Patent US4556035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4556035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting the ignition time point of an engine
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1984-05-11
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Granted: 1985-12-03
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Expires: 2004-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine by detecting the ignition of the engine by the detection of the burning flame light of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the engine and by photoelectrically converting the burning flame light thus detected into an electrical signal so as to determine the ignition time point of the fuel, which comprises the steps of: (a) converting the burning flame light detected by the flame sensor into a voltage signal through photoelectric converting means; (b) applying said voltage signal to a comparator and comparing said electrical signal with a reference voltage; (c) varying said reference voltage in accordance with the running conditions of the engine; and (d) detecting the ignition time point from the resulting output signal from said comparator, and an apparatus for the same. With this construction, the ignition time point of the engine can be accurately detected and improvements in the fuel consumption rate as well as the transmission efficiency can be realized thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Keiji Aoki
- 👤 Shinji Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:24
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P17/00; F02P17/10; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/022; F02D35/028; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine by detecting with a flame sensor the burning flame light of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the engine, which comprises the steps of: (a) converting the burning flame light detected by the flame sensor into an electrical voltage signal through photoelectric converting means; (b) applying said voltage signal to a comparator and comparing said voltage signal with a reference voltage; (c) varying said reference voltage in accordance with the running conditions of the engine; and (d) detecting the ignition time point from the resulting output signal from said comparator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine by detecting with a flame sensor the burning flame light of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the engine, which comprises the steps of: (a) converting the burning flame light detected by the flame sensor into an electrical voltage signal through photoelectric converting means; (b) applying said voltage signal to a comparator and comparing said voltage signal with a reference voltage; (c) varying said reference voltage in accordance with the running conditions of the engine; and (d) detecting the ignition time point from the resulting output signal from said comparator.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
167 words
A system of detecting an ignition timing of an internal combustion engine comprising: (a) means for detecting burning flame light in a combustion chamber of an engine; (b) means for converting said burning flame light to an electric signal; (c) means connected to said light detecting means for transmitting said burning flame light to said converting means; (d) first signal generating means for generating a signal representative of current engine load; (e) means for comparing said electric signal with a reference signal representing a pre-set voltage level and for producing an output signal representative of said comparison; (f) means for determining ignition timing based on a said output signal; and (g) means connected to said first signal generating means for changing the value of said reference signal in such a manner that said value of said reference signal in such a manner that said value is increased in accordance with an increase in current engine load, or decreased in accordance with a decrease in current engine load.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
167 words
A system of detecting an ignition timing of an internal combustion engine comprising: (a) means for detecting burning flame light in a combustion chamber of an engine; (b) means for converting said burning flame light to an electric signal; (c) means connected to said light detecting means for transmitting said burning flame light to said converting means; (d) first signal generating means for generating a signal representative of current engine load; (e) means for comparing said electric signal with a reference signal representing a pre-set voltage level and for producing an output signal representative of said comparison; (f) means for determining ignition timing based on a said output signal; and (g) means connected to said first signal generating means for changing the value of said reference signal in such a manner that said value of said reference signal in such a manner that said value is increased in accordance with an increase in current engine load, or decreased in accordance with a decrease in current engine load.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine, which comprises the steps of: (a) detecting the engine speed, the position of an accelerator, and the burning flame light of the combustion chamber of the engine; (b) calculating an engine load from the engine speed and the opening of the accelerator; (c) determining the ignition time point based on the result of the comparison of a voltage signal corresponding to said burning flame with a reference value; and (d) varying said reference value according to said calculated engine load.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine, which comprises the steps of: (a) detecting the engine speed, the position of an accelerator, and the burning flame light of the combustion chamber of the engine; (b) calculating an engine load from the engine speed and the opening of the accelerator; (c) determining the ignition time point based on the result of the comparison of a voltage signal corresponding to said burning flame with a reference value; and (d) varying said reference value according to said calculated engine load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said reference value is increased according to an increase in said calculated engine load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of detecting the ignition time point of an engine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said reference voltage is digital data corresponding to a value determined by the engine load and which has been stored in a memory of a control unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first signal generating means comprises: second signal generating means for generating a signal representative of current engine speed; and means for detecting the position of an accelerator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said comparing means, said determining means, and said changing means comprise a central processing unit, a random access memory, an input/output port, and a ready-only memory containing a control program for operation, calculation, and control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for changing the value of said reference signal maintains the value of said reference signal if said current engine load signal is above a predetermined level and decreases said reference signal if said current engine load signal is below said predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for changing said reference signal comprises a transistor and a plurality of resistors connected thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for changing said reference signal comprises a digital/analog converter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said comprising means generates a high level signal when said electric signal from said converting means is larger than said reference signal, and generates a low level signal when said electric signal from said converting means is less than said reference signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitting means comprises an element made of optical fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said converting means comprises a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a photocell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-02 | 1989-06-03 | 1989-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-02 | 1993-06-03 | 1993-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-02 | 1997-06-03 | 1997-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |