US3749073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic ignition timing system for internal combustion engines
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-23
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-11-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic ignition timing system for internal combustion engines is disclosed which utilizes electronic circuitry to vary the timing of ignition pulses in response to engine speed and vacuum to provide optimum or improved performance by the engine. Preferably the electrical circuitry utilizes digital signals for high accuracy.
Inventors
- 👤 R Asplund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:28
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to at least two characteristics of said engine comprising: first signal generating means for generating first digital signals representative of a first characteristic of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digItal signals representative of a second characteristic of said engine; function generating means for relating said first and second characteristics to the ignition timing of said engine; an accumulator; means interconnecting said first and second signal generating means, said accumulator, and said function generating means for successively accumulating in said accumulator digital values responsive to said first and second digital signals and the relationship of said first and second characteristics of the ignition timing of said engine; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulator for receiving said digital values therefrom and for converting said digital values to pulses at times corresponding thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to at least two characteristics of said engine comprising: first signal generating means for generating first digital signals representative of a first characteristic of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digItal signals representative of a second characteristic of said engine; function generating means for relating said first and second characteristics to the ignition timing of said engine; an accumulator; means interconnecting said first and second signal generating means, said accumulator, and said function generating means for successively accumulating in said accumulator digital values responsive to said first and second digital signals and the relationship of said first and second characteristics of the ignition timing of said engine; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulator for receiving said digital values therefrom and for converting said digital values to pulses at times corresponding thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first characteristic is the speed of said engine and said second characteristic is the vacuum of said engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said function generating means includes a first read-only memory programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the speed of said engine to the ignition timing of said engine and a second read-only memory programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the manifold vacuum of said engine to the ignition timing of said engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said first signal generating means includes transducer means for providing a signal indicative of crankshaft rotation and counter means connected to said transducer means for converting the signal from said transducer means to said first digital signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein the signal from said transducer means includes periodic pulses indicative of degrees of crankshaft rotation and said counter means counts clock pulses between two successive pulses of said transducer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first signal generating means includes means for providing reference pulses synchronized with the speed of said engine connected to said pulse generating means whereby the times of pulses provided by said pulse generating means are varied from said reference pulses in accordance with said digital values.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for electronically controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to the speed and vacuum of said engine for reducing exhaust emissions and enhancing the performance of said engine comprising: first signal generating means for generating first digital signals representative of the speed of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digital signals representative of the vacuum of said engine; signal processing means including function generating means for relating the speed and vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses, accumulating means, and means connecting said signal processing means to said first and second signal generating means for processing said first and second digital signals to accumulate digital timing value signals in said accumulating means in accordance with the speed and vacuum of said engine and predetermined functions contained in said function generating means; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulating means for providing pulses at times corresponding to said digital timing value signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for electronically controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to the speed and vacuum of said engine for reducing exhaust emissions and enhancing the performance of said engine comprising: first signal generating means for generating first digital signals representative of the speed of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digital signals representative of the vacuum of said engine; signal processing means including function generating means for relating the speed and vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses, accumulating means, and means connecting said signal processing means to said first and second signal generating means for processing said first and second digital signals to accumulate digital timing value signals in said accumulating means in accordance with the speed and vacuum of said engine and predetermined functions contained in said function generating means; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulating means for providing pulses at times corresponding to said digital timing value signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said signal processing means includes a first function generator programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the speed of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses to obtain reduced emissions, a second function generator programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses to obtain reduced emissions, means connecting said first and second signal generating means to said first and second function generators, respectively, and means connecting said first and second function generators to said accumulating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said first signal generating means includes means for providing reference pulses at predetermined intervals of engine rotation connected to said pulse generating means, said pulse generating means providing pulses at times with respect to said reference pulses corresponding to said digital timing value signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said first signal generating means includes transducer means for providing pulses at predetermined intervals of crankshaft rotation and counter means for counting clock pulses for an interval determined by two successive pulses from said transducer means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said second signal generating means includes a first signal transducer for providing output signals representative of the manifold vacuum of said engine, first converter means connected to said first signal transducer and to said second function generator for converting the output signals from said first signal transducer to digital signals, a second signal transducer for providing output signals representative of the port vacuum of said engine, and second converter means connected to said second signal transducer and to said second function generator for converting the output signals from said second signal transducer to digital signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for electronically controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to the speed and vacuum of said engine comprising: first signal generating means including transducer means for providing signals indicative of engine rotation and counter means connected thereto for converting the signals from said transducer means to first digital signals representative of the speed of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digital signals representative of the vacuum of said engine; function generating means for relating the speed and vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses for obtaining reduced emissions; means connecting said counter means and said second signal generating means to said function generating means; accumulator means for successively accumulating digital values representative of the timing of ignition pulses of said engine in response to signals from said function generating means; means connecting said function generating means to said accumulator means; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulator means and to said first signal generating means for converting said digital values to pulses at times varied from reference pulses provided by said signal generating means corresponding to said digital values.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for electronically controlling the timing of ignition pulses in an internal combustion engine in response to the speed and vacuum of said engine comprising: first signal generating means including transducer means for providing signals indicative of engine rotation and counter means connected thereto for converting the signals from said transducer means to first digital signals representative of the speed of said engine; second signal generating means for generating second digital signals representative of the vacuum of said engine; function generating means for relating the speed and vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses for obtaining reduced emissions; means connecting said counter means and said second signal generating means to said function generating means; accumulator means for successively accumulating digital values representative of the timing of ignition pulses of said engine in response to signals from said function generating means; means connecting said function generating means to said accumulator means; and pulse generating means connected to said accumulator means and to said first signal generating means for converting said digital values to pulses at times varied from reference pulses provided by said signal generating means corresponding to said digital values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said second signal generating means includes a first signal transducer for providing output signals representative of the manifold vacuum of said engine, first converter means connected to said first signal transducer and to said function generating means for converting the output signals from said first signal transducer to digital signals, a second signal transducer for providing output signals representative of the port vacuum of said engine, a second converter means connected to said second signal transducer and to said function generating means for converting the output signals from said second signal transducer to digital signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 12 including means connected to said accumulator means for providing a predetermined digital value signal thereto when predetermined default conditions occur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 14 wherein the signal from said transducer means includes periodic pulses indicative of degrees of crankshaft rotation and said counter means counts clock pulses between two successive pulses from said transducer means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said function generating means includes a first read-only memory programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the speed of said engine to the timing of ignition pulseS of said engine and a second read-only memory programmed in accordance with a transfer function relating the manifold vacuum of said engine to the timing of ignition pulses of said engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said means connecting said function generating means to said accumulator means includes means for generating pulse trains connected to said second read-only memory and to said accumulator means for generating pulse trains in response to digital output signals from said second read-only memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means connecting said function generating means to said accumulator means includes first and second pulse train generators connected between said function generating means and said accumulator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |