Monitoring system for an internal combustion engine

• US 6,542,074 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Tharman, Paul, Reitman, William H., Gracyalny, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/651,693
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.4, 340/439, 340/438, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 235/97, 701/21, 701/29, 701/30, 405/03
• US Class Current: 340/457.4
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0221 Preprocessing measurements, e.g. data collection rate adjustment; Standardization of measurements; Time series or signal analysis, e.g. frequency analysis or wavelets; Trustworthiness of measurements; Indexes therefor; Measurements using easily measured parameters to estimate parameters difficult to measure; Virtual sensor creation; De-noising; Sensor fusion; Unconventional preprocessing inherently present in specific fault detection methods like PCA-based methods

Abstract

The invention provides a monitoring system for monitoring an internal combustion engine. The monitoring system includes a power source having a winding and a magnet that magnetically interacts with the winding to generate a winding signal. The monitoring system further includes a conditioner that conditions the winding signal to generate a conditioned signal, a counter circuit powered by the conditioned signal that outputs an indication signal, and a visual or audible indicator that provides indication to the user upon receiving the indication signal.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for monitoring an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a power source, including

an ignition winding;

a magnet that magnetically interacts with the ignition winding so that the ignition winding generates an ignition signal having both positive and negative portions;

a conditioner that conditions the ignition signal to generate a substantially DC conditioned signal;

a counter circuit powered by the conditioned signal that outputs an indication signal; and

a visual or audible indicator that provides an indication to the user upon receiving the indication signal.

2. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indicator informs the user that engine maintenance is recommended.

3. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the engine comprises engine oil, and wherein the recommended engine maintenance is changing the engine oil.

4. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the engine comprises a filter, and wherein the recommended engine maintenance is changing the filter.

5. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the counter circuit outputs a second indication signal when engine maintenance is recommended, and wherein the monitoring system further comprises a second visual or audio indicator that provides a second indication in response to the second indication signal.

6. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first and second indications are each a continuous indication.

7. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first and second indications are each a periodic indication.

8. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first and second periodic indications are sequential.

9. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indicator informs the user of a count.

10. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the visual or audible indicator includes an hourmeter.

11. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual indicator includes a light-emitting diode.

12. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the counter circuit includes a microcontroller and software for operating the microcontroller to count the amount of time the microcontroller receives the conditioned signal and to provide the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a predetermined time period.

13. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the amount of counted time.

14. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the amount of counted time after the microcontroller has counted the predetermined time period.

15. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conditioned signal comprises a signal having a plurality of repeating events, wherein the counter circuit comprises a microcontroller and software for operating the microcontroller to count the repeating events and to provide the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a specified number of repeating events.

16. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the number of repeating, counted events.

17. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the number of repeating, counted events after the microcontroller has counted a selected number of repeating events.

18. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the counter circuit comprises a timer that counts the amount of time the microcontroller receives the conditioned signal and that provides the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a predetermined time period.

19. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the monitoring system further comprises a sensing circuit comprising a sensor and a second indicator connected in circuit, wherein the sensing circuit is powered by the conditioned signal, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing an engine condition, and wherein the second indicator provides an indication when the sensor senses the engine condition.

20. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the engine condition is a low-oil pressure condition.

21. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the engine condition is a high-engine temperature condition.

22. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the counter circuit that is responsive to user manipulation.

23. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indication is a continuous indication.

24. A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indication is a periodic indication.

25. A module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second periodic indications are sequential.

26. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said conditioner uses the positive portion of said ignition signal to generate said substantially DC conditioned signal.

27. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is also powered by said substantially DC conditioned signal.

28. A module capable of being electrically connected to an internal combustion engine having a power source including an ignition winding and a magnet that magnetically interacts with the ignition winding to generate an ignition signal having both positive and negative portions, the module comprising:

a conditioner that conditions the ignition signal to generate a substantially DC conditioned signal;

a counter circuit powered by the conditioned signal that outputs an indication signal; and

a visual or audible indicator that provides an indication to the user upon receiving the indication signal.

29. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the indicator informs the user that engine maintenance is recommended.

30. A module as set forth in claim 29, wherein the engine comprises engine oil, and wherein the recommended engine maintenance is changing the engine oil.

31. A module as set forth in claim 29, wherein the engine comprises a filter, and wherein the recommended engine maintenance is changing the filter.

32. A module as set forth in claim 29, wherein the counter circuit outputs a second indication signal when engine maintenance is recommends, and wherein the module further comprises a second visual or audio indicator that provides a second indication in response to the second indication signal.

33. A module as set forth in claim 32, wherein the first and second indications are each a continuous indication.

34. A module as set forth in claim 32, wherein the first and second indications are each a periodic indication.

35. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the indicator informs the user of a count.

36. A module as set forth in claim 35, wherein the visual or audible indicator includes an hourmeter.

37. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the visual indicator includes a light-emitting diode.

38. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the counter circuit includes a microcontroller and software for operating the microcontroller to count an amount of time the microcontroller receives the conditioned signal and to provide the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a predetermined time period.

39. A module as set forth in claim 38, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the amount of counted time.

40. A module as set forth in claim 38, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the amount of counted time after the microcontroller counts the predetermined time period.

41. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the conditioned signal comprises a signal having a plurality of repeating events, wherein the counter circuit comprises a microcontroller and software for operating the microcontroller to count the repeating events and to provide the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a specified number of repeating events.

42. A module as set forth in claim 41, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the number of repeating, counted events.

43. A module as set forth in claim 41, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the microcontroller that is used to reset the number of repeating, counted events after the microcontroller has counted a selected number of repeating events.

44. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the counter circuit comprises a timer that counts the amount of time the microcontroller receives the conditioned signal and that provides the indication signal to the indicator when the microcontroller counts a predetermine time period.

45. A module as set forth in claim 28, further comprising:

a reset in communication with the counter circuit that is responsive to user manipulation.

46. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the indication is a continuous indication.

47. A module as set forth in claim 28, wherein the indication is a periodic indication.

48. The module of claim 28, wherein said conditioner uses the positive portion of said ignition signal to generate said substantially DC conditioned signal.

49. The module of claim 28, wherein said indicator is also powered by said substantially DC conditioned signal.