Real-time computerized engine analyzer using multiple analog-to-digital conversion system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring waveforms of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- means for providing a periodic analog input waveform representative of operation of the internal combustion engine;
first analog-to-digital converter means for converting the periodic analog waveform into a first digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a first portion of a sample period;
second analog-to-digital converter means for converting the periodic analog waveform into a second digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a second portion of the sample period different than the first portion, wherein sampled values carried in the first digital signal are taken at different times than sampled values carried in the second digital signal; and
means for storing the first digital signal and the second digital signal.
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Abstract
An engine analyzer for an internal combustion engine converts an engine waveform into a digital waveform which is displayed on a monitor. The waveform is converted using two analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion channels. A dedicated A/D control microprocessor is used to control the flow of the digital waveform data between the analog-to-digital conversion channels and a main computer. Waveform data transfer to the main computer is over a dedicated, high speed data bus. A peripheral control microprocessor is used to monitor other engine parameters and shares memory with the A/D control microprocessor.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring waveforms of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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means for providing a periodic analog input waveform representative of operation of the internal combustion engine; first analog-to-digital converter means for converting the periodic analog waveform into a first digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a first portion of a sample period; second analog-to-digital converter means for converting the periodic analog waveform into a second digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a second portion of the sample period different than the first portion, wherein sampled values carried in the first digital signal are taken at different times than sampled values carried in the second digital signal; and means for storing the first digital signal and the second digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 27)
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10. An apparatus for analyzing parameters of an internal combustion engine comprising:
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first analog-to-digital conversion means coupled to the internal combustion engine for converting a periodic analog waveform representative of operation of the internal combustion engine into a first digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a first portion of a sample period; second analog-to-digital conversion means coupled to the internal combustion engine for converting the periodic analog waveform into a second digital signal representative of periodically sampled values of the periodic analog waveform sampled during a second portion of the sample period different than the first portion, wherein sampled values carried in the first digital signal are taken at different times than sampled values carried in the second digital signal; main control means for displaying a waveform representative of the periodic analog waveform based upon the first digital signal and the second digital signal and for controlling system operation; analog-to-digital control means for controlling operation of the first analog-to-digital conversion means and the second analog-to-digital conversion means based upon commands received from the main control means; and peripheral control means for monitoring parameters of the internal combustion engine and providing information related to engine RPM to the analog-to-digital control means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 28)
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15. A method of monitoring waveforms representative of operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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receiving a periodic analog waveform representative of operation of the internal combustion engine; sampling a first portion of the periodic analog waveform with a first analog-to-digital converter and providing a first digital sample waveform; sampling a second portion of the periodic analog waveform with a second analog-to-digital converter and providing a second digital sample waveform, wherein the second portion of the periodic analog waveform occurs at a different time than the first portion of the periodic analog waveform; combining the first digital sample waveform and the second digital sample waveform into a combined waveform; and
displaying the combined waveform. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 29)
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19. A method of displaying waveforms representative of operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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receiving a periodic analog waveform representative of operation of the internal combustion engine; converting the periodic analog waveform into first and second digital values representative of sampled values of the analog waveform, wherein converting the analog waveform to the first and second digital values comprises alternating sampling between first and second analog-to-digital converters, respectively, such that sampled values carried in the first digital values are taken at different times than sampled values carried in the second digital values; transferring the digital values to a main computer using a dedicated data bus; and displaying a simulated engine waveform based upon the first and second digital values. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of displaying waveforms representative of operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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supplying a periodic analog signal from the internal combustion engine to a first analog-to-digital conversion channel; supplying the periodic analog signal to a second analog-to-digital conversion channel; alternating sampling of the periodic analog signal between the first analog-to-digital conversion channel which samples a first portion of the periodic analog signal; and
the second analog-to-digital conversion channel which samples a second portion of the periodic analog signal different from the first portion, at a periodic sampling rate, and providing a plurality of digital samples for both the first and second portions of the periodic analog waveform;transferring digital samples to a digital memory; and transferring digital samples stored in the digital memory to a display whereby a simulated analog waveform representative of the periodic analog signal is displayed on the display. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification