Timing light for automotive engines
First Claim
1. A timing light for detecting an engine'"'"'s timing, the timing light comprising:
- a) a stroboscopic lamp for illuminating the timing marks on an engine;
b) a trigger circuit for causing the stroboscopic lamp to illuminate the timing marks, said trigger circuit comprising;
i) an input circuit receiving a signal representative of a spark plug firing;
ii) an output circuit for communicating a next trigger signal to the stroboscopic lamp to cause the stroboscopic lamp to illuminate;
iii) an anticipation circuit configured to determine when to generate the next trigger signal by extrapolating a time of the next trigger signal by determining a rate of change of times between a plurality of prior trigger signals;
c) wherein extrapolating the time of the next trigger signal enhances an accuracy with which the engine'"'"'s timing is measured.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A timing light for adjusting an engine'"'"'s timing has a stroboscopic lamp for illuminating the timing marks and a trigger circuit for causing the stroboscopic lamp to illuminate the timing marks at a desired time. The trigger circuit has an input circuit receiving a signal representative of a spark plug firing; an output circuit providing a trigger signal to the stroboscopic lamp to cause the stroboscopic lamp to flash; and an anticipation circuit configured to determine when to provide the trigger signal to the stroboscopic lamp by establishing a trend in the rate of which the spark plug is firing so as to predict when a next trigger signal is to be provided by the output circuit. Establishment of the trend in the rate of which the spark plug is firing generally enhances the accuracy with which the engine'"'"'s timing is measured.
95 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A timing light for detecting an engine'"'"'s timing, the timing light comprising:
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a) a stroboscopic lamp for illuminating the timing marks on an engine; b) a trigger circuit for causing the stroboscopic lamp to illuminate the timing marks, said trigger circuit comprising; i) an input circuit receiving a signal representative of a spark plug firing; ii) an output circuit for communicating a next trigger signal to the stroboscopic lamp to cause the stroboscopic lamp to illuminate; iii) an anticipation circuit configured to determine when to generate the next trigger signal by extrapolating a time of the next trigger signal by determining a rate of change of times between a plurality of prior trigger signals; c) wherein extrapolating the time of the next trigger signal enhances an accuracy with which the engine'"'"'s timing is measured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification