Patent US5634868A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5634868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an engine
Assignee: FCA US LLC
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1997-06-03
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of selecting whether a spark in an engine cylinder will be fired on a predetermined first or second crank edge during an engine start mode, firing the spark on the second crank edge during the engine start mode if the second crank edge is selected, firing the spark on the first crank edge if the first crank edge is selected, determining whether the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed, continuing to select whether to fire the spark on the predetermined first crank edge or the predetermined second crank edge if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed less than the predetermined speed, and retarding the spark from a first spark level to a hold start level at a predetermined rate, holding the spark at the hold spark level for a hold period, and advancing the spark to the first spark level at the predetermined rate, if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed greater than the predetermined speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory T. Weber
- 👤 Christopher P. Thomas
- 👤 Kenneth P. DeGroot
- 👤 Gerald R. Honkanen
- 👤 Thomas A. Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:32
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; F02P5/1502; F02P5/1506; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: selecting whether a spark in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine will be fired on one of a group comprising a predetermined first crank edge and a predetermined second crank edge during an engine start mode; firing the spark on the second crank edge during the engine start mode if the second crank edge is selected; firing the spark on the first crank edge if the first crank edge is selected; determining whether the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed; continuing to select whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed less than a predetermined speed; and retarding the spark from a first spark level to a hold spark level at a predetermined rate, holding the spark at the hold spark level for a hold period, and advancing the spark to the first spark level at the predetermined rate, if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed greater than the predetermined speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: selecting whether a spark in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine will be fired on one of a group comprising a predetermined first crank edge and a predetermined second crank edge during an engine start mode; firing the spark on the second crank edge during the engine start mode if the second crank edge is selected; firing the spark on the first crank edge if the first crank edge is selected; determining whether the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed; continuing to select whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed less than a predetermined speed; and retarding the spark from a first spark level to a hold spark level at a predetermined rate, holding the spark at the hold spark level for a hold period, and advancing the spark to the first spark level at the predetermined rate, if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed greater than the predetermined speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of: checking whether a transmission is in one of a group comprising a park mode and a neutral mode; continuing said method if the transmission is in the one of the group comprising the park mode and the neutral mode; and ending said method if the transmission is not in the one of the group comprising the park mode and the neutral mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of determining which engine cylinder is in the process of ignition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge comprises the steps of: selecting the predetermined second crank edge if a coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature; and selecting the predetermined first crank edge if the coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: checking whether the engine is in a start mode; determining whether to fire a spark on one of a group comprising a predetermined first crank edge and a predetermined second crank edge; deciding whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge; firing the spark if the predetermined second crank edge is decided and firing the spark if the predetermined first crank edge is decided.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: checking whether the engine is in a start mode; determining whether to fire a spark on one of a group comprising a predetermined first crank edge and a predetermined second crank edge; deciding whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge; firing the spark if the predetermined second crank edge is decided and firing the spark if the predetermined first crank edge is decided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of: periodically checking if a transmission is in one of a group comprising a park mode and a neutral mode; continuing said method if the transmission is in the one of the group comprising the park mode and the neutral mode; and ending said method if the transmission is not in the one of the group comprising the park mode and the neutral mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 including the steps of determining a hold period, and determining a hold spark level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 including the steps of: checking if in one of a group comprising a blending down mode and a blending up mode; adding an incremental amount to a running total and continuing said method if in the blending down mode; and subtracting the incremental amount from the running total and ending said method if the running total is zero and continuing said method if the running total is not zero, if in the blending up mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of determining which cylinder is in the process of ignition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of determining whether to fire the spark on the one of the group comprising the predetermined first crank edge and the predetermined second crank edge includes: selecting the predetermined first crank edge if a coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature; and selecting the predetermined first crank edge if the coolant temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4633834A
Cited
US4570596A
Cited
US4719573A
Cited
JPS61205377A
Cited
US5027771A
Cited
US5113827A
Cited
JPH04353267A
Cited
JPH0617734A
Cited
JPH0626431A
Cited
JPH0626432A
Cited
US5390491A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-02 | 2000-12-02 | 2001-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-12-02 | 2005-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-02 | 2008-12-02 | 2009-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |