US3592178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic ignition timing circuit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-10-15
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A solid-state electronic timing circuit for adjusting the initial idling timing, the rate of advance of timing with increasing engine r.p.m. and the maximum advance by means of readily accessible manual adjusting means to obtain peak engine performance, which system is used in place of conventional timing means such as ignition points. The system is controlled by position markers and cylinder reference markers generated by the rotation of the distributor shaft. These signals are electronically manipulated to produce accurate ignition timing pulses. Electronically, the initial timing, rate of advance with increasing r.p.m., and maximum advance is accurately controlled by simple dashboard adjustment. The output pulse is applied to a control circuit for delivering the spark to the distributor, which spark will be of sufficient energy to provide good ignition.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Schiff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:00
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/155; F02P5/1553; F02P5/1555; F02P7/00; F02P7/06; F02P7/073; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate representative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; first and second energy storage means; constant current generating means for charging said first energy storage means in a substantially linear fashion; clamping means coupled to said first means for discharging said first energy storage means upon the occurrence of each position pulse; third means coupled between said first and second energy storage means for charging said second storage means to the peak voltage level achieved by said first energy storage means; staircase generating means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform; comparison means coupled to said staircase generating means and said second energy storage means for generating a trigger output signal when the voltage level of said staircase generating means exceeds the voltage level of said second energy storage means; recycling circuit means coupled to said comparison means and said second means for terminating the generation of said staircase voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each trigger output signal and for recycling the generation of said staircase voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate representative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; first and second energy storage means; constant current generating means for charging said first energy storage means in a substantially linear fashion; clamping means coupled to said first means for discharging said first energy storage means upon the occurrence of each position pulse; third means coupled between said first and second energy storage means for charging said second storage means to the peak voltage level achieved by said first energy storage means; staircase generating means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform; comparison means coupled to said staircase generating means and said second energy storage means for generating a trigger output signal when the voltage level of said staircase generating means exceeds the voltage level of said second energy storage means; recycling circuit means coupled to said comparison means and said second means for terminating the generation of said staircase voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each trigger output signal and for recycling the generation of said staircase voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate reprEsentative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; third means coupled to said first means for generating a voltage level representative of engine r.p.m.; fourth means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform of substantially constant slope regardless of engine r.p.m.; fifth means coupled to said second means for recycling said fourth means upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse; comparison means coupled to said third means and said fourth means for generating a trigger output pulse when the level of said staircase voltage waveform exceeds the level of the output of said third means, whereby each trigger output signal is generated at a time to yield optimum engine efficiency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate reprEsentative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; third means coupled to said first means for generating a voltage level representative of engine r.p.m.; fourth means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform of substantially constant slope regardless of engine r.p.m.; fifth means coupled to said second means for recycling said fourth means upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse; comparison means coupled to said third means and said fourth means for generating a trigger output pulse when the level of said staircase voltage waveform exceeds the level of the output of said third means, whereby each trigger output signal is generated at a time to yield optimum engine efficiency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means and second means are each comprised of a photosensitive element; a light source; disc means being mechanically coupled to and driven by said engine at a rate proportional to engine r.p.m.; said disc being provided with first and second circular tracks; said first track having a pattern for interrupting the passage of light from said light source to one of said photosensitive elements to generate said position pulses; said second track having a pattern for interrupting the passage of light from said light source to the remaining one of said photosensitive elements to generate said cylinder pulses; the pattern of said second track being adapted to generate a quantity of pulses equal to the number of engine cylinders per complete revolution of said engine and being substantially smaller in number than the number of pulses per revolution caused to be generated by said first track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second energy storage means are each comprised of a capacitor; said third means comprising a diode whose polarity is such as to permit charging of said second energy storage means by said first energy storage means and to prevent charging of said first energy storage means by said second energy storage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said constant current generating means is comprised of transistor means and a potential divider circuit for regulating the magnitude current flowing through said transistor for charging said first energy storage means; said potential divider circuit comprising at least one adjustable resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising second adjustable resistor means coupled to said clamping means for regulating the rate of change of charging of said first energy storage means proportional to engine r.p.m.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising first adjustable limiting means coupled to said second energy storage means for limiting the maximum voltage level which may be stored by said second energy storage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising second limiting means coupled to said energy storage means for limiting the minimum voltage level which may be stored by said second energy storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: first and second amplifier means coupled to said first and second means respectively, for amplifying and pulse shaping said position and cylinder pulses respectively to provide sharp output pulses therefrom; monostable multivibrator means coupled to said first amplifier means for generating pulses of predetermined pulse width upon the application of each sharp output pulse; bistable circuit means coupled to said monostable multivibrator means for halving the frequency rate of said sharp output position pulses; the output of said bistable circuit being connected to said clamping means to enable said clamping means to discharge said first energy storage means at a rate controlled by the pulse rate of said position pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
200 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a lOw voltage circuit for providing output pulses each of at least a predetermined minimum level of electrical energy to a load circuit said pulses being generated at a variable rate controlled by said trigger output signals comprising: a constant voltage source; transformer means including primary and secondary windings; an inverter circuit including said primary winding being coupled to said constant voltage source for generating an alternating output waveform at a frequency substantially greater than the maximum rate of generation of said output pulses; capacitor means; half-wave doubler means comprising first and second branches coupled between said capacitor means and said output winding for charging said capacitor means; a normally nonconductive trigger circuit coupled between said capacitor means and a load circuit, said trigger circuit including a control electrode adapted, upon receipt of a trigger output signal to render said trigger circuit conductive to discharge said capacitor means into said load circuit; plural RF choke means each coupled between one of said doubler branches and said capacitor means for isolating said inverter circuit from said load to enable said inverter circuit to maintain normal operation even when said capacitance circuit is fully discharged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
233 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate representative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; first and second energy storage means; constant current generating means for charging said first energy storage means in a substantially linear fashion; clamping means coupled to said first means for discharging said first energy storage means upon the occurrence of each position pulse; third means coupled between said first and second energy storage means for charging said second storage means to the peak voltage level achieved by said first energy storage means; ramp generating means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform; comparison means coupled to said ramp generating means and said second energy storage means for generating a trigger output signal when the voltage level of said ramp generating means exceeds the voltage level of said second energy storage means; recycling circuit means coupled to said comparison means and said second means for terminating the generation of said ramp voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each trigger output signal and for recycling the generation of said ramp voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
233 words
Means for controlling the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine in accordance with engine r.p.m. and rate of change of engine r.p.m. comprising: first means coupled to said engine for generating position pulses generated at a rate representative of the magnitude of engine r.p.m.; second means for generating cylinder pulses wherein each pulse is associated with one cylinder of said engine; first and second energy storage means; constant current generating means for charging said first energy storage means in a substantially linear fashion; clamping means coupled to said first means for discharging said first energy storage means upon the occurrence of each position pulse; third means coupled between said first and second energy storage means for charging said second storage means to the peak voltage level achieved by said first energy storage means; ramp generating means coupled to said first means for generating a staircase voltage waveform; comparison means coupled to said ramp generating means and said second energy storage means for generating a trigger output signal when the voltage level of said ramp generating means exceeds the voltage level of said second energy storage means; recycling circuit means coupled to said comparison means and said second means for terminating the generation of said ramp voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each trigger output signal and for recycling the generation of said ramp voltage waveform upon the occurrence of each cylinder pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |