vehicle internal combustion engine
|Jan 27, 1977
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|Nippon Soken, Inc.
|Ignition system for internal combustion engines
|Oct 18, 1976
|Jan 9, 1979
|Lucas Industries, Ltd.
|Fuel control system for an internal combustion engine
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|Jan 16, 1979
|Edelbrock-Hadley Corporation
|Fuel injection control system
|Sep 19, 1977
|May 22, 1979
|Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
|Electronic fuel injection system in an internal combustion engine
|Jul 26, 1977
|Sep 4, 1979
|Robert Bosch Gmbh
|Method and apparatus for controlling the operating parameters of an internal combustion engine
|Dec 5, 1975
|Oct 30, 1979
|Robert Bosch Gmbh
|Process and apparatus for fuel-mixture preparation
|Aug 25, 1977
|Dec 4, 1979
|Alfa Romeo S.P.A.
|Fuel-intermittent-injection installation for internal-combustion engines
|Apr 21, 1978
|Apr 29, 1980
|Fabbrica Italiana Magneti Marelli S.P.A.
|Electronic apparatus for feed control of air-gasoline mixture in internal combustion engines
|Sep 27, 1978
|May 20, 1980
|Keiper Automobiltechnik Gmbh & Co Kg
|Apparatus for adjusting a vehicle seat
|Feb 22, 1978
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|Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault
|Digital controller for fuel injection with microcomputer
|May 17, 1978
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|Electronic fuel injection control apparatus
|Mar 24, 1978
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|Electronic ignition control method and apparatus
|May 16, 1978
|Oct 21, 1980
|Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
|Method and apparatus for controlling internal combustion engines
|Nov 28, 1978
|Nov 11, 1980
|Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
|Ignition timing control system for internal combustion engines
|Feb 27, 1978
|Dec 30, 1980
|The Bendix Corporation
|Input/output electronic for microprocessor-based engine control system
|Aug 13, 1979
|Feb 24, 1981
|Ckd Praha, Oborovy Podnik
|Arrangement for complex diagnosis of internal combustion engines
|Oct 5, 1979
|Mar 31, 1981
|Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
|Electric control method and apparatus for automobile air conditioner
|Feb 26, 1979
|Mar 31, 1981
|Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
|Method for controlling operations of a combustion engine
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|Apr 14, 1981
|Agence Nationale De Valorisation De La Recherche (Anvar)
|Digital advance control device for internal combustion engines
|May 25, 1979
|May 12, 1981
|Robert Bosch Gmbh
|Micro-computer system for control and diagnosis of motor vehicle functions
|Feb 5, 1979
|May 26, 1981
|Sun Electric Corporation
|Remote site engine test techniques
|May 2, 1979
|Jun 23, 1981
|Nissan Motor Company, Limited
|Air/fuel ratio control system equipped with a temperature sensor fail-safe system for an internal combustion engine
|Sep 20, 1978
|Jun 30, 1981
|Hitachi, Ltd.
|Electronic engine control apparatus
|Jul 19, 1979
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|Electronic engine control apparatus having arrangement for varying fuel injection duration
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|Oct 23, 1980
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|Sep 2, 1980
|Jul 13, 1982
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|Jun 20, 1980
|Aug 10, 1982
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|Jan 4, 1983
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|Apr 21, 1980
|May 17, 1983
|Nissan Motor Company, Limited
|Noise suppressor for vehicle digital system
|Sep 25, 1980
|Aug 2, 1983
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|Nov 23, 1981
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|Aug 27, 1980
|Oct 4, 1983
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|Aug 19, 1981
