US4351281A — Method and system for operation of a spark-ignite…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

In a method for operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine, wherein an engine timing adjustment signal is generated as a function of engine operating conditions, and wherein a timing correction signal is generated for each of a plurality of engine speed ranges in response to engine knocking, said correction signal being combined with said adjustment signal to prevent engine knocking, the improvement wherein said correction signal for a first selected speed range is generated in response to the onset of engine knocking and said correction signals for the remaining speed ranges are derived from said correction signal for said first selected speed range.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 104 words

In a method for operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine, wherein an engine timing adjustment signal is generated as a function of engine operating conditions, and wherein a timing correction signal is generated for each of a plurality of engine speed ranges in response to engine knocking, said correction signal being combined with said adjustment signal to prevent engine knocking, the improvement wherein said correction signal for a first selected speed range is generated in response to the onset of engine knocking and said correction signals for the remaining speed ranges are derived from said correction signal for said first selected speed range.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 74 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said correction signal for said first selected speed range is selected from a first predetermined set of fixed correction signals in response to engine knocking, and wherein said correction signals for said remaining speed ranges are selected from corresponding sets of fixed correction signals, each of said sets having the same number of fixed correction signals and each set being associated with one of said speed ranges.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said correction signals for each of said speed ranges have a predetermined range of correction signal values, including minimum and maximum signal values, and wherein said correction signals for said remaining speed ranges are selected to have the same ratio to the corresponding minimum and maximum values as said correction signal for said first selected speed range.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for adjusting the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in response to knocking comprising: a knocking sensor for generating knocking signals when the internal combustion engine knocks; an ignition computer, responsive to supplied signals representative of engine operating conditions, including speed, and responsive to supplied correction control signals, for generating ignition timing adjustment signals, said adjustment signals including a timing correction derived from said correction control signals; a counter, responsive to supplied counting signals, for generating said correction control signals; logic means, responsive to the onset of said knocking signals for generating said counting signals for said counter; and means responsive to said adjustment signals for adjusting said ignition timing.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for adjusting the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in response to knocking comprising: a knocking sensor for generating knocking signals when the internal combustion engine knocks; an ignition computer, responsive to supplied signals representative of engine operating conditions, including speed, and responsive to supplied correction control signals, for generating ignition timing adjustment signals, said adjustment signals including a timing correction derived from said correction control signals; a counter, responsive to supplied counting signals, for generating said correction control signals; logic means, responsive to the onset of said knocking signals for generating said counting signals for said counter; and means responsive to said adjustment signals for adjusting said ignition timing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 75 words

A system as specified in claim 4, wherein said supplied signals representative of engine operating conditions include signals representative of intake manifold pressure, and wherein said computer has stored sets of values of timing adjustment signals including said timing correction for each value of said correction control signal and wherein said computer selects said ignition timing adjustment signal according to said speed and pressure representative signals for each supplied value of said correction control signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 66 words

A system as specified in claim 4 or 5, wherein said speed representative signal and an engine temperature representative signal are supplied to said logic means and wherein said logic means generates counting signals in response to said temperature and speed signals to correct ignition timing and thereby stabilize the idle speed of the internal combustion engine when said idle drops below a preset idle speed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

A system as specified in claim 6, wherein said logic means is arranged to suppress generation of said counting signals in response to knocking signals or temperature signals at speeds above said idle speed and below a selected speed, whereby said correction control signal is unchanged when said engine operates in said range.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 84 words

In a method for operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine, wherein an engine timing adjustment signal is generated as a function of engine operating conditions, and wherein a timing correction signal is generated in response to engine knocking, said correction signal being combined with said adjustment signal to prevent engine knocking, the improvement wherein the generated value of said correction signal is maintained constant until the engine temperature changes by a selected amount, whereupon a new value for said correction signal is generated.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 84 words

