Processor controlled discharge ignition with fixed firing angle at startup
AssigneeR. E. Phelon Company, Inc.
InventorsRoy J. Fewell JR., Todd B. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ignition apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine to produce an electrical spark at a spark ignition device. The ignition apparatus includes triggering circuitry having a processor with stored timing data. The processor receives a signal indicative of the rotational position of the magnet and generates a triggering signal. The triggering circuitry switches between a first mode wherein the triggering signal occurs at a fixed time relative to top dead center and a second mode wherein the triggering signal occurs at a variable time relative to top dead center based on the stored timing data.
Claims23
An ignition apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine to produce an electrical spark at a spark ignition device, said apparatus comprising:
- a magnet assembly operatively revolved along a circular path, said magnet assembly including a pair of pole faces;
- a magnetically permeable core mounted adjacent to said circular path and having at least two leg portions each including a respective end face, said leg portions being situated such that said pole faces pass proximate to said end faces during revolution of said magnet assembly and produce a time-varying magnetic flux in said magnetically permeable core;
- a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil related by a predetermined step-up ratio, said secondary coil electrically connected during operation to the spark ignition device;
- a spark generation circuit operative to apply a primary voltage pulse to said primary coil responsive to a triggering signal, said primary voltage pulse producing a spark generating pulse in said secondary coil;
- and
- triggering circuitry including a processor operative to receive a signal indicative of the rotational position of said magnet and generate a triggering signal, said triggering circuitry being operative to switch between a first mode wherein said triggering signal occurs at a fixed angle relative to top dead center and a second mode wherein said triggering signal occurs at a variable angle relative to top dead center.
An ignition apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine to produce an electrical spark at a spark ignition device, said apparatus comprising:
- a magnet assembly operatively revolved along a circular path, said magnet assembly including a pair of pole faces;
- a magnetically permeable core mounted adjacent to said circular path and having at least two leg portions each including a respective end face, said leg portions being situated such that said pole faces pass proximate to said end faces during revolution of said magnet assembly and produce a time-varying waveform in said magnetically permeable core having a first pulse, a second pulse and a third pulse;
- a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil related by a predetermined step-up ratio, said secondary coil electrically connected during operation to the spark ignition device;
- a spark generation circuit operative to apply a primary voltage pulse to said primary coil responsive to a triggering signal, said primary voltage pulse producing a spark generating pulse in said secondary coil;
- and
- triggering circuitry including a processor having stored timing data, said processor operative to receive said first pulse, said second pulse and said third pulse and generate a triggering signal, said triggering circuitry being operative to switch between a first mode and a second mode wherein said triggering signal occurs at a fixed angle relative to top dead center in said first mode and at a variable angle relative to top dead center based on said stored timing data in said second mode.
An ignition apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine to produce an electrical spark at a spark ignition device, said apparatus comprising:
- a magnet assembly operatively revolved along a circular path, said magnet assembly including a pair of pole faces;
- a magnetically permeable core mounted adjacent to said circular path and having at least two leg portions each including a respective end face, said leg portions being situated such that said pole faces pass proximate to said end faces during revolution of said magnet assembly and produce a time-varying magnetic flux in said magnetically permeable core;
- a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil related by a predetermined step-up ratio, said secondary coil electrically connected during operation to the spark ignition device;
- a spark generation circuit operative to apply a primary voltage pulse to said primary coil responsive to a triggering signal, said primary voltage pulse producing a spark generating pulse in said secondary coil;
- and
- triggering means for generating a triggering signal, said triggering means having a first mode wherein said triggering signal occurs at a fixed angle relative to top dead center and a second mode wherein said triggering signal occurs at a variable angle relative to top dead center, said triggering means being capable of switching between said first mode and said second mode.
A method for controlling the timing of a spark generation circuit for an internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting the speed of an engine based on the period between two timing pulses, said timing pulses being separated by a kill pulse;
- (b) if said speed is below a predetermined threshold, producing a triggering signal at a first mode time determined in relation to said kill pulse;
- and
- (c) if said speed is above said predetermined threshold, producing a triggering signal at a second mode time determined in relation to one of said timing pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.