A brake system and related components including a metering device are configured to regulate a control signal received from a brake control device such that a control valve delays the supply of a level of requested braking pressure for a prescribed amount of time. The metering device can be an inversion valve and orificed check valve in a control circuit adapted to allow relatively unrestricted flow until a threshold pressure is reached, after which pressure the inversion valve closes and the flow is metered through an orifice. This has the effect of allowing rapid brake actuation to a first level, and then slowing further application of the brake until full requested braking is achieved. An electronic control unit can also be configured to regulate a control signal to delay development of the requested brake pressure.

In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.

A brake control system for motor vehicles includes a stability system for stabilizing the vehicle from the standpoint of driving dynamics during braking, a triggering unit for the automatic output of a braking demand as a function of the traffic situation, a braking unit which converts the braking demand into a braking action, and a control unit for modifying the braking demand prior to its implementation as a function of the state of the stability system.

A pressure control reservoir includes a valve ball and a shaft which is movable to move the valve ball to open or close a fluid path leading to a fluid reservoir chamber. The shaft has a tip with a slant surface which has a peripheral edge of a polygonal shape with even numbers of vertices and is inclined to the longitudinal center line of the shaft. Such a polygonal geometry increases an entire or inclined length of the slant surface, which results in an increased range where an angle which the slant surface makes with a plane extending perpendicular to an axial direction of the tip is permitted to be increased without causing the point of contact between the valve ball and the slant surface to be shifted close to the tip of the slant surface when the tip of the shaft moves the valve ball.

A vehicle brake system includes a brake pedal unit (BPU) coupled to a vehicle brake pedal and including an input piston connected to operate a pedal simulator during a normal braking mode, and coupled to actuate a pair of output pistons during a manual push through mode. The output pistons are operable to generate brake actuating pressure at first and second outputs of the BPU. A hydraulic pressure source for supplying fluid at a controlled boost pressure is included. The system further includes a hydraulic control unit (HCU) adapted to be hydraulically connected to the BPU and the hydraulic pressure source, the HCU including a slip control valve arrangement, and a switching base brake valve arrangement for switching the brake system between the normal braking mode wherein boost pressure from the pressure source is supplied to first and second vehicle brakes, and the manual push through mode wherein brake actuating pressure from the BPU is supplied to the first and second vehicle brakes.

Provided is a braking control system including: an internal combustion engine serving as a power source of a vehicle; a brake servo unit operated by a negative pressure supplied thereto; a passage configured to supply an intake negative pressure of the internal combustion engine to the brake servo unit; and a negative pressure pump configured to generate a negative pressure by being driven by power transmitted from a wheel of the vehicle and transmit the generated negative pressure to the brake servo unit, wherein the negative pressure pump is driven so as to supply the negative pressure to the brake servo unit during execution of inertia running in which the internal combustion engine stops and the vehicle runs by inertia.

An electric driving type utility vehicle having a regenerative brake force distribution control function, and a regenerative brake force distribution control method thereof are provided. The utility vehicle includes: a controller for controlling an output and a recovery of a motor; recovery sensing means for sensing a recovery braking state when the motor is driven; a power measurement unit for measuring the amount of recovery power generated in the recovery braking state; and a power switching unit for automatically switching a drive mode from a two-wheel drive mode to a four-wheel drive mode or vice versa according to the load condition. The present invention can switch the present mode to the four-wheel drive mode by operating the power switching unit according to the control of the controller when sensing the recovery brake through the recovery sensing means in the driving state.

A control device for a braking system of a vehicle is provided, having a first receiving device which receives a provided brake activation intensity variable, a plunger control device which determines a setpoint fill level variable of a plunger, taking into account at least the received brake activation intensity variable, and a corresponding plunger control signal is outputtable so that a ratio of an actual volume and a maximum fillable volume of a storage volume of the plunger is settable corresponding to the determined setpoint fill level variable. For a brake activation intensity variable corresponding to a predefined non-activation intensity variable, the plunger control device determines a fill level variable different from an empty state as the setpoint fill level variable, and outputs a plunger control signal corresponding to the determined setpoint fill level variable to the plunger such that the plunger is at least partially filled.

