Electronic position sensor assembly and engine control system

Claim 2

An electronic position sensor assembly comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal pulse having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than angular width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and means for providing a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, in response to one of sensing elements producing a signal pulse having a predetermined longer duration than the preceding signal pulse produced by that sensing element, whereby information as to the angular position of said wheel is obtained by at least said first and second reference signals.

Claim 3

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second reference signal means comprises a computer programmed to distinguish between receiving a signal pulse having a predetermined longer duration than a preceding received signal pulse.

Claim 4

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined longer duration comprises at least 1.5 times the duration of said preceding received signal pulse.

Claim 5

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined portions are uniformly positioned about said wheel with leading edges thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d.

Claim 6

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined portions are arranged on said wheel such that each of said predetermined portions having an angular width of b or c is spaced apart from another of said predetermined portions having an angular width of b or co by a plurality of said predetermined portions each having an angular width a.

Claim 7

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 5 wherein said sensing elements comprise optical sensing elements which are mounted adjacent to each other in a unitary sensor housing and wherein said predetermined portions comprise slots in said wheel, said slots defining a circular sensing track on said wheel for said sensing elements.

Claim 8

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 6 wherein said sensing elements are fixed with respect to each other

Claim 9

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of said predetermined portions have said angular width b.

Claim 10

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 8 wherein said sensing elements and predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element in response to said predetermined portions typically comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except having a time delay related to rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 11

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 9 wherein each of said predetermined portions effectively has a single straight radial leading edge with respect to said wheel axis of rotation with both of said first and second sensing elements sensing said radial leading edge.

Claim 12

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by a multiple cylinder engine, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal pulse having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; means for providing a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, in response to one of sensing elements producing a signal pulse having a predetermined longer duration than the preceding signal pulse produced by that sensing element; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least one of said first and second reference signals to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine.

Claim 13

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by a multiple cylinder engine, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal pulse having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; means for providing a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, in response to one of sensing elements producing a signal pulse having a predetermined longer duration than the preceding signal pulse produced by that sensing element; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least one of said first and second reference signals to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine.

Claim 14

An electronic engine control system according to claim 11 wherein said engine control means controls at least one combustion control parameter selected from a group of control parameters consisting of a parameter for controlling the providing of fuel into said engine cylinders and a parameter for controlling the time occurrence of combustion of fuel in said engine cylinders.

Claim 15

An electronic engine control system according to claim 11 which includes means for determining a fault in one of said first and second sensing elements.

Claim 16

An electronic engine control system according to claim 13 which includes switch means for, in response to said fault means determining a fault in said one of said first and second sensing elements, causing said engine control means to utilize the signal pulses provided by said other of said sensing elements rather than said signal pulses provided by said one sensing element.

Claim 17

An electronic engine control system according to claim 14 wherein said sensing elements and said predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element typically, in the absence of a fault, comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except delayed in time occurrence by a time related to the rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 18

An electronic engine control system according to claim 15 which includes compensation means for, in response to the fault means determining a fault in said one of said first and second sensing elements, effectively adjusting the operation of at least one of said switch means and said engine control means so as to effectively adjust the operation of said engine control means in accordance with the different time occurrence relationship that normally exists between pulses provided by said first and second sensing elements, said adjustment being related to said angular width d.

Claim 19

An electronic engine control system according to claim 11 wherein said engine control means includes fuel injection means for controlling the injection of fuel into said cylinders.

Claim 20

An electronic engine control system according to claim 17 which includes electronic fuel injector distributor means for sequentially delivering fuel injection signals developed by said fuel injection means to different engine cylinders in accordance with at least said second reference signal.

Claim 21

An electronic engine control system according to claim 11 wherein said engine control means includes spark timing means for controlling the time occurrence of fuel combustion in said cylinders.

Claim 22

An electronic engine control system according to claim 19 which includes electronic spark distributor means for sequentially delivering spark timing signals provided by said spark timing means to different engine cylinders in a predetermined sequence in accordance with at least said second reference signal.

Claim 23

An electronic engine control system according to claim 20 wherein said engine control means includes fuel injection means for controlling the injection of fuel into said cylinders.

Claim 24

An electronic engine control system according to claim 21 which includes electronic fuel injector distributor means for sequentially delivering fuel injection signals developed by said fuel injection means to different engine cylinders in accordance with at least said second reference signal.

Claim 25

An electronic motor control system comprising: means for sensing the position of a body rotated by a motor and including two independent sensing elements each of which independently senses the rotational position of said body and provides a separate, independent position signal, comprising signal pulses, related to the angular position of said body; means for receiving each of said position sensor signals and providing a first reference signal pulse in response to the simultaneous time occurrence of predetermined logic state conditions of said position signals, said first reference signal pulse indicative of the occurrence of a predetermined rotational position of said body; means for controlling operation of said motor in accordance with said reference signal and at least one of said position signals; means for detecting a fault in said one of said position signals; and means, in response to said fault detection, for selecting the other of said position signals, instead of said one position signal, for utilization by said motor control means.

Claim 26

An electronic motor control system comprising: means for sensing the position of a body rotated by a motor and including two independent sensing elements each of which independently senses the rotational position of said body and provides a separate, independent position signal, comprising signal pulses, related to the angular position of said body; means for receiving each of said position sensor signals and providing a first reference signal pulse in response to the simultaneous time occurrence of predetermined logic state conditions of said position signals, said first reference signal pulse indicative of the occurrence of a predetermined rotational position of said body; means for controlling operation of said motor in accordance with said reference signal and at least one of said position signals; means for detecting a fault in said one of said position signals; and means, in response to said fault detection, for selecting the other of said position signals, instead of said one position signal, for utilization by said motor control means.

Claim 27

An electronic motor control system according to claim 23 wherein one of said separate independent position signals, in the absence of a fault, comprises the other of said separate independent position signals except delayed in time occurrence by an amount related to the rotational speed of said body.

Claim 28

An electronic motor control system according to claim 24 wherein said two sensing elements are spaced apart by a predetermined angular width which determines said amount of delay.

Claim 29

An electronic motor control system according to claim 25 wherein said body has a plurality of predetermined portions sensed by both of said sensing elements, at least one of said predetermined portions having an angular width c greater than said angular width between said sensing elements so as to provide said first reference signal pulse when said one of said predetermined portions is simultaneously sensed by said two sensing elements.

Claim 30

An electronic motor control system comprising: means for sensing the position of a body rotated by a motor and including two independent sensing elements each of which independently senses the rotational position of said body and provides a separate, independent position signal related to the angular position of said body; means for receiving each of said position sensor signals and providing a first reference signal in response to the simultaneous time occurrence of predetermined logic state conditions of said position signals; means for controlling operation of said motor in accordance with said reference signal and at least one of said position signals; means for detecting a fault in said one of said position signals; and means, in response to said fault detection, for providing a substitute reference signal to said motor control means for utilization rather than said reference signal.

Claim 31

An electronic motor control system comprising: means for sensing the position of a body rotated by a motor and including two independent sensing elements each of which independently senses the rotational position of said body and provides a separate, independent position signal related to the angular position of said body; means for receiving each of said position sensor signals and providing a first reference signal in response to the simultaneous time occurrence of predetermined logic state conditions of said position signals; means for controlling operation of said motor in accordance with said reference signal and at least one of said position signals; means for detecting a fault in said one of said position signals; and means, in response to said fault detection, for providing a substitute reference signal to said motor control means for utilization rather than said reference signal.

Claim 32

An electronic motor control system according to claim 27 wherein said substitute reference signal providing means includes means for counting, in the event of a fault of said one position signal, said signal pulses provided by the other of said position signal, and providing said substitute reference signal in response to said count exceeding a predetermined amount.

Claim 33

An electronic motor control system according to claim 28 which includes means, in response to said fault detection, for selecting the other of said position signals, instead of said one position signal, for utilization by said motor control means.

Claim 34

An electronic motor control system according to claim 29 wherein one of said separate independent position signals, in the absence of a fault, comprises the other of said separate independent position signals except delayed in time occurrence by an amount related to the rotational speed of said body.

Claim 35

An electronic motor control system according to claim 30 wherein said two sensing elements are spaced apart by a predetermined angular width which determines said amount of delay.

Claim 36

An electronic motor control system according to claim 27 wherein said motor comprises a fuel combustion engine and wherein said motor control means controls fuel consumption of said engine in accordance with said reference and position signals.

Claim 37

A high resolution electronic position sensor assembly comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions having other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having a signal pulse having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; and coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said signal pulses, wherein there are at least 36 of all of said predetermined portions, all of said predetermined portions being uniformly positioned about said wheel with leading edges thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d.

Claim 38

A high resolution electronic position sensor assembly comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions having other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having a signal pulse having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; and coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said signal pulses, wherein there are at least 36 of all of said predetermined portions, all of said predetermined portions being uniformly positioned about said wheel with leading edges thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d.

Claim 39

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 33 wherein said sensing elements comprise optical sensing elements which are mounted adjacent to each other in a unitary sensor housing and wherein said predetermined portions comprise slots in said wheel, said slots defining a circular sensing track on said wheel for said sensing elements.

Claim 40

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 34 wherein said sensing elements are fixed with respect to each other.

Claim 41

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 35 wherein said sensing elements and predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element in response to said predetermined portions typically comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except having a time delay related to rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 42

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 36 wherein each of said predetermined portions effectively has a single straight radial leading edge with respect to said wheel axis of rotation with both of said first and second sensing elements sensing said radial leading edge.

Claim 43

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said signal pulses, and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.

Claim 44

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses having a duration corresponding to the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said signal pulses, and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.

Claim 45

An electronic engine control system according to claim 38 wherein all of said predetermined portions are uniformly positioned about said wheel with leading edges thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d, and wherein said sensing elements comprise optical sensing elements which are mounted adjacent to each other in a unitary housing and wherein said predetermined portions comprise slots in said wheel, said slots defining a circular sensing track on said wheel for said sensing elements.

Claim 46

An electronic engine control system according to claim 39 which includes means for determining a fault in one of said first and second sending elements.

Claim 47

An electronic engine control system according to claim 40 which includes switch means for, in response to said fault means determining a fault in said one of said first and second sensing elements, causing said engine control means to utilize the signal pulses provided by said other of said sensing elements rather than said signal pulses provided by said one sensing element.

Claim 48

An electronic engine control system according to claim 41 wherein said sensing elements and said predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element typically, in the absence of a fault, comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except delayed in time occurrence by a time related to the rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 49

An electronic engine control system according to claim 42 wherein said engine control means includes fuel injection means for controlling the injection of fuel into said cylinders, and which includes electronic fuel injector distributor means for sequentially delivering fuel injection signals developed by said fuel injection means to different engines cylinders.

Claim 50

An electronic engine control system according to claim 43 wherein said engine control means includes spark timing means for controlling the time occurrence of fuel combustion in said cylinders, and which includes electronic spark distributor means for sequentially delivering spark timing signals provided by said spark timing means to different engine cylinders in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 51

An electronic position sensor assembly comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sending elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than angular width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and means for receiving said sensor signal pulses provided by at least one of said first and second sensing elements and providing in response thereto a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, indicative of the passage of each said predetermined portions of width b by the sensor means, whereby information as to the angular position of said wheel is obtained by at least said first and second reference signals.

Claim 52

An electronic position sensor assembly comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sending elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than angular width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and means for receiving said sensor signal pulses provided by at least one of said first and second sensing elements and providing in response thereto a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, indicative of the passage of each said predetermined portions of width b by the sensor means, whereby information as to the angular position of said wheel is obtained by at least said first and second reference signals.

Claim 53

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 45 wherein said predetermined portions are uniformly positioned about said wheel with at least one edge thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d.

Claim 54

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 45 wherein said predetermined portions are arranged on said wheel such that each of said predetermined portions having an angular width of b or c spaced apart from another of said predetermined portions having an angular width of b or c by a plurality of said predetermined portions each having an angular width a.

Claim 55

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 47 wherein said sensing elements comprise optical sensing elements which are mounted adjacent to each other in a unitary sensor housing and wherein said predetermined portions comprise slots in said wheel, said slots defining a circular sensing track on said wheel for said sensing elements.

Claim 56

An electronic position sensor assembly according to claim 48 wherein said sensing elements and predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element in response to said predetermined portions typically comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except having a time delay related to rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 57

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by a multiple cylinder engine, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular with c but more than angular width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; means for receiving said sensor signal pulses provided by at least one of said first and second sensing elements and providing in response thereto a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, indicative of the passage of each said predetermined portions of width b by the sensor means, whereby information as to the angular position of said wheel is obtained by at least said first and second reference signals; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least one of said first and second reference signals to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine.

