Method of and apparatus for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine having a predetermined input terminal for servicing the ignition timing, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the operating condition of the engine and producing at least one first electrical signal which indicates the detected operating condition;
calculating, in response to the produced first electrical signal, a spark advance angle which corresponds to an optimum ignition timing at the detected operating condition;
detecting whether or not the engine is in the idling condition, to produce a second electrical signal when the engine is in the idling condition;
detecting whether or not a predetermined electrical signal is applied to said service input terminal and producing a third electrical signal when said predetermined electrical signal is applied;
in response to said second and third electrical signals, when the predetermined electrical signal is not applied to said service input terminal and when the predetermined electrical signal is applied to said service input terminal but the engine is not in the idling condition, adjusting the timing of sparks applied to the engine depending upon said calculated spark advance angle; and
in response to said second and third electrical signals, when the predetermined electrical signal is applied when the engine is in the idling condition, setting the timing of sparks applied to the engine to a predetermined fixed timing.
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Abstract
The ignition timing of an internal combustion engine is set to a fixed value if a predetermined signal is applied to a predetermined input terminal for servicing the ignition timing. However, if the engine is not in the idling condition, the ignition timing is controlled, as usual, depending upon the operating condition of the engine, even when the predetermined signal is applied to the service input terminal.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine having a predetermined input terminal for servicing the ignition timing, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the operating condition of the engine and producing at least one first electrical signal which indicates the detected operating condition; calculating, in response to the produced first electrical signal, a spark advance angle which corresponds to an optimum ignition timing at the detected operating condition; detecting whether or not the engine is in the idling condition, to produce a second electrical signal when the engine is in the idling condition; detecting whether or not a predetermined electrical signal is applied to said service input terminal and producing a third electrical signal when said predetermined electrical signal is applied; in response to said second and third electrical signals, when the predetermined electrical signal is not applied to said service input terminal and when the predetermined electrical signal is applied to said service input terminal but the engine is not in the idling condition, adjusting the timing of sparks applied to the engine depending upon said calculated spark advance angle; and in response to said second and third electrical signals, when the predetermined electrical signal is applied when the engine is in the idling condition, setting the timing of sparks applied to the engine to a predetermined fixed timing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine comprising:
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means for detecting the operating condition of the engine and producing at least one first electrical signal which indicates the detected operating condition; means for calculating, in response to the produced first electrical signal, a spark advance angle which corresponds to an optimum ignition timing at the detected operating condition; means for detecting whether or not the engine is in the idling condition and producing a second electrical signal when the engine is in the idling condition; a service input terminal for servicing the ignition timing of said engine; means for detecting whether or not a predetermined electrical signal is applied to said service input terminal and producing a third electrical signal when said predetermined electrical signal is applied; and control means responsive to said second and third electrical signals, for adjusting the timing of sparks applied to the engine in response to said calculated spark advance angle when said second signal is not produced, independent of said third signal, and setting the timing of sparks applied to the engine to a predetermined fixed timing when both said second and third signals are produced. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification