Abstract: A method is provided for engaging a starter pinion of a starter with a starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine during the running-down of the internal combustion engine, which internal combustion engine has an arrangement for determining rotational speed and rotational direction of a crankshaft. The starter pinion is engaged with the starter ring gear when the following conditions are satisfied: a) the speed of the internal combustion engine is below a maximum speed and above a minimum speed; and b) the rotational direction corresponds to the forward rotational direction of the crank shaft.

Abstract: A control system for an engine that drives an alternator includes a first module that reduces an alternator load when the engine is cranked. A second module determines a desired exhaust energy rate (EER) of the engine. The first module regulates the alternator load based on the EER during an idle period to reduce engine emissions during a cold start period.

Abstract: To detect with high accuracy the connection/disconnection of a clutch intermediately provided between a crankshaft of a single-cylinder engine and a power transmission for transmitting the output of the crankshaft. The rotation variation coefficient of a crankshaft is detected by a rotation variation coefficient detection mechanism and a decision mechanism decides the connection/disconnection of a clutch by comparing the rotation variation coefficient detected by the rotation variation detection mechanism with a preliminarily determined threshold.

Abstract: An engine control system for an internal combustion engine and a method of programming is provided. The engine control system has a rotation sensing system, an intelligent controller connected to the rotation sensing system for calculating at least one of a cylinder position or an engine RPM, and an engine controlling output created by the intelligent controller in response to at least one of the cylinder position or the engine RPM. The method of programming including the steps determining engine parameters and selecting an engine controlling output in response to at least one of the cylinder positions or the engine RPM.

Abstract: A positioning pin is knocked onto a crankshaft of an engine and a key way is formed in a boss of a first flywheel. When an outer rotor type generator is connected with the engine, the boss of the first flywheel is fitted over the crankshaft so as to adjust the positioning pin to the key way. When an inner rotor type generator is connected with the engine, a rotor shaft on which a rotor of a generator is mounted is fitted to a second flywheel so as to adjust the positioning pin to a key way formed in the second flywheel. The ignition angle of the engine is determined by fitting the positioning pin to the key way.

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.

Abstract: A computerized 2 and 4 cycle internal combustion engine control and optimization/tuning system is disclosed, wherein fuel injector control is optimized to increase horsepower and fuel economy. The system is comprised of an on-board engine controller with communications software allowing technicians to change external sensors via an external computer. The technician may tune engine parameters on the fly as the engine is running. The engine control system displays engine-operating parameters in real time. Fuel mapping can be for the operator's choices of acceleration, maximum speed, gas mileage, altitude of operation and/or engine temperature.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement as well as a computer program for controlling an internal combustion engine are suggested. A torque model is utilized in the context of the computation of actual quantities and/or actuating quantities. In the context-of the torque model computation, the combustion center is considered which describes the angle at which a specific portion of the combustion energy is converted.

Abstract: To detect a stroke reliably at the time of the start of the engine when a stroke cannot be detected based on crank pulses alone. A stroke is detected based on a difference ?N between the engine rotational speeds at top and bottom dead centers and a flag FN is changed depending upon whether a temporary stroke set before a stroke has been detected and the detected stroke coincide with each other or not. Simultaneously, a stroke is detected based on a difference ?P between the intake air pressures at two bottom dead centers and a flag Fp is changed depending upon whether a temporary stroke set before a stroke has been detected and the detected stroke coincide with each other or not. Then, when the flags FN and Fp coincide with each other, the stroke detection is completed. When the detected stroke differs from the temporary stroke, the stroke is shifted by a phase of 360° and the crank pulses are renumbered.

Abstract: A misfire detector is provided that is accurate even in the case of a disturbance due to causes such as driving on a rough road. The misfire detector is equipped with a crankshaft revolution detector to measure the time period required for the crankshaft of an internal-combustion engine to revolve for a given angle. A signal-processor is also provided for detecting the misfiring of the internal-combustion engine by processing the time period. In one embodiment, the misfire detector has two filters having the same sensitivity to the misfire frequency, and differing in the sensitivity to frequencies adjacent to said misfire frequency. It can be determined that a misfire has occurred if the ratio or difference between the outputs of the two filters stays within a fixed range and one or both of the filters have respective outputs exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: Piston stroke recognition methods for small internal combustion engines, such as single and two cylinder engines, in which the ignition-related trigger pulses corresponding to the engine cylinders are the only input signal used for stroke recognition.

