Tachometer system for measuring the RPM of an internal combustion engine with no physical or visual connection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- electromagnetic pulse sensing means, coupled in a non-contact manner to an operative area of said internal combustion engine, for sensing an electromagnetic signal produced by a firing of said engine, and producing an output signal indicative thereof;
means for sensing a parameter indicative of pulse timing in said output signal;
means for converting said parameter into a value indicative of revolutions of said internal combustion engine per unit time; and
said sensing means comprising;
means for receiving said output signal from said electromagnetic pulse sensing means;
means for detecting a pulse in said output signal;
means for counting an elapsed time;
means for selectively enabling and disabling said counting means;
means for selectively providing an accumulated count of said counting means to an external port; and
control means, connected to said receiving means, said detecting means, said counting means, said providing means and said selecting means, for initiating a sequence upon detecting a pulse by said detecting means, by, in order;
1) disabling said counting of said counting means,
2) commanding said providing means to provide said accumulated count,
3) resetting said counting means, and finally
4) enabling said counting means.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine. The tachometer system uses one of two electromagnetic pulse sensing means to detect an electromagnetic signal produced by a firing of the engine. The sensing device may be an antenna or an inductive pickup. One of the signals is chosen and processed. A parameter indicative of pulse timing in the output signal is determined. This parameter is most advantageously a time between different ones of the output signals. The parameter is then converted into a value indicative of revolutions per unit time of the engine. The converting structure is advantageously formed by a personal computer.
10 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
-
electromagnetic pulse sensing means, coupled in a non-contact manner to an operative area of said internal combustion engine, for sensing an electromagnetic signal produced by a firing of said engine, and producing an output signal indicative thereof; means for sensing a parameter indicative of pulse timing in said output signal; means for converting said parameter into a value indicative of revolutions of said internal combustion engine per unit time; and said sensing means comprising; means for receiving said output signal from said electromagnetic pulse sensing means; means for detecting a pulse in said output signal; means for counting an elapsed time; means for selectively enabling and disabling said counting means; means for selectively providing an accumulated count of said counting means to an external port; and control means, connected to said receiving means, said detecting means, said counting means, said providing means and said selecting means, for initiating a sequence upon detecting a pulse by said detecting means, by, in order;
1) disabling said counting of said counting means,
2) commanding said providing means to provide said accumulated count,
3) resetting said counting means, and finally
4) enabling said counting means.
-
-
2. A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
-
electromagnetic pulse sensing means, coupled in a non-contact manner to an operative area of said internal combustion engine, for sensing an electromagnetic signal produced by a firing of said engine, and producing an output signal indicative thereof; means for sensing a parameter indicative of pulse timing in said output signal; means for converting said parameter into a value indicative of revolutions of said internal combustion engine per unit time; filtering means, coupled between said electromagnetic pulse sensing means and said parameter sensing means, for filtering characteristics of pulses from said electromagnetic pulse means, said filter means comprising a circuit for extending pulse widths of input pulses while maintaining a voltage proportional to said input pulse, comprising; means for receiving said input pulses; means for producing a plurality of voltages which differ from one another by a substantially constant amount; a plurality of comparators, each connected to receive said input pulses at one compare unit, and each connected to receive one of said voltages from said voltage producing means at another compare input, for producing an output signal indicative of which of said compare inputs has a larger signal; a plurality of means for producing a pulse having an extended width, one being connected to each said output of each said comparator to produce said extended width pulse based on a state of said comparator to which it is connected; and means for summing outputs of all of said pulse width producing means, so that an amplitude of an output thereof corresponds to a number of said pulse width producing means which are producing said extending width pulse.
-
-
3. A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
-
means for receiving a signal of an antenna which senses an electromagnetic pulse produced by an ignition coil of the engine; means for receiving a signal from an inductive pickup coupled to a spark plug wire of the engine to sense an electromagnetic pulse produced thereby; means for selecting one of said signals; means for sensing a parameter indicative of pulse timing in said selected signal, wherein said sensing means comprises; means for receiving an output signal from said selecting means; means for detecting a pulse in said output signal; means for counting an elapsed time; means for selectively enabling and disabling said counting means; means for selectively providing an accumulated count of said counting means to an external port; and control means, connected to said receiving means, said detecting means, said counting means, said providing means and said selecting means, for initiating a sequence upon detecting a determination of a pulse by said detecting means, by, in order;
1) disabling said counting of said counting means,
2) commanding said providing means to provide said accumulated count,
3) resetting said counting means, and finally
4) enabling said counting means; anda personal computer for converting said parameter into a value indicative of revolutions of said internal combustion engine per unit time having a display for visually displaying said value.
-
-
4. A tachometer system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
-
means for receiving a signal of an antenna which senses an electromagnetic pulse produced by an ignition coil of the engine; means for receiving a signal from an inductive pickup coupled to a spark plug wire of the engine to sense an electromagnetic pulse produced thereby; means for selecting one of said signals; means for sensing a parameter indicative of pulse timing in said selected signal; and means for converting said parameter into a value indicative of revolutions of said internal combustion engine per unit time wherein said converting means is formed by a personal computer having a display for visually displaying said value; filtering means for filtering characteristics of pulses from said selecting means, wherein said filtering means comprises a circuit for extending pulse widths of input pulses while maintaining a voltage proportional to said input pulse, comprising; means for receiving said input pulses; means for producing a plurality of voltages which differ from one another by a substantially constant amount; a plurality of comparators, each connected to receive said input pulses at one compare input, and each connected to receive one of said voltages from said voltage producing means at another compare unit, for producing an output signal indicative of which of said compare inputs has a larger signal; a plurality of means for producing a pulse having an extended width, one being connected to each said output of each said comparator to produce said extended width pulse based on a state of said comparator to which it is connected; and means for summing outputs of all of said pulse width producing means, so that an amplitude of an output thereof corresponds to a number of said pulse width producing means which are producing said extended width pulse.
-
-
5. A circuit for extending pulse widths of input pulses while maintaining a voltage relation between said pulses, comprising:
-
means for receiving said input pulses; means for producing a plurality of voltages which differ from one another by a substantially constant amount; a plurality of comparators, each connected to receive said input pulses at one compare input, and each connected to receive one of said voltages from said voltage producing means at another compare input, for producing an output signal indicative of which of said compare inputs has a larger signal; a plurality of means for producing a pulse having an extended width, one being connected to each said output of each said comparator to produce said extended pulse width based on a state of an associated comparator; and means for summing outputs of all of said pulse width producing means, so that an amplitude of an output thereof corresponds to a number of said pulse width producing means which are producing said extended pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
Specification