Abstract: In a misfire detector for use in an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil, an electrical interrupter circuit interrupts a primary current flowing through a primary circuit of the ignition coil by which a spark plug is energized. A voltage divider circuit detects a divided voltage of a spark plug voltage applied across the spark plug. A spark plug voltage detector circuit is provided to detect an attenuation characteristic of a spark plug voltage waveform presented subsequent to a time period predetermined either during a spark action of the spark plug or after an end of the spark action of the spark plug. A peak hold circuit is provided to hold a peak voltage of the spark plug voltage waveform presented after the end of the spark action of the spark plug, so that a distinction circuit determines a misfire on the basis of a peak voltage level or the attenuation characteristics of the spark plug voltage waveform.

Abstract: In a burning condition detecting device in an internal combustion engine in which a high voltage is applied to a spark plug by way of a diode and a series gap of a distributor. A voltage charger circuit is provided to on-off actuates the primary coil to induce a charging voltage in the secondary circuit either during establishing the spark discharge or during a predetermined period of time immediately after an end of the spark discharge. The charging voltage is applied to the spark plug to electrically charge a stray capacity inherent in the spark plug so as to form a sparkplug voltage. A voltage divider circuit is provided to divide the sparkplug voltage in accordance with a high impedance element and a low impedance element. A voltage level detecting circuit is provided to detect a sparkplug voltage waveform divided by the voltage divider circuit.

Abstract: A control system has a controlled element, such as an element for sensing an air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine, having a high order lag, a controller element connected with the controlled element to form a closed path, and a third element connected with the controlled element and controller element for modifying an output signal of the controlled element in accordance with an output signal of the controller element so that a phase angle in a frequency response of a loop transfer function of the controlled and controller elements does not reach -180.degree..

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for controlling air-fuel ratio of a combustion mixture fed to an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, the oxygen sensor exhibiting a sudden characteristic change when exposed to an exhaust gas produced by a combustible mixture of stoichiometic air-fuel ratio, the oxygen sensor issuing a signal representative of the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas; first means for substantially linearizing the signal to produce a semi-linearized signal; and second means for controlling the amount of fuel fed to the engine in accordance with the semi-linearized signal.