Abstract: A hybrid electronic control unit for regulating the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit is divided into two functionally distinct parts including an analog function generator and a digital function generator. The analog function generator receives analog signals to process efficiently by analog scaling, amplification, multiplication, and division while the digital function generator receives digital and logic inputs to process efficiently by addition, subtraction, and comparison. The analog function generator interfaces with the digital function generator by an analog signal from a D/A converter and other unconverted digital output signals from the digital function generator. Preferably, the analog function generator provides an open loop air/fuel ratio calibration based upon a speed density calculation including special condition corrections to the base calibration.

Abstract: A compensation technique and network circuitry for a quad-diode demodulator and capacitive transducer combination is disclosed. The compensation method includes varying the amplitude of an alternating carrier frequency oppositely to the changes produced in that amplitude by the compensable errors in the demodulator and transducer. In one preferred embodiment ratiometric compensation and temperature compensation for the demodulator and any capacitive transducer is produced. In a second embodiment linearization and temperature compensation for the demodulator and a quartz capacitive transducer is provided.

Abstract: A warning circuit generates warning signals in response to a blown fuse in a vehicle brake system which includes primary and ignition-switch controlled. The back-up pump is driven by an electric motor. Control circuitry monitors and controls the brake system and the fuse protects the control circuitry from ground fault conditions. The warning circuit includes a warning lamp which is connected to the battery via the ignition switch and which is grounded through a transistor switch. The transistor switch is resistively coupled to ground and to the vehicle battery through the fuse so that the transistor switch becomes conducting to actuate the lamp upon the blowing of the fuse. Alternatively, a similar transistor switch may be connected to the output of an astable multivibrator, which in turn is connected to the battery via the fuse and whose output is inhibited unless the fuse blows while the ignition switch is closed.

Abstract: A warning circuit which generates signals in response to selected conditions of a vehicle hydraulic brake system. The brake system includes an engine-driven main source of hydraulic pressure, a relay-actuated auxiliary source of hydraulic pressure, a flow sensor for sensing the operation of the main source and a brake switch for coupling the auxiliary source with the battery in response to an operator brake application. The warning circuit includes a first transistor switch coupled with a warning lamp, with the ignition switch and with the auxiliary source. A second transistor switch is coupled to the ignition switch, to the auxiliary relay, to the flow sensor and to the first transistor switch. A third transistor switch is coupled to the ignition swtich, to the flow sensor and to the first transistor switch. The system actuates the auxiliary source upon failure of the main source during an operator brake application.

Abstract: An actuation timing apparatus is disclosed for providing triggering and steering control signals to an electronic control unit regulating a plurality of solenoid fuel injectors of a sequential injection system. The apparatus includes a rotatable member which is rotated in synchronism with the engine at the speed of its camshaft. The rotatable member has a plurality of spaced sensible elements geometrically disposed thereon and divided into groups identifying individual cylinders. Each group has at least one sensible element which defines a reference element having a recognizable characteristic distinguishing it from the other sensible elements in the group. A single sensor senses the spaced sensible elements of each group as they rotate past a fixed sensing location and generates corresponding electrical pulses to a pulse processing circuit. The pulse processing circuit decodes each group of pulses to provide the identity of the injector to be next actuated.

Abstract: An air fuel ratio management system having a calibration correction for the pressure differentials between the exhaust and intake manifolds of the engine is disclosed. The differential calibration corrects the air/fuel ratio of the system for the variable internal exhaust gas recirculation occasioned by changing restrictions to flow found in the intake and exhaust manifolds. In one implementation a differential pressure sensor communicates with both the intake and exhaust manifolds to develop a differential pressure signal. The differential pressure signal is thereafter applied to a function circuit which generates a pressure correction signal. An electronic control unit receives the pressure correction signal and utilizes it to modify the air/fuel ratio calibration according to the functional conversion. In the preferred embodiment the function circuit comprises a voltage controlled linear current source.

Abstract: An acceleration enrichment feature for an electronic fuel injection system is disclosed. The enrichment feature includes an operating parameter enrichment circuit which provides an acceleration signal proportional to the rate of change of an engine operating parameter that is indicative of a desired acceleration. The acceleration signal is combined with an off-closed throttle enrichment signal and the combination is transmitted to a peak detect and decay circuit which produces a control voltage signal equivalent to the peak of the two signals. The control voltage signal from the peak detect and decay circuit is used to regulate a voltage controlled current sink generating an acceleration enrichment signal which varies the termination threshold of the main pulse generation. Additionally included is a warm-up multiplier circuit which varies the acceleration enrichment signal as a function of the engine coolant temperature.

