Abstract: A combined starter motor and alternator for a vehicular engine system can be positioned for direct coupling to an engine power shaft between the engine and transmisson. A pair of axially offset magnetically permeable disks are bolted to the power shaft. These disks form an annular channel therebetween. A plurality of rare earth permanent magnets are mounted on the inside face of one of the disks in the channel. Positioned within the channel is a stationary, ironless stator assembly having stranded conductive wire windings embedded in an insulation matrix. These windings alternatively pass from the perimeter of the disk towards the interior of the disk as each winding forms a single pass around a longitudinal axis of the power shaft. In a starter mode of operation, a polarity sensor, such as a Hall-effect switch mounted adjacent each stator phase winding, is used to control the driver switches of a conventional H-type arrangement for providing drive current to a starter motor stator coil.

Abstract: A dual purpose alternator starter for an automotive vehicle designed to be positioned between the engine and transmission. In place of the ring gear in a conventional drive train assembly, a pair of off set magnetically permeable discs are bolted to the power shaft. These discs form an annular channel between them. A plurality of rare earth permanent magnets are mounted on the inside face of one of the discs in the channel. On the opposite side of this disc, a set of ring shaped switch contact members are mounted. Positioned stationary to the engine and within the channel is a stationary ironless stator assembly having flat copper windings embedded in an insulation matrix. These windings alternately pass from the perimeter of the disc towards the interior of the disc as each winding forms a single pass around the ring shaped disc.

Abstract: A pressure transducer comprises a series-connected helical coil spring and bellows assembled into the bore of a housing by anchoring the spring and bellows at locations which place them in a state of tension. Expansion and contraction of the bellows reacts against the spring and correspondingly positions a ferrite slug within an inductance coil to cause the inductance thereof to be a function of the pressure differential acting on the bellows. One end of the coil spring is threaded onto a threaded fitting secured to one end of the bellows, and slope calibration of the transducer is accomplished by setting the amount of engagement of the spring with the threaded fitting. Offset calibration can be performed by either of two disclosed techniques, and the offset and slope calibrations can be independently made.

Abstract: A pick-up provides a square wave signal whose period corresponds to 720.degree. /N where N is the number of engine cylinders for a four stroke, two cycle internal combustion engine. An integrator is reset by both positive-going and negative-going edges of said square wave signal to produce a sawtooth waveform having a period equal to 360.degree. /N. A blanking circuit which is coupled with the pick-up blanks the sawtooth waveform of said integrator during alternate half cycles of the square wave. The blanked sawtooth waveform is supplied to one input of a comparator and a desired timing signal to the other input of said comparator. The comparator provides an engine timing signal when a predetermined relationship between the blanked sawtooth signal and the desired timing signal is attained. In this way, the engine timing signal is given once per cycle of said blanked sawtooth waveform with the timing thereof relative to said square wave being determined by the desired timing signal.

Abstract: A housing containing a pair of electronic circuit boards removably mounts on the side of an engine air filter housing. The circuit board housing has a generally concave inner face matching the convex contour of the air filter housing side wall and is disposed over air circulation openings in the air filter housing side wall. In a first embodiment, the circuit board housing is of one-piece construction and the electronic circuit boards are disposed interiorly of the outer wall of the circuit board housing and in generally parallel relationship therewith. In a second embodiment, the circuit board housing is of two-piece construction having upper and lower halves. In this embodiment, the circuit boards are horizontally disposed, one each in each of the two housing halves. Connectors for effecting connection of the circuit boards with the other components of the system which are located exteriorly of the air cleaner housing extend through holes in the circuit board housing.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises a distributor containing a pair of magnetic pick-up devices each of which generates signals at a frequency representative of engine speed. One pick-up is used normally during starting of the engine to fire the engine spark plugs, and the other pick-up during running. An automatic transfer circuit is provided to transfer control from the first, or start, pick-up to the second, or run, pick-up when the engine begins to run under its own power and accelerate from cranking speed. Should a condition occur indicative of a lack of signals from the run pick-up above a predetermined minimum frequency, the transfer circuit transfers control of ignition firing back to the start pick-up.

Abstract: A single pick-up coupled to sense engine crankshaft position can be utilized for both starting and running of the engine in an electronic spark timing advance control system. During starting, pulses from the pick-up are coupled via a zero crossing detector to the output ignition stage to cause spark plug firing at an essentially constant firing angle at or just slightly in advance of piston top dead center position. During running, the pulses from the pick-up reset, via a reset circuit, an integrator circuit so that a sawtooth waveform representative of engine crankshaft rotational position is developed. A desired timing signal derived from one or more parameters useful in controlling the time of ignition firing is compared against the sawtooth reference waveform and when a predetermined relationship between the two is attained, the ignition is fired. Should this predetermined relationship not be attained during a cycle of the sawtooth, the reset signal from the reset circuit forces ignition firing.

Abstract: A housing containing a pair of electronic circuit boards removably mounts on the side of an engine air filter housing. The circuit board housing has a generally concave inner face matching the convex contour of the air filter housing side wall and is disposed over air circulation openings in the air filter housing side wall. In a first embodiment, the circuit board housing is of one-piece construction and the electronic circuit boards are disposed interiorly of the outer wall of the circuit board housing and in generally parallel relationship therewith. In a second embodiment, the circuit board housing is of two-piece construction having upper and lower halves. In this embodiment, the circuit boards are horizontally disposed, one each in each of the two housing halves. Connectors for effecting connection of the circuit boards with the other components of the system which are located exteriorly of the air cleaner housing extend through holes in the circuit board housing.