Abstract: Variations in the speed of an internal combustion engine are measured and the distribution of the variations is analyzed for asymmetry, which indicates engine misfire. A threshold is generated as a function of engine speed increases and compared with engine speed decreases to detect asymmetry in the distribution.

Abstract: There is provided an anodizable aluminum substrate having an increased breakdown voltage. The increase in breakdown voltage is achieved by selecting an appropriate aluminum alloy and appropriate processing parameters. Sealing the anodic film increases the breakdown voltage by decreasing corrosion. A preferred sealant is an epoxy cresol novolac having a low room temperature viscosity that cures to a highly cross-linked polymer.

Abstract: There is disclosed an adhesively sealed electronic package in which a compensation apparatus is provided for excess adhesive. As a result, excess adhesive does not extend beyond the package perimeter, squeeze-out, or travel along the inner lead fingers interfering with wire bonding. The compensation is a chamfer on the peripheral edges and/or interior edges of the package base component and cover component.

Abstract: In order to detect misfire in an internal combustion engine, engine speed is determined by measuring the time of passage of a crankshaft disc from a first position to a second position during every revolution. A detection circuit takes the reciprocal of the measured times of passage to form a series of engine speeds and forms the difference between consecutive engine speeds. These differences are compared with a threshold to signal a misfire when the threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A rotary stacker and method wherein a stream of web units such as napkins is advanced along a longitudinally extending path in longitudinally spaced relation toward and over a magazine, each napkin being pressed into the magazine by cams applying pressure at a plurality of longitudinally spaced areas over the magazine and orienting the cams so as to remove the pressure on the upstream cam just prior to the entry of the leading edge of a unit subsequent to the one being pressed and while maintaining the pressure on the previously pressed unit by the downstream cams.

Abstract: An adaptive control system for an internal combustion engine has a mixture control device and an ignition timing control device. Combustion performance, such as engine roughness is measured and mixture varied about a base value to achieve a desired performance. Ignition timing is compensated for the mixture variation by perturbing ignition timing about a base valve, detecting the slope of engine output with respect to ignition timing and varying the timing to achieve a desired slope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having two inputs and one output affected by both inputs. One input is perturbed and the effect on the output is compared with a desired effect on the output. One or the other input is varied until the actual affect on the output is the same as the desired effect on output. In one embodiment, ignition timing is periodically varied and the effect upon engine speed is detected. The detected output variations (slope) are compared with predetermined output variations for the existing engine speed and load demand. Any error is used to correct fueling to the engine. Preferred embodiments include unique slop determination as well as a unique interpolation method of determining the engine input from a fixed schedule. In a further embodiment the error corrects the ignition timing directly and corrects fueling indirectly at a slower rate.

Abstract: An engine control and combustion quality detection system and method are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least one control input such as spark advance angle or air/fuel ratio. A base value is established for the control input and the control input is periodically perturbed about the base value. A sensor senses an engine parameter such as knock or engine roughness representing the combustion quality of the engine and provides an output representing this engine parameter. A slope calculation device receives the output from the sensor when the control input is being perturbed about the base value and determines the slope or differential of the output from the sensor to determine the engine parameter as a function of the control input, thereby to provide an indication of combustion quality of the engine.

Abstract: An adaptive control system and method is provided for a power producing engine having at least one control parameter which affects an engine output, where the engine has a drivetrain combination having at least one resonant frequency. A base value is established for one control parameter in accordance with engine operating conditions. The one control parameter is preferably perturbed about the base value in accordance with a perturbation waveform having a frequency greater than the at least one resonant frequency of the drivetrain. The perturbation waveform has a cycle including a first part and a second part. A positive perturbation is applied to the perturbed parameter during the first part of each cycle and a negative perturbation is applied to the perturbed parameter during the second part of each cycle. The engine output is monitored and the slope of the engine output is calculated with respect to at least one control parameter for the engine so as to obtain a desired value of the slope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having two inputs and one output affected by both inputs. One input is perturbed and the effect on the output is compared with a desired effect on the output. The other input is varied until the actual affect on the output is the same as the desired effect on output. In one embodiment, ignition timing is periodically varied and the effect upon engine speed is detected. The detected output variations are compared with predetermined output variations for the existing engine speed and load demand. Any error is used to correct fueling to the engine. In a further embodiment the error corrects the ignition timing directly and corrects fueling indirectly at a slower rate. Further embodiments control air/fuel ratio, engine roughness, exhaust gas recirculation, for individual cylinders or groups of cylinders or the engine as a whole, depending upon the change in engine output in response to the variation in engine input.

Abstract: An ignition system with an ignition coil employs a power amplifier driven by a microprocessor for starting and interrupting coil current, in accordance with signals from an engine driven transducer. The power amplifier includes a current limiter, but this does not usually come into operation. Instead, the actual current flowing just before the instant of spark in each engine cycle is measured and the on time of the power amplifier is adjusted for the next cycle to cause the final current to approach a desired value less than the current limit value.