A brake control device for a brake system. The control device can perform both an interlocking brake control and an antilock brake control. The brake system includes a front-wheel hydraulic circuit, a front-wheel-side braking part; a rear-wheel hydraulic circuit, a rear-wheel-side braking part; and an electrically-operated pump which pressurizes the brake fluid. The brake control device includes a usual voltage mode where the interlocking brake control or the anti-lock brake control is performed when the supply voltage is a first voltage or more, and a low voltage mode where at least one of the interlocking brake control and the anti-lock brake control is performed in a limited manner when the supplied voltage is a second, lower voltage. An operation mode is changed from the usual voltage mode to the low voltage mode when it is determined that the supply voltage becomes lower than the first voltage.

Disclosed is a control method of an electronic parking brake system, which variably controls the duty of voltage applied to a motor upon release of the electronic parking brake system. The control method includes controlling voltage applied to a motor to a first duty ratio upon release of the electronic parking brake system, controlling the voltage applied to the motor to a second duty ratio greater than the first duty ratio if locking of the motor occurs and the motor is not operated, and controlling the voltage applied to the motor to the first duty ratio if locking of the motor is released and the motor begins to operate, after the control of voltage to the second duty ratio.

A pressure control valve arrangement for controlling a fluid pressure in an ABS brake system of a vehicle so that, while there is a tendency of individual wheels of the vehicle to lock, the brake pressure in at least one associated brake cylinder can be adaptively adjusted, including: a housing; and at least one diaphragm valve is accommodated in the housing, the diaphragm valve having a diaphragm as the valve body, which diaphragm can be acted upon by introducing pressure medium into a control chamber that is covered on the outside of the housing by a cover so that the control chamber is formed between the diaphragm and the cover, wherein at least one pressure medium channel carrying pressure medium is formed in the housing in the region of the cover, wherein at least one cover has at least one projection projecting into the pressure medium channel in the housing, a pressure medium guiding surface for directing the flow of the pressure medium carried in the pressure medium channel being formed on the projection.

A flat, box-shaped hydraulic block for the mechanical fastening and hydraulic interconnection of solenoid valves, pump elements, etc. of a slip-controlled vehicle brake system connects connections of installation spaces for the pump elements to connectors for a brake master cylinder and connections of receptacles for pressure build-up valves which run past one another via flat chambers on longitudinal sides of the hydraulic block and short blind bores. As a result, the receptacles of the pressure build-up valves are connected to the connectors for the brake master cylinder. The chambers damp pressure pulses of the pump elements of a piston pump.

A vehicle yaw stability control method and a vehicle yaw stability control apparatus are provided. The yaw rate {dot over (ψ)} of the vehicle is measured. A first reference yaw rate {dot over (ψ)}ref is set. A difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)} is set. Stabilizing braking intervention is triggered when a value of the difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)} exceeds limits defined by difference yaw rate threshold values Δ{dot over (ψ)}min, Δ{dot over (ψ)}max. Information regarding the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle is acquired. The reliability of the driver steering input δ is evaluated upon stabilizing braking intervention being triggered. In case the driver steering input δ is deemed unreliable a replacement reference yaw rate {dot over (ψ)}refroad is set based on the acquired road shape and a replacement difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)}road is set whereupon stabilizing braking intervention is performed based on the replacement difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)}road.

A method and a device for controlling and/or regulating an electric motor. Such electric motors are used for example in motor vehicles in the form of pump motors. In general, the electric motor is supplied with electrical energy from a battery and/or using a generator. The controlling and regulation take place using a high-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM). When the electric motor is started, the PWM is used to continuously increase the motor current required for the operation of the electric motor, e.g. beginning from 0.

A variable speed power converter controls the speed of a load in a material handling system as a function of the torque required to move the load. While the power converter is running, the torque being produced in the motor is determined. The power converter then determines the maximum rotational speed of the motor as a function of the torque currently being produced and of the torque-speed curve of the motor. The power converter then commands the motor to rotate at this maximum rotational speed. The power converter periodically monitors the torque being produced and adjusts the maximum rotational speed of the motor throughout the run.

A motor control device comprises: an acceleration upper limit estimating unit; a target acceleration setting unit; a motor control unit; and a deficit calculating unit, wherein the target acceleration setting unit corrects the target acceleration based on the acceleration profile by an amount corresponding to the acceleration deficit within a range in which the target acceleration does not exceed the acceleration upper limit on the basis of the acceleration deficit calculated by the deficit calculating unit to set the target acceleration at each time.

A motor control apparatus for controlling a DC motor includes a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the DC motor, a driven member configured to be driven by the DC motor, a control unit configured to perform, during start-up of the DC motor, feed forward control for changing a control value used for controlling drive of the DC motor from a first control value corresponding to an angular velocity smaller than a target angular velocity to a second control value corresponding to the target angular velocity, and to change the feed forward control to feedback control for controlling the control value based on a detection result by the first detection unit to keep the DC motor at the target angular velocity, and a second detection unit configured to detect whether the driven member has been replaced.

An electric motor, having a stator (465), a rotor (470), and an apparatus for evaluating a signal provided for controlling said motor (110), comprises a receiving unit (430, 440) for receiving a control signal (PWM_mod), which is a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) onto which a data signal (DIR, DATA) is modulated. An evaluation unit (440) is provided for evaluating the modulated control signal (PWM_mod). The unit is configured to extract, from the modulated control signal (PWM_mod), data provided for operation of the motor (110). The control apparatus includes a signal generator (450) configured to generate, on the basis of the extracted or ascertained data provided for operation of the motor (110), at least one control signal for the motor (110), such as a commanded direction of rotation. Piggybacking other control data onto the PWM power level signal reduces hardware investment, by permitting omission of a signal lead which would otherwise be required in the motor structure.

A control circuit for a blender provides low-cost power conditioning through the use of a high resistance which provides temporary power for operation of low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches for a time sufficient to switch the motor on, and a lower resistance which provides sufficient power for maintaining the motor on state indefinitely as instructed by the low-voltage logic circuitry. Low average power dissipation is provided by powering the low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches using the high resistance in a standby mode and switching in the lower resistance only when the motor is activated.

A method and device for controlling an electric motor, in particular a machine tool drive, wherein during a sensorless open-loop control mode of operation of the electric motor the speed and the torque are determined from the motor current and the motor voltage, and the moment of inertia of the electric motor torque are determined from the determined motor current and the determined motor voltage, wherefrom then a control torque is determined, which is then associated with an open-loop torque control value and supplied as the torque setpoint value to a control element for setting the motor current and/or the motor voltage in the open-loop mode of operation. As long as the speed is below a minimum speed, the control element receives as input variable a control or pilot control torque generated from a predefined moment of inertia for a sensorless closed-loop control mode of operation of the electric motor.

A power converting apparatus including a power converter that converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage and applies the AC voltage to an AC rotating machine and a control unit that controls the power converter based on an operation command from the outside is provided. The power converting apparatus includes: a first calculating unit that calculates and outputs, from a d-axis current detection value and a q-axis current detection value detected by the AC rotating machine and current command values based on the operation command, first voltage command values to the power converter, magnetic fluxes of the AC rotating machine, and an angular frequency; and a second calculating unit that sets, as an initial value, at least one of the magnetic fluxes and the angular frequency input from the first calculating unit and calculates and outputs second voltage command value to the power converter and an angular frequency.

A lower limit value setting unit (52) variably sets a lower limit value (Vth) of a target voltage (Vh*) in a range of a voltage that is higher than the maximum value of voltages (Vb1, Vb2) of power storage devices and is not affected by a dead time provided for converters, based on temperatures (Tb1, Tb2) and required electric powers (Pb1*, Pb2*). A maximum value selection unit (53) sets the maximum value among the voltages (Vb1, Vb2) of the power storage devices and required voltages (Vm1*, Vm2*) of motor-generators, as the target voltage. A target voltage limiting unit (54) compares the target voltage with the lower limit value (Vth), and if the target voltage is lower than the lower limit value (Vth), the target voltage limiting unit (54) sets the lower limit value (Vth) as the target voltage (Vh*).

A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.

The invention relates to an electric motor assembly, particularly for driving a fan for an engine cooling system and/or an air conditioner of a motor vehicle, comprising an electric motor and a motor control device for activating the electric motor. According to the invention, the motor control device can be adjusted according to a characteristic curve (1,2,3,4) of the electric motor and/or of the fan, and thereby the power and/or rotational speed of the electric motor can be adjusted.

A detection control system includes a sensing unit, a control module and a driving module for a motor including a rotor and a stator. The sensing unit electrically connects the motor to sense a first and a second magnetic pole of the rotor cross a chip disposed between the rotor and the stator; a third magnetic pole is alternated to a forth magnetic pole of the stator to generate a sensing signal. A detection unit of the control module detects a kickback voltage value generated by a first current value changing to a second current value to calculate a minimum current value to generate a detecting signal. A timing unit receives the sensing and the detecting signal to calculate a first and a second period of time, and a discharging time. The driving module drives the rotor by receiving a control signal the control unit generates by controlling an alternating time.

The present application discloses a control circuit for a power tool and a method for manipulating the power tool. The control circuit has a detection circuit for battery packs, a calculating control circuit, a battery capacity indicating circuit for indicating the calculation result of the battery capacity, and a current measure and calculating circuit for measuring the current flowing through motors. The calculation result further includes the voltages consumed by the battery pack internally and the discharge loop. The method for manipulating the power tool includes pressing the switch to electrically connect the motor and the battery pack, measuring the parameters of the battery pack and allowing the motor to operate or not according the measured parameters. Further, after the motor is in operation, the battery capacity is calculated and the results are displayed.

Assemblies for HVAC systems and methods of operating HVAC systems are disclosed, including a method of operating an HVAC system having a compressor assembly and a condenser assembly. The compressor assembly includes a compressor having a compressor motor that is susceptible to backspinning and capable of generating electric power when backspinning. The condenser assembly includes a condenser motor operatively coupled to a fan. The condenser assembly is electrically coupled to the compressor assembly. The method includes using the condenser motor as an electric load to dissipate electric power generated by the compressor motor when the compressor motor backspins.

An integrated circuit for controlling an electric motor, which has a primary component with a coil and a permanently magnetic secondary component cooperatively connected via an air gap to the primary component, has a semiconductor substrate in which are integrated a microcontroller and/or a pre-amplifier for controlling the coil of the electric motor. For detecting the position of the permanently magnetic secondary component, at least two magnetic field sensors with their measurement axes aligned crosswise relative to each other are integrated in the semiconductor substrate.

A control circuit for a fan includes a fan controller, a switch controller, and a frequency detector. When a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal output pin of the fan controller outputs PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a high level signal, connecting an input pin of the switch controller to an output pin of the switch controller. The fan receives the PWM signal. When the PWM signal output pin of the fan controller does not output PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a low level signal, such that the output pin of the switch controller does not output any signal. In this state, the fan receives a high level signal through a resistor and a power supply, enabling the fan to continue operating.

An apparatus or method which accepts a burst of pulses at a frequency which may not be tightly controlled and converts this into a trajectory command that is a suitable motion profile for an incremental motor control application. The output of the invention can be a pulse stream that can be fed to an existing incremental pulse input motor drive or the invention can be embedded into a motor drive where its output is a numerical sequence that defines a physically realizable trajectory to be fed to the control circuits and software within the motor drive.

A motor current detection apparatus in the present invention includes: a current detection unit, a first filter, and a second filter. The detection unit detects a conduction current flowing from a battery to a brushless motor and outputs a conduction current signal corresponding to the detected conduction current. The first filter extracts a first current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined first cutoff frequency. The second filter extracts a second current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a predetermined frequency band within a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency and having the second cutoff frequency as a maximum value.

A rotation speed control circuit is disclosed. The rotation speed control circuit includes a temperature-controlled voltage duty generator, a pulse-width signal duty generator, a multiplier and a rotation speed signal generator. The temperature-controlled voltage duty generator converts temperature-controlled voltage to digital temperature-controlled voltage and executes linear interpolation operation according to a first setting data so as to output temperature-controlled voltage duty signal. The pulse-width signal duty generator coverts pulse-width input signal to a digital pulse-width input signal and executes linear interpolation operation according to a second setting data so as to output a pulse-width duty signal. The temperature-controlled voltage duty signal and the pulse-width duty signal are executed for multiplication by the multiplier so as to output mixing-duty signal. The rotation speed generator receives the mixing-duty signal and a third setting data, and executes a minimum output duty operation so as to output a pulse-width output signal.

The present invention discloses a controller and a method for improving motor driving efficiency. According to the present invention, multiple control parameters are inputted to the controller so that the controller can adjust timings of PWM driving signals for driving the motor to advance or delay the turned-ON or turned-OFF points, whereby the motor is driven efficiently.

A method for controlling a motor is provided. The method comprises obtaining electrical signals of the motor with a signal unit, the electrical signals comprising a motor torque and an angular velocity, calculating a voltage phase angle of a voltage vector with a calculating component, wherein a command torque, the motor torque, the angular velocity and a voltage amplitude of the voltage vector are inputs of the calculating component, and wherein the voltage phase angle is a variable and the voltage amplitude is a constant. The method further comprises modulating the voltage phase angle and the voltage amplitude to a switching signal for controlling an inverter; converting a direct current voltage to the voltage vector according to the switching signal, and applying the voltage vector to the motor.

A non-contact support platform system is provided for supporting a substantially flat object. The system includes a platform with a first plurality of pressure ports and a first plurality of vacuum ports for inducing a fluid cushion to support the object at a distance from the platform. The system further includes a second plurality of pressure ports located at a predetermined zone of the platform for increasing the distance of the object from the platform at the predetermined zone.

A work conveying system sequentially conveys a workpiece to multiple working apparatuses and includes a rail track disposed along the multiple working apparatuses and multiple conveyor robots disposed on the rail track and movable on the rail track independently. In addition, a delivery control unit controls the multiple conveyor robots for delivering the workpiece between adjacent conveyor robots. Any one of the multiple conveyor robots can be controlled for isolated individual movement on the rail track between adjacent working apparatuses to sequentially deliver the workpiece.

A conveyer magazine-type empty bag supplying apparatus including an empty bag separator for separating the topmost empty bag from a set of empty bags and feeding it forward, a positioning stopper for the front end of the fed-out empty bag coming into touch therewith, ratchet wheels coming into contact with the empty bag fed by the empty bag separator and feeding the bag forward, causing the bag to come into touch with the positioning stopper, and an empty bag suction members for adhering to and picking up the bag positioned by the positioning stopper. The ratchet wheels are provided on pivoting arms so as to be oscillatingly moved between its delivery position and its retracted position. The delivery position is between the positioning stopper and the empty bag suction members and the retracted position is on the front side which is beyond the stop surface of the positioning stopper.

A traction force control section of a wheel loader, when the determination conditions are satisfied during traction force control, increases the maximum traction force. The determination conditions include that the wheel loader is performing an excavation operation, that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a prescribed speed threshold value, that the amount of operation of the accelerator operating member is equal to or more than a prescribed accelerator threshold value, and that the amount of operation of the inching operating member is less than or equal to a prescribed inching operation threshold value.

Reduction in cooling rate of a substrate having a lower temperature is suppressed because the substrate having a lower temperature is not affected by radiant heat of a substrate having a higher temperature while cooling a plurality of substrates in a cooling chamber. The substrate processing apparatus includes a load lock chamber configured to accommodate stacked substrates; a first transfer mechanism having a first transfer arm provided with a first end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a first side of the load lock chamber; a second transfer mechanism having a second transfer arm provided with a second end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a second side of the load lock chamber; a barrier installed between the substrates to be spaced apart from the substrates supported by a substrate support provided in the load lock chamber; and an auxiliary barrier unit installed between the substrate support and the barrier, wherein the auxiliary barrier unit is installed at places other than standby spaces of the end effectors.

An adapter for front forks of a front loading commodity collection truck allows the truck to collect from rear load and side load style containers. An intermediate container is carried on the forks of the truck. An engagement apparatus is mounted on the intermediate container and is laterally extendible to engage the commercial container at curbside and draw the container to the intermediate container. The engagement apparatus will lift the commercial container and tip it over the intermediate container. Controls in the cab of the truck control operation of the adapter. The adapter can be removed easily from the forks when a front loading refuse container is encountered.

A connector device enables universal compatibility and interchangeability between any work tool accessory having a boom feature and any skid steer loader as well as controlled support of the work tool accessory. The connector device also prevents machine instability issues.

Reinforcement devices and systems for holding a traffic control assembly in compression are provided. The traffic control assembly includes a traffic signal disconnect hanger and/or a traffic signal and a first span wire positioned above the traffic control assembly. In some embodiments, the reinforcement device includes an upper support device connected to the first span wire where the upper support device has a length that is greater than a width of the traffic control assembly and the upper support device is configured to spread the load of the traffic signal assembly to the first span wire. The reinforcement device includes a lower support device operably connected to the traffic signal, a first vertical support member, and a second vertical support member where the first and second vertical members are tensioned when the upper support device, the lower support device and the first and second vertical support members are connected together.

A system and method for controlling power usage of a reporting device associated with an asset is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method determines whether the reporting device is in a sleep mode or an active mode and in response to determining the reporting device is in the sleep mode, the method maintains the sleep mode and in response to determining a state change associated with the reporting device, the method powers up the reporting device to the active mode.

An interface (303) between adjacent ones of light guide sections (310) is inclined with respect to an incident surface (301) and an emission surface (302) of the light guide element (300A) so that an incident surface (311) of at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps a part of a display region (202) in a liquid crystal panel (200A) and an emission surface (312) of said at least a part of the light guide sections (310) overlaps at least a part of a frame region (203) above which an image on the display region (202) is to be displayed. Furthermore, a relation 5°

An automated method for cueing a high resolution video camera to a mobile object involves first detecting the presence of an object by a wide-area surveillance asset such as a radar and using the radar's positional information to cue the video camera iteratively, while updating the positional information each time. Then, a video analytics algorithm detects the object and generates more accurate positional and rate information on the object, which is then used to cue the video camera into a higher resolution setting for classifying/identifying the object. Once the object is identified, the positional and rate information is updated and the updated information is used to further cue the video camera into a higher resolution setting for recording a video clip of the moving object while the video camera is dynamically steered.

A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application.

A method of determining a turbulent condition in an aircraft with a handheld device where the handheld device has at least one of a gyroscope, seismometer, and an accelerometer where the method includes receiving an output from the at least one of the gyroscope, seismometer, and accelerometer while the handheld device is located within the aircraft and providing an indication of a turbulent condition.

A user programmable motor vehicle driving parameter control system includes a motor vehicle including at least one active aerodynamic control element, and a user/vehicle interface member, and a controller including a memory having stored therein a user defined deployment schedule and a processor configured and disposed to selectively deploy the at least one aerodynamic control element based on the user defined deployment schedule.

A configurable light timer adapted to receive data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is disclosed. The configurable light timer comprises a control circuit; an input portion coupled to receive a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer, wherein the portable memory device stores data to be used by the configurable light timer and is adapted to be removed after the data is downloaded; and a memory coupled to receive the data stored on the portable memory device; wherein control circuit accesses the data from the memory after the data is downloaded and the portable memory device is removed. A method of receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is also disclosed.