Multiple functions cam sensing

Claim 1

A method of operating an internal combustion engine by establishing the optimum rotational position of a crankshaft relative to a camshaft for variable cam timing, sequential fuel injection, and ignition timing comprising the steps of: detecting the position of cylinder identification markers on a camshaft and thereby generating a camshaft signal containing positional and cylinder number identification components; detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to said camshaft and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; generating a phase angle signal in response to the positional component of said camshaft signal and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signal corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft predetermined as yielding minimum emissions and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; activating a phase angle shifting mechanism with said phase angle signal to adjust the rotational position of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft; and detecting the loss of said crankshaft signal and defaulting to a predetermined cam phase signal thereby returning the camshaft to a predetermined default position, and generating an ignition timing signal in response to said cam phase signal, allowing continuous operation of the engine.

Claim 2

A method of operating an internal combustion engine by establishing the optimum rotational position of a crankshaft relative to a camshaft for variable cam timing, sequential fuel injection, and ignition timing comprising the steps of: detecting the position of cylinder identification markers on a camshaft and thereby generating a camshaft signal containing positional and cylinder number identification components; detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to said camshaft and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; generating a phase angle signal in response to the positional component of said camshaft signal and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signal corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft predetermined as yielding minimum emissions and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; activating a phase angle shifting mechanism with said phase angle signal to adjust the rotational position of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft; and detecting the loss of said crankshaft signal and defaulting to a predetermined cam phase signal thereby returning the camshaft to a predetermined default position, and generating an ignition timing signal in response to said cam phase signal, allowing continuous operation of the engine.

Claim 6

A system for accurately determining the crankshaft and camshaft phase relationship and also cylinder identification in an internal combustion engine, having at least one independently phase shiftable camshaft, which comprises: means for detecting the position of cylinder identification markers on the camshaft and thereby generating a camshaft signal containing positional and cylinder number identification components; means for detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to said camshaft, and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; means for generating a phase angle signal in response to said positional component of said camshaft signal and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signal corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft predetermined as yielding minimum emissions and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; a phase angle shifting mechanism activated by said phase angle signal to adjust the rotational position of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft; and means for detecting the loss of said crankshaft signal and defaulting to a predetermined cam phase signal thereby returning the camshaft to a predetermined default position, and generating an ignition timing signal in response to said cam phase signal, allowing continuous operation of the engine.

Claim 7

A system for accurately determining the crankshaft and camshaft phase relationship and also cylinder identification in an internal combustion engine, having at least one independently phase shiftable camshaft, which comprises: means for detecting the position of cylinder identification markers on the camshaft and thereby generating a camshaft signal containing positional and cylinder number identification components; means for detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to said camshaft, and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; means for generating a phase angle signal in response to said positional component of said camshaft signal and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signal corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft predetermined as yielding minimum emissions and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; a phase angle shifting mechanism activated by said phase angle signal to adjust the rotational position of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft; and means for detecting the loss of said crankshaft signal and defaulting to a predetermined cam phase signal thereby returning the camshaft to a predetermined default position, and generating an ignition timing signal in response to said cam phase signal, allowing continuous operation of the engine.

Claim 12

A system for accurately determining the crankshaft and camshaft phase relationship and also cylinder identification in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with a plurality of independently phase shiftable camshafts, which comprises: a plurality of camshaft data wheels, one each fixed rotationally relative to a corresponding one of said independently phase shiftable camshafts; a plurality of markings disposed on a surface of each of said camshaft data wheels and each said marking having an angular width distinctive of the remaining said markings on a respective one of said camshaft data wheels and thereby identifying a respective one of said cylinders, the leading edges of said markings spaced equally around each of said camshaft data wheels; a cylinder identification marking disposed on said surface of one of said camshaft data wheels, the leading edge of said cylinder identification marking spaced equally between two of said plurality of markings on said one camshaft data wheel; means for detecting the position of said cylinder identification marking on said one camshaft data wheel and thereby generating a corresponding plurality of camshaft signals each containing positional and cylinder number identification components; means for detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to each of the respective plurality of said camshafts and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; means for generating a phase angle signal for each of said independently phase shiftable camshafts in response to respective said position components of said camshaft signals and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signals corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said crankshaft and respective one of said independent camshafts predetermined as yielding minimum emission and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; and a plurality of phase angle shifting mechanisms, one each rotationally coupled to said independently phase shiftable camshafts, activated by a respective one of said phase angle signals to independently adjust the corresponding rotational positions of said independently phase shiftable camshafts relative to said crankshaft.

Claim 13

A system for accurately determining the crankshaft and camshaft phase relationship and also cylinder identification in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with a plurality of independently phase shiftable camshafts, which comprises: a plurality of camshaft data wheels, one each fixed rotationally relative to a corresponding one of said independently phase shiftable camshafts; a plurality of markings disposed on a surface of each of said camshaft data wheels and each said marking having an angular width distinctive of the remaining said markings on a respective one of said camshaft data wheels and thereby identifying a respective one of said cylinders, the leading edges of said markings spaced equally around each of said camshaft data wheels; a cylinder identification marking disposed on said surface of one of said camshaft data wheels, the leading edge of said cylinder identification marking spaced equally between two of said plurality of markings on said one camshaft data wheel; means for detecting the position of said cylinder identification marking on said one camshaft data wheel and thereby generating a corresponding plurality of camshaft signals each containing positional and cylinder number identification components; means for detecting the rotational position of a crankshaft relative to each of the respective plurality of said camshafts and thereby generating a crankshaft signal having position and velocity components; means for generating a phase angle signal for each of said independently phase shiftable camshafts in response to respective said position components of said camshaft signals and said crankshaft signal, said phase angle signals corresponding to a phase angle relationship between said crankshaft and respective one of said independent camshafts predetermined as yielding minimum emission and optimum fuel economy at an established operating condition; and a plurality of phase angle shifting mechanisms, one each rotationally coupled to said independently phase shiftable camshafts, activated by a respective one of said phase angle signals to independently adjust the corresponding rotational positions of said independently phase shiftable camshafts relative to said crankshaft.