Donald L Mueller

US Patent:

20040254702, Dec 16, 2004

Filed:

Jun 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/462370

Inventors:

Donald Mueller - Waynesville OH, US

International Classification:

B60G017/00

US Classification:

701/038000, 701/001000, 280/005507

Abstract:

A method and apparatus to detect a turning maneuver on a vehicle are shown. The invention measures a change in height of the vehicle chassis relative to a fixed point on the vehicle, e.g. a wheel axle. This information is combined with other vehicle inputs to determine when the vehicle is engaged in a turn maneuver, based upon preset thresholds. The method is also able to determine a magnitude of a turn maneuver, based upon preset criteria. The information regarding detection and magnitude of a turn maneuver can be used by other vehicle systems to enhance control and stability, improve braking, and provide other features and functions.

US Patent:

57040389, Dec 30, 1997

Filed:

Apr 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/632328

Inventors:

Donald L. Mueller - Centerville OH
Benjamin L. Miciano - El Paso TX

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G06F 1130

US Classification:

39518508

Abstract:

A power-on-reset and watchdog circuit is disclosed which employs discrete bipolar transistors to provide reset capability for microprocessors in the event of power-up or microprocessor malfunction. The present invention has a watchdog detection circuit which monitors a pulsed microprocessor output signal. As long as the watchdog detection circuit receives the pulsed microprocessor output signal, the microprocessor will not reset. In the event of microprocessor malfunction the pulsed microprocessor output signal will latch either high or low, initiating an oscillator circuit to reset the microprocessor. Upon power-up, the watchdog detection circuit will be forced into the off state for a specified amount of time so as to invoke the oscillator circuit, thereby resetting the microprocessor.

US Patent:

48271985, May 2, 1989

Filed:

Feb 9, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/159533

Inventors:

Donald L. Mueller - Dayton OH
Glen A. Nyberg - Warren MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60S 108

US Classification:

318483

Abstract:

A pair of outer conducting members on the outside of a windshield are separated by a long common insulating border defining a border resistance in parallel with a first capacitance. Each of the outer conducting members is capacitively coupled through a layer of the windshield to an inner conducting member to form coupling capacitances in series with the combination of the border resistance and first capacitance. The preceding elements form a timing circuit for an oscillator, the timing circuit having an equivalent capacitance varying with the border resistance. When water droplets bridge the border of the outer conducting members, the border resistance decreases from infinity to change the equivalent capacitance of the timing circuit and thus the frequency of the oscillator circuit; and this change is detected to modify wiper operation.

US Patent:

49529145, Aug 28, 1990

Filed:

Oct 13, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/420979

Inventors:

Donald L. Mueller - Dayton OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G08B 2100
H01G 528

US Classification:

340620

Abstract:

A washer fluid monitor comprising a pair of electrically conducting probes projecting downward into a washer fluid reservoir and incorporated into part of the positive feedback loop of a Wien bridge oscillator. One of the probes is grounded; and the Wien bridge oscillator is modified with an additional capacitor isolating the other probe from the DC supply and intermediate voltages so that it is essentially grounded at the oscillator frequency to greatly reduce or eliminate ionic currents in the washer fluid and resulting probe degradation without the need for an isolating transformer.

US Patent:

52006760, Apr 6, 1993

Filed:

Apr 9, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/865620

Inventors:

Donald L. Mueller - Dayton OH
Michael B. Monahan - Miamisburg OH
Amanda R. Wright - Fairborn OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60S 108

US Classification:

318444

Abstract:

A window wiper system for an automotive vehicle provides multiplex encoding of a control switch signal and an additional wiper control signal in a two-channel multiplex control signal and decoding of the multiplex control signal by the wiper mechanism for control of wiper operation. The multiplex control signal is a cyclical waveform containing alternating cycles of different first and second periods wherein the duty cycle of the first period cycles is determined by the additional wiper control signal and the duty cycle of the second period cycles is determined by the control switch. The additional wiper control signal may be derived from a rain sensor, an intermittent delay control resistor or any other device on the passenger side of the vehicle firewall which generates a signal controlling wiper operation.

US Patent:

54931908, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Sep 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/315421

Inventors:

Donald L. Mueller - Dayton OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60S 108

US Classification:

318443

Abstract:

A vehicle window wiper interfacing arrangement for interconnecting a window wiper function switch, a wiper motor controller, and an auto-delay controller to permit a water drop sensor to control a window wiper delay time when a window wiper system is operated in an AUTO-DELAY mode. The auto-delay controller outputs three wiper function signals, namely OFF, LOW speed and WASH to the wiper motor controller via a single bi-directional multiplexed line. The wiper motor controller outputs a wiper position signal to the auto-delay controller via the same bi-directional multiplexed line for use by a control program to determine a proper wiper delay time period.