Abstract: A sensor device having an incremental encoder and a measuring sensor generating a measuring signal is assigned to two control devices. A synchronization device generates a synchronization signal. A conditioned first measuring signal is generated in the first control device as a function of the measuring signal. A conditioned second measuring signal is generated in the second control device as a function of the measuring signal. The value of the conditioned first measuring signal at a predefined time after the reception of the synchronization signal in the first control device is transmitted to the second control device. The second control device synchronizes the conditioned second measuring signal as a function of the values of the conditioned first and second measuring signals that the signals have at the predefined time after the respective reception of the synchronization signal in the first and second control devices.

Abstract: For the establishment of a crank-angle based signal pattern with high discrimination representing a relevant working characteristic of an internal combustion engine, the working characteristic is detected with high time discrimination and with the aid of a time-based and angled-based crank-angle signal of low angle discrimination and transformed to a crank-angle basis under interpolation, and whereby there is assigned to the top dead center (OT) of the respective cylinder, by a multiple, a freely selectable angle increment under interpolation with high angle discrimination.

Abstract: A system and method of managing the energy stored in a single ignition coil of a distributor inductive ignition for an engine is described. The engine comprises a plurality of cylinders and the ignition coil having dwell control parameters. The engine is operated at different operating speeds. At least one engine performance parameter is determined. At least one dwell control parameter of the ignition coil in all of the different speeds is adjusted, the adjustment based at least in part upon an evaluation of the at least one engine performance parameter. The cylinders of the engine are fired. The stored energy of the ignition coil is altered to an optimum value between the firings of the engine cylinders, the altering being effected for each of the different speeds and as a result of the adjusting of the dwell control parameters.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method that calculates parameters for ignition control with respect to a reference cylinder every 180° of crank angle and actuates a dwell-on period and the ignition of the ignition cylinder based on those parameters. A timer-monitored period between crank-position sensor pulse is minimized by setting a reference angle, and misfires are prevented by forcing the dwell-on period and the ignition of the ignition cylinder based on a number of crank-position sensor pulses corresponding to a pre-dwell-on period. Errors relating to missing pulses are also prevented.

Abstract: In an engine having a crankshaft and a camshaft, the current angular position of a rotor fixed to the crankshaft is detected, and a top dead center (TDC) position of the crankshaft is determined based on the current angular position of the rotor, wherein the TDC position is one of an ignition top dead center (ITDC) and a gas transfer top dead center (GTDC). This determination may be made using a learning routine the first time the engine is started. The camshaft angle is then determined based on the TDC value and the current rotor position, and transmitted to a control unit for the engine. The current angular position of the rotor and the camshaft angle are stored in a memory unit when the engine stops, for use the next time the engine is started.

Abstract: An improved electronic ignition arrangement for an internal combustion engine having an output drive shaft, a rotary shaft drivingly coupled to the output drive shaft, a plurality of spark plugs, an ignition coil, and a rotor and distributor arrangement to effect sequential firing of the spark plugs, the rotor coupled to the rotary shaft for rotation therewith, the ignition system arrangement producing a software modifiable control signal routed to the ignition coil to effect optimal sequential firing conditions for the ignition col and spark plugs and thereby improving performance of the engine.

Abstract: A method for determining the angular position of an internal combustion engine throughout an engine cycle, the method includes the steps of providing a crankshaft having a plurality of teeth, the crankshaft completing two revolutions per engine cycle. A camshaft is provided having a plurality of teeth, the camshaft completing one revolution per engine cycle. An engine controller is provided. A sample size of the engine cycle is set in each of two concurrent engine cycles. The teeth of the plurality of teeth are counted on the camshaft found in the sample sizes. The crank position is then determined according to the teeth appearing in the sample sizes.

Abstract: A rotor of a crankshaft has protrusions. A timing sensor produces a rotation leading signal and a rotation trailing signal. A control unit measures a previous signal production interval and a present signal production interval based on the rotation signals, and determines that the rotor is in the forward rotation if an inequality of Tn/Tn−1≧K holds alternately but consecutively by four times on the side of the rotation trailing signal. As a result, at the time of manufacturing the rotor, the degree of freedom of design in the positional relations of the protrusions can be enhanced to control the ignition timing precisely and stably.

Abstract: The invention concerns a direct injection internal combustion engine comprising a camshaft and at least two cylinders (1), having in each cylinder a mobile piston (2) associated with at least to intake valves (4, 5), each located in an induction pipes (8, 9), and at least an exhaust valve (6, 7). The displacement of said valves is independent of the rotation of the camshaft and is controlled by a computer (15). The induction pipes (8, 9) are designed to produce an air velocity field inside the cylinder (1) parallel to said cylinder axis. The computer (15) controls, cylinder by cylinder, the opening and closing times of said at lent two intake valves (4, 5) to adapt the shape of the air velocity field inside the cylinder (1) to the engine power.

Abstract: A rotor has teeth on a rotor body. The teeth indicate fixed ignition timings for both of normal and reverse rotations. The teeth also indicate beginning positions of a calculation ignition sequence and an excess advanced ignition sequence for both of the normal and reverse rotations. One of the teeth is longer than the other teeth to provide a signal for determining a rotating direction based on a detected signal from a timing sensor. In a stable rotating condition, a countdown process begins when the beginning position located on the forward side in the rotating direction from the cylinder to be ignited is detected, and the spark plug of the target cylinder sparks when the counting process finished.

Abstract: An ignition control device for controlling an ignition coil device for an internal combustion engine, having an angle measuring device for measuring the current crank angle of the internal combustion engine and for outputting an equidistant angle pulse signal and an angle signal for indicating the respective beginning of a working cycle. The ignition control device includes a synchronization device for synchronizing the angular positions of the individual cylinders to the output signal of the angle measuring device, a rotational speed measuring device for measuring the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine at a measuring time point within the ignition cycle of an individual cylinder, and a calculating device for calculating a preestablished ignition angle corresponding to the measured rotational speed. A preestablished charging time corresponds to the measured battery voltage, and a beginning charging angle corresponds to the respective calculation angles in accordance with the synchronization.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting crank angle position in an internal combustion engine, in which a first rotator, which is interlocked with the crankshaft, has a plurality of detectable parts in the rotation direction, the detectable parts on the first rotator are provided so that adjoining spaces are nearly equal to each other. A second rotator which is interlocked with the camshaft has a plurality of detectable parts in the rotation direction, the detectable parts on the second rotator are provided so that permutations each consisting of at least two of consecutive angle intervals in one rotation direction differ from each other. With this configuration, the stroke of an internal combustion engine can be determined in a short time.

Abstract: A method for altering engine ignition timing includes removing a centered gear tooth sensor from an engine. The centered gear tooth sensor is replaced with an offset gear tooth sensor. The offset gear tooth sensor includes a sensing element that forms a sensing angle, &agr;, with respect to a center diametric axis defined by a target wheel. The engine ignition timing is altered by an angular amount equal to the sensing angle, &agr;, of the sensing element.

Abstract: For the establishment of a crank-angle based signal pattern with high discrimination representing a relevant working characteristic of an internal combustion engine, the working characteristic is detected with high time discrimination and with the aid of a time-based and angled-based crank-angle signal of low angle discrimination and transformed to a crank-angle basis under interpolation, and whereby there is assigned to the top dead center (OT) of the respective cylinder, by a multiple, a freely selectable angle increment under interpolation with high angle discrimination.

Abstract: A control for a camless engine is provided with a plurality of modules each associated with an individual cylinder. The modules are programmed to operate their respective cylinders once on each of two revolutions of a crankshaft. Thus, the control modules must have an indication of the point in the rotational cycle of the crankcase, but also a signal of which of the two revolutions in the two-revolution cycle is ongoing for the crankshaft. The crankshaft preferably provides a uniform signal for each of the two revolutions. The uniform signal is modified by a signal modification method such that the signal sent to the modules is distinct for each of the two revolutions. In a preferred embodiment the signal is provided with a space which is indicative of a particular point in each revolution. A modifier is controlled by a switch which alternates between one of two positions, and which modifies the space in one of the two positions.

Abstract: A combustion control device for an internal combustion engine, establishes an optimum combustion condition by detecting the combustion pressure in the cylinder and controlling the exhaust gas reflux rate, the ignition timing and the fuel injection timing or the injection rate at the intake stroke in order to improve the fuel economy and the quality of the exhaust gas in the engine. The device is provided with an in-cylinder pressure detector for detecting the in-cylinder pressure in connection with the combustion in the engine, and apparatus for estimating the heat generation rate with respect to the angle of the crank shaft of the cylinder according to the output from the in-cylinder pressure detection means, the ignition timing and the fuel injection timing control the control variables such as EGR control parameters related to the combustion so that the in-cylinder combustion state pattern obtained by the heat generation rate estimation apparatus may be reshaped into a predefined waveform pattern.

Abstract: A plurality of cam sensors are provided for outputting cylinder judgment signals and the output number of cylinder judgment signals between reference crank angle positions are counted for each cam sensor, to thereby perform cylinder judgment based on combination of the output number of the counted cylinder judgment signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for verifying the lobe angle of cams on a camshaft. Laser beams directed on cam lobe surfaces and a timing indicator during camshaft rotation are reflected to receiving elements that provide distance data to a computer also fed with encoded information on the angular positions of the camshaft lobes. The computer calculates the relative angles of the cam lobes which are compared to a standard stored in the computer to qualify the camshaft and verify the operation of the assembly process.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a crankshaft without the use of a signal from a dedicated crankshaft position sensor. The method includes the steps of providing a pulse sensor for generating a signal in response to the transmission of vibrations through the engine block; evaluating the signal generated by the pulse sensor to identify a series of combustion events, the series of combustion events being made up of a series of individual combustion events occurring in the plurality of cylinders, the individual combustion events taking place in a predetermined order; and evaluating the series of combustion events to identify a reference crankshaft position by correlating at least one of the individual combustion events to an associated one of the plurality of cylinders.

Abstract: A device for detecting rotary movement has a rotary part configured to be fixedly connected to a motor shaft and rotate with the motor shaft. One or more sensors are positioned opposite the rotary part and configured to sense rotary movement of the rotary part and transmit signals derived from the rotary movement. A processing unit is connected to the sensor and receives and processes the signals transmitted by the sensor. A receptacle is provided to secure the sensor. The sensor and the receptacle have positioning elements cooperating with one, another so as to adjust a position of the sensor relative to the rotary part in a rotational direction of the rotary part. The device cooperates with a mounting device for mounting and positioning the rotary part relative to the sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic effect sensor system has a target with a first set of regularly spaced tooth/slot transition target features and a second set of different tooth/slot transition target features interspersed within the regularly spaced features. The mix of target features allows a single magnetic effect sensor to output a clocking pulse train for misfire detection and an encoded pulse train for determining absolute mechanical position by utilizing two thresholds on the sensor output waveform.

Abstract: A control for a camless engine is provided with a plurality of modules each associated with an individual cylinder. The modules are programmed to operate their respective cylinders once on each of two revolutions of a crankshaft. Thus, the control modules must have an indication of the point in the rotational cycle of the crankcase, but also a signal of which of the two revolutions in the two-revolution cycle is ongoing for the crankshaft. The crankshaft preferably provides a uniform signal for each of the two revolutions. The uniform signal is modified by a signal modification method such that the signal sent to the modules is distinct for each of the two revolutions. In a preferred embodiment the signal is provided with a space which is indicative of a particular point in each revolution. A modifier is controlled by a switch which alternates between one of two positions, and which modifies the space in one of the two positions.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control system comprising the steps of supplying a reference position detection pulse and a low revolution ignition position detection pulse generated by a single pulser coil of a crank shaft sensor at a reference position of each of cylinders and a low revolution ignition position thereof through respective waveform shaping circuits to a CPU of an electronic control unit and controlling the internal combustion engine so that all the cylinders are simultaneously ignited at an extreme low revolution area where it cannot be judged which of the cylinders each of the pulses generated by the crank shaft sensor corresponds to when the crank shaft sensor generates every reference position detection pulse near a top dead center in a compression stroke of each of the cylinders.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for calibration or monitoring a combustion process in a combustion engine, wherein an injection device injects fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustion engine. A noise-detecting sensor at the engine detects a parameter which derives from the noise generated during the combustion process. A control unit receives signal values representing the parameter from the sensors and receives information on the rotation position of a crankshaft in the combustion engine. The control unit determines the crankshaft position when the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. Thereafter the injection device can be calibrated. Detecting the noise from combustion also makes it possible to assess whether combustion takes place at the intended time.

Abstract: An engine ignition timing control system for outboard motor having a propeller connected to the engine to be rotated and mounted on a boat such that the boat is propelled forward or backward. The engine is equipped with a decompression mechanism and is started by a recoil starter. In the system, at the time of engine starting, the ignition timing is set to a predetermined crank angle until the detected engine speed exceeds a first prescribed engine speed, while it is set to a value obtained by retrieving a table by at least the detected engine speed after the detected engine speed exceeds the first prescribed engine speed. And, the ignition timing is advanced until the detected engine speed is equal to or greater than a second prescribed value and is then returned to the retrieved value. With this, the engine speed can be reliably increased at starting, without need for a throttle opener or air-fuel ratio enrichment, thereby enhancing engine starting performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing engine speed and engine angular position. A tone wheel with a plurality of reference indicators and a position indicator is mounted to a camshaft gear. The reference and position indicators rotate past a Hall Effect sensor which generates a sensor signal suitable for use by a controller for determination of engine speed and engine angular position. Other embodiments do not include a controller.

Abstract: In a method of recognizing the ignition stroke in a single-cylinder four-stroke engine, the position and the angular speed of the crankshaft are determined. The period duration is measured from the top of dead center to a defined angle of rotation of the crankshaft, and the measured period durations of two successive revolutions of the crankshaft are compared. The ignition stroke takes place during the rotation of the crankshaft having the shorter period duration.

Abstract: A detector of position of rotation of a target wheel via the outputs of a differential sensor employing two matched MRs to extract position of rotation information from the target wheel. The target wheel is provided with wide and narrow slots or teeth circumferentially arranged such that, for example, 24 zones are created wherein each zone ranges from the center of a wide slot to the center of a narrow slot, and wherein each zone occupies 15 degrees circumferentially. The two matched MRs of the sensor are powered by matched current sources and matched magnetic biasing and are aligned in the circumferential direction of the target wheel. The MRs generate two angularly offset signals from the passage of a single slot (or tooth) of the target wheel which are input to a signal conditioning circuit. Within the signal conditioning circuit, the two sensor signals are differentially amplified to produce a differential signal whereby the width of the slot is used to encode a binary position pulse.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling knock in an internal combustion engine. The method utilizes an adaptive control scheme to tailor knock thresholds to the current engine operating conditions, as well as to identify the cylinder in which the knocking condition occurred. The method utilizes a modified spark advance to alter the spark timing for the engine cylinders if a knocking condition is detected and a predetermined set of conditions has been met.

Abstract: A position and speed sensor comprising a circular element (1) rotatably driven about its axis. The circular element (1) has two position indicators (3, 4) of different angular width. A sensor means (5) is fixed in position with respect to and adjacent to the circular element (1). The sensor means (5) has a sensing element for sensing the passage of each of the position indicators (3, 4) past the sensing clement. An electrical signal is produced by the sensor means (5) corresponding to the passage of each of the sensed position indicators (3, 4). The signal has a duration corresponding to the angular widths of the sensed position indicators (3, 4). Also included is a means to process the electrical signal to produce information as to the angular position and angular velocity of the circular element. A method for reverse rotation detection using the position and speed sensor means (5) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A geartooth target providing a consistent magnetic signal for each feature type with unambiguously readable features has three unique 30° segments, each segment ending with a falling edge transition, the segments placed to have a unique pattern of segments every 90°.