Abstract: A warning circuit generates warning signals in response to conditions of a vehicle brake system which includes main and back-up brake fluid pumps. The main pump is engine-driven and ignition-switch controlled. The back-up pump is relay actuated and battery powered. A sensor switch opens upon operation of the main pump and a brake switch closes during an operator brake application. The warning circuit includes a first OR gate with inputs coupled to the ignition and brake switches. The output of the first OR gate is coupled to the relay and to a first warning lamp. The output of the first OR gate is capacitively coupled to the set input of a set-reset flip-flop and is coupled to the reset input of the flip-flop. The reset input is also coupled to a terminal of the back-up source. The Q output of the flip-flop is coupled to an input of a second OR gate through an inverter.

Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit for the output of a magnetic position sensor is disclosed. The magnetic sensor generates a total output signal that increases as a function of the rotational velocity of the sensor with a spurious noise component that is a relatively constant percentage of the actual signal voltage over the speed range. In a preferred embodiment, the signal conditioning circuit discriminates between the noise component and the signal component by comparing the total signal to a variable threshold only after a positive going zero cross. The variable threshold is generated as a function of the peak amplitude of the total signal. In a second embodiment the signal conditioning circuit includes gain control means which varies the amplitude of the total output signal as a function of its peak to maintain the threshold above the noise component.

Abstract: A high flow rate electromagnetic injector valve with a rapid response time and a method for calibrating such injector is disclosed for utilization in a single point fuel injection system. Centrally bored end caps are fixed at the front and rear ends of a tubular injector body and a coil wound on a bobbin is disposed inside the body chamber between the end caps. The front end cap receives within its bore a valve assembly including a valve housing and a needle valve with attached armature reciprocally movable against a valve seat to obturate a metering orifice in the valve housing. The valve housing contains fuel inlets for the pressurized entry of fuel into the injector and the needle valve is ported to provide fluid communication to the armature to relieve pressure build-up.

Abstract: An electronic injection carburetor is disclosed. Fuel under pressure is quantized for primary metering by an electronic fuel injector and input to a metered fuel chamber. The quantization occurs by controlling the duration of the opening time of the injector by an electronic control unit responsive to speed and manifold absolute pressure information. Secondary metering is provided as a function of the mass air flow through the throat of the carburetor by an actuator assembly controlling fuel input to the carburetor from the metered chamber. The actuator provides the secondary metering by changing the bias pressure on a flexible diaphragm producing a closure force on a needle valve that varies the flow of fuel from the metered chamber to an atomizing discharge nozzle in the throat of the carburetor.

Abstract: A closed loop fuel management system is disclosed in which an improved dual integral controller provides both transient and gross correction for an electronic fuel injection system operating at a predetermined air/fuel ratio. The controller has cascaded dual integrators including a primary integrator with a relatively fast integration rate utilized for transient control and a secondary integrator with a relatively slow integration rate utilized for gross control such as ageing effects and altitude compensation. The controller responds to several engine operating conditions and to rich fuel power demands to switch from closed loop to open loop control while maintaining the gross system correction provided by the operating point of the secondary integrator.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for regulating the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit has an open loop calibration for regulating air/fuel ratio that is corrected with a closed loop correction signal developed by an integral controller. The open loop calibration is a speed-density based schedule which is combined with corrections for special conditions to account for the operating parameters of the engine at any instant. Included in these special condition corrections are provision for start and warm-up features. The start feature includes an enrichment pulse generator whose pulses have a duration dependent upon the engine operating temperature and speed which are inhibited while the engine is above a predetermined RPM. The warm-up feature includes a time and temperature dependent enrichment which is linearly multiplied by an engine load factor.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for regulating the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit has an open loop calibration for regulating air/fuel ratio that is corrected with a closed loop correction signal developed by an integral controller. The open loop calibration is a speed-density based schedule which is combined with corrections for special conditions to account for the operating parameters of the engine at any instant. Included in these special condition corrections are provision for start and warm-up features. The start feature includes an enrichment pulse generator whose pulses have a duration dependent upon the engine operating temperature and speed which are inhibited while the engine is above a predetermined RPM. The warm-up feature includes a time and temperature dependent enrichment which is linearly multiplied by an engine load factor.

Abstract: A closed loop system for the control of the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes an open loop air/fuel ratio controller that has a closed loop correction applied to its basic pulse width control signal. The closed loop correction is based upon the bi-level switching of an oxygen sensor detecting a substantially stoichiometric condition in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. Performing the correction is an integral controller which responds to the switching of the exhaust gas sensor to increase the air/fuel ratio for one level of the sensor and to decrease the air/fuel ratio for the other level. The limit cycle oscillation developed by the integral controller is modified by increasing the authority and gain rate of the controller as a function of the distance the system is away from a reference point so that it responds to transient conditions rapidly and smoothly.

Abstract: A compensated dual injector driver circuit for controlling the current to either of a pair of electromagnetic solenoid fuel injectors is disclosed. The driver circuit includes a pair of analog bilateral switches operably connected to the control terminals of two driver transistors whose power terminals are coupled serially with the coils of the injector solenoids. A driver amplifier generating a current control signal for the driver transistors is connected to a common input of the two switches. Either of the switches is selected for closure by a logical input from a select line thereby choosing the individual injector to be energized. The driver amplifier in response to the leading edge of a control pulse regulates the conductance of the selected transistor with the current control signal to initially draw current through the injector coil until it reaches a peak value. At the time the peak current is attained, the driver amplifier then switches the control current to a holding value.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated fuel injection valve and its utilization in a dual plane, single point fuel injection system are disclosed. The single point injection system includes a throttle body having an air induction bore controlled by a throttle assembly for each plane of the internal combustion engine manifold. An integrally formed fuel injector jacket mounts an injector valve above the throttle blade and concentrically with each bore of the throttle body without a hard fuel connection to the valve. The injection valve includes a movable valve needle attached to the armature of an electromagnetic solenoid. The needle seats between an inlet orifice and a metering orifice of a valve housing which is inserted into the accumulation chamber defined by the inner wall of the injector jacket. A flexible or soft connection is maintained between the valve housing and injector jacket to seal the accumulator chamber and to provide for quickly mounting or removing the valve from the system.

Abstract: An inductive load driver circuit comprising first and second switch means and high and low impedance load current decay means. For the duration of a load actuation signal the first switch means are responsive to the magnitude of the load current to complete and interrupt a first current path to the load to cycle the load current between first and second levels. The second switch means are enabled for the duration of the load actuation signal to complete a second current path to the load when the first switch means interrupts the first current path. When completed the second current path comprises the low impedance decay means allowing the load current to decay slowly from the first current level to the second level to provide during such slow decay a load current sufficient to maintain actuation of the inductive load.

Abstract: A high flow rate electromagnetic injector valve with a rapid response time is disclosed for utilization in a single point fuel injection system. Centrally bored end caps are fixed at the front and rear ends of a tubular injector body and a coil wound on a bobbin is disposed inside the body chamber between the end caps. The front end cap receives within its bore a valve assembly including a valve housing and a needle valve with attached armature reciprocally movable against a valve seat to obturate a metering orifice in the valve housing. The valve housing contains fuel inlets for the pressurized entry of fuel into the injector and the needle valve is ported to provide fluid communication to the armature to relieve pressure build-up. The rear end cap mounts within its bore a core member acting as a stator which extends through a central bobbin bore to form a controllable air gap adjacent the armature: the core member further contains internally an adjustment screw and ball member.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated fuel injection valve and its utilization in a dual plane, single point fuel injection system are disclosed. The single point injection system includes a throttle body having an air induction bore controlled by a throttle assembly for each plane of the internal combustion engine manifold. An integrally formed fuel injector jacket mounts an injector valve above the throttle blade and concentrically with each bore of the throttle body without a hard fuel connection to the valve. The injection valve includes a movable valve needle attached to the armature of an electromagnetic solenoid. The needle seats between an inlet orifice and a metering orifice of a valve housing which is inserted into the accumulation chamber defined by the inner wall of the injector jacket. A flexible or soft connection is maintained between the valve housing and injector jacket to seal the accumulator chamber and to provide for quickly mounting or removing the valve from the system.