Electronically assisted engine starting means

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time relative to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for producing a signal proportional to the operating speed of the engine;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal only when enabled;
• means for enabling said advance signal generating means for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, said enabling means also enabling said advance signal generating means until the receipt of a signal indicative of the sensed engine temperature reaching a first predetermined level;
• means for prohibiting the enabling of said advance signal generating means in response to said operating speed signal indicating the engine is being operated above a first predetermined speed;
• and
• means for at least intermittently disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level or in response to receiving a signal indicative of said engine speed exceeding a second predetermined level.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means;
• and,
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, and also for generating said enabling signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine o type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, and also for producing said enabling signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• and,
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, and also for producing said enabling signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating mean being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, and also for producing said enabling signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to s id trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine, and also for producing said enabling signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal in response to a first engine temperature signal being received, said first engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature not exceeding a first predetermined sensed level;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal for a predetermined time period after startup of the engine;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has an ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a first timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means and a second timing characteristic that is advanced a predetermined time with respect to said first timing characteristic, said trigger pulse generating means providing said second timing characteristic in response to an advance signal being applied thereto;
• means for selectively generating an advance signal for application to said trigger pulse generating means;, said advance signal generating means producing said advance signal responsive to an enabling signal being received, but being precluded from producing said advance signal responsive to an inhibiting signal being received;
• means for producing an enabling signal for application to said advance signal generating means to generate said advance signal in response to a predetermined operating condition:
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for generating an inhibit signal in response to an engine speed signal indicative of an engine operating speed exceeding a first predetermined speed being received;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to a second engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding a second predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding a second predetermined level being produced.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine of the type which has a ignition capacitor means, a means to charge said ignition capacitor means and an ignition capacitor discharge means connected to discharge said ignition capacitor means in response to receiving a trigger pulse applied thereto, the system comprising:

• trigger pulse generating means for producing trigger pulses in synchronism with the engine speed, said trigger pulse generating means being adapted to provide a timing characteristic for discharging said ignition capacitor means;
• means for producing an engine operating speed signal indicative of the speed of the engine;
• means for disabling the ignition capacitor charging means in response to an ignition capacitor disabling signal being received;
• and,
• means for producing an ignition capacitor disabling signal in response to an engine temperature signal being produced in response to the engine temperature exceeding an upper predetermined sensed level and in response to an engine speed signal indicating an operating speed exceeding an upper predetermined level being produced.