Digital engine hour meter for outdoor power equipment
First Claim
1. A digital engine operating time measuring apparatus for an internal combustion engine powered by a magneto of the engine and which accumulates time when the engine is operating, the apparatus comprising:
- a) power regulation circuitry including a pair of terminals coupled to the engine magneto, the power regulation circuitry converting a time varying electrical signal generated by the magneto when the engine is operating to a low voltage DC signal;
b) digital circuitry coupled to an output of the power regulation circuitry and calculating accumulated engine operating hours, the digital circuitry being powered by and accumulating hours only when the low voltage DC signal is generated by the power regulation circuitry; and
c) a display coupled to the digital circuitry for displaying accumulated engine operating hours calculated by the digital circuitry.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital engine operating time measuring apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus is powered by a magneto of the engine and accumulates engine operating time only when the engine is operating. The apparatus includes power regulation circuitry including a pair of terminals coupled to the engine magneto. The power regulation circuitry converts a time varying electrical signal generated by the magneto when the engine is operating to a low voltage DC signal. The apparatus further includes digital circuitry coupled to an output of the power regulation circuitry for calculating accumulated engine operating time. The digital circuitry is powered by the low voltage DC signal of the power regulation circuitry and only accumulates engine operating time upon sensing the low voltage DC signal. The apparatus further includes a display coupled to the digital circuitry for displaying accumulated engine operating time as calculated by the digital circuitry.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A digital engine operating time measuring apparatus for an internal combustion engine powered by a magneto of the engine and which accumulates time when the engine is operating, the apparatus comprising:
-
a) power regulation circuitry including a pair of terminals coupled to the engine magneto, the power regulation circuitry converting a time varying electrical signal generated by the magneto when the engine is operating to a low voltage DC signal; b) digital circuitry coupled to an output of the power regulation circuitry and calculating accumulated engine operating hours, the digital circuitry being powered by and accumulating hours only when the low voltage DC signal is generated by the power regulation circuitry; and c) a display coupled to the digital circuitry for displaying accumulated engine operating hours calculated by the digital circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A digital engine operating time measuring apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is powered by an output signal of an engine magneto and which accumulates hours when the magneto output signal is sensed, the apparatus comprising:
-
a) power regulation circuitry coupled to and powered by the engine magneto output signal, the power regulation circuitry sensing the magneto output signal and converting the magneto output signal to a DC output signal; b) a digital integrated circuit coupled to and powered by the DC output signal of the power regulation circuitry, the digital integrated circuit accumulating a running total of engine hours upon sensing the DC output signal of the power regulation circuitry; and c) a display coupled to the digital integrated circuit for displaying accumulated engine operating hours as calculated by the digital integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A digital hour meter apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising:
-
a) power regulation circuitry including a first and a second terminals coupled to a magneto of the internal combustion engine which is switched on when the engine is operating, the power regulation circuitry converting an electrical signal generated by the magneto to a low voltage DC signal, regardless of which of the first and second terminals is coupled to a positive side of the magneto and which of the first and second terminals is coupled to a negative side of the magneto; b) a digital integrated circuit coupled to an output of the power regulation circuitry and accumulating time, the digital integrated circuit being powered by and accumulating hours only when the low voltage DC signal is generated by the power regulation circuitry; and c) a display coupled to the digital integrated circuit for displaying accumulated time as calculated by the digital integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification