Abstract: A control system and method for motor vehicles uses generic control modules which communicate over a vehicle trunkline to accommodate applications of varying functional content and complexity. The vehicle trunkline provides power distribution and a number of communication channels for the various generic control modules which include controller modules, interface modules, and combination controller/interface modules. Each generic control module is connected to the vehicle trunkline via a standardized connector. The combination modules and interface modules are connected to system actuators and sensors with relatively short, simple overlay wiring. The system allows distributed computation for the control of functions and utilizes communication networks to reduce the number of conductors required while increasing the utilization of processing capabilities.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method for controlling the air fuel ratio for an internal combustion engine having an air supply passage by prepositioning an auxiliary air supply passage to counteract a predicted transient. A stored look-up table indicates the amount of change in the auxiliary air supply passage upon detection of a transient. After the detected transient, the air flow in the auxiliary air supply is adjusted to a value so as to be able to provide a rapid change in magnitude to compensate the next predicted transient. The look-up table is adaptively updated to take into account engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A voltage distributor for a spark ignition internal combustion engine. The distributor supplies voltage to spark plugs in a sequence corresponding to the firing order of the engine. The distributor is not driven by the camshaft of the engine in the conventional manner, but rather uses steering logic and a decoder in conjunction with a multiple position switch and trigger pulses to produce the voltage distribution. The steering logic and decoder may comprise a stepper motor and stepper motor decoder circuit operated by trigger pulses to produce rotation of a rotary switch or, alternatively, may comprise a binary counter and associated decoder for controlling relay switches.

Abstract: A spark plug having multiple air gaps is described. The multiple gaps are defined by at least three electrode members defining at least two air gaps. A first electrode member is communicated to a ground potential while a second electrode member, the electrode member which is maximally spaced apart from the first electrode member, is communicated to a source of high voltage potential. The remaining electrode members are positioned intermediate the first and second electrode members and are arranged to be coupled by high resistance electrical means to either the ground or the high voltage potential. In a preferred embodiment, the high resistance means comprise a ladder type resistance network embedded within the ceramic body of the spark plug and electrically interconnecting the intermediate electrode members and the electrical connecting cap of the spark plug device. The air gaps so formed are broken down in sequence and share in the dissipation of the stored energy.

Abstract: A multiple air gap spark plug is provided with an unobstructed air gap spark generating region between the primary electrodes. The high voltage or primary electrodes are arranged to be in confronting relation for spark generation with the intermediate or secondary electrodes arranged to be on either side of the straight line path between the high voltage electrodes. The resulting sparks generated in each air gap between adjacent electrodes will coalesce into a single spark kernel existing between the primary electrodes and laterally bounded by the secondary electrodes.