US4495913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ignition current sensor for an electronic speed control system
Assignee: Rostra Precision Controls Inc
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Filing: 1983-10-18
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Granted: 1985-01-29
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Expires: 2003-10-18
Abstract
Abstract An electronic circuit for disengaging an electronic speed control system when the rate of change of the automobile engine speed exceeds a predetermined amount is disclosed. A ferrite or powdered iron ring current transformer generates an input signal to the electronic circuit from one of the spark plug wires in the engine. The pulses from the ring current transformer are passed through a monostable multivibrator circuit and a filter network to a differentiator. The output of the differentiator is connected to a high limit detector and a low limit detector. When the rate of change of engine speed exceeds a predetermined amount, a signal is generated to disengage the speed control circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry O. Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/02; B60K31/04; B60W; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0043; B60W2050/0052; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2510/0652; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0644; F; F02; F02P; F02P17/00; F02P17/02; F02P17/04; F02P2017/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a vehicle including an engine having a plurality of cylinders and an ignition system for generating pulses of electric current cyclically to each of the plurality of cylinders, an electronic speed control system for controlling the speed of the vehicle comprising: means responsive to the ignition current pulses generated to one of the plurality of cylinders for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for generating a signal representing a desired speed of the vehicle; means operatively connected to the engine and responsive to the engine speed signal and the desired speed signal for controlling the speed of the vehicle in response thereto; means for bypassing said engine speed signal generating means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal generating means and said bypassing means for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limit detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage said means for controlling the speed of the vehicle when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a vehicle including an engine having a plurality of cylinders and an ignition system for generating pulses of electric current cyclically to each of the plurality of cylinders, an electronic speed control system for controlling the speed of the vehicle comprising: means responsive to the ignition current pulses generated to one of the plurality of cylinders for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for generating a signal representing a desired speed of the vehicle; means operatively connected to the engine and responsive to the engine speed signal and the desired speed signal for controlling the speed of the vehicle in response thereto; means for bypassing said engine speed signal generating means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal generating means and said bypassing means for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limit detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage said means for controlling the speed of the vehicle when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electronic circuit for disengaging a speed control system on an automobile having an engine and an ignition system for generating pulses of electrical current to the engine comprising: means responsive to the ignition system current pulses for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for bypassing said engine speed signal generating means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal generating means and said bypassing means for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limiter detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage the speed control system when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electronic circuit for disengaging a speed control system on an automobile having an engine and an ignition system for generating pulses of electrical current to the engine comprising: means responsive to the ignition system current pulses for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for bypassing said engine speed signal generating means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal generating means and said bypassing means for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limiter detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage the speed control system when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electronic circuit for disengaging a speed control system on an automobile having an engine and an ignition system for generating pulses of electrical current to the engine comprising: means responsive to the ignition system current pulses for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; filter means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for bypassing said filter means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limit detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage the speed control system when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electronic circuit for disengaging a speed control system on an automobile having an engine and an ignition system for generating pulses of electrical current to the engine comprising: means responsive to the ignition system current pulses for generating a pulse train at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine; filter means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine; means for bypassing said filter means when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate; differentiator means responsive to said engine speed signal for generating a signal representing the rate of change of the speed of the engine; and limit detector means responsive to the engine speed rate of change signal for generating a signal to disengage the speed control system when the engine speed rate of change signal changes beyond a predetermined range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to the ignition current pulses includes a ring current transformer for generating a pulse train signal at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 2 wherein means responsive to the ignition system current pulses includes a ring current transformer for generating a pulse train signal at a frequency proportional to the speed of the engine and said engine speed signal generating means includes filter means responsive to the pulse train signal for generating a signal proportional to the speed of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said filter means includes a first low pass filter and a second low pass filter connected in series.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said means for bypassing bypasses said second low pass filter when the engine speed signal changes by more than a predetermined rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said means for bypassing said second filter means includes at least one diode connected in parallel with said second filter means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said means for bypassing said second filter means includes a pair of oppositely biased diodes connected in parallel with said second filter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 2 further including means for preventing momentary fluctuations in the engine speed signal of less than a predetermined amount and duration from actuating said differentiator means to disengage the speed control circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said means responsive to the ignition system current pulses includes a ring current transformer connected to a monostable multivibrator circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said filter means includes a first low pass filter and a second low pass filter connected in series.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said means for bypassing includes at least one diode connected in parallel with said second filter means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said means for bypassing includes a pair of oppositely biased diodes connected in parallel across said second filter means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 3 further including means for preventing momentary fluctuations in the engine speed signal of less than a predetermined amount and duration from actuating said differentiator means to disengage the speed control circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-07-30 | 1989-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-29 | 1992-07-30 | 1993-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-07-30 | 1997-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |