Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation
First Claim
1. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
- an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA);
a distributor having an armature and shaft assembly mounted therein that generate a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module mounted on the distributor for receiving a signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to the ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ignition system for a vehicle includes a distributor having with a Hall Effect stator assembly and ignition module formed preferably as a thick film integrated (TFI) module, which receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA). The ignition module includes a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein. A temperature sensing circuit is operative with the microprocessor for reducing the duty cycle or overall current or power as applied to the control signal from the TFI ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated by the TFI ignition module when a temperature threshold for the TFI ignition module has been exceeded.
13 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
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an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA);
a distributor having an armature and shaft assembly mounted therein that generate a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module mounted on the distributor for receiving a signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to the ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A distributor for a vehicle comprising:
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a distributor base having an armature and shaft assembly mounted therein and circuit generating a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to an electronic control assembly (ECA) used on the vehicle; and
an ignition module mounted on the distributor base that receives a signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein, and reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil for reducing the generated heat by the ignition module when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
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an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA);
an ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to the ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded, wherein the microprocessor is operative for reducing the duty cycle from about 5% to about 15%. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
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an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA);
a distributor including a Hall Effect stator assembly mounted therein that generates a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module for receiving the signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA) indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM, said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and reducing the duty cycle as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An ignition system for a vehicle comprising:
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an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings for generating high voltage signals to spark plugs;
an electronic control assembly (ECA);
a distributor that generates a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to said electronic control assembly (ECA); and
an ignition module for receiving a signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to the ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein and reducing the duty cycle from about 5% to about 15% as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil and reducing the heat generated when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded.
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21. A distributor for a vehicle comprising:
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a distributor base and circuit generating a signal indicative of crankshaft position and engine RPM to an electronic control assembly (ECA) used on the vehicle; and
an ignition module that receives a signal from the electronic control assembly (ECA), said ignition module including a microprocessor for generating a control signal to an ignition coil and switching ON and OFF the primary current therein, and reducing the duty cycle from about 5% to about 15% as applied to the control signal from the ignition module to the ignition coil for reducing the generated heat by the ignition module when a temperature threshold for the ignition module has been exceeded.
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Specification