In a method for operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine, wherein an engine timing adjustment signal is generated as a function of engine operating conditions, and wherein a timing correction signal is generated in response to engine knocking, said correction signal being combined with said adjustment signal to prevent engine knocking, the improvement wherein the generated value of said correction signal is maintained constant until the engine temperature changes by a selected amount, whereupon a new value for said correction signal is generated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as specified in claim 8, wherein said engine temperature is sensed in a cylinder head of said engine.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 80 words

In a system for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine to prevent engine knocking, wherein there are provided means responsive to an engine knocking signal for generating an ignition timing correction signal, the improvement, wherein there is provided means responsive to engine temperature for providing a temperature change control signal upon a predetermined magnitude of engine temperature change, and wherein said correction signal generating means generates an updated correction signal in response to said temperature change control signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 80 words

In a system for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine to prevent engine knocking, wherein there are provided means responsive to an engine knocking signal for generating an ignition timing correction signal, the improvement, wherein there is provided means responsive to engine temperature for providing a temperature change control signal upon a predetermined magnitude of engine temperature change, and wherein said correction signal generating means generates an updated correction signal in response to said temperature change control signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 101 words

In an internal combustion engine having an ignition timing apparatus for providing nominal timing control signals in accordance with the operating condition of said engine, including engine speed and load, a method for adjusting said nominal timing control signals to prevent engine knocking, comprising the steps of: detecting the occurrence of engine knocking to develop knocking signals; generating timing correction signals in response to said knocking signals; storing said timing correction signals in a memory; and combining said stored timing correction signals with said nominal timing signals to develop corrected timing signals for use in providing ignition pulses to said engine.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 101 words

In an internal combustion engine having an ignition timing apparatus for providing nominal timing control signals in accordance with the operating condition of said engine, including engine speed and load, a method for adjusting said nominal timing control signals to prevent engine knocking, comprising the steps of: detecting the occurrence of engine knocking to develop knocking signals; generating timing correction signals in response to said knocking signals; storing said timing correction signals in a memory; and combining said stored timing correction signals with said nominal timing signals to develop corrected timing signals for use in providing ignition pulses to said engine.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for controlling spark advance in an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: means for generating an engine speed signal; means for generating an engine intake vacuum signal; means, responsive to said speed signal and said vacuum signal, for generating an ignition timing control signal; means, responsive to engine knocking, for developing a knocking signal; a plurality of counters, each corresponding to a selected speed range of said engine, for storing ignition timing correction signals; first switch means, responsive to said speed signals, for selectively providing said knocking signals to one of said counters thereby to develop said correction signals; second switching means, responsive to said speed signals, for selecting one of said correction signals in said counters; means for combining said ignition timing control signals and said selected correction signal to form a corrected timing control signal; and means responsive to said corrected timing control signal for controlling said spark advance.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for controlling spark advance in an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: means for generating an engine speed signal; means for generating an engine intake vacuum signal; means, responsive to said speed signal and said vacuum signal, for generating an ignition timing control signal; means, responsive to engine knocking, for developing a knocking signal; a plurality of counters, each corresponding to a selected speed range of said engine, for storing ignition timing correction signals; first switch means, responsive to said speed signals, for selectively providing said knocking signals to one of said counters thereby to develop said correction signals; second switching means, responsive to said speed signals, for selecting one of said correction signals in said counters; means for combining said ignition timing control signals and said selected correction signal to form a corrected timing control signal; and means responsive to said corrected timing control signal for controlling said spark advance.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 11 and further comprising the step of generating an error signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined maximum correction signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a method as set forth in claim 11, the improvement wherein the storing of said correction signals in memory is terminated by the stopping of the engine.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 11, 13 or 14 and further comprising the steps of: storing said timing correction signals in said memory by speed ranges; and generating said corrected timing signals in each speed range in which said knocking signals are generated.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said counters, said first and second switching means, and said combining means are combined to form a self-contained means that may be disconnectably connected to the ignition system.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-09-27	1986-03-29	1986-09-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-09-27	1990-03-29	1990-09-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-09-27	1994-03-29	1994-09-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for operation of a spark-ignited internal combustion engine

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag