Abstract: To prevent spurious sparks from arising at a spark plug (6) connected to the secondary (3) of an ignition coil upon sudden current rise through the primary (2) when a switching transistor (4) serially connected with the primary becomes conductive, the primary (2) of the ignition coil is serially connected with another resistor (7) to form one branch of a bridge circuit, the other branch being formed by two resistors (8, 9) connected in parallel with said first branch.The diagonal terminals (11, 11') are connected to a source of reference voltage (Uref), formed for example by a Zener diode (12) and the emitter-base path of a control transistor (13), the collector of which is connected to the base of a driver transistor (14) which is controlled from an ignition control source (i) either to conduction or non-conduction to, in turn and 180.degree. out of phase, control non-conduction and conduction of the switching transistor (4).

Abstract: A method and system for determining optimum ignition times with regard to engine operation in which the engine is commanded, at regular, short-time intervals, to operate under conditions which cause knocking in order to be able to sense the knock limit. This is achieved, following the occurrence of a characteristic operating parameter in conjunction with a knock signal, at a frequency which is preferably significant, by storing an appropriately-corrected ignition-time value in a set of correction data, this ignition-time value lying somewhat beneath the knock limit. If the same characteristic operating parameter recurs, an optimum ignition time is accordingly indicated, which lies slightly beneath the knock limit. This procedure enables the engine to be operated under conditions which are optimum with regard to fuel consumption, without entering the knocking range with excessive frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling operating characteristic quantities of an internal combustion engine. For issuing an uncorrected anticipatory control value, a characteristic field is addressed by directing pregiven operating characteristic quantities as addresses and, with a simultaneously superposed control, an averaged value of the control factor is applied to the anticipatory control region for effecting an adaptive learning procedure. From the averaged control factor, a global factor is defined which works multiplicatively on the entire basic characteristic field. This considers especially multiplicative disturbance influences.

Abstract: An idling speed control system for controlling idling rotational speed of an internal combustion engine. A vacuum-operated actuator having a diaphragm defining a vacuum chamber controls opening and closing of a throttle valve in response to pressures supplied from a change-over control valve to the vacuum chamber. The change-over control valve selectively supplies the vacuum chamber with a first control pressure for opening the throttle valve and a second control pressure for closing same. An electronic control unit generates an on-off control pulse signal having a pulse repetition period corresponding to rotational speed of the engine, one of on-period or off-period of the on-off control pulse signal having a predetermined constant value, and supplies the change-over control valve with the on-off control pulse signal.

Abstract: A lithotripsy probe for stone disintegration, comprising a pair of conductors insulated from one another and extending through the probe. The conductors are surrounded by a thin metal sleeve over a distal length of the probe, and the metal sleeve is provided at one point, which is situated at a distance from the distal extremity of the probe, with at least one gap or perforation in which engages an overlying shrink-on tube to immobilize the sleeve on the two insulated conductors.

Abstract: A method of controlling the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine after starting, wherein an initial value of a fuel increment is set to a value dependent upon a temperature of the engine after starting thereof, the fuel increment is progessively decreased from the set initial value thereof at a predetermined rate, and a fuel quantity corrected by the decreased fuel increment is supplied to the engine. A temperature of the intake system of the engine is sensed. The above predetermined rate of decrease of the fuel increment is set to a larger value as the sensed temperature of the intake system is higher. Preferably, when the sensed temperature of the intake system is higher than a predetermined value corresponding to the boiling point of fuel, the predetermined rate of decrease of the fuel increment is set to a larger value than that to which it is set when the sensed temperature is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine comprising an ignition coil adapted to produce a secondary reversible voltage, two wires commonly branched from the one end of the ignition coil, and two spark plugs connected to the wires. In each of the two wires, there are provided a series gap forming device and a diode. The diodes are arranged in reverse directions relative to each other, so that the secondary high voltage generated in one direction can pass through one of the diodes and the secondary high voltage in the reverse direction can pass through the other diode, whereby a spark is realized at one end of the two spark plugs by a selective application of the primary current.

Abstract: A throttle valve control apparatus with two electronically-controlled actuators is disclosed. A first electronically-controlled actuator has a first drive motor which opens and closes the throttle valve through gears. A second electronically-controlled actuator has a second drive motor which opens and closes the throttle valve by rotating the first drive motor about the axis of the shaft of the throttle valve. The throttle valve can be independently rotated by either of the actuators. A controller computes the optimal degree of opening of the throttle valve based on the operating state of the engine of the vehicle, the running condition of the vehicle, and the amount by which the accelerator pedal is depressed. The controller then controls the actuators so as to open the throttle valve by the optimal degree of opening.

Abstract: A fuel control apparatus comprises a hot-wire type intake air quantity sensor disposed in an air intake passage for an internal combustion engine to detect the quantity of air passing therethrough, a fuel control valve placed in the air intake passage and injecting fuel, a burning-off section for heating a hot wire at a temperature higher than a temperature in a normal operation, after the engine has been stopped, so as to burn off a deposit on the hot wire, wherein the operation of an injector is stopped by detecting an output of the sensor for a predetermined time to thereby prevent undesired firing of the fuel.

Abstract: A mixture control for an internal combustion engine with a lambda probe and with a memory device containing nominal values for the fuel supply dependent on operational values of the engine, as load, rotational speed and temperature. The mixture control renders it possible to optimize the consumption and/or emission, under consideration of the operating conditions, in the entire moving range of an internal combustion engine. The memory device comprises address positions selectable by the operating values of the internal combustion engine and also by the actual lambda value, and stores nominal values for the fuel supply in the form of a map for a characteristic field. The probe voltage and the internal resistance of the lambda probe are determined.

Abstract: A fuel supply system of a type for use with an internal combustion engine employs a valve assembly and a circuit for controlling the valve assembly to supply fuel to the engine at a greater or lesser rate respectively in response either to initial closure of an ignition switch when the engine is cold, according to one mode of operation, and in response to acceleration of the engine, according to another mode of operation. The fuel supply system serves to include means for preheating or vaporizing the fuel supplied to the engine.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a carburetor fuel system wherein an amount of air bleeding is mixed with the fuel by a feedback control for adjusting an air-fuel ratio, the amount of air bleeding is regulated within a range defined by a minimum guard value and a maximum guard value, the maximum guard value is adjusted to a smaller value than the maximum guard value, and the feedback control is not interrupted when the engine is cold, the engine is in an acceleration state, and the air fuel ratio is lean.

Abstract: An intake device for an internal combustion engine, in which the intake port is formed to a specific shape without using a partition plate, provided with a valve at its inlet, and the flow direction of intake air to the combustion chambers can be varied by controlling the opening of the valve, thereby providing easy manufacture and reduced cost of the intake port and improved performance when the engine is heavily loaded.

Abstract: A system for stroke identification of an internal combustion engine, comprising first sensor means for detecting given angles of a drive shaft; second sensor means for detecting given angles of a distributor shaft; third processing means for receiving signals from the first and second sensor means and for identifying the strokes on the engine; and on which the aforementioned second sensor means comprise a single sensor element.

Abstract: Compensation of an output from an oxygen concentration sensor of an air/fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is executed during engine warm-up, to correct for an erroneous component in the oxygen concentration sensor output data caused by incomplete combustion during warm-up. The degree of compensation applied is determined by the engine operating temperature, as represented by the cooling water temperature. Excessive richness of the air/fuel ratio of the mixture supplied to the engine during warm-up is thereby eliminated.

Abstract: A learning and control apparatus for an electronically controlled internal combustion engine having such an object to be controlled as a fuel injection valve for controlling the air-fuel ratio in an air-fuel mixture or an idle speed control valve for controlling the idle rotation number of the engine wherein a pulse duty signal corresponding to a basic control value is set according to engine driving states. The basic control value is corrected by adding an appropriate correction value to the basic control value. Feedback control is carried out so that the actual controlled value is made to follow the aimed control value, and a learning correction quantity is computed by learning said feedback control so that the feedback control amount is set as small as possible.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes, selectively, a first signal formed in a first section of an ignition period composed of the first section and a second section with a predetermined ratio or a second signal formed in the second section according to a ratio of a time in which a current is supplied to an ignition coil to the ignition time period to obtain a start time of current supply to the coil means.

Abstract: A non-linear position transducer for detecting the position of a valve controlling the rate of flow of air inducted to the cylinders of a heat engine comprising a first means for detecting the position of this valve, and second means coupled to the first means and operable to provide an electrical output signal in non-linear relationship with the position of the valve, and in which these second means comprise an electrical circuit having only passive components.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for generating start of combustion signals associated with the combustion events in a diesel engine (10), and for using such signals to control the timing of fuel delivery to the engine. The combustion event is sensed, as by an electrostatic (230, 330) or optical (130, 430) sensor, and signal conditioning circuitry (32) provides a start-of-combustion (SOC) signal (34) which is directly and precisely indicative of the time of the onset of combustion. The sensors (130, 230) include self-cleaning capabilities (48, 248) for extended operating life on an engine. The sensors may be incorporated in the structure of a glow plug (330, 430). The SOC signal (34) is advantageously supplied to a timing control circuit (26) which delivers a timing control signal (28) to a fuel delivery device, such as the controller (16') associated with a fuel pump (16).

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio of a gas mixture supplied to a vehicle engine is changed according to predetermined operating conditions. A throttle valve arranged in an intake passage to adjust an intake amount is electromagnetically controlled. If the air-fuel ratio is changed, the throttle opening characteristic for the accelerator position is changed, thereby preventing variations in engine output even if the air-fuel ratio is changed.