Firing time control circuit
AssigneeOptimizer Control Corporation
InventorThomas W. Collins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adaptive control circuit for use with a machine performance optimizing system for producing a control delay between a first event and the time at which a response to that event is to take place. The adaptive control circuit of this invention, when used with an internal combustion point closure signal and will advance or retard the generation of a spark plug firing signal for a period determined by the optimizing system's operating parameters, while still maintaining the desired dwell dictated by the engine manufacturer.
Claims7
An adaptive control circuit for producing an output circuit signal at a time subsequent to an initial event as determined by an optimizing control system, comprising:
- (a) multi-stage delay line means having a plurality of output taps emanating from predetermined stages thereof and having an input terminal for receiving a pulse indicative of said initial event;
- (b) means for propagating said pulse through said delay line at a desired rate;
- (c) code responsive means coupled to said plurality of output taps for selecting only one of said taps at a time and delivering the signal thereon to a utilization device;
- (d) bi-directional counting means having its output coupled to said code responsive means;
- and
- (e) means for incrementing or decrementing said counting means by a predetermined count value as determined by said optimizing control system.
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said limit control means comprises a comparator circuit having means for entering binary coded signals representative of upper and lower limits as a first value therein and means for entering the output from said bi-directional counting means as a second value therein and having first and second output lines, said first output line carrying an output pulse when said second value exceeds said first value, said second output line carrying an output pulse when said second value is less than said first value.
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said means for incrementing or decrementing said counting means includes:
- (a) programmable pulse generating means for producing a predetermined number of pulses each time said programmable pulse generator receives a stimulating pulse from said optimizing control system;
- and
- (b) means coupling the output of said programmable pulse generator to said bi-directional counting means to increment said counting means by said predetermined number when said stimulating pulse is of a first type and for decrementing said counting means by said predetermined number when said stimulating pulse is of a second type.
An adaptive control circuit for producing an output control signal at a time subsequent to an initial event as determined by an optimizing control system, comprising:
- (a) multi-stage delay line means having a plurality of output taps emanating from predetermined stages thereof and having an input terminal for receiving a pulse indicative of said initial event;
- (b) means for propagating said pulse through said delay line at a desired rate;
- (c) code responsive means coupled to said plurality of output taps for selecting only one of said taps at a time and delivering the signal thereon to a utilization device;
- (d) bi-directional counting means having its output coupled to said code responsive means;
- (e) means for incrementing or decrementing said counting means by a predetermined count value as determined by said optimizing control system;
- and
- (f) a limit control means coupled to the output of said bi-directional counting means for preventing the count in said counting means from exceeding in either direction predetermined upper and lower limits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.