Electronic system for controlling timing signals in an internal combustion engine

An electronic timing control system for reception of continuous input pulses delivered by an apparatus, and for generating output pulses in timed relation to the time separation between said input pulses when taken in combination with additive timing control signals, said system comprising:

• logic timing means for reception of each said input pulse and for providing an instant update signal and a time delayed reset signal in response thereto;
• update pulse generator means for reception of each said update signal, and for providing an update pulse in response thereto;
• reset pulse generator means for reception of each said reset signal, and for providing a reset pulse in response thereto;
• time controlled temporary storage means, for consecutive reception of said update pulses and said reset pulses and for providing a previous time signal in response to reception of each reset pulse and a following update pulse;
• timing means for providing timing control signals;
• time controlled adding means for reception of each said reset pulse, for providing accumulating current timing signals in response thereto, and for addition of said timing control signals to said accumulating current timing signals to provide accumulating target time signals;
• comparator means for reception of said accumulating target time signals, for reception of said previous time signal, for comparison of said accumulating target time signals to said previous time, and for producing a time controlled output pulse when said accumulating target time becomes equal to said previous time.

An electronic timing control system for reception of a train of input pulses delivered by an apparatus, for generating time controlled output pulses in relation to the time lapse between each of said input pulses and to additional control signals, said system comprising:

• means for measuring and storing a previous time which is equivalent to the elapsed time between each of said output pulses;
• means for measuring and storing a current time as it accumulates after occurrence of each of said pulses;
• means for providing a timing advance value;
• means for receiving said current time and said timing advance value and for providing a target time by adding said timing advance value to said current time;
• means for comparing said target time to said previous time and for providing a time controlled output pulse when said target time becomes equal to said previous time.

An electronic ignition timing control system for electrical connection between the ignition distributor and the spark ignitor of an automotive engine wherein said distributor provides a train of electrical distributor pulses during operation of said automotive engine, said system comprising:

• means for amplifying said distributor pulses;
• a logic timing generator for reception of each of said amplified pulses and in response thereto, for delivery of a pulse which includes an instantly generated update signal and a time delayed reset signal;
• an update pulse generator for reception of said update signal and for providing an update pulse in response thereto;
• a reset pulse generator for reception of said reset signal and for providing a reset pulse in response thereto;
• an analog voltage controlled clock for providing time marking signals;
• a binary counter for reception of said time marking signals, for reception of said reset pulse and for providing elapsed timing signals in response to reception of said reset pulse;
• a temporary storage means for reception of said elapsed timing signals, for reception of said update pulse and for providing a previous time signal in response to reception of said update pulse, said previous time signal reflecting the time between reception by said binary counter of said reset pulse and the time of reception by said temporary storage of said update pulse;
• a timing switching means for providing selected timing control signals in a format compatible with the timing signals provided by said counter;
• an adder means for reception of said timing control signals, for reception of said elapsed timing signals and for adding one to the other so as to provide progressing target time signals;
• a comparator for reception of said previous time signal, for the reception of said progressing target time signals, for comparison of said accumulating target time signals to said previous time, and for producing a time controlled output pulse when said accumulating target time signals become equal to said previous time;
• an output pulse generator means for reception of said time controlled output pulse and for producing in response thereto a conditioned output pulse suitable for use by the spark ignitor of said automotive engine.