Understanding Automotive Electronics (Sams Understanding Series) [Paperback]

William Ribbens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0750675993 | ISBN-13: 978-0750675994 | Edition: 6

In addition, the new edition explains new electronically controlled vehicle motion control systems including advanced suspension, electronically controlled electric power steering, 4-wheel steering and electronically controlled electric brakes. The braking systems are part of an integrated motion control system that couples ABS brakes; traction control and variable vehicle dynamics for enhanced stability are also described. The development of hybrid/electric vehicles and their associated electronic control/monitoring systems as well as the new technologies incorporated into conventional gasoline and diesel-fueled engines are also discussed.

*Extensive revision of a popular text
*Covers the shift from 14-volt to 42-volt systems
*Includes information on future automotive elctronic systems

Editorial Reviews

Review

An illustrated how-to guide for smooth-running performance! Helps readers understand how electronic circuits and devices run important parts in automobiles. "Explains how electronics affect engine performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Describes the role of electronics in speed control, ride control, and anti-lock braking. Gives inside information on speech synthesis. Includes many examples and illustrat". -- HOWARD W SAMS & CO --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

This comprehensive classic covers the most recent technological advances in operation and troubleshooting of automotive electronic systems and components.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Newnes; 6 edition (December 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750675993
• ISBN-13: 978-0750675994
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #880,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatment of engine controls, January 21, 2004

By 

Thomas L. McQueary (N. Richland Hills, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Automotive Electronics (Sams Understanding Series) (Paperback)

The book title, Understanding Automotive Electronics, is an understatement. This book, in chapters 5, 6, and 7, gives one of the best explanations of modern engine control systems I have ever read. Every major concept of OBD-II vehicles is discussed in clear precise language. These chapters alone are worth the price of the book.

My favorite feature of the book is the end of chapter questions which can be used to test your understanding of the material. And in the back of the book, you can check your answers.

Be careful when buying automotive books. Many are written by good in-shop mechanics who have poor writing skills. This book is different. Mr. Ribbens not only knows his stuff but can communicate it to others as well.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great choice for electrical engineers interested in automotive electronics, November 26, 2006

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Understanding Automotive Electronics (Paperback)

Electronics has taken over control of the modern automobile, so much so that it is difficult to tinker with the car as we used to do in the old days, since all of the electronics is contained in embedded systems and diagnostics are usually performed by a PC. All the key functions are, or can be, controlled with electronics which has greatly benefited the driver.

There are 11 chapters and over 450 pages illustrated with diagrams, circuits and performance graphs, but very few photographs of the electronics. The chapters step the reader through fundamentals of combustion, controls, engine and motion control and diagnostics. After each chapter there is a multiple choice quiz relating to the chapter. You will have to read the text in detail to answer the questions, not speed-read. It's an interesting textbook and ideal for education in the topic. I found it to be easy to read and informative. The book shows how the electronics works to improve the safety and performance of the automobile. There is little coverage on the type of componentry, wiring or reliability of different forms of assembly, so the book is only of interest to manufacturing engineers if they want to understand the reasons behind the circuits built into automobiles. Instead there are quite a few block diagrams, equations, snippets of assembly language code, and even explanations of more elementary electronic devices and systems that will probably be most interesting to the electrical engineer who is interested in how electronics controls the modern automobile.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wish the new edition had dropped more of the old, August 21, 2009

By 

Edward Durney (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Understanding Automotive Electronics (Paperback)

Good books on automotive electronics are hard to find. Must not be much of a market for them. This book, Understanding Automotive Electronics, written by a professor at the University of Michigan, is by far the best book on this topic that I have found.

Still, it leaves a lot to be desired. Published in 2003, this book is the sixth edition. Even in 2003, much of it was outdated and should have heavily edited or dropped. The discussion of global positioning systems (GPS), for example, puts their adoption in cars well into the future. But the car I bought in 2003 has a very nice GPS system. The section of the book on GPS systems was outdated even before the book went into print.

Similarly, if you want to know how Controller Area Network (CAN) buses work, you will find little here. That's one topic I hoped this book would cover. That it focuses more on technology from the 1980s and 1990s was a disappointment. A complete rewrite of the book in 2003 would have been very valuable.

But you have to take what you can get. I'll take this book. In my opinion, there's enough here to make it worth reading.