US3867916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engine ignition control system
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1973-08-28
•
Granted: 1975-02-25
•
Expires: 1993-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An ignition spark advance control system for a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine includes an integrator that produces a first increasing signal of predetermined slope during a predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation before ignition and a second increasing signal of predetermined slope beginning at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation. The second increasing signal has a slope chosen so that at a predetermined high engine RPM, the second signal equals the final value of the first signal at a selected early ignition advance angle before top dead center (TDC). Connected to the integrator is a time-controlled potential storage unit that stores the final value of the first signal at the end of the predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation. A feedback arrangement from the storage unit to said integrator adjusts the slope of the second signal so that, at an engine RPM below the predetermined high RPM, the second signal equals the final value of the first signal at an ignition advance angle between the selected early angle and TDC, the ignition advance angle approaching TDC as the engine RPM decreases below the predetermined high RPM. A comparator is connected to the time-controlled potential storage unit and the integrator and produces an output pulse when the second signal equals the final value of the first signal. Upon receipt of the output pulse, a control arrangement triggers the engine ignition.
Inventors
- 👤 Erhard Bigalke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:17
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/155; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
An ignition spark advance control system for a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine comprising, in combination; a. integrator means for (1) producing a first increasing signal of predetermined slope during a predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation before ignition, said first increasing signal having a final value at the end of said angle of rotation and said angle of rotation having a duration that is inversely related to the engine RPM whereby a large first signal final value represents low engine RPM and a small first signal final value represents high engine RPM and (2) producing a second increasing signal of predetermined slope beginning at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation, said second increasing signal having a slope chosen so that at a predetermined high engine RPM, said second signal equals said first signal value at a selected early ignition advance angle before TDC; b. time-controlled potential storage means connected to said integrator means for storing said first signal final value at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation; c. feedback means from said storage means to said integrator means for adjusting the slope of said second signal so that at an engine RPM below said predetermined high RPM said second signal equals said first signal final value at an ignition advance angle between said selected early angle and TDC, said ignition advance angle approaching TDC as said engine RPM decreases below said predetermined high RPM; d. comparator means connected (1) to said time-controlled potential storage means for receiving said first signal final value and (2) to said integrator means for receiving said second signal, said comparator means producing an output pulse when said second signal equals said first signal final value; and e. control means connected to said comparator means for triggering said engine ignition in response to said output pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
An ignition spark advance control system for a spark-ignited, internal combustion engine comprising, in combination; a. integrator means for (1) producing a first increasing signal of predetermined slope during a predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation before ignition, said first increasing signal having a final value at the end of said angle of rotation and said angle of rotation having a duration that is inversely related to the engine RPM whereby a large first signal final value represents low engine RPM and a small first signal final value represents high engine RPM and (2) producing a second increasing signal of predetermined slope beginning at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation, said second increasing signal having a slope chosen so that at a predetermined high engine RPM, said second signal equals said first signal value at a selected early ignition advance angle before TDC; b. time-controlled potential storage means connected to said integrator means for storing said first signal final value at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation; c. feedback means from said storage means to said integrator means for adjusting the slope of said second signal so that at an engine RPM below said predetermined high RPM said second signal equals said first signal final value at an ignition advance angle between said selected early angle and TDC, said ignition advance angle approaching TDC as said engine RPM decreases below said predetermined high RPM; d. comparator means connected (1) to said time-controlled potential storage means for receiving said first signal final value and (2) to said integrator means for receiving said second signal, said comparator means producing an output pulse when said second signal equals said first signal final value; and e. control means connected to said comparator means for triggering said engine ignition in response to said output pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes reset means, connected to said integrator means, for resetting said integrator means at the beginning and at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation, said reset means being controlled by a static crankshaft angle transmitter that produces a reset signal at the beginning and at the end of said angle of rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said integrator means includes at least one input for engine operating parameters for adjustment of said chosen slope of said second signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one input includes gate means, controlled by a static crankshaft angle transmitter, so that said operating parameter inputs are prevented from reaching said integrator means during said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one input includes a control signal representative of engine load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one input includes a control signal representative of engine exhaust temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one input includes a control signal representative of an engine idling condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said feedback means includes means for feedback of the prevailing voltage of the time-controlled potential storage means for adjustment of said second signal slope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes voltage divider means between said integrator means and said comparator means to influence said ignition advance angle at all engine RPM.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said system further includes engine starter means, including static crankshaft angle transmitter means, for controlling said engine ignition on starting of said internal combusition engine, said transmitter means producing a pulse at TDC for triggering said engine ignition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 10, wherein said system further includes first flip-flop means, responsive to said static crankshaft angle transmitter means, for resetting said integrator means at the end of said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation and further wherein said starter means inhibits said integrator means resetting during starting of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 10, wherein said starter means further includes gate means connected to said static crankshaft angle transmitter means and further wherein said system includes second flip-flop means connected to said comparator means and said control means for receiving said output pulse and for producing an output pulse representative to said control means, said flip-flop means being connected to said gate means so that said TDC pulse is received by said flop-flop means only on starting of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 10, wherein said static crankshaft angle transmitter means includes a TDC mark of short length on the engine crankshaft so that said transmitter produces said TDC pulse only at low engine RPM.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a transistor coil ignition and further wherein said system includes means, connected to said control system, for maintaining an approximately constant charge time for the ignition coil over the entire engine RPM range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ignition spark advance control system according to claim 14, wherein said charge time maintainance means includes flip-flop means connected to said comparator means and said control means for receiving said output pulse, said comparator means producing a second output pulse when said second signal equals said first signal final value for the second time after said predetermined crankshaft angle of rotation, said flip-flop means preventing charging of said coil upon receipt of said output pulse and permitting recharging of said coil upon receipt of said sEcond pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3314407A
Cited
US3660689A
Cited
US3749070A
Cited
US3636936A
Cited
US3811420A
Cited
US3757755A
Cited
US3738339A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |