Engine control system for an outboard motor
AssigneeYamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMasaru Suzuki, Syu Akuzawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronically controlled engine management system for an outboard motor, which accurately checks the neutral switch for false operation. The accurate neutral switch detection permits an enjoyable boating environment as well as eliminating unnecessary false neutral switch fault alarms.
Claims14
An outboard engine control system for determining whether the neutral switch is faulty, comprising:
- an ignition coil,
- a first timer initiated when current is applied to said ignition coil,
- an alarm,
- a second timer,
- an electronic control unit responsively coupled to detect rotational speed of said engine below a predetermined value, to detect abnormal operation of said neutral switch, and operatively coupled to said second timer and said alarm,
- said electronic control unit detecting the position of said neutral switch so that normal commencement of the engine only occurs when the neutral switch is closed,
- said electronic control unit responds to sudden stopping of said engine and automatically shutting off current to said ignition coil, said second timer being initiated when said current is shut off and inhibits said abnormal switch detection during the period set by said second timer.
In an outboard engine control system for ascertaining whether the neutral switch is operating abnormally, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of
- ascertaining whether the engine has abruptly stopped and turning off the current to the ignition coils,
- starting a timer,
- detecting whether engine commencement has initiated by virtue of shutting off the current to the ignition coils,
- and inhibiting producing an abnormal neutral switch alarm until expiration of said timer interval.
An outboard engine control system, comprising:
- a neutral switch for detecting the neutral position between a forward gear and a reverse gear,
- a computer implemented method for detecting engine speed,
- a computer implemented method for starting an outboard engine when a transmission is in a neutral position,
- a computer implemented method for detecting an engine stop condition based on engine speed and shutting off an ignition coil current, and
- a computer implemented method for detecting a faulty condition of said neutral switch after a predetermined amount of time is completed.
A marine engine control system for determining the condition of a neutral switch, said control system comprising:
- an engine speed sensor;
- an alarm system;
- a programmed electronic control unit responsively coupled to said neutral switch, said engine speed sensor operatively coupled to said fuel injector, and said ignition system, said electronic control unit automatically determining the condition of said neutral switch and initiating said alarm system when said neutral switch is faulty.
The method of determining a faulty neutral switch of a marine engine comprising:
- initiating an ignition coil current timer,
- initiating an abnormal engine rotation timer,
- sensing the speed of said engine,
- determining if a neutral switch is open, and
- automatically determining if neutral switch is faulty if said engine is rotating at a starting speed after said abnormal engine rotation timer is completed and the neutral switch is open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.