Device for controlling ignition timing of engine

Claim 3

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said status sensor elements includes means including a movable contact for short-circuiting its own status signal to prevent it from being applied to said semiconductor switching element when said movable contact is in one position and permitting the status signal to be applied to said semiconductor switching element when said movable contact is in another position.

Claim 4

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein predetermined ones of said status sensor elements each have a semiconductor diode branched from an energization circuit therefor and disposed in a circuit for energizing said semiconductor switching element and having a polarity effective to permit said semiconductor switching element to be energized by said source through said diode.

Claim 5

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sets of breaker contacts connected in parallel circuit relationship with one another and each connected in series with said ignition coil and said sets of contacts having different ignition timing cycles from each other, and relay means energized in response to the operation of said semiconductor switching element to render effective that set of contacts lagging in ignition timing.

Claim 6

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of status sensor elements are operative in response to a predetermined degree of depression of an acceleration pedal for the engine, an starting electric motor for the engine, a predetermined position of a transmission gearing and a negative pressure in a suction pipe for the engine respectively.

Claim 7

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ignition circuit includes at least a first semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal fRom said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit to produce an output signal, and a second semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal from said first semiconductor switching element to control the energization of said ignition coil thereby to generate an ignition voltage across said ignition coil.

Claim 8

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ignition circuit includes a first semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal from said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit to produce an output signal, a second semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal from said first semiconductor switching element to control the energization of said ignition coil thereby to generate an ignition voltage across said ignition coil, a first set of breaker contacts short circuited when said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit is in its conducting state and operative when the latter is in its non-conducting state to apply an input signal to said first semiconductor switching element, and a second set of breaker contacts operative when said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit is in its conducting state to apply an input signal to said first semiconductor switching element, said second set of breaker contacts having an ignition timing cycle later than that of said first set of breaker contacts.

Claim 9

A device for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ignition circuit includes a first semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal from said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit to produce an output signal, a second semiconductor switching element operative in response to the output signal from said first semiconductor switching element to control the energization of said ignition coil thereby to generate an ignition voltage across said ignition coil, a first set of breaker contacts short circuited when said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit is in its conducting state and operative when the latter is in its non-conducting state to apply an input signal to said first semiconductor switching element, a second set of breaker contacts operative when said semiconductor switching element of said control circuit is in its conducting state to apply an input signal to said first semiconductor switching element, said second set of breaker contacts having an ignition timing cycle later than that of said first set of breaker contacts, and a pair of first and second semiconductor diodes disposed in parallel circuit relationship with said first and second sets of breaker contacts and in a circuit for energizing said first semiconductor switching element in the forward direction with respect thereto.

Claim 10

In an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil and a source of electrical energy: electric circuit means connecting said ignition coil to said source and including means operable during operation of the internal combustion engine for alternatively effecting energization of said ignition coil in one timing mode in response to an electric control signal and in another timing mode during the absence of the electric control signal; sensing means for individually sensing a plurality of different internal combustion engine operating conditions and providing a plurality of corresponding electric output signals; and control circuit means connected to both said electric circuit means and sensing means receptive of said plurality of electric output signals for developing an electric control signal in response to receiving any one of said plurality of electric output signals and applying same to said electric circuit means to effect energization of the ignition coil in said one timing mode.

Claim 11

In an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil and a source of electrical energy: electric circuit means connecting said ignition coil to said source and including means operable during operation of the internal combustion engine for alternatively effecting energization of said ignition coil in one timing mode in response to an electric control signal and in another timing mode during the absence of the electric control signal; sensing means for individually sensing a plurality of different internal combustion engine operating conditions and providing a plurality of corresponding electric output signals; and control circuit means connected to both said electric circuit means and sensing means receptive of said plurality of electric output signals for developing an electric control signal in response to receiving any one of said plurality of electric output signals and applying same to said electric circuit means to effect energization of the ignition coil in said one timing mode.

Claim 12

An internal combustion engine according to claim 9; wherein said control circuit means includes a semiconductor switching element normally in a first switching state and operative when switched from said first switching state to a second switching state to develop said electric control signal and having an input side connected to said sensing means to receive therefrom said electric output signals and an output side connected to said electric circuit means whereby individual ones of said electric output signals effect switching of said semiconductor switching element from said first switching state to said second switching state to apply said electric control signal to said electric circuit means.

Claim 13

An internal combustion engine according to claim 10; wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of sensor elements each connected in parallel with said source and each connected to said input side of said semiconductor switching element.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine according to claim 10; wherein said electric circuit means includes a first set of breaker contacts alternately opened and closed during operation of the internal combustion engine defining said one timing mode, a second set of breaker contacts alternately opened and closed in a different timing cycle than said first set defining said another timing mode, and means electrically connecting said second set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil during the absence of said electric control signal and electrically connecting said first set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil in response to said electric control signal.

Claim 15

An internal combustion engine according to claim 12; wherein said last-mentioned means includes a relay normally positioned to connect said second set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil and disconnect said first set of breaker contacts from said ignition coil and movable in response to said electric control signal to a position connecting said first set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil and disconnecting said second set of breaker contacts from said ignition coil.

Claim 16

An internal combustion engine according to claim 12; wherein said last-mentioned means includes a first semiconductor switching device having an input side connected to said output side of said semiconductor switching element and an output side and responsive to said electric control signal applied to its input side for developing an output signal at its output side, a second semiconductor switching device having an input side connected to said output side of said first semiconductor switching device and an output side and responsive to said output signal applied to its input side for developing an output signal at its output side, and means electrically connecting said second set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil during the absence of said output signal from said output side of said second semi-conductor switching device and electrically connecting said first set of breaker contacts to said ignition coil in response to said output signal.