Ignition timing control system for light duty combustion engines

A control system for use with a light duty combustion engine, said system comprising:

• an input coupled to an engine speed sensor for receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• a first output coupled to an ignition device for providing that device with an electronic ignition signal that affects the ignition timing of the engine,
• a second output coupled to a valve control device for providing that device with an electronic air/fuel signal that affects the air-to-fuel ratio of a combustible mixture being provided to the engine, and
• an electronic processing device coupled to said input for receiving said speed signal, coupled to said first output for providing said ignition signal, and coupled to said second output for providing said air/fuel signal, wherein said processing device is capable of determining said ignition signal and said air/fuel signal according to an independent operating sequence that is capable of being selected by utilizing said speed signal;
• wherein said electronic processing device is controlled by an independent cranking sequence that is initiated following the starting of the engine and operates for a predetermined number of engine revolutions, and said cranking sequence advances or retards the ignition timing a predetermined number of degrees and controls the air-to-fuel ratio of the combustible mixture;
• and
• wherein said cranking sequence follows a predetermined number of ‘no-spark’ engine revolutions where said electronic processing device does not provide said ignition signal.

A control system for use with a light duty combustion engine, said system comprising:

• an input coupled to an engine speed sensor for receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• a first output coupled to an ignition device for providing that device with an electronic ignition signal that affects the ignition timing of the engine,
• a second output coupled to a valve control device for providing that device with an electronic air/fuel signal that affects the air-to-fuel ratio of a combustible mixture being provided to the engine, and
• an electronic processing device coupled to said input for receiving said speed signal, coupled to said first output for providing said ignition signal, and coupled to said second output for providing said air/fuel signal, wherein said processing device is capable of determining said ignition signal and said air/fuel signal according to an independent operating sequence that is capable of being selected by utilizing said speed signal;
• and
• wherein said electronic processing device -is controlled by an independent warm up sequence that is initiated shortly after the engine is started, said warm up sequence is capable of utilizing said speed signal to, advance the ignition timing at a first rate and retard the ignition timing at a second rate, and is capable of enriching the air-to-fuel ratio of the combustible mixture for a first number of engine revolutions and enleaning the combustible mixture for a second number of engine revolutions.

A control system for use with a light duty combustion engine, said system comprising:

• an input coupled to an engine speed sensor for receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• a first output coupled to an ignition device for providing that device with an electronic ignition signal that affects the ignition timing of the engine,
• a second output coupled to a valve control device for providing that device with an electronic air/fuel signal that affects the air-to-fuel ratio of a combustible mixture being provided to the engine, and
• an electronic processing device coupled to said input for receiving said speed signal, coupled to said first output for providing said ignition signal, and coupled to said second output for providing said air/fuel signal, wherein said processing device is capable of determining said ignition signal and said air/fuel signal according to an independent operating sequence that is capable of being selected by utilizing said speed signal;
• wherein said system includes a second input coupled to an engine temperature sensor for receiving an electronic temperature signal representative of engine temperature, and wherein said temperature signal affects said air/fuel signal;
• wherein said independent operating sequence comprises a temperature dependent operating sequence, and wherein said temperature dependent operating sequence is capable of affecting said air/fuel signal for a predetermined number of engine revolutions which is dependent upon said temperature signal;
• wherein said temperature dependent operating sequence enleans the combustible mixture if:
• i) said temperature signal exceeds a predetermined temperature, and ii) said control system has been turned off for less than a predetermined amount of time.

A method for controlling the ignition timing of a light duty combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• (b) utilizing said speed signal to select from a plurality of independent operating sequences,
• (c) utilizing said selected operating sequence to determine a desired ignition timing value, and
• (d) utilizing said desired ignition timing value to provide an electronic ignition signal to an ignition device, wherein said ignition signal affects the ignition timing of the engine.

A method for controlling the air-to-fuel ratio of a combustible mixture being provided to a light duty combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• (b) utilizing said speed signal to select from a plurality of independent operating sequences,
• (c) utilizing said selected operating sequence to determine a desired air-to-fuel ratio for the combustible mixture, and
• (d) utilizing said desired air-to-fuel ratio to provide an electronic air/fuel signal to a valve control device, wherein said air/fuel signal affects the air-to-fuel ratio of the combustible mixture being provided to the engine.

A control system for use with a light duty combustion engine, said system comprising:

• a speed sensor operatively coupled to the engine and having a signal output for providing an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed,
• an ignition switch operatively coupled to a capacitive discharge ignition system and having a signal input for receiving an ignition signal capable of affecting the engine ignition timing,
• a first air/fuel mixture switch operatively coupled to a solenoid for driving said solenoid in a first direction for enriching a combustible mixture and having a signal input for receiving a first air/fuel signal,
• a second air/fuel mixture switch operatively coupled to said solenoid for driving said solenoid in a second direction for enleaning a combustible mixture and having a signal input for receiving a second air/fuel signal, and
• an electronic processing device coupled to said speed sensor output for receiving said speed signal, coupled to said ignition switch input for providing said ignition signal, coupled to said first air/fuel mixture switch for providing said first air/fuel signal, and coupled to said second air/fuel mixture switch for providing said second air/fuel signal, wherein said processing device is capable of determining said ignition signal and said first and second air/fuel signals according to an independent operating sequence that is capable of being selected from a plurality of independent operating sequences by utilizing said speed signal.

A control system for controlling both ignition timing and air-to-fuel ratio aspects of a light duty combustion engine, said system comprising:

• an input capable of receiving a speed signal representative of engine speed,
• an ignition timing output coupled to an ignition device for providing that device with an electronic ignition signal that affects the ignition timing of the engine,
• an air-to-fuel ratio output coupled to an electronic valve control device for providing that device with an air/fuel signal that affects the air-to-fuel ratio of a combustible mixture being provided to the engine, and
• an electronic processing device that is coupled to said input for receiving said speed signal, coupled to said ignition timing output for providing said ignition signal, and coupled to said air-to-fuel ratio output for providing said air/fuel signal, wherein said processing device is capable of utilizing said speed signal or calculations derived from said speed signal to make a selection between one of several independent operating sequences, wherein said independent operating sequences at least include an acceleration sequence.