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US4554900A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-13
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Granted: 1985-11-26
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Expires: 2004-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus includes the steps of: (i) setting ignition timing when the engine is under load to a value determined by the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; (ii) setting ignition timing when the engine is at idle to a value retarded with respect to the value when the engine is under load, regardless of the amount of intake air flow; and (iii) setting ignition timing during a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to the idle value after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the start of idling operation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takao Komoda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 15:46
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; F02P5/1502; F02P5/1508; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to a idling operation value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to said idling operation value after a delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation, said transition ignition timing being determined during said delay time in the same manner as when said engine is in a loaded operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to a idling operation value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to said idling operation value after a delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation, said transition ignition timing being determined during said delay time in the same manner as when said engine is in a loaded operation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 111 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to an idling operation value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to said idling operation value after an invariable delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 111 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to an idling operation value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to said idling operation value after an invariable delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 2, wherein the ignition timing during said invariable delay time is determined in the same manner as when said engine is in a loaded operation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 125 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to a value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to the idling operation value after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation, said transition ignition timing being kept at the loaded operation value during said predetermined delay time.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 125 words
A method for controlling ignition timing of an internal combustion engine using an electronic ignition timing control apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting ignition timing to an appropriate value in a loaded operation in accordance with the amount of intake air flow and the rotational speed of the engine; setting ignition timing in an idling operation to a value retarded with respect to the value in the loaded operation irrespective of the amount of intake air flow; and setting ignition timing at a transition from loaded operation to idling operation to the idling operation value after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the start of the idling operation, said transition ignition timing being kept at the loaded operation value during said predetermined delay time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein said electronic ignition timing control apparatus comprises a pulse generator for generating pulses at a constant interval and a counter for counting said pulses, said delay time being set in accordance with a count in said counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein said delay time is equal to approximately 0.5 second.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein a start condition of the engine is determined based on a temperature of engine coolant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein an operation condition of the engine is determined by detecting an open or closed position of an idle switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein a start condition of the engine is determined by detecting an open or closed position of an ignition switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein the amount of air is detected by an air flow meter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein the rotational speed of the engine is detected by a rotational speed detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein an ignition coil igniter is used as an actuator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method for controlling ignition timing according to claim 4 wherein said predetermined delay time is the same for each of said transitions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3911880A Cited
US3978833A Cited
US4257363A Cited
US4377996A Cited
GB2069603A Cited
US4437442A Cited
US4389989A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-11-25 1989-05-27 1989-11-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-11-25 1993-05-27 1993-11-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-11-25 1997-05-27 1997-11-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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