Electronically controlled ignition system

Claim 2

An electronically controlled system for adjusting the ignition timing angle for an internal combustion engine, comprising transducer means for continuously sensing an operating condition of the engine and for generating a first electrical signal having a magnitude representative of said operating condition, the magnitude of said first signal being linearly changed by said transducer means in accordance with changes in said operating condition; a non-linear signal generator coupled to said transducer means for generating a second electrical signal, said non-linear signal generator including an operational amplifier and non-linear feedback means for causing the magnitude of said second signal to change non-linearly and predeterminably in accordance with linear changes in said first signal, said nonlinear feedback means having a pLurality of interconnected and parallel circuits, each of said parallel circuits having an adjustable resistor and a diode connected in series, and an adjustable voltage source for placing a voltage on one electrode of said diode for causing said diode to be non-conductive unless the input signal to said amplifier from said transducer means exceeds said voltage; and adjustment means responsive to said second signal for adjusting the ignition timing angle of the engine.

Claim 3

An electronically controlled system for adjusting the ignition timing angle for an internal combustion engine, comprising transducer means for continuously sensing an operating condition of the engine and for generating a first electrical signal having a magnitude representative of said operating condition, the magnitude of said first signal being linearly changed by said transducer means in accordance with changes in said operating condition; a non-linear signal generator coupled to said transducer means for generating a second electrical signal and including non-linear feedback means for causing the magnitude of said second signal to change non-linearly and predeterminably in accordance with linear changes in said first signal; adjustment means responsive to said second signal for adjusting the ignition timing angle of the engine; adjustment feedback means coupled to said adjustment means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the amount the ignition timing angle was adjusted by said adjustment means; and comparison means coupled to said non-linear signal generator and to said adjustment feedback means for comparing said adjustment feedback means generated signal with said second electrical signal and for adjusting said second signal in accordance with any inequality between the two signals.

Claim 4

An electronically controlled system for adjusting the ignition timing angle for an internal combustion engine, comprising transducer means for continuously sensing an operating condition of the engine and for generating a first electrical signal having a magnitude representative of said operating condition, the magnitude of said first signal being linearly changed by said transducer means in accordance with changes in said operating condition; a non-linear signal generator coupled to said transducer means for generating a second electrical signal and including non-linear feedback means for causing the magnitude of said second signal to change non-linearly and predeterminably in accordance with linear changes in said first signal; adjustment means responsive to said second signal for adjusting the ignition timing angle of the engine; adjustment feedback means coupled to said adjustment means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the amount the ignition timing angle was adjusted by said adjustment means; and comparison means coupled to said non-linear signal generator and to said adjustment feedback means for comparing said adjustment feedback means generated signal with said second electrical signal and for adjusting said second signal in accordance with any inequality between the two signals.

Claim 5

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjustment means includes means for mechanically adjusting the ignition timing angle of the engine.

Claim 6

An electronically controlled system for adjusting the ignition timing angle for an internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of transducer means for continuously sensing operating conditions of the engine and for generating a plurality of first electrical signals, each having a magnitude representative of the corresponding operating condition, the magnitude of said first signals being linearly changed by said plurality of transducer means in accordance with changes in said corresponding operating conditions; a plurality of non-linear signal generators respectively coupled to said plurality of transducer means for generating a plurality of second electrical signals, and including a like plurality of non-linear feedback means for causing the respective magnitudes of said plurality of second signals to change non-linearly and predeterminably in accordance with linear changes in respective ones of said plurality of first signals; summing means coupled to each of said non-linear signal generators for combining the magnitudes of said plurality of second signals into an aggregate command signal; and adjustment means responsive to said command signal for establishing the ignition timing angle of the engine.

Claim 7

An electronically controlled system for adjusting the ignition timing angle for an internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of transducer means for continuously sensing operating conditions of the engine and for generating a plurality of first electrical signals, each having a magnitude representative of the corresponding operating condition, the magnitude of said first signals being linearly changed by said plurality of transducer means in accordance with changes in said corresponding operating conditions; a plurality of non-linear signal generators respectively coupled to said plurality of transducer means for generating a plurality of second electrical signals, and including a like plurality of non-linear feedback means for causing the respective magnitudes of said plurality of second signals to change non-linearly and predeterminably in accordance with linear changes in respective ones of said plurality of first signals; summing means coupled to each of said non-linear signal generators for combining the magnitudes of said plurality of second signals into an aggregate command signal; and adjustment means responsive to said command signal for establishing the ignition timing angle of the engine.

Claim 8

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said adjustment means includes a servo motor control means coupled to a movable distributor and to said summing means with the addition of adjustment feedback means coupled to said servo motor control means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the amount the ignition timing angle was adjusted by said servo motor control means; and comparison means coupled to said summing means and said adjustment feedback means for comparing said signal generated by said adjustment feedback means with said aggregate command signal and for adjusting the input signal to said servo motor control means in accordance with any inequality between the two signals.

Claim 9

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 1 with the addition of Limiting means coupled between said summing means and said servo motor control means, whereby the negative and positive magnitudes of said aggregate command signal are limited for defining an operable range over which the ignition timing angle can be adjusted.

Claim 10

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said limiting means comprises an operational amplifier coupled to said summing means, and a limiting feedback circuit coupled to said amplifier and having a resistance and first and second diodes all connected in parallel, said first diode being reverse biased unless said command signal exceeds a predetermined negative magnitude, and said second diode being reverse biased unless said command signal exceeds a predetermined positive magnitude.

Claim 11

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 7 including means for adjustably increasing or decreasing said command signal.

Claim 12

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 18 with the addition of adjustment feedback means coupled to said adjustment means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the amount the ignition timing angle was adjusted by said adjustment means; and comparison means coupled to said summing means and said adjustment feedback means for comparing said adjustment feedback means generated signal with said aggregate command signal and for adjusting the input signal to said adjustment means in accordance with any inequality between the two signals, and wherein said plurality of transducer means includes first transducer means for sensing the engine load and second transducer means for sensing the engine speed.

Claim 13

The electronically controlled system as claimed in claim 4 with the addition of adjustment feedback means coupled to said adjustment means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with the amount the ignition timing angle was adjusted by said adjustment means; and comparison means coupled to said summing means and said adjustment feedback means for comparing said adjustment feedback means generated signal with said aggregate command signal and for adjusting the input signal to said adjustment means in accordance with any inequality between the two signals, wherein said plurality of transducer means includes first transducer means for sensing the engine load and second transducer means for sensing the engine speed, and wherein one of said plurality of non-linear signal generators includes an operational amplifier having an input coupled to the output of one of said transducers, said non-linear feedback means being coupled to said amplifier, said feedback means having a plurality of adjustable branches each of which includes a diode, a serially connected resistance and an adjustable voltage source, one of the electrodes of said diode being coupled to said adjustable voltage source and the other electrode being coupled to the input of said amplifer, said diode being reverse biased unless the output of said one of said transducer means reaches a predetermined and adjustable amplitude.