Engine limiter for powered vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle which comprises:
- an engine configured to convert fuel into power for a drive mechanism, wherein the engine includes an electronic ignition system;
a tachometer sensor coupled to the engine and configured to generate a tachometer signal which indicates an engine speed and comprises a pulse sequence;
a speedometer sensor coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to generate a speedometer signal which indicates a vehicle speed; and
a vehicle control unit configured to receive the tachometer signal and the speedometer signal, and coupled to the electronic ignition system to output a replacement tachometer signal which comprises a replacement pulse sequence when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the replacement tachometer signal includes a replacement pulse for each pulse in the tachometer signal, and wherein the vehicle control unit has the ability to detect the type of vehicle in which it is installed.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle control unit is disclosed which can be coupled between a tachometer sensor and an electronic ignition system on a vehicle. The unit is also coupled to a speedometer sensor to measure the vehicle'"'"'s speed. The vehicle control unit limits the vehicle speed by monitoring the tachometer signal from the tachometer sensor and passing the tachometer signal to the ignition system if the engine speed is within predetermined limits. The tachometer signal is a pulse train which is used by the electronic ignition system to determine ignition timing. The vehicle control unit limits both vehicle speed and engine speed by disconnecting pulses from the tachometer sensor and generating time-delayed pulses of its own to delay the combustion of fuel until after the instance of maximum fuel compression, thereby reducing engine power when the vehicle or engine speeds exceed predetermined limits.
20 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A vehicle which comprises:
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an engine configured to convert fuel into power for a drive mechanism, wherein the engine includes an electronic ignition system;
a tachometer sensor coupled to the engine and configured to generate a tachometer signal which indicates an engine speed and comprises a pulse sequence;
a speedometer sensor coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to generate a speedometer signal which indicates a vehicle speed; and
a vehicle control unit configured to receive the tachometer signal and the speedometer signal, and coupled to the electronic ignition system to output a replacement tachometer signal which comprises a replacement pulse sequence when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the replacement tachometer signal includes a replacement pulse for each pulse in the tachometer signal, and wherein the vehicle control unit has the ability to detect the type of vehicle in which it is installed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A vehicle control unit configured to receive a tachometer signal, generated by a tachometer sensor and comprised of a tachometer pulse sequence, and a speedometer signal which indicates a vehicle speed, and coupled to an electronic ignition system of an engine to output a replacement tacometer signal which comprises a replacement pulse sequence, wherein the replacement tachometer signal includes a replacement pulse for each pulse in the tachometer signal, and wherein the vehicle control unit delays pulses in the replacement tachometer signal relative to corresponding tachometer pulses in the tachometer signal when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value.
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26. A method for limiting the engine speed of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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configuring a vehicle control unit to receive a tachometer signal and a speedometer signal said speedometer signal indicates a vehicle speed;
coupling the vehicle control unit to an electronic ignition system of an engine; and
outputting a replacement tachometer signal which comprises a replacement pulse sequence, wherein the replacement tachometer signal includes a replacement pulse for each pulse in the tachometer signal, and wherein the vehicle control unit delays pulses in the replacement tachometer signal relative to corresponding tachometer pulses in the tachometer signal when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification