Apparatus and process for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine having an electronic fuel regulation system

• US 7,798,128 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R&C Products Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: R&C Products Pty Limited
• Inventors: Bellistri, James T., Hajji, Mazen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang; Johnny H
• Application Number:
  US10/571,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 123/478, 123/480, 123/446, 123/472, 123/497
• US Class Current: 123/478
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/503 Battery correction, i.e. corrections as a function of the state of the battery, its output or its type
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/06 Small engines with electronic control, e.g. for hand held tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/107 and deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/20 Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/34 with means for controlling injection timing or duration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An apparatus and process for controlling an internal combustion engine (C) having an electronic fuel regulation system that provides fuel control for small engines (C) used in garden equipment (B) and small vehicles. An electronic control unit (1) accepts a plurality of signals generated by a plurality of sensors that detect certain environmental characteristics and certain engine operating characteristics. The electronic control unit (1) uses a set of firmware having a number of electronic maps to analyze the plurality of signals to manage operation of a fuel valve (3) and a fuel pump (2) to control the timing and amount of fuel delivered to the cylinder of small internal combustion engine (C) having at least one cylinder.

Claims

1. An electronic fuel regulation system to control the delivery of fuel to at least one cylinder of a small internal combustion engine comprising:

a fuel pump;

a fuel valve operatively connected to the fuel pump and being capable of cycling open and closed in not more than about twelve milliseconds and having an average operating pressure between 2 and 10 psi but not exceeding about 15 psi, the maximum operating pressure for the fuel system being controlled by a fuel pressure regulator, and the operating pressure being controlled by a fuel pump a fuel valve and an electronic control unit configured to vary the duty cycle of the fuel valve, and the fuel pump, the fuel valve having a body, a plunger reciprocally positioned within the body and the fuel valve having a cap connected to an end of the body, the cap having a seat positioned within the body and facing the plunger and the cap having an integrated fuel rail positioned outside of the body, the plunger reciprocally contacting the seat during the cycling of the fuel pump;

an air intake manifold, the air intake manifold having a mounting system configured to operatively connect with the integral fuel rail so as to mount the fuel valve into the air intake manifold;

a throttle position sensor capable of detecting the position of a throttle on the small internal combustion engine and being capable of sending a throttle position sensor signal;

at least one ignition sensor having the ability to detect transmittal of a momentary electrical current used to ignite at least one spark plug on the small internal combustion engine and capable of sending at least one ignition sensor signal;

an electronic control unit configured to drive the fuel pump and the fuel valve in a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine, wherein the electronic control unit has the ability of accepting the throttle position sensor signal and the at least one ignition sensor signal, and further having the ability to continuously monitor the operation of the small internal combustion engine to adjust operation of the fuel pump and the fuel valve at the fuel system average operating pressure of less than about 15 psi to increase the operating efficiency of the small internal combustion engine while the fuel pressure regulator maintains such maximum operating pressure.

2. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit is microprocessor based.

3. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 1 wherein the plunger includes a conical end and the seat is configured to matchingly accept the conical end free from a seal between the conical end and the seat.

4. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 2 further comprising an air intake temperature sensor capable of detecting a temperature of an air stream entering the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and sending an air intake temperature signal.

5. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 4 further comprising an engine temperature sensor capable of detecting an operating temperature of the small internal combustion engine and sending an engine operating temperature signal.

6. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 5 wherein the electronic control unit is capable of detecting a voltage from a battery used to provide electrical power to the small internal combustion engine and is further capable of adjusting the cycling of the fuel pump to compensate for the voltage variation detected from the battery.

7. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 6 wherein the electronic control unit includes a set of firmware that controls fuel delivery by a cycling of the fuel valve in coordination with the firing of the at least one spark plug on the small internal combustion engine, the firmware being capable of monitoring the signal from the at least one ignition sensor and determining an engine RPM of the small internal combustion engine.

8. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 7 wherein a fuel valve duration is specified under a two-dimensional fuel valve duration look-up table within the electronic control unit, the two-dimensional fuel valve duration look-up table being indexed by the throttle position sensor signal and the engine RPM, and wherein a fuel valve delay is specified in a fuel valve delay look-up table.

9. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 8 wherein the fuel valve delay and the fuel valve duration for the fuel valve is automatically adjusted by the electronic control unit based on a choke need for the small internal combustion engine.

10. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 8 wherein the fuel valve delay and the fuel valve duration for the fuel valve is automatically adjusted by the electronic control unit based on the air intake temperature signal.

11. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 8 wherein the fuel valve delay and the fuel valve duration of the fuel valve is automatically adjusted by the electronic control unit based on one of either an acceleration or a deceleration of the small internal combustion engine.

12. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 8 wherein the fuel valve delay and the fuel valve duration of the fuel valve is automatically adjusted by the electronic control unit based on a change in the load placed on the small internal combustion engine.

13. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 12 wherein the electronic control unit is capable of automatically detecting a power/intake stroke of the small internal combustion engine.

14. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 13 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises the ability to change the values of the two-dimensional look-up table to match a particular geographic location in which the small internal combustion engine will be operated.

15. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 14 wherein the microprocessor of the electronic control unit includes a non-volatile memory for algorithm and storage of at least one electronic map, a set of signal conditioning circuits, a fuel valve driver circuit, and a fuel pump driver circuit.

16. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 15 wherein the microprocessor of the electronic control unit further comprises an 8-bit microcontroller having an 8 MHz Hc08 core, 16 KB of in-system programmable FLASH memory, 768 bytes of RAM, a serial communications controller, a seven channel ten-bit analog to digital converter, at least four programmable timers/counters, a six channel pulse width modulation ability, an RS 232 serial communications port, and a software generated hours meter.

17. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor of the electronic control unit includes a non-volatile storage of a set of tuning parameters and an I²C bus to a 512 byte electronically erasable programmable read-only memory.

18. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 17 wherein the set of firmware in the electronic control unit includes a first firmware module having software routines to perform a set of engine parameter calculations including at least one of either an engine temperature calculation, an air temperature compensation calculation, a battery voltage calculation, calculation of a set of parameters for fuel pump pulse width modulation, calculation of an RPM of the small internal combustion engine, a fuel system pressure calculation, an engine throttle position calculation, calculation of a choke need for the small internal combustion engine, an engine acceleration/deceleration calculation, the fuel valve delay calculation, and the fuel valve duration calculation.

19. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 18 wherein the set of engine parameter calculations further includes computation of the fuel valve delay between receipt of the at least one ignition sensor signal and a delivery of fuel to at least one cylinder of a small internal combustion engine.

20. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 19 wherein the set of engine parameter calculations includes include a set of computations of the fuel valve duration for the time the fuel valve is kept open.

21. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 20 wherein the set of engine parameter calculations is performed separately for each of the at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine.

22. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 21 wherein the fuel valve delays in the set of engine parameter calculations are taken from a fuel valve delay look-up table.

23. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 22 wherein the fuel valve delays in the set of engine parameter calculations have the ability to be adjusted based upon a set of current operating conditions of the small internal combustion engine.

24. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 23 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a second firmware module having software routines that control the seven channel ten-bit analog to digital converter in the microprocessor, the microprocessor having analog inputs for the throttle position sensor signal, the air intake temperature signal, the engine operating temperature signal, and a fuel system pressure signal.

25. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 24 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a third firmware module having software routines to store and retrieve a set of third firmware module parameters to and from the electronically erasable programmable read-only memory.

26. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 25 wherein the set of third firmware module parameters include a set of values from the fuel valve delay look up table, a set of values from the two-dimensional fuel valve duration look-up table, a set of choke parameters, a calibration of the throttle position sensor signal, and a value from the hours meter.

27. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 26 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a fourth firmware module having software routines to control a set of clock and data lines necessary to operate a I²C serial bus in the microprocessor of the electronic control unit.

28. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 27 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a fifth firmware module having software routines to initialize and control a pulse width output from the microprocessor of the electronic control unit.

29. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 28 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a sixth firmware module having software routines to initialize, send, and receive data on an RS 232 serial communications interface of the microprocessor of the electronic control unit.

30. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 29 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a seventh firmware module having software routines to initialize and control the at least four timers/counters of the microprocessor.

31. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 30 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes an eighth firmware module having software routines to perform a software 16×

16 unsigned multiply function and a 32×

16 unsigned divide function.

32. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 31 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a ninth firmware module having software routines that contain a reset start point, a main processing loop to continuously monitor and control the entire operation of all firmware modules of the electronic control unit, a reset vector table for the entire set of firmware, and a set of routines to retrieve and update the hours meter to and from the EEPROM every about 0.10 hour interval.

33. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 32 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a tenth firmware module having software routines to enable communication with an engine monitoring software via the RS 232 serial communications port of the microprocessor of the electronic control unit.

34. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 33 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes an eleventh firmware module containing all RAM and FLASH memory definitions, and a set of register definitions for the microprocessor of the electronic control unit.

35. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 34 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a twelfth firmware module containing a look-up table used to convert the analog input from at least one pressure sensor into pounds per square inch.

36. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 35 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a thirteenth firmware module containing all of the RAM variable storage definitions used by the firmware of the electronic control unit.

37. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 36 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a fourteenth firmware module containing a set of default values for the fuel valve delay look-up table, the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up tables, an acceleration/deceleration table, an engine choke table, a fuel pump compensation table, a battery compensation look-up table, a set of values for priming the fuel system, and a set of values for calibration of the throttle position sensor.

38. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 37 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a fifteenth firmware module containing a conversion look-up table used to convert the air intake temperature sensor signal and the engine operating temperature signal from analog signals into temperatures in degrees Centigrade.

39. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 38 wherein the set of firmware of the electronic control unit includes a sixteenth firmware module containing miscellaneous constant definitions used by the firmware of the electronic control unit.

40. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 39 wherein the electronic control unit includes at least one electronic map that is used by the electronic control unit to optimize the operation of the small internal combustion engine.

41. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 40 wherein the electronic control unit includes a priming mode in which, during startup of the small internal combustion engine, the fuel pump and the fuel valve are primed for one of either a period of about ten seconds or until the electronic control unit receives an ignition sensor signal.

42. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 41 wherein the electronic control unit includes a priming timing function which delivers large amounts of fuel to the at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine just after the electronic control unit receives the at least one ignition sensor signal, the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve if the preset count of at least one of the ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

43. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 42 wherein the electronic control unit includes the ability generate an increase in the cycling rate of the fuel pump to increase the fuel pressure in the electronic fuel regulation system when the electronic control unit senses the voltage of the small internal combustion engine battery is below a preset value, the increase in cycling rate of the fuel pump being accomplished by broadening the pulse width of the power sent to the fuel pump.

44. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 43 wherein the electronic control unit an acceleration/deceleration mode that compensates for changing fuel requirements of the small internal combustion engine by providing a smooth transition during rapid changes in engine RPM, the smooth transition being accomplished during acceleration by an addition to the values in the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table, and during deceleration by during acceleration by a subtraction from the values in the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table, the amount of either the addition or the subtraction being determined by the electronic control unit based upon the upon one of either a rate of engine acceleration or a rate of engine deceleration.

45. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 44 wherein the at least one electronic map is designed for use with a V-twin internal combustion engine.

46. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 45 wherein one of the two cylinders of the V-twin internal combustion engine is designated the “

master cylinder” and

the other of the two cylinders is designated the “

slave cylinder,” and

wherein the at least one electronic map comprises at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps, one for the master cylinder and one for the slave cylinder.

47. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 46 wherein each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps contain two dimensions, with the vertical dimension being the position of a throttle position switch as detected by the throttle position sensor and the horizontal dimension being the engine RPM.

48. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 47 wherein the throttle position is indicated by the percentage that the throttle position is in related to its maximum open position.

49. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 48 wherein for each intersection of the two dimensions in each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps there is a specific time duration that represents the amount of time in milliseconds that the fuel valve will be open to allow fuel to enter the air intake manifold.

50. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 49 wherein each of the master cylinder and slave cylinder also has a fuel delay angle table, the fuel delay angle acting to determine the exact time the fuel valve is opened in relation to the signal received from the at least one ignition sensor.

51. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 50 wherein each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps is variable in that the specific time duration at each intersection of the two dimensions of each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps is adjustable by a processing subroutine that revises the specific time duration based on inputs to the microprocessor.

52. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 51 wherein the electronic control unit is capable of determining a change in the load placed on the small internal combustion engine.

53. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 52 wherein the change in the load placed on the small internal combustion engine is determined by the electronic control unit'"'"'s evaluation of a change in the throttle position sensor signal in relation to a change in the engine RPM.

54. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 53 wherein a decrease in the load placed on the internal combustion engine is determined when a change in the throttle position sensor signal indicating an intended reduction of the engine RPM is not accompanied by a related decrease in the engine RPM.

55. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 54 wherein an increase in the load placed on the internal combustion engine is determined when a change in the throttle position sensor signal indicating an intended increase of the engine RPM is not accompanied by a related increase in the engine RPM.

56. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 55 wherein the electronic control unit has the ability to independently lean or enrich the air fuel mixture of either the master cylinder or the slave cylinder by varying the values in the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table based upon a specific set of operating characteristics for a specific engine.

57. In combination with a small internal combustion engine having less than five cylinders, an electronic fuel regulation system comprising a fuel regulator for limiting the fuel pressure of the fuel system, a fuel valve being capable of cycling open and closed in not more than about twelve milliseconds and having an on/off response time of less then two milliseconds, the fuel valve having a body, a plunger reciprocally positioned within the body and having a cap connected to an end of the body, the cap having a seat positioned within the body and facing the plunger and having an integrated fuel rail positioned outside of the body, the plunger reciprocally contacting the seat during the cycling of the fuel valve, a fuel pump operatively connected to the fuel valve, and an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit being capable of managing a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine operating at an average system pressure within the fuel regulator pressure limit of less than about 15 psi by controlling and varying the pulse width of the electrical power transmitted from the electronic control unit to drive both the fuel pump and the fuel valve, the maximum operating pressure limit for the fuel system being controlled by the cycling of the fuel pump by the electronic control unit in a range between approximately 2 and 10 psi, the control and variation of pulse widths being accomplished by a set of firmware and at least one electronic map stored within the electronic control unit, the set of firmware controlling and varying the pulse widths of the fuel pump and the fuel valve based upon a set of signals sent from a set of sensors, the set of sensors including at least an intake air temperature sensor, an engine operating temperature sensor, a throttle position sensor, and at least one ignition sensor, the electronic control unit includes a priming timing function which delivers large amounts of fuel to the at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine just after the electronic control unit receives the at least one ignition sensor signal, the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve if the preset count of at least one of the ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

58. In a small internal combustion engine having less than five cylinders, the improvement comprising the installation of an electronic fuel regulation system onto the small internal combustion engine, the electronic fuel regulation system comprising a fuel valve being capable of cycling open and closed in not more than about twelve milliseconds, a fuel pump, the pressure for the fuel system being controlled in a range of approximately 3 to 6 psi by a cycling of the fuel pump and an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit being capable of managing a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine by controlling in a range of approximately 3 to 6 psi and varying the pulse width of the electrical power transmitted from the electronic control unit to drive both the fuel pump and the fuel valve, the control and variation of pulse widths being accomplished by a set of firmware and at least one electronic map stored within the electronic control unit, the set of firmware controlling and varying the pulse widths of the fuel pump and the fuel valve based upon a set of signals sent from a set of sensors, the set of sensors including at least an intake air temperature sensor, an engine operating temperature sensor, a throttle position sensor, and at least one ignition sensor, the electronic control unit includes a cold start mode that chokes the engine with extra fuel by broadening the pulse widths of the power sent to drive the fuel pump and the fuel valve to thereby deliver more fuel to the cylinder of a internal combustion engine, the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve if the preset count of at least one of the ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

59. The process of regulating the fuel delivery in a small internal combustion engine having a fuel delivery system comprising the steps of:

providing a fuel pump;

providing a fuel valve being capable of cycling open and closed in not more than about twelve milliseconds;

providing an air intake manifold for a small internal combustion engine, the air intake manifold having a mounting system capable of mounting the fuel valve onto the air intake manifold;

providing a throttle position sensor capable of detecting the position of a throttle on the small internal combustion engine and being capable of sending a throttle position sensor signal;

providing at least one ignition sensor having the ability to detect transmittal of a momentary electrical current used to ignite at least one spark plug on the small internal combustion engine and capable of sending at least one ignition sensor signal;

providing an electronic control unit capable of simultaneously driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve and of accepting the throttle position sensor signal and the at least one ignition sensor signal, the maximum operating pressure for the fuel system being controlled by a cycling of the fuel pump by the electronic control unit;

using the electronic control unit to monitor the operation of the small internal combustion engine to varying the operation of the fuel pump and the fuel valve to increase the operating efficiency of the small internal combustion engine wherein the average operating pressure of the fuel system between 2 and 10 psi and less than about 15 psi, the electronic control unit including a cold start mode that chokes the engine with extra fuel by broadening the pulse widths of the power sent to drive the fuel pump and the fuel valve to thereby deliver more fuel to the cylinder of the internal combustion engine the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve if the preset count of at least one of the ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

60. An electronic fuel regulation system for small internal combustion engines comprising:

means for providing fuel intermittently to at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine, said means including a valve being capable of completing one cycle of starting and stopping the fuel flow to the small internal combustion engine at rate of less than 12 milliseconds per each cycle;

means for pumping a quantity of fuel from a fuel tank and into a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine at an average fuel delivery system operating pressure of between approximately 2 and 10 psi;

means for detecting at least one characteristic of an environment in which the small internal combustion engine is operating, said means including the ability to generate a signal corresponding to the at least one characteristic of the environment;

means for detecting a least one operating characteristic of the small internal combustion engine and the fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine, said means including the ability to generate a signal corresponding to the at least one operating characteristic of the small internal combustion engine; and

means for providing a source of power to drive the means for providing fuel intermittently to at least one cylinder of a small internal combustion engine and to drive the means for pumping a quantity of fuel from a fuel tank and into a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine, said means for providing a source of power being capable of modulating a pulse width of the power in response to at least one of either the at least one signal corresponding to the at least characteristic of the environment or the at least one operating characteristic of the small internal combustion engine, including a cold start mode that electronically chokes the engine with extra fuel by broadening the pulse widths of the power sent to drive the means for pumping and the means for providing fuel to thereby deliver more fuel to the cylinder of a internal combustion engine the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve if the preset count of at least one of the ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

61. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 60 wherein the means for providing fuel intermittently to at least one cylinder of a small internal combustion engine comprises a fuel valve having an electrical solenoid.

62. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 61 wherein the fuel valve has a body, a plunger reciprocally positioned within the body and the fuel valve having a cap connected to an end of the body, the cap having a seat positioned within the body and facing the plunger and the cap having an integrated fuel rail positioned outside of the body, the plunger reciprocally contacting the seat during cycling of the means for pumping.

63. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 61 wherein the means for detecting at least one characteristic of an environment in which the small internal combustion engine is operating comprises an air intake temperature sensor.

64. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 63 wherein the means for detecting a least one operating characteristic of the small internal combustion engine and the fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine comprises at least one of either a throttle position sensor generating a throttle position signal, an engine operating temperature sensor generating an engine operating temperature signal, or at least one ignition sensor generating at least one ignition sensor signal.

65. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 64 wherein the means for providing a source of power to drive the means for providing fuel intermittently to at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine and to drive the means for pumping a quantity of fuel from a fuel tank and into a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine comprises an electronic control unit, the electronic control unit comprising a set of firmware, at least on electronic map, and means for receiving the signal corresponding to the at least one characteristic of the environment and the signal corresponding to the at least one operating characteristic of the small internal combustion engine.

66. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 65 wherein the electronic control unit comprises an ability to vary the power to drive the means for providing fuel intermittently to at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine and to drive the means for pumping a quantity of fuel from a fuel tank and into a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine comprises an electronic control unit, the ability to vary the power being accomplished by varying the pulse width of the power.

67. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 66 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a priming timing function which delivers large amounts of fuel to at least one cylinder of the small internal combustion engine just after the electronic control unit receives the at least one ignition sensor signal, the priming function being discontinued when one of either a preset count of the ignition sensor signals is reached or the engine RPM is at least 1000, and wherein the electronic control unit stops providing power to drive the fuel pump and to drive the fuel valve if the preset count of the at least one ignition sensor signals is reached before the engine RPM reaches 1000.

68. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 67 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an ability generate an increase in the cycling rate of the fuel pump to increase the fuel pressure in the electronic fuel regulation system when the electronic control unit senses a voltage of a battery for the small internal combustion engine is below a preset value, the increase in cycling rate of the fuel pump being accomplished by broadening the pulse width of the power sent to the fuel pump.

69. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 68 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a cold start mode that chokes the engine with extra fuel by broadening the pulse widths of the power sent to drive the fuel pump and the fuel valve to thereby deliver more fuel to the at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine, the cold start mode continuing until one of either a preset engine operating temperature is reached or a preset cold start operating time is reached.

70. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 69 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an acceleration/deceleration mode that compensates for changing fuel requirements of the small internal combustion engine by providing a smooth transition during rapid changes in engine RPM, the smooth transition being accomplished during acceleration by an addition to the values in a fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table, and during deceleration by during acceleration by a subtraction from the values in the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table, the amount of either the addition or the subtraction being determined by the electronic control unit based upon one of either a rate of engine acceleration or a rate of engine deceleration.

71. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 70 wherein the electronic control unit comprises at least one electronic map designed for use with a V-twin internal combustion engine.

72. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 71 wherein one of the two cylinders of the V-twin internal combustion engine is designated the “

master cylinder” and

the other of the two cylinders is designated the “

slave cylinder,” and

wherein the at least one electronic map comprise at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps, one for the master cylinder and one for the slave cylinder.

73. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 72 wherein each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps contain two dimensions, with the vertical dimension being the position of a throttle position switch as detected by the throttle position sensor and the horizontal dimension being the engine RPM.

74. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 73 wherein the throttle position is indicated by the percentage that the throttle position is in related to its maximum open position.

75. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 74 wherein for each intersection of the two dimensions in each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps there is a specific time duration that represents the amount of time in milliseconds that the fuel valve will be open to allow fuel to enter an air intake manifold of the small internal combustion engine.

76. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 75 wherein each of the master cylinder and slave cylinder also has a fuel delay angle table, the fuel delay angle acting to determine the exact time the fuel valve is opened in relation to the at least one ignition signal received from the ignition sensor.

77. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 76 wherein each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps is variable in that the specific time duration at each intersection of the two dimensions of each of the at least two sets of multi-dimensional maps is adjustable by a processing subroutine that revises the specific time duration based on a set of inputs to the microprocessor.

78. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 77 wherein the electronic control unit is capable of determining a change in the load placed on the small internal combustion engine.

79. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 78 wherein the change in the load placed on the small internal combustion engine is determined by the electronic control unit'"'"'s evaluation of a change in the throttle position sensor signal in relation to a change in the engine RPM.

80. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 79 wherein a decrease in the load placed on the internal combustion engine is determined when a change in the throttle position sensor signal indicating an intended reduction of the engine RPM is not accompanied by a related decrease in the engine RPM.

81. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 80 wherein an increase in the load placed on the internal combustion engine is determined when a change in the throttle position sensor signal indicating an intended increase of the engine RPM is not accompanied by a related increase in the engine RPM.

82. The electronic fuel regulation system of claim 81 wherein the electronic control unit has the ability to independently lean or enrich the air fuel mixture of either the master cylinder or the slave cylinder by varying the values in the fuel valve duration two-dimensional look-up table based upon a specific set of operating characteristics for a specific engine.

83. An electronic fuel regulation system to control the delivery of fuel to at least one cylinder of a small internal combustion engine comprising:

a fuel pump;

a fuel regulator adapted to limit the fuel pressure to less than 20 psi;

a fuel valve being capable of cycling open and closed in not more than about twelve milliseconds, the operating pressure for the fuel system being controlled by the cycling of the fuel pump in a normal range between approximately 2 and 10 psi and optimally between 3 and 6 psi, the fuel valve having a body, a plunger reciprocally positioned within the body and the fuel valve having a cap connected to an_end of the body, the cap having a seat positioned within the body and facing the plunger and the cap having an integrated fuel rail formed with and positioned outside of the body, the plunger reciprocally contacting the seat during the cycling of the fuel pump;

an air intake manifold for a small internal combustion engine, the air intake manifold having a mounting system configured to operatively connect with the integrated fuel rail so as to mount the fuel valve onto the air intake manifold;

at least one sensors configured to generate a signal indicating the operating condition of said engine, the at least one sensor including at least one of either an exhaust gas temperature, a throttle position sensor capable of detecting the position of a throttle on the small internal combustion engine and being capable of sending a throttle position sensor signal, or an ignition sensor having the ability to detect transmittal of a momentary electrical current used to ignite at least one spark plug on the small internal combustion engine and capable of sending at least one ignition sensor signal;

an electronic control unit capable of driving the fuel pump and the fuel valve in a fuel delivery system for the small internal combustion engine, wherein the electronic control unit has the ability of accepting the throttle position sensor signal and the at least one ignition sensor signal, and further having the ability to continuously monitor the operation of the small internal combustion engine to adjust operation of the fuel pump and the fuel valve to increase the operating efficiency of the small internal combustion engine.