US5844469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined electronic ignition and alarm system
Assignee: Ducati Energia SpA
•
Filing: 1996-11-01
•
Granted: 1998-12-01
•
Expires: 2016-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An electronic ignition and alarm system for motorcycles. An electronic circuit for reading a coded signal emitted by a code-generating integrated circuit inside the ignition key, can be connected inductively or by electric contact means to a microcontroller programmed to enabling the operation of the ignition circuit of the engine after identification of the coded-signal. The coded-signal reader and the microcontroller are fed by a power source comprising a capacitor for storing the energy supplied by the voltage generator of the ignition circuit of the motorcycle. The energy storage capacitor can be connected to the voltage generator via a first low-impedance circuit comprising an electronic trigger switch deactivated by a control circuit which controls the charging voltage of the energy storage capacitor upon start-up of the engine, before activation of the ignition circuit, or, respectively, via a high-impedance circuit which maintains the charging voltage of the capacitor to reduce current drainage of the voltage generator by the capacitor during running of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Gianni Regazzi
- 👤 Alessandro Venturoli
- 👤 Andrea Sani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1469; H02J7/1492; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; B60R25/10; B60R25/1018; B60R2325/00; B60R2325/30; B60R2325/306; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system for an internal-combustion engine, of the type comprising an ignition circuit connected to a voltage generator operated to rotate in synchronism with the internal-combustion engine, the alarm system comprising an electronic read circuit for reading a coded signal emitted by an integrated circuit inside an ignition key, which can be connected both to the aforementioned coded-signal read circuit and a microcontroller for identifying the coded signal, the microcontroller having enabling signal emitting output, connected to an electronic control switch of the ignition circuit for sparking the engine ignition, wherein a power supply device having a voltage output for powering the microcontroller and the electronic read circuit is provided, said powering circuit comprising an energy storage capacitor (C3) to provide voltage supply to said voltage output, the energy storage capacitor being operationally connectable to the voltage generator via a first low-impedance circuit for charging thereof upon start-up of the engine and, respectively, via a second high-impedance circuit for holding the charged state of said capacitor during normal running of the engine, and control means for controlling the charging voltage of storage capacitor, comprising switch means in the low-impedance circuit to connect the storage capacitor to the voltage generator of the engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system for an internal-combustion engine, of the type comprising an ignition circuit connected to a voltage generator operated to rotate in synchronism with the internal-combustion engine, the alarm system comprising an electronic read circuit for reading a coded signal emitted by an integrated circuit inside an ignition key, which can be connected both to the aforementioned coded-signal read circuit and a microcontroller for identifying the coded signal, the microcontroller having enabling signal emitting output, connected to an electronic control switch of the ignition circuit for sparking the engine ignition, wherein a power supply device having a voltage output for powering the microcontroller and the electronic read circuit is provided, said powering circuit comprising an energy storage capacitor (C3) to provide voltage supply to said voltage output, the energy storage capacitor being operationally connectable to the voltage generator via a first low-impedance circuit for charging thereof upon start-up of the engine and, respectively, via a second high-impedance circuit for holding the charged state of said capacitor during normal running of the engine, and control means for controlling the charging voltage of storage capacitor, comprising switch means in the low-impedance circuit to connect the storage capacitor to the voltage generator of the engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said high-impedance circuit comprises a resistor connected in parallel to said low-impedance circuit, and in that voltage limiting means are provided at the output side of the power supply device for limiting the charging voltage of the energy storage capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said ignition circuit is of capacitive-discharging type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said ignition circuit is of the inductive-discharging type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic switch is an SCR switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein a standby signal output connection is provided between the microcontroller and a power supply circuit inside the coded-signal read circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an external light-signal source (LED) indicative of the activated state of the alarm system, said light-signal source (LED) being connectable to a power supply battery by a control circuit comprising electronic switch means activated by an enabling signal at an additional output of the microcontroller, when the vehicle engine is at a standstill.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 7, wherein it further comprises a voltage detecting circuit for detecting the voltage output of a timing pick-up of the voltage generator, to provide an additional data input to the microcontroller comprising information relating to the operational and stopped condition of the engine, and in that said microcontroller is programmed to provide the enabling signal for the electronic switch to connect the light signal source (LED) to the power supply battery depending on corresponding engine stop data supplied to said additional data input of the microcontroller or, to put on standby the electronic read circuit of the coded signal emitted by the integrated circuit inside the ignition key.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 8, wherein the ignition circuit, the microcontroller, the coded-signal read circuit and said power supply battery are enclosed in a single protective housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 9, wherein the control circuit for controlling battery powering of the light-signal source (LED) and the detecting circuit for detecting the operational state of the engine, are enclosed in said protective housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller comprises a memory programmed for managing the activated and deactivated conditions of the ignition circuit and the coded-signal read circuit, respectively for storing coded signals generated by a predetermined number of generating integrated circuits, each of said integrated circuits being associated with a respective start key device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Electronic ignition and alarm system according to claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit for generating the coded signal comprises a transponder circuit inductively connectable to the code read circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Electronic ignition according to claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit for generating the coded signal of the ignition key and said circuit for reading the coded signal of the alarm system are connected by electrical contact means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4274080A
Cited
US4738334A
Cited
US4858453A
Cited
US5635900A
Cited
US5519376A
Cited
US5670933A
Cited
US5606306A
Cited
US5616966A
Cited
US5659291A
Cited
US5610574A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |