Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation
First Claim
1. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
- an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA) that generates a spark output (SPOUT) signal;
a distributor having a Hall Effect stator assembly mounted therein that generates a profile ignition pickup (PIP) signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module for receiving the spark output (SPOUT) signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and a temperature sensing circuit operative with the microprocessor for reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ignition system for a vehicle includes a distributor having with a Hall Effect stator assembly and ignition module formed preferably as a thick film integrated (TFI) module, which receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA). The ignition module includes a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein. A temperature sensing circuit is operative with the microprocessor for reducing the duty cycle or overall current or power as applied to the control signal from the TFI ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated by the TFI ignition module when a temperature threshold for the TFI ignition module has been exceeded.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
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an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA) that generates a spark output (SPOUT) signal;
a distributor having a Hall Effect stator assembly mounted therein that generates a profile ignition pickup (PIP) signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module for receiving the spark output (SPOUT) signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and a temperature sensing circuit operative with the microprocessor for reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A distributor for a vehicle comprising:
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a distributor base having a Hall Effect stator assembly mounted therein and operative for generating a profile ignition pickup (PIP) signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to an electronic control assembly (ECA) used on the vehicle; and
an ignition module that receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA) used on the vehicle, said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein, and a temperature sensing circuit operative with the microprocessor for reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil for reducing the generated heat by the TFI module when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ignition module used for a vehicle ignition system comprising:
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a housing adapted for mounting on a distributor;
a thick film substrate contained within the housing;
a microprocessor mounted on the thick film substrate and operative for receiving at least a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA) used on the vehicle and generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein; and
a temperature sensing circuit operative with the microprocessor such that the microprocessor reduces the duty cycle as applied to the control signal generated to the ignition coil and reduces the generated heat when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of operating an ignition system of a vehicle having an electronic engine control (EEC) comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the temperature in an ignition module mounted on a distributor having a Hall Effect stator assembly that generates a profile ignition pickup (PIP) signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to the electronic control assembly (ECA), which produces a spark output (SPOUT) signal to the ignition module, wherein the ignition module includes a microprocessor for generating a control signal to the ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein; and
reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated by the ignition module when a temperature threshold for the ignition TFI module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of operating an ignition system of a vehicle having an electronic engine control (EEC) comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the temperature of an ignition module that receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA) and generates a control signal to an ignition coil for switching ON and OFF the primary current therein; and
reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated by the ignition module when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification