Abstract:
Systems and methods for increasing an efficiency of engine starting of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises operating a laser ignition device in an engine cylinder and identifying engine position in response thereto; and igniting an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder with the laser ignition device.
Abstract:
A distributor for internal combustion engines which includes a connector for electrically coupling a rotation signal detector and an engine control unit and a connector for electrically coupling an ignition coil and the engine control unit, the distributor being constructed to be able to improve working efficiency and productivity during assembly and handling easiness during maintenance.
Abstract:
An LED 103 and a photodiode 104 of a crank angle detector confront one another across a gap G', through which a plate 102 rotates. The LED and photodiode communicate through respective housing windows 111 when a slit 110 in the plate passes between them. The windows and the slit are sector-shaped, with concentric inner and outer edges, and radially oriented side edges. These configuration steepen the leading and trailing edges of the photodiode output, thus enhancing the detection accuracy.
Abstract:
An engine control apparatus and method for accurately controlling the operation of an engine such as ignition, fuel injection, etc., particularly in the high-speed range or during a sudden change in the rotational speed of the engine. A signal generator generates a positional signal in the form of pulses representative of a reference piston position of each cylinder in synchrony with the rotation of the engine. A sensor means senses the operating conditions of the engine. A control unit in the form of a microcomputer, which includes a timer means for controlling the operations of the corresponding cylinders, calculates, based on the positional signal and the output signal of the sensor means, control times for controlling the corresponding cylinders at every reference piston position, and determine, at every reference piston position, whether the timer means has already done control on the cylinders. If the timer means has yet to do control on the cylinders, the control unit resets or updates the dimer means to new control times which are calculated at the present reference piston position for controlling the present operations of the cylinders. On the other hand, if the timer means has already done control on the cylinders, the control unit sets the timer means to new control times which are calculated at the present reference piston position for controlling the next operations of the cylinders.
Abstract:
A cylinder recognition apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine has a position sensor which generates for each cylinder output pulses which indicate prescribed positions of the piston of the cylinder. The output pulse for a prescribed reference cylinder of the engine has a different pulse width from the pulses for the other cylinders. A cylinder recognition circuit calculates a ratio which is a function of the pulse width and the period of each output pulse. A comparator compares the ratio with a prescribed value and a cylinder is recognized on the basis of the comparison.
Abstract:
An ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine comprises a cylindrical distributor rotor of synthetic resin that rotated synchronously with the revolution of the engine, a rotor electrode radially and outwardly extending from the central portion on an upper surface of the rotor, a plurality of circumferential electrodes disposed in the rotating locus of said rotor and separated from said rotor electrode by a discharge gap, a contact electrode contacting said rotor electrode, a rotation angle sensor, and a signal processing unit for processing output signal from the rotation angle sensor. The signal processing unit is arranged coaxially with and below the distributor rotor, and is provided with a shield cover which is earthed.
Abstract:
There is provided a rotational signal detecting apparatus comprising a housing, a rotor shaft attached to said housing so as to be freely rotatable, said rotor shaft rotating in synchronism with a crankshaft or a cam shaft of an engine, a photoelectric pickup comprising a rotating portion fixed to said rotor shaft so as to rotate with said rotor shaft as one body and a fixed portion integrally attached to said housing, said fixed portion having photoelectric conversion means for outputting a signal varying according to the quantity of incident light varied in synchronism with the rotation of said rotating portion, an electromagnetic pickup comprising a rotating portion fixed to said rotor shaft so as to rotate with said rotor shaft as one body and a fixed portion integrally attached to said housing, said fixed portion having magnetic field detecting means for outputting a signal varying according to the magnetic field varied in synchronism with the rotation of said rotating portion, one of said photoelectric pickup and said electromagnetic pickup being used as the backup for the other.
Abstract:
A crank angle detecting system for a multicylinder engine includes a disc formed with a large number of slits to detect one-degree crank angular positions and a small number of slits to detect a predetermined piston stroke for each cylinder. Since the widths of a small number of slits are different from each other, it is possible to separately discriminate each cylinder in crank angular position on the basis of the crank angle signals obtained by a large number of slits. In the case where the detecting system is incorporated with a group-ignition system, it is possible to detect a predetermined piston stroke for each cylinder immediately after the engine is started, thus preventing the engine from erroneous ignition.
Abstract:
A high voltage generating circuit for an automotive ignition system, wherein a current control circuit is provided in series with an automotive battery and a controlled high frequency switch to generate a high frequency, linearly increasing ignition current across the electrodes of the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine in order to accommodate shifts in the spark plug sustaining voltage which may occur due to changes in operating conditions. In a preferred embodiment, a DC-DC converter is inserted in series between the battery and the current control circuit to step-up the voltage applied to the current control circuit.
Abstract:
In order to mount the control circuit for the ignition system at a location remote from the spark plug and ignition coil, i.e. at a location not subject to electromagnetic or electrical interference, photoconductors are used to interconnect the control circuit with the final output stage. Photoconductors are also used to interconnect the basic synchronization unit, that is the unit which furnishes a pulse for each rotation of a shaft of the engine, to the input of the control circuit. A theft prevention device is also incorporated. Specifically, the control circuit compares a sequence stored in a microprocessor to the on/off pattern of a received light pulse sequence. The latter is applied from a light emitter through a convex lens and a photoconductor to a second input of the control unit. Only if the stored pattern corresponds to the received light pattern can control signals initiating a spark be generated.