Claim 58

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by a multiple cylinder engine, said wheel having thereon a plurality of predetermined portions of at least three different angular widths a, b and c, angular width a being less than angular width b which is less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto a signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular with c but more than angular width a and more than angular width b; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; means for receiving said sensor signal pulses provided by at least one of said first and second sensing elements and providing in response thereto a second reference signal, different from said first reference signal, indicative of the passage of each said predetermined portions of width b by the sensor means, whereby information as to the angular position of said wheel is obtained by at least said first and second reference signals; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least one of said first and second reference signals to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine.

Claim 59

An electronic engine control system according to claim 50 wherein said engine control means includes means for controlling at least one combustion control parameter selected from a group of control parameters consisting of a parameter for controlling the providing of fuel into said engine cylinders and a parameter for controlling the time occurrence of combustion of fuel in said engine cylinders, and which includes electronic distributor means for sequentially delivering signals provided by said engine control means for control of said one combustion control parameter to different engine cylinders in a predetermined sequence in accordance with at least said second reference signal.

Claim 60

An electronic engine control system according to claim 50 which includes means for determining a fault in one of said first and second sensing elements.

Claim 61

An electronic engine control system according to claim 52 which includes switch means for, in response to said fault means determining a fault in said one of said first and second sensing elements, causing said engine control means to utilize the signal pulses provided by said other of said sensing elements rather than said signal pulses provided by said one sensing element.

Claim 62

An electronic engine control system according to claim 50 wherein said sensing elements and said predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element typically, in the absence of a fault, comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except delayed in time occurrence by a time related to the rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 63

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.

Claim 64

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular width c but more than said other angular widths; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.

Claim 65

An electronic engine control system according to claim 55 wherein said sensing elements and said predetermined portions are configured such that said signal pulses provided by said second sensing element typically, in the absence of a fault, comprise said signal pulses provided by said first sensing element except delayed in time occurrence by a time related to the rotational speed of said wheel and said angular width d.

Claim 66

An electronic engine control system according to claim 55 wherein all of said predetermined portions are uniformly positioned about said wheel with at least one edge thereof, with respect to said sensing elements, being spaced apart by an angular width e which is larger than said angular width d.

Claim 67

An electronic engine control system according to claim 57 wherein said sensing elements comprise optical sensing elements which are mounted adjacent to each other in a unitary housing and wherein said predetermined portions comprise slots in said wheel, said slots defining a circular sensing track on said wheel for said sensing elements.

Claim 68

An electronic engine control system according to claim 55 which includes means for determining a fault in one of said first and second sensing elements, and which includes switch means for, in response to said fault means determining a fault in said one of said first and second sensing elements, causing said engine control means to utilize the signal pulses provided by said other of said sensing elements rather than said signal pulses provided by said one sensing element.

Claim 69

An electronic engine control system according to claim 55 wherein said engine control means includes means for controlling at least one of the parameters of injection of fuel into said cylinders and time occurrence of fuel combustion in said cylinders, and which includes electronic distributor means for sequentially delivering signals developed by said control means for controlling said one parameter to different engine cylinders in accordance with said sensor signal pulses.

Claim 70

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c spaced about said axis with an angular spacing e between corresponding edges of said plurality of predetermined portions; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular spacing e but more than said other angular widths of said predetermined portions which are less than angular width c; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.

Claim 71

An electronic engine control system which utilizes an improved engine position sensor assembly, comprising: a wheel rotatably driven about an axis by an engine having a plurality of cylinders, said wheel having thereon at least one predetermined portion having an angular width c and a plurality of predetermined portions of other angular widths less than angular width c spaced about said axis with an angular spacing e between corresponding edges of said plurality of predetermined portions; a sensor means positioned fixed with respect to and adjacent said wheel, said sensor means having at least first and second sensing elements each independently sensing the passage of each of said predetermined portions by the sensing element and producing in response thereto an associated signal having signal pulses corresponding to and occurring during the angular width of said sensed predetermined portion; said first and second sensing elements spaced apart by a dimension d corresponding to an angular width which is less than angular spacing e but more than said other angular widths of said predetermined portions which are less than angular width c; coincidence means for providing a first reference signal, indicative of the passage of said predetermined portion of width c by the sensor means, in response to said first and second sensing elements simultaneously producing predetermined logic state conditions of said sensor signal pulses; and engine control means for utilizing said signal pulses from at least one of said first and second sensing elements and at least said reference signal to control fuel combustion in the cylinders of said engine, wherein the number of said predetermined portions having angular widths less than angular width c is substantially more than the number of engine cylinders.