Electronic engine control apparatus

• US RE32,140 E
• Filed: 06/30/1983
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hideo, Morinaga, Shigeki, Tokuda, Hiroastu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/509,769
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.04, 364/431.05, 364/431.06, 364/175, 364/442, 364/431.12, 123/416, 123/417, 123/480, 123/486, 123/487, 123/488
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0077 Control of the EGR valve or actuator, e.g. duty cycle, closed loop control of position EGR valve position sensor F02M26/48
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/53 using electric actuators, e.g. solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1502 using one central computing unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/46 controlling ignition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/47 Exhaust feedback

Abstract

An electronic engine control apparatus in which the timing of the ignition and the fuel injection are calculated from a negative pressure in the intake manifold of the engine or the flow rate of suction air and the rotational speed of the engine. A reference register group is constituted of registers for storing the result of the calculation while an instantaneous register group is made up of registers for storing the instantaneous states of actuators. One of the registers of the reference register group and one of the registers of the instantaneous register group are selected according to a stage timing signal so that the contents of the two registers selected are compared with each other.

Claims

1. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of said engine and being coupled to actuator means for controlling respective energy conversion functions of said engine in response to control signals applied thereto;

an improved control apparatus comprising, in combination;

first means for generating an engine control timing signal pattern through which operational events of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.engine are controlled;

second means for storing engine control codes coupled thereto;

third means, coupled to said first means, for generating respective engine timing codes the values of which are selectively modified by said engine control timing .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.pattern;

fourth means, coupled to said second and third means, for comparing respective ones of said engine control codes with respective ones of said engine timing codes and producing respective output signals when said respective engine control codes define a prescribed relationship with respect to said engine timing codes; and

fifth means, coupled to said fourth means, for producing control signals to be coupled to .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuator means in response to the output signals produced by said fourth means.

2. An improved control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said prescribed relationship is such that the value of a respective engine timing code is greater than or equal to the value of a corresponding respective engine control code.

3. An improved control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sixth means, coupled to said third means, for supplying .[.coupling.]. to said processor at least one of said engine timing codes.

4. An improved control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sixth means includes means for coupling to said processor those engine timing codes that are indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed.

5. An improved control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the supplied engine timing codes are indicative of both engine speed and vehicle speed.

6. An improved control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third means comprises

a plurality of storage devices for storing respective engine timing codes, and

means, coupled to said plurality of storage devices, for controllably modifying the engine timing codes in accordance with said engine control timing .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.pattern.

7. An improved control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said controllably modifying means comprises

means for selectively incrementing the data value of a respective engine timing code by a prescribed value in response to receipt of a respective portion of said engine control timing signal pattern that is associated with that engine timing code.

8. An improved control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said incrementing means comprises

means for temporarily storing the engine timing code stored by each respective one of said storage devices, and

means for receiving the engine timing code from said temporarily storing means and selectively incrementing the data value of said code and causing the engine timing code stored in said respective one of said storage devices to be replaced by said code the data value of which has been selectively incremented.

9. An improved control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said incrementing means comprises

means for reading out the engine timing code stored by each respective one of said storage devices and temporarily storing said read-out engine timing code during a first interval of time, and

means for receiving the engine timing code from said temporarily storing means and selectively incrementing the data value of said code and causing the engine timing code stored in said respective one of said storage devices to be replaced by said code the data value of which has been selectively incremented during a second interval of time subsequent to said first interval of time.

10. An improved control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said fifth means includes

a first plurality of storage means for selectively storing the respective output signals produced by said fourth means;

and

a second plurality of storage means, coupled to the respective ones of said first plurality of storage means, for receiving and storing the output signals stored by said first plurality of storage means.

11. An improved control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controllably modifying means includes means, coupled to said fifth means, for controllably modifying the engine timing codes stored in said plurality of storage devices in dependence upon the output signals stored said second plurality of storage means.

12. An improved control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fifth means further includes means for causing a respective storage means of said first plurality of storage means to store a respective output signal produced by said fourth means during a first interval of time and thereafter causing a corresponding respective storage means of said second plurality of storage means to receive and store said respective output signal stored in said respective storage means of said first plurality of storage means during a second interval of time subsequent to said first interval of time.

13. An improved control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said controllably modifying means comprises

means for selectively incrementing the data value of a respective engine timing code by a prescribed value in response to receipt of a respective portion of said engine control timing signal pattern that is associated with that engine timing code.

14. An improved control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said incrementing means comprises

means for reading out the engine timing code stored by each respective one of said storage devices and temporarily storing said read-out engine timing code during a first interval of time, and

means for receiving the engine timing code from said temporarily storing means and selectively incrementing the data value of said code and causing the engine timing code stored in said respective one of said storage devices to be replaced by said code the data value of which has been selectively incremented during a second interval of time subsequent to said first interval of time.

15. An improved control apparatus according to claim 6, .[.wherein said ∫

.Iadd.further comprising a .Iaddend.plurality of sensors .[.include.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.rotation timing signal generating means for generating rotation timing signals in synchronization with rotation of the engine shaft,

.Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.said third means further includes synchronization circuit means coupled to said rotation timing signal generating means, for synchronizing the engine control timing signals of said engine control timing signal pattern with said rotation timing signals, and

.Iadd.further wherein .Iaddend.said controllably modifying means is coupled to controllably modify said engine timing codes in response to the output of said synchronization circuit means.

16. An improved control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.energy conversion functions include at least one of fuel supply, ignition, exhaust gas return and idle condition of the engine.

17. An improved control apparatus accordint to claim 16, wherein engine control timing signals of said .Iadd.engine control timing signal .Iaddend.pattern include engine control timing signals of relatively different frequencies.

18. An improved control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein engine control timing signals of said .Iadd.engine control timing signal .Iaddend.pattern which relate to fuel supply and ignition of the engine have a frequency relatively high compared to the frequency of engine control timing signals of said .Iadd.engine control timing signal .Iaddend.pattern which relate to exhaust gas return and idle condition of the engine.

19. An improved control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the engine control timing signals of said .Iadd.engine control timing signal .Iaddend.pattern include signals representative of a prescribed angle of rotation of the engine crankshaft INTL, the number of cycles of the engine CYL, advance ADV, dwell DWL, vehicle speed VSP, engine speed RPM, time of fuel injection INJ, exhaust gas return EGR, and idle condition NIDL.

20. An improved control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the generation of said engine control timing signals follows the order INTL, CYL, INJ, ADV, DWL, EGR, NIDL.

21. An improved control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

.[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuator means include an exhaust gas recycle means for controlling the exhaust gas recycle condition in accordance with prescribed pulse intervals and pulse durations;

said second means includes means for storing engine control codes defining said prescribed pulse interval and said prescribed pulse duration; and

said third means includes means for generating respective engine timing codes corresponding to said prescribed pulse interval and said prescribed pulse duration.

22. An improved apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

.[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuator means include an air regulator for controlling the quantity of air flowing into the engine,

said second means includes means for storing an engine control code defining a prescribed air regulator control pulse interval and an engine control code defining the duration of said prescribed air regulator control pulse;

and

said third means includes means for generating respective engine timing codes corresponding to said prescribed air regulator control pulse interval and the duration of said prescribed air regulator control pulse.

23. An improved control apparatus according to claim, wherein said second means includes means for storing an engine control code representative of the angular rotation of the crankshaft of the engine from its position at which the conduction of primary current in an ignition coil is to be initiated, and wherein said third means includes means for generating an engine timing code that is modified in accordance with the ignition timing.

24. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of said engine and adapted to be coupled to actuator means for controlling respective energy conversion functions of said engine in response to control signals applied thereto;

an improved control apparatus comprising, in combination;

first means, responsive to engine control codes coupled thereto for producing respective engine timing codes the values of which are sequentially modified;

second means, coupled to said first means, for producing respective output signals upon the values of said respective engine timing codes reaching defined limits;

26. An improved control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.energy conversion functions include at least one of fuel supply, ignition, exhaust gas return and idle condition of the engine.

27. An improved control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said third means includes

a first plurality of storage means for storing the respective output signals produced by said second means, and

a second plurality of storage means, coupled to the respective ones of said first plurality of storage means, for receiving and storing the output signals stored by said first plurality of storage means.

28. An improved control apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said third means further includes means for causing a respective storage means of said first plurality of storage means to store a respective output signal produced by said second means during a first interval of time and thereafter causing a corresponding respective storage means of said second plurality of storage means to receive and store said respective output signals stored in said respective storage means of said first plurality of storage means during a second interval of time subsequent to said first interval of time.

30. An improved control apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the signals produced by those sensors, among .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.plurality of sensors, which are representative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed are coupled to said second means, whereby engine control data processing operations carried out by said processor that involves data relating to at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed are accomplished in response to the output of said third means.

33. An improved control apparatus according to claim 28, wherein .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.energy conversion functions include at least one of fuel supply, ignition, exhaust gas return and idle condition of the engine.

35. A control apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said counting means comprises

increment means for receiving digital codes from the storage means of said second plurality selected in accordance with said stage signals and for incrementing said codes by a constant value;

and

setting means for setting the output data of said increment means into said selected storage means of said second plurality.

37. A control apparatus according to claIm 33, wherein

one of said sensors is composed of pulse generating means for generating pulses in synchronism with a predetermined rotation angle of said engine;

and

said counting means comprises

increment means for receiving the digital codes stored in the storage means of said second plurality selected in accordance with said stage signals and for incrementing said codes by a constant value in response to the output of said pulse generating means, and

data setting means for setting the output of said increment means into said selected storage means of said second plurality.

38. A control apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

one of said sensors is composed of a pulse generating means for generating pulses in synchronism with a predetermined rotation angle of a vehicle wheel;

and

said counting means comprises

increment means for receiving the digital codes stored in the storage means of said second plurality selected in accordance with said stage signals and for incrementing said codes by a constant value in response to the output of said pulse generating means; and

data setting means for setting the output of said increment means into said selected storage means of said second plurality.

40. A control apparatus according to claim 38, wherein

.[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.sensor includes rotation pulse generating means for generating pulses in synchronization with the engine shaft rotation, and wherein

said counter means includes synchronization circuit means coupled to said stage signal generating means and to said rotation pulse generating means for generating pulses in synchronization with said stage signals of said stage signal generating means and in response to the output pulses of said rotation pulse generating means, said first and second counters being controlled in response to outputs of said synchronization circuit means.

41. A control according to claim 38, wherein

said sensors include rotation pulse generating means for generating position pulses and reference pulses in synchronization with the engine shaft rotation, a plurality of position pulses being generated between said successive reference pulses, and wherein

said counter means include first and second synchronization circuit means, said first synchronization circuit means being coupled to said stage signal generating means and to said rotation pulse generating for synchronizing the position pulses of said rotation pulse generating means with the stage signals of said stages signal generating means, said second synchronization circuit means being coupled to said stage signal generating means and to said rotation pulse generating means for synchronizing the reference pulses of said rotation pulse generating means with the stage signals of said stage signal generating means, said second counter being incremented in response to outputs of said first synchronization circuit means and being initiated in response to the output of said second synchronization circuit means.

43. A control apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said output means includes

first storing means, selected in response to said first stage signals, for storing outputs of said comparator,

second storing means, selected in response to said second stage signals, for storing outputs of said comparator and

wherein said first and second counters include control means, coupled to said second synchronization circuit means and coupled to said second storing means, for starting the incrementing of said first counter in response to the output of said second storing means and for starting the incrementing of said second counter in response to the output of said second synchronization circuit means.

45. A control apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said actuators further include an exhaust gas recycle means for controlling the exhaust gas recycle condition in accordance with prescribed pulse intervals and pulse durations;

wherein said first plurality of registers include a register for storing data defining said prescribed pulse interval, and a register for storing data defining said prescribed pulse duration; and

wherein said output means outputs pulses to said exhaust gas recycle means in accordance with the stored contents of said output means.

46. A control apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said actuators include an air regulator for controlling the quantity of air flowing into the engine in accordance with prescribed input pulses from said pulse output means, said first plurality of registers includes a register for storing data defining an input pulse interval and a register for storing data defining the pulse duration of said input pulses, and said output means outputs pulses in accordance with the data stored therein.

47. A control apparatus according to claim 43, wherein

said actuators further comprise at least fuel supply means for supplying fuel into engine,

said first plurality of registers includes a register for storing data representative of the duration of fuel supply.

25. third means, coupled to said second means, for storing said output signals for application to .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuator means;

and

fourth means, coupled to said first and third means, for causing the values of said respective engine timing codes to be modified in dependence upon the output signals stored by said third means.

29. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of said engine and being adapted to be coupled to actuator means for controlling respective energy conversion functions of said engine in response to control signals applied thereto;

an improved control apparatus comprising, in combination;

first means for generating an engine control timing signal pattern through which operational events of said engine are controlled;

second means, coupled to said first means, for generating respective engine timing codes the values of which are selectively modified by said engine control timing signal pattern, so as to produce respective output signals to be coupled to said actuator means, and

third means, coupled to said second means, for coupling to said processor at least one engine timing code generated by said second means.

31. An improved control apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said third means includes means for coupling to said processor those engine timing codes generated by said second means that are indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed.

32. An improved control apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said third means includes means for coupling to said data processor those engine timing codes generated by said second means that are indicative of both engine speed and vehicle speed.

34. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of the engine and being adapted to be coupled to actuators for controlling said engine;

a control apparatus for generating pulses for driving said actuators in accordance with processor-generated engine control data, said actuators controlling said engine in accordance with the pulses delivered from said control apparatus;

said control apparatus comprising, in combination;

a first plurality of storage means for storing outputs of .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.processor .Iadd.coupled to said control apparatus.Iaddend.;

counting means for generating a plurality of digital codes .Iadd.in accordance with timing signals produced by the processor for .Iaddend.representing instantaneous states of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuators and .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.engine, said counting means including a second plurality of storage means corresponding to said first plurality of storage means for storing said digital codes;

a comparator for comparing the digital code of each of the storage means of said first plurality with the content of the corresponding storage means of said second plurality;

a third plurality of storage means, corresponding to the storage means of said first plurality, for storing each of the respective outputs of said comparator;

first transfer means for transferring to .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.actuators the outputs of said third plurality of storage means; and

stage signal generating means for generating stage signals corresponding to said first plurality of storage means, said stage signals determining the timing of the operation of .[.said pulse outputs means.]. .Iadd.control apparatus for generating pulses.Iaddend.; and

wherein each of said second plurality of storage means and the corresponding storage means of said third plurality is respectively selected in accordance with said stage signals, and the digital codes of the storage means of said second plurality corresponding to said stage signals are compared with the respective contents of the storage means of said first plurality by said comparator, with the results, of the comparison being stored in said third plurality of storage means, and said engine is controlled on the basis of the stored results.

36. A control apparatus according to claim 34, wherein

said sensors include rotation pulse generating means for generating pulses in synchronization with the engine shaft rotation;

and wherein

said increment means includes

synchronization circuit means coupled to said stage signal generating means for synchronizing the output pulses of said rotating pulse generating means with the stage signals, and

an increment circuit for increasing the output of a selected one of said second storage means in response to the output of said synchronization circuit means.

39. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft driven by mechanical energy converted from heat energy released by the combustion of fuel, said engine including igniting means for igniting the fuel to generate heat energy in accordance with conditions of said engine, said igniting means initiating the charging of ignition energy at energy charging timing and igniting the fuel at ignition timing, and for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of the engine and having digital converting means for converting the outputs of the sensors into corresponding digital signals;

a control apparatus for generating output pulses to drive said igniting means in accordance with the digital outputs of said processor,

said control apparatus comprising, in combination;

stage signal generating means for repetitively generating at least first and second stage signals corresponding to prescribed engine timing operations,

a first plurality of registers including at least first and second registers coupled to said stage signal generating means, said first register storing outputs of said processor defining said charging timing and selected in response to said first stage signals for providing stored data, said second register storing the output of said processor defining said ignition timing and selected in response to said second stage signal for providing stored data,

counter means including at least first and second counters for storing respective codes representative of the instantaneous condition of said igniting means and coupled to said stage signal generating means, said first counter being selected in response to said first stage signal, said second counter being selected in response to said second stage signal,

a comparator for comparing the contents of a selected one of said first plurality of registers with the contents of a selected one of said second plurality of registers, and

output means including a plurality of storage means for storing the outputs of said comparator and delivering the output to the igniting means, said output means being coupled to the stage signal generating means and to one of said storage means being selected in response to a stage signal for receiving an output of said comparator.

42. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft driven by mechanical energy converted from heat energy released by the combustion of fuel, said engine including igniting means for igniting the fuel to generate heat energy in accordance with conditions of said engine, said igniting means initiating the charging of ignition energy at energy charging timing and igniting the fuel at ignition timing, said apparatus including a plurality of sensors for detecting operating conditions of said engine at selected instants in time during the operation of said engine, said sensors including rotation pulse generating means for generating position pulses and reference pulses in synchronization with engine shaft rotation, said position pulses being generated for relatively short intervals of engine shaft rotation and said reference pulse being generated for relatively large intervals of engine shaft rotation, and digital converting means for converting the outputs of said sensors into corresponding digital signals,

a control apparatus for generating output pulses to drive .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.igniting means in accordance with outputs of said processor, said control apparatus comprising, in combination:

stage signal generating means for repetitively generating at least first and second stage signals representative of prescribed engine timing operations,

a first register for storing digital signals representative of energy charging timings coupled from said processor, said first register being coupled to said stage signal generating means and selected in response to said second stage signals,

a second register for storing digital signals representative of ignition timing coupled from said processor, said second register being coupled to said stage signal generating means and selected in response to said second stage signals,

first synchronization circuit means for synchronizing position pulses of said rotation pulse generating means with stage signals of said stage signal generating means,

second synchronization circuit means for synchronizing reference pulses to said rotation pulse generating means with stage signals of said stage signal generating means,

a first counter the contents of which are incremented in response to the output of said first synchronization circuit means, and first counter being coupled to said stage signal generating means and selected in response to said first stage signals,

a second counter the contents of which are incremented in response to the output of said first synchronization circuit means, said second counter being coupled to said signal generating means and selected in response to said second stage signals,

a comparator for comparing the output of a selected register with the output of a selected counter, and

output means, including a plurality of storage means for storing outputs of said comparator and coupling the outputs to the igniting means in accordance with the stored outputs of said comparator, said output means being coupled to the stage signal generating means and to one of said storage means being selected in response to a stage signal for receiving outputs of said comparator.

44. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft driven by mechanical energy converted from heat energy released by the combustion of fuel, said engine including igniting means for igniting the fuel to generate the heat energy in accordance with conditions of said engine, said igniting means initiating the charging of ignition energy at energy charging timing and igniting the fuel at ignition timing, said apparatus including a plurality of sensors for detecting operating conditions of said engine at selected instants in time during the operation of said engine, said sensors including rotation pulse generating means for generating position pulses and reference pulses in synchronization with the engine shaft rotation, said position pulses being generated at relatively small intervals of engine shaft rotation and said reference pulses being generated at relatively large intervals of engine shaft rotation, digital converting means for converting the outputs of said sensors into corresponding digital signals,

a control apparatus for generating output pulses to drive said igniting means in accordance with outputs of said processor;

said control apparatus comprising, in combination;

stage signal generating means for repetitively generating at least first, second, and third stage signals representative of prescribed engine timing operation,

first synchronization circuit means, coupled to said rotation pulse generating means and to said stage signal generating means, for synchronizing the position pulses with the stage signals,

second synchronization circuit means, coupled to said rotation pulse generating means and to said stage signal generating means, for synchronizing the reference pulses with the stage signals,

a first plurality of registers including first, second, and third registers coupled to said stage signal generating means, said first register storing a predetermined value and being selected in response to said first stage signals, said second register storing data defining an energy charging timing signal coupled from said processor and selected in response to said second stage signals, said third register storing data defining an ignition timing signal coupled from said processor and selected in response to said third stage signals,

a second plurality of registers including at least first, second, and third registers and being coupled to said stage signal generating means the first, second, or third register of said second plurality being selected in response to said first, second, or third stage signals, respectively,

incrementor means, coupled to said first synchronization circuit means and said second plurality of registers, for incrementing the data stored in the selected register of said second plurality of registers in response to outputs of said first synchronization circuit means, so that the combination of said incrementor means and each register of said second plurality of registers operates as a counter the contents of which are increased in response to the outputs of said first synchronization circuit means,

a comparator for comparing the output of the selected register of said first plurality of registers with the counted data of the selected register of said second plurality of registers,

output means, including first, second, and third storing means, for storing outputs of said comparator and coupling output pulses to the igniting means in accordance with the stored outputs of said comparator, said output means being coupled to said stage signal generating means, and said first, second, and third storing means being selected in response to said first, second, and third stage signals of said stage signal generating means respectively, and

incrementor control means, coupled to said first and second synchronization circuit means and to said incrementor means, for starting the counting operation of the combination of said first registers of said second plurality of registers and said incrementor means, in response to the output of said second synchronization circuit means, for starting the counting operation of the combination of the second register of said second plurality of registers and said incrementor means in response to the output of said third storing means of said output means, and for starting the counting operation of the combination of the third register of said second plurality of registers and said incrementor means in response to the output of first storing means.

48. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals indicative of operating conditions of the engine and adapted to be coupled to at least one actuator for controlling an energy conversion function of the engine;

a control apparatus adapted to receive sensed signals from said sensors and to deliver control signals to said actuator, comprising in combination;

a stage pulse generator for producing a plurality of stage pulses each repeatedly generated at predetermined time intervals;

a plurality of register means connected to said stage pulse generator to receive a stage pulse, one of said register means being selected in response to said stage pulse and delivering data set therein;

a plurality of counter means for counting up signals indicative of conditions of the engine as of a selected instant in the time during which the engine is operative, said counter means being connected to said stage pulse generator to receive a stage pulse which selects one of said counter means to deliver its count value;

a comparator means connected to said register means and counter means to receive the set data of the selected one of said register means and the count value of the selected one of said counter means, and producing an output signal when received one of inputs is equal to or greater than the other; and

an output circuit means connected to said comparator to receive the comparison result, for producing a control signal applied to said actuator.

50. An improved control apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said second means comprises

a plurality of second storage devices for storing respective ones of said engine timing codes, and

means, coupled to said plurality of second storage devices, for controllably modifying the engine timing codes in accordance with said engine control timing signal pattern.

52. An improved control apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said controllably modifying means includes a plurality of gate means, coupled to said first means and said plurality of first storage devices, for producing and output in accordance with one of the outputs of said first storage devices which is selected by respective ones of said enging timing codes;

and

means for selectively modifying the data value of a respective engine timing code by a prescribed value in response to the output of said gate means.

