Method and apparatus for ignition system spark timing control during no-load engine operation

Claim 1

A method for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said method comprising: a step of detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; a step of detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a step of detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a predetermined engine temperature value; a step of detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a step of determining a value of spark advance vs. engine speed from a first predetermined spark advance characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal; and a step of determining a value of spark advance from a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic of a plurality of values of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal, said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic being a delayed spark advance characteristic and distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic; and a step of producing a spark in accordance with that value of spark advance which has been determined for at least the detected temperature and vehicle speed of such vehicle by said determining steps.

Claim 2

A method for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said method comprising: a step of detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; a step of detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a step of detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a predetermined engine temperature value; a step of detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a step of determining a value of spark advance vs. engine speed from a first predetermined spark advance characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal; and a step of determining a value of spark advance from a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic of a plurality of values of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal, said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic being a delayed spark advance characteristic and distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic; and a step of producing a spark in accordance with that value of spark advance which has been determined for at least the detected temperature and vehicle speed of such vehicle by said determining steps.

Claim 3

A method for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said method comprising: a step of detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; a step of detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a step of detecting the engine temperature of said engine when in operation to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a first predetermined engine temperature value and lower than a second predetermined engine temperature value which is higher than said predetermined engine temperature value; a step of detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a step of determining a value of spark advance from a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal; and a step of determining a value of spark advance vs. engine speed along with a second predetermined spark advance characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal, said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic being a delayed spark advance characteristic and distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic; and a step of producing a spark in accordance with that value of spark advance with has been determined for at least the detected temperature and vehicle speed of said vehicle by said determining step.

Claim 4

A method for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said method comprising: a step of detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; a step of detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a step of detecting the engine temperature of said engine when in operation to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a first predetermined engine temperature value and lower than a second predetermined engine temperature value which is higher than said predetermined engine temperature value; a step of detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a step of determining a value of spark advance from a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal; and a step of determining a value of spark advance vs. engine speed along with a second predetermined spark advance characteristic of a plurality of spark advance vs. engine speed values in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal, said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic being a delayed spark advance characteristic and distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic; and a step of producing a spark in accordance with that value of spark advance with has been determined for at least the detected temperature and vehicle speed of said vehicle by said determining step.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides said constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than said predetermined engine speed value and provides a value of spark advance which continuously decreases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant spark advance value irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a value of spark advance which is smaller than any corresponding spark advance value given by said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant spark advance value irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a value of spark advance which is smaller than any corresponding value of spark advance given by said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic.

Claim 8

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a micro processor responsive to at least said no load indicative signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said no load indicative signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the presence of said no load indicative signal to determine a value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined by said central processing unit; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 9

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; a micro processor responsive to at least said no load indicative signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said no load indicative signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the presence of said no load indicative signal to determine a value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined by said central processing unit; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 13

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; means for detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a predetermined engine temperature value; means for detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a micro processor responsive to said cranking signal, said no load indicative signal, said temperature signal, and said vehicle speed signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal to determine an instantaneous value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 14

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; means for detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a predetermined engine temperature value; means for detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a micro processor responsive to said cranking signal, said no load indicative signal, said temperature signal, and said vehicle speed signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal to determine an instantaneous value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 15

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; means for detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a first predetermined engine temperature value and lower than a second predetermined engine temperature value which is higher than said first predetermined engine temperature value; means for detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a micro processor responsive to said cranking signal, said no load indicative signal, said temperature signal, and said vehicle speed signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 16

An apparatus for the control of an ignition system spark timing for a spark ignition internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a condition that the engine is under cranking to provide a cranking signal indicating that the engine is under cranking; means for detecting a condition that said engine is in operation with no load to provide a no load indicative signal indicating that said engine is in operation with no load; means for detecting the engine temperature of said engine to provide a temperature signal indicating that the engine temperature is higher than a first predetermined engine temperature value and lower than a second predetermined engine temperature value which is higher than said first predetermined engine temperature value; means for detecting the vehicle speed of said automotive vehicle to provide a vehicle speed signal indicating that the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined vehicle speed value; a micro processor responsive to said cranking signal, said no load indicative signal, said temperature signal, and said vehicle speed signal, said micro processor including a read-only-memory storing a first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic which is distinct from said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic and a central processing unit which performs a table look-up of said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the absence of said temperature signal, and the presence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance and performs a table look-up of said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic stored in said read-only-memory in response to the absence of said cranking signal, the presence of said no load indicative signal, the presence of said temperature signal, and the absence of said vehicle speed signal to determine a value of spark advance, said micro processor generating an output signal indicative of that value of spark advance which has been determined; and means for producing a spark in response to said output signal.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides said constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than said predetermined engine speed value and provides a value of spark advance which continuously decreases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases as long as the engine speed is higher than said predetermined engine speed value, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a value of spark advance which is smaller than any corresponding spark advance value given by said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic.

Claim 19

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a constant value of spark advance irrespective of the engine speed as long as the engine speed is lower than a predetermined engine speed value and a value of spark advance which continuously increases as the engine speed increases, and wherein said second predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic provides a value of spark advance which is smaller than any corresponding value of spark advance given by said first predetermined spark advance vs. engine speed characteristic.