US4696272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ignition timing control method for internal combustion engines at idle
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-02-21
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Granted: 1987-09-29
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Expires: 2006-02-21
Abstract
Abstract An ignition timing control method for an internal combustion engine, which controls the ignition timing of a mixture to be supplied to the engine in a feedback manner responsive to the difference between the actual engine speed and the desired idling speed. When it is determined that the engine is in a predetermined idling region and the engine temperature is above a predetermined value, the ignition timing is retarded by a predetermined amount, and the ignition timing thus retarded is corrected by a correction value calculated by multiplying the difference between the actual engine speed and the desired idling speed by a predetermined coefficient, to thereby control the ignition timing to the ignition timing value thus corrected. The ignition timing feedback control is inhibited when the voltage at a predetermined input terminal of a central processing unit is at a predetermined input level.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Kato
- 👤 Yutaka Otobe
- 👤 Shigehiro Kimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:00
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: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; (2) determining whether or not a temperature of said engine is above a predetermined value; (3) retarding the determined ignition timing value by a predetermined amount when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region and the engine temperature is determined to be above said predetermined value; (4) setting a desired idling speed in response to operating conditions of said engine; (5) calculating a correction value by multiplying the difference between the set desired idling speed and actual engine speed by a predetermined coefficient; (6) correcting the ignition timing value retarded by the predetermined amount at the step (3), by said correction value thus calculated; and (7) controlling the ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; (2) determining whether or not a temperature of said engine is above a predetermined value; (3) retarding the determined ignition timing value by a predetermined amount when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region and the engine temperature is determined to be above said predetermined value; (4) setting a desired idling speed in response to operating conditions of said engine; (5) calculating a correction value by multiplying the difference between the set desired idling speed and actual engine speed by a predetermined coefficient; (6) correcting the ignition timing value retarded by the predetermined amount at the step (3), by said correction value thus calculated; and (7) controlling the ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said correction value calculated at the step (5) is provided with a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined value by which the ignition timing is retarded has an absolute value thereof set to a larger value than an absolute value of said ignition timing value corrected by the correction value at the step (6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined coefficient is set at a value in accordance with operating characteristics particular to said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined idling region is defined as a region wherein the engine speed is below a predetermined value and the opening of a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage of said engine is below a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined idling region is defined as a region wherein the engine speed is below a predetermined value and pressure downstream of a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage of said engine has a value indicative of a load value smaller than a predetermined load value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine temperature is the temperature of engine coolant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired idling speed is set to a larger value as said engine temperature shows a lower value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein when said correction value falls outside a range defined by said predetermined upper limit and said predetermined lower limit, said correction value is set to a predetermined value within said range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein an absolute value of said predetermined upper limit and an absolute value of said predetermined lower limit are set independently of each other.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine by the use of a central processing unit on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; (2) retarding said ignition timing value by a predetermined amount and detecting an input level at a predetermined input terminal of said central processing unit, when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region; (3) when said predetermined input terminal is at a first level, (3)-(i) setting a desired idling speed in responsive to operating conditions of said engine, (3)-(ii) correcting the ignition timing value retarded at the step (2) in response to the difference between said set desired idling speed and actual engine speed, and (3)-(iii) controlling said ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected; and (4) when said predetermined input terminal is at a second level: (4)-(i) inhibiting the execution of the steps (3)-(i) to (iii).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine by the use of a central processing unit on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, the method comprising the steps of: (1) determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; (2) retarding said ignition timing value by a predetermined amount and detecting an input level at a predetermined input terminal of said central processing unit, when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region; (3) when said predetermined input terminal is at a first level, (3)-(i) setting a desired idling speed in responsive to operating conditions of said engine, (3)-(ii) correcting the ignition timing value retarded at the step (2) in response to the difference between said set desired idling speed and actual engine speed, and (3)-(iii) controlling said ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected; and (4) when said predetermined input terminal is at a second level: (4)-(i) inhibiting the execution of the steps (3)-(i) to (iii).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said input level of said predetermined input terminal is selectively switched at human will from said first level to said second level and vice versa, in a manner such that when a first predetermined voltage is supplied to said input terminal, said input terminal is at said first level, and when a second predetermined voltage is supplied to said input terminal, said input terminal is at said second level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the input level of said predetermined input terminal is at said second level, said ignition timing is controlled to the ignition timing value obtained at the step (2).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said predetermined idling region is defined as a region wherein the engine speed is below a predetermined value and the opening of a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage of said engine is below a predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said predetermined idling region is defined as a region wherein the engine speed is below a predetermined value and pressure downstream of a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage of said engine has a value indicative of a load value smaller than a predetermined load value.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, said system comprising means for determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; means for determining whether or not a temperature of said engine is above a predetermined value; means for retarding the determined ignition timing value by a predetermined retarding amount when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region and the engine temperature is determined to be above said predetermined value; means for setting a desired idling speed in response to operating conditiions of said engine; means for calculating a correction value by multiplying the difference between the set desired idling speed and actual engine speed by a predetermined coefficent; means for correcting the ignition timing value retarded by the predetermined retarding amount by said correction value thus calculated; and means for controlling the ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, said system comprising means for determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; means for determining whether or not a temperature of said engine is above a predetermined value; means for retarding the determined ignition timing value by a predetermined retarding amount when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region and the engine temperature is determined to be above said predetermined value; means for setting a desired idling speed in response to operating conditiions of said engine; means for calculating a correction value by multiplying the difference between the set desired idling speed and actual engine speed by a predetermined coefficent; means for correcting the ignition timing value retarded by the predetermined retarding amount by said correction value thus calculated; and means for controlling the ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine by the use of a central processing unit on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, said system comprising means for determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; means for retarding said ignition timing value by a predetermined retarding amount and detecting an input level at a predetermined input terminal of said central processing unit, when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region; means for performing the steps (i) setting a desired idling speed in responsive to operating conditions of the engine, (ii) correcting the ignition timing value retarded by said predetermined retarding amount in response to the difference between said set desired idling speed and acutal engine speed, and (iii) controlling said ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected, when said predetermined input terminal is at a first level; and means for inhibiting the execution of said steps (i) to (iii) when said predetermined input terminal is at a second level.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for controlling the timing of ignition of a mixture being supplied to an internal combustion engine by the use of a central processing unit on the basis of an ignition timing value determined in response to operating conditions of said engine, said system comprising means for determining whether or not said engine is in a predetermined idling region; means for retarding said ignition timing value by a predetermined retarding amount and detecting an input level at a predetermined input terminal of said central processing unit, when said engine is determined to be in said predetermined idling region; means for performing the steps (i) setting a desired idling speed in responsive to operating conditions of the engine, (ii) correcting the ignition timing value retarded by said predetermined retarding amount in response to the difference between said set desired idling speed and acutal engine speed, and (iii) controlling said ignition timing to said ignition timing value thus corrected, when said predetermined input terminal is at a first level; and means for inhibiting the execution of said steps (i) to (iii) when said predetermined input terminal is at a second level.
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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) | 1990-09-28 | 1991-03-30 | 1991-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-09-28 | 1995-03-30 | 1995-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-09-28 | 1999-03-30 | 1999-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |