Electronic ignition timing control and engine management system
First Claim
1. An electronic ignition and engine management system with anti-lockup and anti-kickback features for use in an internal combustion marine engine of the type which has a crankshaft and an oil pressure lubrication system, the management system comprising:
- means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating an operating speed signal;
means for generating an ignition advance timing signal from said operating speed signal;
means for generating a startup indicator signal indicating a rotary position of the engine crankshaft;
means for initiating a first ignition pulse responsive to said ignition advance timing signal to cause a timer based operation only when said operating speed signal is above a startup mode threshold; and
means for initiating a second ignition pulse responsive to said ignition startup indicator signal to cause an event based ignition according to the rotary position of said engine crankshaft only when said operating speed signal is not above said startup mode threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic ignition and engine management system with anti-lockup and anti-kickback features for use in an internal combustion marine engine wherein the engine'"'"'s operating speed is measured and appropriate ignition advance timing values are determined from the operating speed. An ignition pulse is generated at the ignition advances unless the engine is in a startup mode, or below a predetermined startup threshold speed. During startup mode, ignition pulses are generated at or top dead center to avoid overadvanced firing conditions and thus prevent engine lockup and kickback.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An electronic ignition and engine management system with anti-lockup and anti-kickback features for use in an internal combustion marine engine of the type which has a crankshaft and an oil pressure lubrication system, the management system comprising:
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means for measuring the operating speed of the engine and generating an operating speed signal; means for generating an ignition advance timing signal from said operating speed signal; means for generating a startup indicator signal indicating a rotary position of the engine crankshaft; means for initiating a first ignition pulse responsive to said ignition advance timing signal to cause a timer based operation only when said operating speed signal is above a startup mode threshold; and means for initiating a second ignition pulse responsive to said ignition startup indicator signal to cause an event based ignition according to the rotary position of said engine crankshaft only when said operating speed signal is not above said startup mode threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic ignition and engine management system with anti-lockup and anti-kickback features for use in an internal combustion marine engine of the type which has a crankshaft and an oil pressure lubricating system, the management system comprising:
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a sensor having an infrared emitter and detector pair configured so that light emitted from said emitter is detected by said detector; a windowed encoder operably connected to the crankshaft so that said encoder rotates with the crankshaft, said encoder having a reading edge containing a startup indicator notch, and an RPM reading window configured so that said reading edge rotates between said emitter and detector preventing light emitted from said emitter from being detected by said detector and configured so that light emitted from said emitter can be detected by said detector when said RPM reading window and said startup indicator notch pass between said emitter and detector; a free running high speed clock configured to produce a clock pulse signal when light emitted from said emitter is detected by said detector and to remain inactive when light emitted from said emitter is prevented from being detected by said detector; a means for generating an operating speed signal from said clock pulse signal indicative of the engine operating speed; a memory array containing ignition timing advance values calculated to correspond to engine operating speeds; means for converting said operating speed signal into an address location in said memory array corresponding to the engine operating speed; means for reading an ignition advance timing value from said memory array at said address location for generating an ignition advance timing signal; means for sensing when said startup indicator notch passes between said emitter and detector; means for generating a startup indicator signal when said startup indicator notch passes between said emitter and detector; means for initiating a first ignition pulse responsive to said ignition advance timing signal to cause a time based ignition only when said operating speed signal is above a startup mode threshold; and means for initiating a second ignition pulse responsive to said startup indicator signal to cause an event based ignition according to the rotary position of said engine crankshaft only when said operating speed signal is not above said startup mode threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining ignition timing for an internal combustion marine engine of the type which has a crankshaft and an oil pressure lubricating system, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring engine operating speed and generating an operating speed signal; generating an ignition advance timing signal from said operating speed signal; generating a startup indicator signal indicating a rotary position of the engine crankshaft; initiating a first ignition pulse responsive to said advance timing signal to cause a timer based ignition only when said operating speed signal is above a startup mode threshold; and initiating a second ignition pulse responsive to said startup indicator signal to cause an event based ignition according to the rotary position of the engine crankshaft only when said operating speed signal is not above said startup mode threshold. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for determining ignition timing for an internal combustion marine engine of the type which has a crankshaft and an oil pressure lubricating system, the method comprising the steps of:
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producing a clock pulse signal when light emitted by an emitter passes through an RPM reading window in an encoder and is detected by a detector, said encoder being positioned between said emitter and detector and connected to the crankshaft of the engine so that said encoder rotates with the crankshaft; generating an operating speed signal from said clock pulse signal indicative of the engine operating speed; converting said operating speed signal into an address location in a memory array containing ignition advance timing values; reading an ignition advance timing value located at said address location in said memory array; generating said ignition advance timing signal from said ignition advance timing value; sensing when said startup indicator notch passes between said emitter and detector; generating said startup indicator signal when said startup indicator notch passes between said emitter and detector; initiating a first ignition pulse responsive to said ignition advance timing value to cause a timer based ignition only when said operating speed signal is above a startup mode threshold; and initiating a second ignition pulse responsive to said startup indicator signal to cause an event based ignition according to the rotary position of said engine crankshaft only when said operating speed signal is not above said startup mode threshold. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An integrated sensor and powerpack assembly for use with an engine comprising:
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an integrally formed hollow housing configured to receive and enclose an ignition timing circuit and having an area for receiving a windowed encoder that includes an engine RPM reading window; an infrared emitter and detector pair operably connected to an outer surface of said housing in said area for receiving said windowed encoder and providing a signal for enabling the determination of average engine RPM during the presence of the RPM reading window; means for connecting said ignition timing circuit to an ignition coil; and means for mounting the assembly to an engine block. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification