Patents Examined by Raymond A. Neill
  • Patent number: 4976240
    Abstract: An engine ignition system comprising a signal coil for generating a first reference signal at an advanced angle and a second reference signal at a start position in synchronization with the rotation of an engine, a throttle sensor for detecting a throttle opening degree and a first ignition timing calculation circuit for calculating an ignition timing corresponding to an output signal from the throttle sensor in accordance with the first reference signal when the ignition timing is advanced from a predetermined ignition timing. The ignition timing system further comprises a second ignition timing calculation circuit for calculating an ignition timing corresponding to an output signal from the throttle sensor in accordance with the second reference signal when the ignition timing is retarded from a predetermined ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 4971011
    Abstract: In order to compensate for the effect of a by-pass passage which by-passes air about the engine throttle valve when a predetermined vacuum prevails downstream thereof, or the delay in air flow within the induction system in response to the demand for engine power, a target torque value is derived based on the engine speed and the accelerator pedal depression amount and this value is used in connection with one or both of the fuel supply and the air flow control. In some embodiments two basic injection pulses are developed and one is selected to suit the instant induction conditions. In other embodiments, selectively delayed target torque values are used to individually modify the throttle valve control and injection fuel supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Nanyoshi, Hideo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4964377
    Abstract: In a first operative mode, the control unit first causes energy to be stored by the inductor and then connects the inductor to the capacitor so as to form a resonance circuit whose energy is discharged into the primary winding of the coil in order to generate a spark. In a second operative mode, the unit causes a plurality of cycles to be effected to charge the capacitor so as to increase the voltage across its terminals at each cycle and the capacitor is then discharged into the primary winding of the ignition coil in order to generate the spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Marelli Autronica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Michele Scarnera
  • Patent number: 4924837
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine wherein an oxygen sensor for detecting a limit electric current is employed for providing a signal indicating an oxygen partial pressure in the gas introduced into the engine. The sensor detects an amount of air newly introduced into the engine. In addition to a map for calculating a basic fuel injection amount from the oxygen partial pressure, a second map is provided for calculating the basic fuel amount from a parameter such as a degree of opening of the throttle valve. A degree of activation of the oxygen sensor is determined by detecting the impedance of the sensor. When it is determined that the oxygen sensor is not activated, the second map is employed in place of the first map to calculate the basic fuel amount based on the degree of opening of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiki Chujo, Keiji Aoki, Yoshihiko Hyodo, Toshiyasu Katsuno
  • Patent number: 4913099
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling fuel delivery to an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having an individual fuel injector. The apparatus comprises a sensor sensitive to an alcohol concentration of the fuel to be delivered to the engine for producing an alcohol concentration signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration. The apparatus also includes a control unit responsive to the alcohol concentration signal for controlling the duration of fuel injection from each of the fuel injectors to the corresponding cylinder. The control unit calculates a first time at which fuel injection to the corresponding cylinder is terminated and a second time at which fuel injection to the corresponding cylinder is initiated to ensure that the fuel injection will be terminated at the first time. The first time is varied according to the alcohol concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadaki Ota
  • Patent number: 4907553
    Abstract: A cable attachment assembly for coupling and uncoupling a cable to a throttle control system partially encased within a housing. The housing includes an opening aligned with a cable drum and a protrusion adjacent the opening. A cable cover assembly includes an integrally formed collar having a resilient member formed thereon with a first flap at its end. A second flap is integrally formed on the collar adjacent the first flap. During rotation in an assembly process, the resilient member is compressed as the first flap rotates along the protrusion. As the first flap passes the protrusion, the resilient member is outwardly deflected thereby locking the protrusion between the first and second flaps and, accordingly, locking the cable cover assembly to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: David L. Porter
  • Patent number: 4901699
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel injection quantity for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which upon start of the engine acceleration, a quantity corresponding to an air quantity sucked into an engine cylinder (for example, a pressure in an intake air passage downstream of a throttle valve) is detected, an indicated mean effective pressure (P.sub.i) is detected, gains and phases of both detected values are matched with each other, respectively, so that an expected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived from the detected value of the air quantity corresponding quantity, a deviation between the expected value and detected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived, a correction quantity for a basic injection quantity at the time of an acceleration of a vehicle through the engine is derived on the basis of the deviation, and a fuel injection quantity outputted from a fuel injection valve is determined on the basis of the corrected fuel injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiromichi Miwa, Masaaki Uchida, Yoshihisa Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4892080
    Abstract: A high-energy ignition system for an internal combustion engine in which both magnetic and electrical energy stored in an energy storage coil and in a capacitor are supplied to the primary winding of an ignition coil at a predetermined timing. When a first or second switching device is turned off, the capacitor is charged with the energy stored in advance in the energy storage coil, and upon subsequent turning on of the first switching device, energy is stored in the energy storage coil from a DC power supply. At substantially the same time as the turning off of the first switching device at an ignition timing, the second switching device is turned on to supply the primary winding with the energy stored in the energy storage coil and the capacitor. Alternatively, the capacitor is charged with the energy stored in advance in the energy storage coil through the primary winding of the ignition coil and a charging diode at the time of turning off of the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Morino, Satoru Kawamoto, Yoshihiro Yoshitani, Toshio Sugimoto, Toshio Nariki
  • Patent number: 4858586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for igniting engines of automobiles and the like, and more particularly for igniting the engines by applying the same secondary high voltage polarity to all of the spark plugs under each of both compression and exhaust strokes in the case of the so-called simultaneous ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Hiroyuki Hoshino
    Inventor: Seizo Kanno
  • Patent number: 4848299
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for an internal combustion engine, in which a basic ignition timing angle determined according to an engine operating condition is corrected according to an MBT (Minimum Spark Angle for Best Torque) correction quantity within a range of a predetermined limited value set for the MBT correction quantity, and the ignition timing angle is corrected within the predetermined limit range on the basis of one of knock correction quantity (calculated for suppressing the knock correction quantity to fall in a predetermined level) and the MBT correction quantity (calculated for correcting the instantaneous ignition timing angle so that a maximum internal cylinder pressure coincides with a target angular position at which a magnitude of engine output torque becomes maximum) which is placed at a more retardation angle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Satoh, Toshimi Abo
  • Patent number: 4849866
    Abstract: A rainbow creating device comprises optical conductors through which light rays consisting of visible light ray components are transmitted. A lens is placed opposite the respective light-emitting ends of the optical conductors for converting the light rays emitted from them to parallel light rays. Prisms are placed for receiving the parallel light rays from the lens and for effecting the spectroscopic separation of the parallel light rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: Kei Mori
  • Patent number: 4833578
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed for generating multiple light beams from a single light source. The system includes reflectors disposed adjacent to the optical axis of the light source to capture and reflect all the light in a space efficient manner. One of the beams may be collimated for spot lighting while the others may be wide-angled. Alternatively all the beams may be collimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Rayovac Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Schaller, Judy D. Pyle
  • Patent number: 4426980
    Abstract: A device is proposed for drift compensation in fuel metering systems, in which it is not the metered quantity as such which is controlled in closed-loop fashion, but rather only the position of a quantity-determining member. The object of the invention is to maintain or re-obtain the original association between the fuel quantity and the position signal of the quantity-determining member for the purpose of providing a correct indication of the load state existing at a particular time. The drift compensation is intended to be capable of being performed manually, semi-automatically, or automatically, in an additive and/or multiplicative manner. It can furthermore be realized via a preferably rpm-dependent characteristic curve. The various values may be ascertained, for instance, in connection with running-out and running-up tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Eisele, Gerhard Stumpp, Wolf Wessel, Ulrich Flaig, Fridolin Piwonka