Peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system

Claim 9

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said stored timing adjustment signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 10

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said stored timing adjustment signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 11

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected monitored engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 12

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected monitored engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 13

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical initial ignition spark advance signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said initial ignition spark advance signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 14

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical initial ignition spark advance signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said initial ignition spark advance signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 15

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal when cylinder combustion pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum value; means responsive to said excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 16

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal when cylinder combustion pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum value; means responsive to said excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 17

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical engine knock indicating signal with the presence of engine knock conditions; means responsive to said engine knock indicating signal for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 18

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical engine knock indicating signal with the presence of engine knock conditions; means responsive to said engine knock indicating signal for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 19

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical initial ignition spark advance signal; means for producing an electrical excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal when cylinder combustion pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum value; means for producing an electrical engine knock indicating signal with the presence of engine knock conditions; means responsive to said excessive cylinder combustion pressure and engine knock indicating signals for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal, said initial ignition spark advance signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.

Claim 20

A peak cylinder combustion pressure ignition spark timing system for timing the ignition spark events of a spark ignited internal combustion engine in a manner to achieve peak cylinder combustion pressure at a predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center comprising: means for producing an electrical peak cylinder combustion pressure signal when the combustion pressure of a selected engine cylinder reaches a peak value; circuit means initiated by said peak cylinder combustion pressure signal for generating a signal pulse which subsists thereafter for a preselected constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; circuit means for producing first and second opposite polarity electrical signals which reverse polarity at a predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; circuit means responsive to said signal pulse and a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a first direction before said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle and responsive to said signal pulse and the other one of said first and second electrical signals for producing an electrical timing adjustment signal which changes in value at a substantially constant rate with time in a second opposite direction after said predetermined engine crankshaft angle having a fixed relation to said predetermined desired engine crankshaft angle; means for storing said timing adjustment signal at the termination of said signal pulse; means responsive to said stored timing adjustment signal for producing a peak pressure error signal; means for producing an electrical initial ignition spark advance signal; means for producing an electrical excessive cylinder combustion pressure signal when cylinder combustion pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum value; means for producing an electrical engine knock indicating signal with the presence of engine knock conditions; means responsive to said excessive cylinder combustion pressure and engine knock indicating signals for producing an override signal; summing circuit means responsive to said peak pressure error signal, said initial ignition spark advance signal and said override signal for producing an ignition spark timing output signal; circuit means for initiating, at an engine crankshaft angle relative to piston top dead center determined by the value of said ignition spark timing signal, the generation for each engine cylinder of an ignition dwell time signal and for maintaining said ignition dwell time signal for a preselected substantially constant engine crankshaft rotation angle; and circuit means including an electrically energizable ignition coil primary winding responsive to said ignition dwell time signal for effecting the energization and deenergization of said ignition coil primary winding upon the initiation and termination, respectively, of said ignition dwell time signal.