|May 1, 1984
|Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.
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|Oct 12, 1979
|Jul 31, 1984
|International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation
|Automatic position control for a vehicle seat
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|Apr 4, 1983
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|Feb 24, 1982
|May 7, 1985
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|Fuel injection device of diesel engine
|Jul 15, 1982
|Nov 5, 1985
|Nissan Motor Company, Limited
|Electronic engine control system for controlling the energy conversion process of an internal combustion engine
|May 27, 1983
|Dec 3, 1985
|Allied Corporation
|Microprocessor based engine control system for controlling heavy engine loads
|Jul 2, 1982
|Dec 17, 1985
|Nutek, Incorporated
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|Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
|Power train control method on common input data
|Oct 15, 1980
|Dec 22, 1987
|Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
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|May 23, 1985
|Mar 8, 1988
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|Nov 5, 1986
|Aug 8, 1989
|Ralf Bergholz
|Method and circuitry for the driving of driver stages for functions of internal combustion engines for automotive vehicles especially for fuel injection or ignition
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|Jul 23, 1991
|Vdo Adolf Schindling Ag
|Method and device for improving the exhaust-gas behavior or mixture-compressing internal combustion engines
|Sep 14, 1991
|Mar 15, 1994
|Robert Bosch Gmbh
|Method and arrangement for the open-loop and/or close-loop control of an operating variable of an internal combustion engine
|Feb 10, 1993
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|Ford Motor Company
|Method and apparatus for inferring the actual air charge in an internal combustion engine during transient conditions
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|Apr 24, 2001
|Kelsey-Hayes Company
|Method and apparatus for manufacturing a programmed electronic control unit for use in an anti-lock braking (ABS) system
|Apr 29, 1994
|Apr 6, 2004
|Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
|Method for forming an actuating variable
|Dec 30, 2003
|Nov 15, 2005
|Tekscan Incorporated
|Sensor with plurality of sensor elements arranged with respect to a substrate
|Jul 27, 2004
|Feb 7, 2006
|Tekscan, Incorporated
|Sensor equilibration and calibration system and method
|Jul 11, 2005
|Aug 21, 2007
|Tekscan Incorporated
|Sensor with a plurality of sensor elements arranged with respect to a substrate
|Dec 30, 2003
|Jul 7, 2005
|Tekscan Incorporated, A Massachusetts Corporation
|Jul 11, 2005
|Dec 8, 2005
|Tekscan, Inc.
|Sensor with a plurality of sensor elements arranged with respect to a substrate
|Jul 27, 2004
|Feb 2, 2006
|Tekscan Incorporated
|Sensor equilibration and calibration system and method
|Mar 25, 2004
|Aug 17, 2006
|Hans Braun
|Extended fan run-on
|Jun 30, 1983
|May 6, 1986
|Hitachi, Ltd.
|Electronic engine control apparatus
|Jan 5, 1984
|Nov 11, 1986
|Hitachi, Ltd.
|Apparatus for electronically controlling internal combustion engine
|Aug 29, 1977
|Mar 15, 1979
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|Verfahren und einrichtung zur steuerung des betriebsverhaltens einer brennkraftmaschine mit fremdzuendung beim beginn, im und nach dem schubbetrieb
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|Engine control apparatus
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|Feb 12, 1986
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|Engine control apparatus
|U.S. Classification
|701/102, 123/493, 123/486, 73/114.25, 123/406.6, 123/406.45
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification


text:
You guys. Did you know their were BLOG CARNIVALS*? It's like a whole new world opened up to me. Anyway, I'm part of one on an awesome blog written by a awesome reader who I met in real life once.
It's a feminist blog carnival at that. Feminism & beauty. I KNOW. Go look!
*It's a bunch of links to amazing thematic content. I need to read it all… as soon as this darn blog is done.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center 1000
(707) 664-2346
Senior Director
Chief Information Officer
Sam Scalise
Sonoma State University / Information Technology provides the spectrum of services needed to deliver quality academic and administrative technology. SSU/IT works with:
- The faculty and students to provide Academic Computing and Instructional Technology in support of teaching and research.
- The administration and staff to provide Administrative Information Systems for the management of finances, human resources, student records and other mission critical needs.
SSU/IT brings together teams of expertise across a range of technologies to provide the necessary guidance and leadership to fully implement successful efforts in instructional and administrative technology. SSU/IT specifies campus-wide standards and provides consulting in order to ensure all technology systems are cost-effective and architecturally sound.
SSU/IT provides e-mail, web pages, multimedia equipment, video production, instructional technology software, videoconferencing facilities, high-tech classrooms and media services preview rooms. A fully staffed help desk provides consulting in the use of information technology. Consultants are available by phone, 664-HELP; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com; or in person, Schulz 1063.
Workstation support is provided to faculty and staff for their office-based computers. SSU/IT provides assistance to faculty in developing on-line multimedia content.
Computer labs with a wide range of software are available to students, faculty, and staff. Lab consultants may be reached at 664-LABS. The 24-Hour Lab is open continuously during the semester. Other labs may be scheduled for classes. Schedules are posted outside each lab and on the web at www.sonoma.edu/it/labs.
SSU/IT operates a high-speed campus and residential network with more than 20,000 nodes that provide access to resources from the campus and across the Internet. SSU/IT also operates a modern phone system with more than 4,000 lines for the campus and residential community.
SSU/IT is responsible for the technical operation of administrative information systems for Human Resources, Finance, and Student Information systems.
Sonoma State University is a member institution of CENIC. As such, users of SSU's network facilities must follow the Acceptable Use Policy (www.sonoma.edu/it/get_connected/computing/aup.shtml).
For more information see www.sonoma.edu/it.


text:
Softball Drops Decision at #11 Kentucky
The Wright State softball team only trailed 3-1 against #11 Kentucky until the Wildcats scored six in the fourth for a 9-1 win Tuesday in Lexington.
Kentucky opened the scoring with a run in the second, only to see the Raiders answer with a run of their own in the top of the third. With one out, Angie Clark reached on an error and a Jess Gorman single resulted in runners on second and third. Kacie Rapshus then had a hit up the middle to drive in Clark and tie the game.
The Wildcats, though, quickly regained the lead with two in the bottom of the third and broke the game with six in the fourth, the big blow being a three-run double by Nikki Sagermann.
WSU pitcher Krystian DeWitt struck out six in four innings of work as she gave up three earned runs.
Wright State (7-24) heads across town on Thursday to take on Dayton for a single game at 4:00.


text:
Young Hornets win fall title
From Staff Reports
Oct. 10, 2007 - YANTIS - Miller Grove junior high won the fall baseball district championship with an 11-2 victory over the Yantis Owls on Monday.
Hornets hurler Quinten Stovall threw a complete game three-hitter with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Ryan Dougan led the team going 3-for-3 with four RBI and two run scored, Reid Burns had a hit and an RBI, Tyler Lennon went 1-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored, and Nathan George added a hit and two runs scored. Patrick Covington went 1-for-2 with a two runs scored and Stovall went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Miller Grove scored runs in every inning against Yantis.
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Maya wants to do something bad to balance out all the good she's done lately.
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text:
The Stats: Working While Sick
A new survey shows almost 90% of employees come to work even when they know they are sick.
Staples, the office supply company, commissioned the survey. Last year, 80% of workers said they go to work sick. Just a few years ago, the number was 60%.
Workers, according to the survey, said they thought staying away for three days when sick with the flu was appropriate. Most, however, said they stay out for less than two days; even though it means putting coworkers at risk. 45% said they return to work early because they don't want to fall behind on their workload.
-49% percent of respondents understand they are contagious with the flu virus for one day before symptoms develop and from five-to-seven days after becoming sick, an improvement from 38% last year.
-57% know that flu viruses can live on a hard surface up to three days, a slight increase from last year; however, 66% of employees still only clean their desks once a week or less, up from 51% last year.
-76% of workers correctly identified the break room as the least clean spot in the office, a sharp increase from 26% last year.
Click here to see all the results.


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Hat on a Bucket Instructions
Silk Fibers
Silk Fabric for Nuno Felting
Needle Felting
Mixed Bags
Feltmaking Kit
Color Palette Take a look at the entire color
palette of our 100% merino roving
Since a number seem to be interested in my latest"invention", I will share the basic method. I found myself frustrated with the "hat on a ball" method when I wanted I wide brimmed hat. It was just too difficult and time consuming to get it to stretch out enough. Frustration and I do not get along well together!! I dug out a round, tapered bucket-like container that holds about 1 1/2 - 2 gallons. A small plastic trash can will work, or a 5qt. ice cream container from the Schwanns man...if he delivers in your neck of the woods. I suspend this container upside down over a gallon glass jar or something that raises the bucket up off the work surface a couple of inches for ease of working.
I then coat the bucket lightly with a thin coat of dish detergent or soap gel. This enables the first layer of wool fiber to adhere to the bucket. Subsequent layers will adhere to the previous layer. Since I use my Outback Fibers merino roving, I draw it out a little before I apply it. This thins it out and makes the layers finer.
I cover the top of the container first. Next I pull off pieces long enough to go from the top (really the bottom of the container, but it is upside down) to the lip. After this first layer evenly coats the bucket, I make a second layer, this time going around the bucket, starting at the top and spiralling gradually down. Alternate your layers until you have four or five layers total. This will depend on how fine your fiber is and how finely you make your layers, and also, how thick you want your hat. Design work can either be applied first, directly to the lightly-soaped bucket, or last, on top of the final layer of fiber.
Now take the cut-off tops from several pairs of large pantyhose and get a second pair of hands to help you stretch them over the entire bucket being very careful to shift the fiber as little as possible. Pour very hot water over this until it is well wetted down. Now either rub gently with your hands, or use your finish sander (without paper) to begin the felting process. With my merino, I find that applying the sander to each area twice for a few seconds each is sufficient to felt it to the stage where I can remove the pantyhose. Five to ten minutes of rubbing with your hands should create an initial skin on the felt.
Remove the hose and rub or sand again directly on the surface. I then carefully remove the "pouch" and turn it the other way out and return it to the bucket. Add a little more soap and water if necessary at this point and replace hose if deemed necessary. Rub this side until felt passes the pinch test, and it should be ready to full either in the blind (which I prefer) or on the washboard.
If I am planning a very wide brimmed hat, I stretch the brim portion out a little in between each turn of rolling in the blind. Stretch hard -- if your fiber is well felted, it should not pull apart. I roll a few times then change the direction of the hat in the blind to ensure all parts get evenly fulled. Rinse well and leave 15 minutes or more in a final rinse of vinegar water.
At this point I squeeze out much of the water and toss it in the microwave for 45 seconds to heat it back up. It is easier to shape and stretch when it is hot.
Stretch the crown over whatever you are using for a hat block -- (proper block, plastic or metal bowl etc.) and then work out the brim with the aid of a hot steam iron. I generally tie a string around the base of the crown to help hold the shape before working the brim. For a rolled brim, I have made up "sausages" from bias cut fabric sewn into a tube and filled with rice, sawdust, whatever. Sew it into a circle the size of your average crown circumference. You can then pull this down over the crown and stretch the brim up around it. Allow to completely dry. For a wide, flat brim, it will take a little time and some stretching to work it out flat. If mine has been too well fulled, I sometimes have to give up and settle for a rolled brim. I usually put something on the flat brim to weight it down while it dries. Stiffeners can be added if needed, but a well-fulled brim will hold its shape once dry. Trim the edges of the brim if uneven, and finish with grosgrain ribbon, bias fabric or some form of decorative hand stitching such as blanket stitch.
Jill Gully
Jill is available for teaching Outback Felting Workshops to a group or privately. Please call or email for more information.
Outback Fibers
Address: PO
Box 55, Coaldale, CO 81222
| Outback Fibers |
Sheepskins |
Nuno Felting |
Copyright © 1996-2016 Outback Fibers, Inc. and The Wool Shed


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Philip Seymour Hoffman's Autopsy: Inconclusive
Posted Wednesday February 5, 2014 2:40 PM GMT
While it has been widely assumed that he died of a heroin overdose, Philip Seymour Hoffman's autopsy report hasn't yielded any answers.
According to the New York City medical examiner's office, the results of the tests thus far have been 'inconclusive' and therefore further more tests have been ordered.
Hoffman (45) was found on the bathroom floor of his New York City apartment on Sunday (February 2) with a syringe in his arm and bags of heroin strewn about his abode.
Earlier today, the GossipCenter reported that three men and one woman have been arrested in relation to the case as they're suspected of selling drugs to the late "Capote" actor.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
filed under Philip Seymour Hoffman, Celebrity News, Legal


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U.S. Bank Electronic Access Systems (EAS) and tools enable agencies and organizations to effectively manage their purchasing, travel and fleet programs anytime, anywhere.
U.S. Bank Access Online – offers a feature-rich platform that can be easily configured and deployed to meet any web-enabled reporting and program management needs.
Innovative leading edge capabilities:
Fleet Commander® Online offers a controlled and secure, web-based fleet and fuel management program. Complete level III data capture allows desktop management of all fleet and account activity.
Effective control of fleet and fuel expenditures:
For more information
For more information, contact Government Services.


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It's images like these that keep me coming back to the lovely Lobster & Swan blog again and again and again. Jeska Hearne has such a girly, romantic, cozy home… Her arrangements of things are so beautiful and it really is a photo of a living room like this that makes me want a fireplace so badly… Her mantle just melts my heart! But we can't have it all which is why we visit the blogs of various virtual friends to find inspiration through the things that they have that we wish we did! :) ha!
I especially LOVE the prints she pointed out over at the V&A museum shop online… Jeska if you are reading this you make me happy always. :)
(images: Jeska Hearne)


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Stanley House Hotel in Mellor has had to increase the size of their dining areas, due to demand for British Classics.
Mr Fred's, located within the award-winning hotel has taken its capacity from 28 covers to 56, increasing floor space from 667 sq ft to 785 sq ft.
The hotel's customers' demand for British classics is one of the reasons behind the expansion according to the hotel's bosses, with restaurant sales having quadrupled in previous years.
The expansion is the latest in a two-year investment programme into Mr Fred's which started with a glazed extension being built in 2010.
The restaurant sits opposite the hotel's soon to be open spa which will launch in August.
Stanley House Hotel, general manager, Philip Wharton said: "Since the extension in 2010 sales have soared. Customers have been telling us how much they want traditional classics on the menu and our fish and chips is certainly the most popular with 222 dishes being sold in June alone. We've even had fish and chips on the menu at weddings!
"With the high demand, it's a logical step to expand and offer more space for our valued customers."


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|Web Site Information :.
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Raincoat Roofing Systems Ghana, High Quality Products First Class Customer ServiceDescription: High Quality pre- painted American type. roofing sheet. A range of modern colours to choose from Long lasting, tired and tested over 40 years in tough weather condition. Long span roofing panels. No direct nailing involvedin installation therefore no leakage from nail holes.
Keywords: Raincoat roofing systems Ghana, steel, metal, iron, Zincalume, colorbond, galvaspan, lysaght, shed, sheds, garden, garages, fencing, raincoat, roof, homes, house
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About This Course
"Elements of Photography is designed for those who want to develop a critical compositional eye and manual camera operation to achieve optimum quality photographs. Through content videos, class discussion, and thorough video and written teacher critiques, you will learn and apply camera and basic post-production techniques that photographers have been using for over 150 years."
Course Details
Code / Name: CADM 131 − Elements of Photography (3 credits)
Description: An introductory study of photography with an emphasis on manual camera operation, composition, digital photography, and postproduction workflow with a brief survey on the history of photography.
Required Text(s): Please use the online campus bookstore to locate required textbooks for the course. Make sure that you search using the correct course code and look for the course with the "OL" suffix in the drop-down list. (See Textbook Ordering Help.)
Required Equipment (questions should be directed to the instructor):
- Camera with Manual Exposure Capabilities
- Brand not specific.
- Have access to a camera that captures using the Manual Exposure method. This is normally shown by a "M" on the dial of modes. Manual mode allows the photography to control the aperture, shutter, and ISO.
- If enrolled in the Photography or Digital Media degrees, a Canon dSLR is highly recommended.
Required Equipment and Software Students must purchase and possess by the first day of class.
- Adobe Photoshop CS or higher preferred (Educational Discounts and 30 day trial available) or
- Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program)


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They're making a two-film version of The Hobbit, and Ian McKellan is to play Gandalf again. More here. Who's to play Bilbo I wonder? Isn't Ian Holm too old? I hope not. He'd be perfect.
Of Pevenseys, Bilboes and Bogles
April 30, 2008 by 5 Comments
Meanwhile, I'm re-reading Prince Caspian in order to churn out some articles for the film's release in a few weeks' time. What I like about the Narnia books is that the Pevensey children all talk like my friend and fellow blogger Auntie Joanna, "Oh, gosh Su, it looks like some rather beastly weather is on the way!" "Never mind Ed, we'll just have to make the best of it. At least I'm wearing my sensible school shoes, and not those nasty high heels like Esmerelda Drudge always wears!"
Related posts from Standing on my Head:
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/12373317560249811006
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/06624317806947588259
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/01268835603797984191
- http://www.blogger.com/profile/04287681931799759902


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Do you have a heart-warming story of how you met your spouse? A tale of wisdom for couples planning wedding ceremonies?
If you or someone you know has an interesting, hilarious, sappy or fairy tale story about love, marriage or dating, we want to hear it!
Contact Lesley Toth at [email protected] or 320-983-6111.


text:
Originally Posted by Dhruin
Yes, this is what we mean. And you answer the issue yourself when you say "you can get many turn-based games where the turn is more to do with a fixed round". Just so - those games are round based, not turn-based.
Whilst games like NWN2 have rounds on individual timers, the actions are still resolved simultaneously in realtime (even though the various characters might be on a different heartbeat). This is completely different gameplay to real turn-based (IGOUGO) and many concessions are made with the D&D ruleset to accomodate NWN2's (et al) gameplay.
I can appreciate this may not be to an individual's taste but for those that prefer TB, it can't shoe-horned into realtime just by pausing the simultaneous action.
To use ToEE as an example, let's say my party suddenly encounters a Hill Giant and my weak gnome mage is within the giant's range. He will surely get squashed by the first attack. The combat stack shows the order (based on initiative) for combat, and I can see that three characters get to act before the giant but the mage was caught flat-footed and won't act until after. My first three characters need to kill or disable the giant, or somehow buff or protect the mage to survive.
Because of the strict turn order and the known number of action points, I can plot out a course of action with greater depth and precision using a wider variety of tactics (including Charging, Tripping, weapon reach considerations and so on) in a way that would just become a jumble in realtime. The turns and action points make initiative and dexterity more important (and reward their use) and ranged weapons are more tactical (the distance isn't simply closed in the first round before any shots are fired).
I find this sort of situation far more gripping than the realtime combat in NWN, BG etc and it just can't be simulated by pausing.


text: Hi all! I'm new to Maui, so I'm sorry if this issue have been discussed before. I need to restrict jobs in selected Torque queues to `nodes=N:ppn=M`, not just to MxN procs on any number of nodes. People in Torque list wrote that this is impossible in Torque. Can I do this with Maui? Thanks. Roman Zubatyuk.


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Today, Congressman Sires joined his colleagues in voting for final passage of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, by a vote of 206 to 60. This bill would provide long-term, comprehensive health care and compensation for those thousands of first responders and others exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero who are now sick and in need of treatment and compensation.
"The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center were not just an attack on New York City, but on our entire nation and we have the responsibility to care for those who served our nation in its time of need," said Congressman Sires. "This bill will finally provide the proper care for those thousands of people, including firefighters, rescue workers, responders, police officers, EMTs, construction workers, cleanup workers, residents, area workers, and school children, who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero and are now ill."
Specifically, this bill would provide funding for a World Trade Center Health Program to monitor and treat responders and community residents for health conditions related to the terrorist attacks. It would also reopen the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide monetary compensation for those physically injured by the attacks or by response activities and debris removal.
"These heroic individuals selflessly served our nation on that tragic September day, and it is only fair that we return their sacrifice with just compensation," said Congressman Sires. "I am very proud that this long overdue legislation will now be sent to President Obama's desk for his signature to become law."
Source: http://sires.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=591:12222010-sires-votes-to-finalize-compensation-for-911-heroes-&catid=33:2010-press-releases


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University acquires rare medieval Bible
Just months after it opened its Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library, the University of South Carolina has acquired a rare medieval Bible, the first complete Bible of its kind in South Carolina.
Scott Gwara
Small enough for monks and friars to tote around, the new Bible is rare because it was written in Oxford, England, around 1240 and is in pristine condition. It was purchased for $77,000 with support from New York's B. H. Breslauer Foundation and joins other valuable medieval holdings in the library's Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
"This Bible is exceptionally fine," says Dr. Scott Gwara, a USC medievalist who recommended the acquisition and secured the outside funding. "Even though it's written in Latin, the 1,000-page manuscript is from England, produced around 1240."
Gwara says most medieval Bibles in the United States -- fewer than 100 in number -- are from France or Italy. The Bible acquired by USC is the only English pocket Bible in the Southeast, making it particularly valuable for research and study.
"Most Bibles from this period originated in Paris, so an English Bible like this one is very rare. It was probably made in Oxford," Gwara says. "It looks as pristine as the day it was copied, more than 750 years ago."
Dean of Libraries Tom McNally says the Bible will enhance teaching and understanding of medieval history and manuscripts. The library has the largest collection of medieval manuscripts in the state.
"As we continue to build our teaching collection of medieval manuscripts, this was both a major acquisition and a statement of our commitment to the medieval collection," McNally says. "In our region, only Chapel Hill, Duke, Emory and UVA have complete medieval Bibles, and none is of English origin."
Gwara says USC acquired the Bible for several reasons.
"Simply put, the Bible is the most important book in the Western world," Gwara said. "This one happens to be a fabulous teaching aid. Pocket Bibles are innovative. First produced around 1200, they enabled clergy to have the Bible in a single, portable volume. In England, traveling friars, from either the Dominican or Franciscan orders, would likely have carried a Bible such as this."
Gwara says the medieval pocket Bible isn't dissimilar from Bibles today.
"It still resembles our own modern Bible: thin pages like tissue paper, tiny handwriting and comprehensive chapter numbers," Gwara says. "This English pocket Bible is an important, early, complete and unstudied manuscript. What's more, it joins other excellent examples of early printed Bibles in the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, which provide greater context and understanding."
USC's new Bible is about 7 inches tall by 5 ½ wide. The English vellum, a parchment made from animal skin, has a delicate suede-like feel to the touch. Dozens of intricately decorated initials, written with a reed pen in blue with white zigzags, open each book. The text is penned at a size comparable to a four-point type today, which is roughly half the size of newspaper print.
While the ornate lettering is eye-catching, Gwara says the true beauty in the Bible is in its texts.
"It's nothing like the Paris Bibles of the period," he says. "Generally, these 13th-century Bibles included prefaces to each book. This Bible has far more prefaces than normal and features a pastor's notes and proofreading marks in its margins. It also includes a text called the 'Interpretation of Hebrew Names,' which translates the Hebrew names in the whole Bible. It is remarkable, and I cannot wait to share this book with our students."
The pocket Bible is the second acquisition of a medieval manuscript to the university on behalf of the B.H. Breslauer Foundation, established by the estate of the late Bernard H. Breslauer, a renowned book dealer and scholar, to support acquisition of rare books and manuscripts by U.S. libraries and institutions.
In 2007, with $46,000 from the foundation, University Libraries acquired a rare medieval manuscript, a preacher's manual dating back to 1269. That same year, Gwara cataloged the state's medieval holdings from more than eight institutions and worked with USC library staff to organize an exhibit of the treasures.
Gwara says there are fewer opportunities to acquire medieval manuscripts through auctions because most manuscripts have already been acquired by libraries, museums and private collectors.
"The market for medieval holdings is finite, and it's drying up," he says.
Gwara says a complete Missal (book of the order of the Mass) and complete Breviary (book of prayers and hymns), two essential manuscripts at a cost of approximately $7,500 each, would enhance USC's teaching collection.
The English pocket Bible will be featured in an exhibit that will open in the spring at the Hollings Library. Titled "The English Bible: An Exhibition for the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible, 1611, the exhibit will be on display March through June.
For more information and images of USC's medieval manuscript collections, visit the website: www.pagesfromthepast.org.
University of South Carolina Libraries
University Libraries is the only member of the Association of Research Libraries in the state of South Carolina and is ranked among the top 40 public research libraries in the United States by the organization. The Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library consists of the South Carolina Political Collections, Digital Collections and the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. The Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections acquires, preserves and makes available rare books, manuscripts and specialized research collections from a range of historical periods to students, faculty and others around the world. The department's holdings have grown seven fold in the past 25 years to 150,000 volumes.
Dr. Scott Gwara
Scott Gwara earned his doctoral degree in medieval studies from the University of Toronto in 1993. He also earned degrees from Yale University, Cambridge University and Hamilton College. Gwara has published widely on Old English, medieval Latin and medieval manuscripts. He teaches medieval English language and literature at the University of South Carolina.
A biblical acquisition
- What: Bible, created around the year 1240
- Who: USC medievalist Scott Gwara organized the acquisition and secured the outside funding
- Where: New Bible to join university's other medieval holdings in Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections


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X3 or wagon
I have to admit I'm tempted to get an X3 with the holiday credit + USAA + loyalty + bmw ultimate drive app.... BUT... is anyone else excited for the upcoming F31 wagon? The MSport wagon looks so cool.
I do like the MSport X3 as well, I've been on the fence for quite some time about ordering one. I have a baby due in January so I'm not sure I want to wait that long but the wagon actually looks cool for once. The wife and I have been sharing the car and I've heard they are going to announce wagon availability dates and pricing in January, with possible April deliveries. We've been a one car family since May of this year and I'm not sure how much longer I can wait :)
Does anyone have an MSport with Dynamic Handling (28 or 35) that could comment on the feel of driving it? I've driven an MSport without dynamic handling and thought it handled pretty well, but, I have never owned an SUV before.
The only things that bothered me were some of the noise from the run-flats and a strange wind noise at about 30-35mph that I heard when city driving.
I don't, yet, own an X3 but have the same opinion that from pictures I like the styling of the 3 series (F31) wagon vs. the X3. I came to the same conclusion when recently looking at the Audi Q5 vs. Allroad. However with the same level of equipment the Allroad was $3k USD higher. Not sure why but with more interior space the Q5, IMO, was a better value. I say this wondering if the same will be true of the BMW's.
With the upcoming F31/3-series wagon, the unknown is the release date, available equipment and pricing. I guess it depends on your situation and by extension timeline for needing a vehicle. If you can wait until more information is released on the wagon, it could work in your favor.
All things being equal in-terms of pricing, equipment, etc., I believe that I would go with the wagon. But the X3 is a great alternative.
I would go for the wagon if ED and MT are your bag...you can't have either with the x3. The touring model in the past has always been available to order as MT...hopefully bmw doesn't axe that one.
Other than that its a toss up and it really is a lifestyle preference (which will you feel better in). I will tell you this though, there will always be more x3s on the road than touring models as the take rate in the US has always been low.
With a baby due next month -- the X3 now is the best bet. You will need the increased cabin room for all the baby stuff -- amazing how much impedimentia the little folks need -- or Mom "says they need"!:rofl: Just be sure when you buy your infant seat it will fit in the back seat of the X3 -- most baby places will allow you to "fit the seat" before you buy. I hate to mention this -- but now your "911 days" are over, you will be looking at more practical transportation (dare I say it -- like MiniVans in the future) so hard riding sports suspensions (that make baby wake up) are verboten. In a few years you can get your "911" again while the wife drives the van.:rofl:
I would go for the wagon. I've driven with the F25 and the F30 328i and while I came away impressed with the latter, the X3 just didn't seem particularly outstanding when I drove it in neither interior quality nor driving dynamics. Admittedly the 328i I drove was a manual transmission but the chassis and handling felt more solid and enjoyable in the bends. The X3 felt well.......just like "any other" luxury SUV on the market.
X3 or wagon
I believe that the Audi X5 diesel is already being produced, and if not in dealer showrooms by now, should be in January.
And Audi has really "thrown down," having committed to diesels across the board (and pond), with multiple diesels coming to the US in 2013.
Hopefully BMW will do so as well, though, for the moment, it seems to have taken the Active Hybrid path.
Personally, I'd pick the wagon or an X1 over the X3. The new 3 wagon looks beautiful, and the X3's feel has just "grown" a bit bigger than what I'm looking for.
But......the new wagon in AWD will probably be priced slightly HIGHER than the X3, and my dealer says that while nothing is firm yet, the MT is "pretty unlikely".
The Q5 diesel may be a game changer~! I have read it may be in the states by mid year.:D The GLK BluTech is also due soon, but that will be a 4 potter and the car is smaller than either the X3 or Q5. Still great fuel mileage I'll bet!:p
The diesel option for the Q5 is still 1 year away. Current additions were the 3.0T replacing the 3.2 and a hybrid. The 3.0T is a great engine and is now just arriving in the states. But if I read it correctly, BMW will also be introducing their diesel engine to the X3 and 3-series wagon.
I don't own a Q5 but my wife has a A4 2.0T and we seriously considered the Q5. While there a many positives, we are leaning toward the X3 28i.
The thing that attracted me initially to the Audi was it's looks and it's price point. They also don't make packages-galore like BMW does. They have a few simple packages. BMW bends you over for the 5 features you must have and separates them in to 5 packages.
FWIW I spent two days in a new Q5 2.0 service loaner while the wife's A4 was getting some maintentance work. I was very impressed with the car -- to the point that it immediately went on my "short list" for consideration when I dump my X3. Even the 2.0 had lots of power and I can only imagine how the 3.0TDI would be!:yikes: I liked everything about the car, including the ride over rough and nasty pavement -- one of my peeves with the X3. The interior looked luxo and appeared to be of well wearing materials. All in all in my personal view I found the Audi to be superior to the new X3 in all aspects except for engine performance. Hard to beat the BMW mill.:thumbup: But that alone would not keep me in a BMW, it is the rest of the stuff that I liked better.:angel: Oh yes, Audi offers a three year free full maintenance program too (at least at this dealer).
And Audicare is 4 years BTW. They will actually cover things bigger than windshield wipers. BMW really doesnt cover the brakes as they will try ever trick in the book to get out of it. Any repair that was more than changing a light bulb I had to fight for. Real pain in the ass.
I asked about driving an Avant while mine is in for its 5000.
"do you have to pay for Audicare or is it free" -- well, nothing really is "free" -- you pay one way or another. BMW includes the cost -- Audi (or at least this dealer) uses it as a "sweetner" for the deal. Kind of like getting floormats from the salesperson.:rofl:
No currency issues to deal with
Several people have given great responses already and I envy your situation because you have 2 great vehicles to choose from. One additional factor you might consider is that the X3 is built in SC, not germany so BMW does not have to deal with the currency differences which probably accounts for some of the pricing difference between the wagon and the X3. BMW's profit margin should be much stronger on the X3. That said you may also be able to work a better deal with your dealer on the X3. We just picked up my wife's new X3 in Spartansburg and planned a short vacation around it. This is the 3rd BMW we have done this with and it's great.
A much quicker delivery time too!:D
I took advantage of the PCD when I got my X3 and it was well worth the trip to me. There isn't any cost to do PCD, you just have to get yourself to Spartanburg. BMW will cover the hotel, dinner, breakfast and pickup from the airport.
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