Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of generating a virtual crankshaft positioning stream of signal pulses that is derived from one or more series of actual crank signals. The virtual stream is useful for monitoring crankshaft positioning and is able to persist despite electromagnetic disturbances in the series of actual crank signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of cranking and/or operating an engine that eliminates the need for use of a cam sensor. The methods implemented with internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders whose firing sequence occurs over two revolutions of a crankshaft with a first set of cylinders comprising a power stroke during the first crankshaft revolution and a second set of cylinders comprising the power stroke of a second crankshaft revolution. The methods involve manipulating fuel injection command signals to occur out of their proper sequence, monitoring and engine indicator responsive to firing and non-firing of cylinders, and identifying correct engine phase based on fluctuations in the engine indicator. Also disclosed herein are software product embodiments comprising program code modules that cause a engine control unit to manipulate the generation of fuel injection command signals to take place outside their correct sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of cranking and/or operating an engine that eliminates the need for use of a cam sensor. The methods implemented with internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders whose firing sequence occurs over two revolutions of a crankshaft with a first set of cylinders comprising a power stroke during the first crankshaft revolution and a second set of cylinders comprising the power stroke of a second crankshaft revolution. The methods involve manipulating fuel injection command signals to occur out of their proper sequence, monitoring and engine indicator responsive to firing and non-firing of cylinders, and identifying correct engine phase based on fluctuations in the engine indicator. Also disclosed herein are software product embodiments comprising program code modules that cause a engine control unit to manipulate the generation of fuel injection command signals to take place outside their correct sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of generating an active crank series of signals that is derived from at least two series of signals, wherein one or both of the series of signals have been modulated to produce two series of signals that resemble each other. Also disclosed herein is a crankshaft positioning system for determining the rotational position of a crankshaft of an engine that utilizes at least two crank angle sensors 10 and 12. The signal information from the two crank angle sensors 10 and 12 is processed by a signal processor 150 such that the series of signals 220 from the second crank angle sensor 12 emulates the series of signals 210 from the first crank angle processor 10. The signal processor generates an active crank series of signals 230 based on the two series of signals 210, 220. The active crank series of signals 230 is sent to an engine control processor 120 which directs the injection and/or ignition of fuel into cylinders of an engine.