53. An improved control apparatus according to claim 48, wherein each of said first storage devices has a first terminal, coupled to said third means, for receiving the output of said third means, and a second terminal for receiving a prescribed signal produced by the engine control timing signal pattern.

54. An improved control apparatus according to claim 52, further comprising fourth means for producing a first interval time signal φ

₁, and wherein said each of said first storage devices further includes gate means, coupled with said first means and said fourth means, for producing said prescribed signal which is applied to said second terminal. .Iadd.

55. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensors produce signals representative of operating conditions of the engine and being coupled to actuator means which respond to control signals applied thereto for controlling respective energy conversion functions of said engine, an improved control apparatus comprising, in combination:

first means for generating engine control timing signals through which operational events of the engine are controlled;

second means for storing engine control data;

third means for producing sequentially changing engine timing data;

fourth means for comparing respective engine control data stored by said second means with engine timing data produced by said third means in accordance with said engine control timing signals generated by said first means and producing a respective output signal in response to respective engine control data defining a prescribed relationship with respect to engine timing data produced by said third means; and

fifth means for producing a respective control signal to be coupled to an actuator means in response to a respective output signal produced by said fourth means..Iaddend. .Iadd.55. An improved control apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said fifth means comprises;

a plurality of storage means coupled to said first means and the actuator means, one of said storage means being selected in accordance with an engine timing signal for storing signals in response to the output of said fourth means for application to the actuator means..Iaddend. .Iadd.56. An improved control apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said third means comprises a counter..Iaddend. .Iadd.57. An improved control apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said second means comprises a plurality of registers and further wherein said fourth means includes means for comparing engine timing data produced by said counter in common with data respectively stored in each of said plurality of registers..Iaddend. .Iadd.58. An improved control apparatus according to claim 56, further comprising a clock pulse generator coupled to said counter to produce clock pulses for controlling the timing of the generation of said engine

56. timing data produced by said counter..Iaddend. .Iadd.59. An improved control apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said counter counts each clock pulse generated by said clock pulse generator during a predetermined time interval..Iaddend. .Iadd.60. An improved control apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said clock pulse generator produces said clock pulses in accordance with a timing signal produced by a CPU coupled to said control apparatus..Iaddend. .Iadd.61. An improved control apparatus according to claim 56, further comprising a clock pulse generator coupled to said first means and to said counter to produce clock pulses to commonly control the timing of the generation of the engine control timing signals produced by the first means and the generation of the engine timing data produced by said counter..Iaddend. .Iadd.62. An improved control apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said clock pulse generator produces said clock pulses in accordance with a timing signal produced by a CPU coupled to said control apparatus..Iaddend. .Iadd.63. An improved control apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the fifth means comprises at least a first register and a second register with said first register being coupled to receive the output of said fourth means and said second register being coupled between an output of said first register and said actuator means, and further comprising means for generating first and second clock signals which do not overlap each other wherein said first clock signal is applied to said first register to control entry of output signals from said fourth means to said first register and wherein said second clock signal is applied to said second register to control entry of output signals from said first register into said second register..Iaddend.

49. For use in a processor-controlled apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine for which a plurality of sensor produce signals representative of operating conditions of said engine and being coupled to actuator means for controlling respective energy conversion functions of said engine in response to control signals applied thereto;

an improved control apparatus comprising, in combination;

first means for generating an engine control timing signal pattern;

second means, responsive to processor-generated engine control codes coupled thereto for producing respective engine timing codes the values of which are sequentially modified;

third means, coupled to said second means, for producing respective output signals upon the values of said respective engine timing codes reaching defined limits; and

a plurality of first storage devices coupled to said first means and to said third means, one of said storage devices being selected in accordance with said engine control timing signal pattern for storing output signals of said third means for application to said actuator means.

51. An improved control apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said controllably modifying means comprises means, coupled to said first storage devices, for controllably modifying the engine timing codes stored in said plurality of second storage devices in dependence upon the output signals stored said first plurality of storage devices.