Page 14 - Understanding Automotive Electronics

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AUTOMOTIVE FUNDAMENTALS 1

Automotive Fundamentals

Picture yourself in the not-too-distant future driving your new car
along a rural interstate highway on a business trip. The cruise control is
maintaining the speed at a steady 100 km/hr (62 mph) and there is relatively
little traffic. As you approach a slower car, the speed-control system slows
your car to match the speed of the slower car and maintain a safe distance of
about 53 m (165 ft) behind the slowe/r car. When oncoming traffic clears,
you enter the passing lane and your car automatically increases speed as you
pass the slower car.
You press a button on the steering column and an image of a road map
appears faintly visible (so as not to obscure the road ahead) on the windshield in
front of you. This map shows your present position and the position of the
destination city. The distance to your destination and the approximate arrival
time are displayed on the digital instrument cluster.
You are talking on your cellular phone to your office about some changes
in a contract that you hope to negotiate. After the instructions for the contract
changes are completed, a printer in your car generates a copy of the latest
contract version.
The onboard entertainment system is playing music for you at a
comfortable level relative to the low-level wind and road noise in the car. After
completing your phone conversation, you press another button on the steering
wheel and the music is replaced by a recorded lesson in French verb
conjugation, which you have been studying. Suddenly, the French lesson is
interrupted by a message delivered in natural-sounding synthesized speech.
“You have fuel remaining for another 50 miles at the present speed. Your
destination is 23 miles away. Recommend refueling after exiting the highway.
There is a station that accepts your electronic credit near the exit (you know, of
course, that the electronic credit is activated by inserting the fuel nozzle into the
car). Also, the left rear tire pressure is low and the engine control system reports
that the mass air flow sensor is intermittently malfunctioning and should be
serviced soon.’’ After this message has been delivered, the French lesson returns.
A short time later, the French lesson is again interrupted by the electronic
voice message system: “Replace the disk in the Navigation CD player with disk
number 37 for detailed map and instructions to your destination, please.’’ Then
the French lesson returns.
You insert the correct disk in the Navigation CD player as requested
and the map display on the windshield changes. The new display shows a
detailed map of your present position and the route to your destination. As

UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS 1