Digital timing light
First Claim
1. Digital engine timing apparatus for use in testing a multi-cylinder internal combustion piston engine having a control system for sequentially providing fuel ignition in the engine cylinders in a predetermined order, said timing apparatus comprising:
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
pickup means responsive to each ignition in a selected cylinder for generating a pickup signal;
operator-actuated means for selectively producing a variable angular value representative of an angular relationship between ignition in the selected cylinder and a predetermined position of the associated piston; and
processor means operating under stored program control and coupled to said timing light means and to said pickup means and to said operator-actuated means, said processor means including timing means for generating digital data corresponding to the time period between consecutive pickup signals, means for computing from only said angular value and said digital data a time delay value corresponding to said angular value, and means for producing said trigger pulse at a time spaced from said pickup signal by a predetermined function of said time delay value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Engine timing apparatus includes a timing light and a pickup for producing a pickup signal in response to each ignition in a selected cylinder. The operator keys in the desired advance or retard angle in degrees in a range anywhere between +180° and -180°. A program-controlled microcontroller with an internaltimer samples the time period between pickup signals and, using this information and the advance of retard angle, calculates engine rpm and the proper time delay for the flash. The system automatically corrects for system delays to produce extremely accurate timing functions. The system may be used with an inductive pickup for timing gasoline engines or with a luminosity pickup for timing diesel engines. At high rpms the system produces a flash in response to every other pickup signal.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Digital engine timing apparatus for use in testing a multi-cylinder internal combustion piston engine having a control system for sequentially providing fuel ignition in the engine cylinders in a predetermined order, said timing apparatus comprising:
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
pickup means responsive to each ignition in a selected cylinder for generating a pickup signal;
operator-actuated means for selectively producing a variable angular value representative of an angular relationship between ignition in the selected cylinder and a predetermined position of the associated piston; and
processor means operating under stored program control and coupled to said timing light means and to said pickup means and to said operator-actuated means, said processor means including timing means for generating digital data corresponding to the time period between consecutive pickup signals, means for computing from only said angular value and said digital data a time delay value corresponding to said angular value, and means for producing said trigger pulse at a time spaced from said pickup signal by a predetermined function of said time delay value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
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8. Digital engine timing apparatus for use in testing a multi-cylinder internal combustion piston engine having a control system for sequentially providing fuel ignition in the engine cylinders in a predetermined order, said timing apparatus comprising:
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
pickup means responsive to each ignition in a selected cylinder for generating a pickup signal;
operator-actuated means for selectively producing a variable angular value representative of an angular relationship between ignition in the selected cylinder and a predetermined position of the associated piston; and
processor means operating under stored program control and coupled to said timing light means and to said pickup means and to said operator-actuated means, said processor means including timing means for generating digital data corresponding to the time period between consecutive pickup signals, means for computing from only said angular value and said digital data a time delay value corresponding to said angular value, means for causing said trigger pulse to be produced at a time following said pickup signal by said time delay value if said variable angular value is not less than zero, and means for causing said trigger pulse to be produced at a time following said pickup signal by said time period between consecutive pickup signals less said time delay value if said variable angular value is less than zero. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
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13. Digital engine timing apparatus for use in testing a multi-cylinder internal combustion piston engine having a control system for sequentially providing fuel ignition in the engine cylinders in a predetermined order, said timing apparatus comprising:
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
pickup means responsive to each ignition in a selected cylinder for generating a pickup signal;
operator-actuated means for selectively producing a variable angular value representative of an angular relationship between ignition in the selected cylinder and a predetermined position of the associated piston; and
processor means operating under stored program control and coupled to said timing light means and to said pickup means and to said operator-actuated means, said processor means including timing means for generating digital data corresponding to the time period between consecutive pickup signals, means for computing from only said angular value and said digital data a nominal time delay value corresponding to said angular value, said means for computing including means for subtracting from said nominal time delay value an error value corresponding to the time required for said apparatus to respond to said pickup signal to generate a corrected time delay value, and means for producing said trigger pulse at a time spaced from the time said apparatus responds to said pickup signal by a predetermined function of said corrected time delay value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- timing light means for providing a light pulse in response to an electrical trigger pulse;
Specification