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Early in 1980's Japanese vehicles appeared on the world and Australian market with electronic instrumentation. This paper covers the design and development of the extremely sophisticated instrumentation developed for the local manufacturers, and the level of technology achieved to produce instrumentation comprising of both analogue and digital presentation, combined triple display tripcomputer, alpha-numerical message centre, and system monitoring. These designs have in many ways outstripped their American and Japanese counter parts and are among the most advanced in the world today

The automotive industry in Australia currently produces 400 000 vehicles per annum. Today with the advent of the “World Car Concept” the instrument manufacturer as a component supplier must be prepared to produce in Australia the equivalent of overseas designs originating in America, Europe and Japan. This paper surveys the recent move towards electronic instrumentation, evaluates the three major types of displays available - LED, VF and LCD and looks at the problems to be overcome when considering the tough environmental conditions, the lack of an electronic component industry and the requirements demanded by the International Automotive Manufacturers.

This paper reviews active work being carried out in Europe. A newly developed range of I.C.'s is described. Test panels using Vacuum Fluorescence, DC Electroluminescence, and Light Emitting Diodes are being built into display modules and fitted to vehicles for evaluation. The present state of development with DC Electroluminescence is described, including combined instrument panels which can be made now. The relative merits of other available systems particularly relevant to economics are compared. A range of digital clock variants, including timers, and the integration into tachometer and instrument panels leading to general digital instruments are also described. Also covered are the special problems of trip and total odometers and the available solutions. Finally the paper covers the addition of microprocessors to the control electronics adding the possibility of other functions such as diagnostic and message panels.

The directional turn signal is a vital safety feature, and when properly used by the motor vehicle operator, helps prevent countless collisions every day. As important as this safety feature is, its basic means of shut off control remains virtually unimproved since it was first invented more than 65 years ago. It is a mechanical, closed loop control system that still today exhibits functional circumstances where the turn signal either shuts off prematurely or fails to automatically shut off. This paper describes a patented, intelligent, computer controlled turn signal system with no moving parts that uses existing sensors on the vehicle to decide on a situation appropriate turn signal shut off point, thereby resolving nearly all of the turn signal control shortcomings of today’s mechanical method and improves vehicle safety at a potential overall cost savings.

In describing the electronic lamp monitoring system developed at Packard Electric Div. of General Motors Corp., this paper discusses the requirements of lamp monitoring systems, presents a brief history of such systems at Packard Electric, explains how the system functions, and details the method of assembling the system into General Motors automobiles. The requirements for a lamp monitoring system are: it should be able to monitor all types of exterior lamps on the automobile, and the number of lamps must not be critical to design; it must be easy to assemble; it should be simple in design so that it can be repaired in the field with minimum training of personnel; it must be reliable and able to withstand the electrical and environmental conditions to which the vehicle is subjected; there should be minimal change from one car line to another and from one model year to another; and most importantly, the unit cost should be reasonable.

While using a typical tower crane, it is frequently impossible for the machine's operator to determine visually the position or movement of the crane's boom or hook. Electronic monitors have been developed to measure and display continuously to the operator the boom angle and the load weight. Included in the monitors are operator-controlled alarm systems to provide visual and audible alarms at any desired boom angle or load magnitude. Although application is described on tower cranes, the system can be applied to most types of cable or hydraulic cranes.

An electronic monitor for car use using a 5.9-inch diagonal full color TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) has been newly developed and is now being manufactured. The LCD monitor has several merits when compared to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor: reduced dimensions (especially in its depth), lighter weight and lower power consumption. This paper introduces the LCD monitor and the technologies developed for each of its element: the new LCD panel, the back light system, the signal processing circuit and the temperature compensation technology.

This paper presents the structure of the control module (CUi and CUv) used in control unit SD08, Semiconductor Breaker and Relay (SBR) and the Charging and Discharging Adjuster of batteries (CDAB) etc, and introduces the electronic monitoring and control of vehicle circuit system with SBR and the cyclic charging of batteries with CDAB. It is proved by theoretical analysis and experiments that, by using SBR and CDAB etc, the circuit system can be protected more effectively than by using traditional circuit protectors, vehicle fires caused by short circuits can be prevented, and the battery service life can be extended.

The International Border Electronic Crossing System (IBEX) incorporates low cost sensors on commercial vehicle braking systems to evaluate out-of-service conditions (OOS). OOS conditions include dragging, worn and inoperable brakes. Present roadside brake inspections require manual inspection under the vehicle to verify the operation and condition of the brake system components. To minimize these under-vehicle inspections, on-board sensors can monitor brake component conditions while the vehicle is in operation. Signal Processing Systems (SPS), Calspan Corporation, and Radlinski and Associates, Inc. (RAI) equipped three commercial vehicle tractors with brake shoe thermocouples and instrumented brake chambers. Brake condition data, acquired by the SPS “SmartLog” system, was recorded to a PCMCIA card and down-loaded on a weekly basis. Also recorded with the brake condition data was vehicle location at time of brake operation.

A new prototype instrument based on electronic nose (e-nose) technology has demonstrated the ability to qualify (identify) and quantify many vapors at minimum required concentrations in only 90 seconds. It may easily be adapted to detect many toxic vapors. Algorithms were developed to identify vapors, recognize when a vapor is not one of the vapors of interest, estimate the concentrations of the contaminants, as well as identify and quantify mixtures of vapors. A filter system for fuel detection was also developed so that the instrument can zero on a baseline free of fuel contamination. This paper describes the design of the portable e-nose instrument, test equipment setup, test protocols, pattern recognition algorithms, concentration estimation methods, and laboratory test results [1, 2].

A recent breakthrough in electronic nose technology enables applying these devices for mass market applications. Now, it is feasible to manufacture compact, low-power, low-cost robust electronic noses without the need for chemical calibrating individual devices. Several application areas are being developed ranging from applications in medicine (tuberculosis, cancer, asthma, COPD detection by breath analysis, and pathogen detection in blood and urine) to gas detection and identification for e.g. personal protection, scorch detection or guarding spaces. In this paper, it is proposed to apply electronic nose technology for monitoring cabin air quality in aircraft. A configuration for implementing this is discussed. As the hardware and know-how for developing a dedicated air monitoring system are available, it would require a limited effort to realize such an early warning system.

The Optimizer is an electronic control system that keeps the engine in tune all the time by adjusting its setting continuously for best fuel economy several times each second. In contrast to the conventional programmed controls, the Optimizer works on the closed-loop principle in which the output influences the input. It has been applied to setting the spark timing and air-fuel ratio in otto engines and injection timing in diesel engines. Optimizer control is applicable to the adjustment of any setting in any prime mover: right-left, up-down, clockwise-counter clockwise, which influences the power output. The dramatic advance in microelectronics in the last few years permits the application of Optimizer controls to conventional automobile engines at an amazingly low manufacturing cost.

An electronic, fully automatic overload indicating system was developed and successfully applied to mobile construction type cranes. A mini-computer monitors the signals from boom load and boom angle transducers. It computes the resultant percentage of rated lifting capacity based on the crane's rating chart. A plug-in program card furnishes the safe operating limits from the rating chart.

A problem of interest of the aeronautical industry is the positioning of electronic equipment in racks and the associated ventilation system project to guarantee the equipment operational conditions. The relevance of the proper operation of electronic equipment increases considerably when high economical costs, performance reduction and safety are involved. The appropriate operational conditions of the electronic components happen when the working temperature of the equipment installed in the rack is inside a safety project temperature margin. Therefore, the analysis and modelling of heat transfer processes for aircraft rack design becomes mandatory. This paper presents a parametric study considering volumetric and superficial heat generation in electronic equipment within racks in an aircraft. Simulations were performed using the commercial CFD Fluent code and results were compared to experimental data.

Recent developments in plating and imaging of circuit patterns on three dimensional shapes have made it possible to apply electronic circuitry directly to the surface of a molded plastic part of complex configuration. Thus both mechanical and electrical functionality can be combined in a single low cost component. The paper reviews the state of the art of this Molded Interconnection Packaging Technology, describing advantages and limitations and offering examples of specific designs.

As conventional mechanical components evolve into electronic and electro-mechanical systems, the suppliers of these systems need to re-evaluate their development processes. The goal is to ensure that these new products are robust and meet reliability and safety requirements. Such was the case at DURA during the development of its SmartPark™ Electronic Parking Brake Technology.

An electronic particulate matter sensor (EPMS) developed at the University of Texas was used to characterize exhaust gases from a single-cylinder diesel engine and a light-duty diesel vehicle. Measurements were made during transient tip-in events with multiple sensor configurations in the single-cylinder engine. The sensor was operated in two modes: one with the electric field energized, and the other with no electric field present. In each mode, different characteristic signals were produced in response to a tip-in event, highlighting the two primary mechanisms of sensor operation. The sensor responded to both the natural charge of the particulate matter (PM) emitted from the engine, and was also found to create a signal by charging neutral particles. The characteristics of the two mechanisms of operation are discussed as well as their implications on the placement and operation of the sensor.

This paper presents several possible topologies for Electronic Power Distribution Systems. A discussion is presented on the advantages and drawbacks of each topology. Weight savings, reliability increase, diagnostics and prognostics capabilities are discussed. Trade study results are presented to back up the discussion. The paper also presents some options on communication between the power system and the avionics systems.

The frequency response of steering effort torque changes according to the influence of vehicle dynamics. To help enhance feel, a new electronic power steering (EPS) control has been constructed. As the control can be achieved by the addition of a viscosity control with a filter to existing EPS systems, its structure is simple and easily installed. Actual vehicle tests have been performed to verify that the control is capable of enhancing convergence without adversely affecting response during steering.

An electronic, automatic, recording blowby meter (RBM) for internal combustion engines has been developed. The new meter can measure both dynamic and static blowby conditions. It also displays on graph paper a permanent record of engine blowby. The RBM also is capable of finding malfunctions of its own and other operational systems. The RBM is designed basically for dynamometer laboratory use but also has some degree of portability.