Timing control for an engine having a capacitor discharge ignition system
US5337717A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P7/035
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (8) is provided for controlling ignition in an engine having a ignition system (10), an engine cylinder sensor (48), and a piston disposed in the cylinder and being movable to a top dead center (TDC) position. The cylinder sensor (48) produces a first signal representing the position of the piston within the cylinder and having a frequency responsive to engine speed. The ignition system (10) includes a transformer (24) having a primary coil (26) which is energized in response to a cylinder select signal to produce sparking across an associated spark plug gap (22). A first circuit (98) is provided for sensing a delay between production of the cylinder select signal and the time at which current through a respective primary coil exceeds a preselected current level, and responsively producing a timing error signal. The cylinder selector (36) processes the timing error signal to produce a timing offset signal The cylinder selector then delivers a cylinder select signal as a function of the timing offset and a desired cylinder firing time. In this manner, the apparatus (8) compensates for the timing error introduced by the time required for transformer energization.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.