Abstract: A sensing apparatus includes two or more sensor arrangements, a housing which is configured to house the two or more sensor arrangements, a first sensor arrangement which is configured to sense a first property, a second sensor arrangement which is configured to sense a second property, and an output arrangement which is configured to provide an output signal from the sensing apparatus in dependence upon an output of the first sensor arrangement and an output of the second sensor arrangement, the first property is different from the second property, and the sensing arrangement is configured to provide a combined signal output by way of the output arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring a high voltage electrical system in a vehicle. An interface circuit is configured to provide isolation between a high voltage component of the vehicle and a control module. The interface circuit comprises a high voltage constant current source, a voltage threshold detector and an electrical isolation circuit. The high voltage constant current source is configured to receive an input at a first voltage from the high voltage component. The voltage threshold detector is configured to receive an output from the high voltage constant current source and to output a signal to indicate whether the voltage of the high voltage component is at, or below, a desired voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring a high voltage electrical system in a vehicle. An interface circuit is configured to provide isolation between a high voltage component of the vehicle and a control module. The interface circuit comprises a high voltage constant current source, a voltage threshold detector and an electrical isolation circuit. The high voltage constant current source is configured to receive an input at a first voltage from the high voltage component. The voltage threshold detector is configured to receive an output from the high voltage constant current source and to output a signal to indicate whether the voltage of the high voltage component is at, or below, a desired voltage.

Abstract: A controller used to control a flyback switching mode power supply. The flyback switching mode power supply is constructed to charge a capacitor, and includes a rectifying device, a series arrangement of a switch and a primary winding of a transformer for receiving an input voltage, and a secondary winding of the transformer for charging the capacitor via the rectifying device to an output voltage. The controller is configured to sense the output voltage and to turn on the switch when the change of the output voltage over time becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold. By using the controller to sense and use the output voltage across the capacitor to turn on the switch, a controlled flyback switching mode power supply that makes use of voltage control is realized.

Abstract: A device to detect engine oil level and temperature. The device comprises: a thermistor; an unregulated, or voltage-only regulated, power supply configured to provide a non-continuous high current to the thermistor for a predetermined time in order to induce self-heating of the thermistor. An ADC (“Analog-Digital Converter”) configured to read a voltage across the thermistor before and after the heating of the thermistor. A processor is configured to calculate a change in temperature of the thermistor on the basis of a change in voltage measured by the ADC, and, thereby, deduce an engine oil level and temperature.

Abstract: A control methodology and apparatus for an engine suitable for use in capacitor discharge ignition systems for internal combustion engines or brushless DC motors is provided, which make use of a simple logic block to determine for instance an ignition timing advance angle or duty cycle signal based on actual engine speed versus engine control parameter data stored in a table, which is a read-only memory, preferably configurable. To minimize memory space, a small number of values of engine control parameter versus engine speed are stored in the table and the logic block determines the required engine control signal for a measured value of engine speed by an interpolation process, preferably linear interpolation.

Abstract: An ignition control device having an Electronic Fuel Injection mode and a Capacitive Discharge ignition mode is described. The ignition control device comprises: an output for providing an output voltage, connected or connectable to a load, the load being a fuel injection actuator of an EFI system or an ignition capacitor of a CDI system; and a driver unit connected to the output, for driving the output voltage from a low level to a high level and from the high level to the low level in dependence on an input signal, each transition of the output voltage from the low level to the high level having a low-to-high transition time which is longer for the CDI mode than for the EFI mode.

Abstract: A control methodology and apparatus for an engine suitable for use in capacitor discharge ignition systems for internal combustion engines or brushless DC motors is provided, which make use of a simple logic block to determine for instance an ignition timing advance angle or duty cycle signal based on actual engine speed versus engine control parameter data stored in a table, which is a read-only memory, preferably configurable. To minimise memory space, a small number of values of engine control parameter versus engine speed are stored in the table and the logic block determines the required engine control signal for a measured value of engine speed by an interpolation process, preferably linear interpolation.

Abstract: A controller used to control a flyback switching mode power supply. The flyback switching mode power supply is constructed to charge a capacitor, and includes a rectifying device, a series arrangement of a switch and a primary winding of a transformer for receiving an input voltage, and a secondary winding of the transformer for charging the capacitor via the rectifying device to an output voltage. The controller is configured to sense the output voltage and to turn on the switch when the change of the output voltage over time becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold. By using the controller to sense and use the output voltage across the capacitor to turn on the switch, a controlled flyback switching mode power supply that makes use of voltage control is realized.

Abstract: An ignition control device having an Electronic Fuel Injection mode and a Capacitive Discharge ignition mode is described. The ignition control device comprises: an output for providing an output voltage, connected or connectable to a load, the load being a fuel injection actuator of an EFI system or an ignition capacitor of a CDI system; and a driver unit connected to the output, for driving the output voltage from a low level a high level and from the high level to the low level in dependence on an input signal, each transition of the output voltage from the low level to the high level having a low-to-high transition time which is longer for the CDI mode than for the EFI mode.

Abstract: The present application provides a calibration device for calibrating a crank angle of a calibrateable combustion engine, the calibrateable combustion engine and a method for calibrating. The calibration device is provided to determine a trigger wheel angle offset from a combustionless driving of the combustion engine in that an in-cylinder pressure profile is recorded, on the basis of which a trigger wheel angle offset is determined and stored at an offset memory of the combustion engine. The combustion engine is configured to determine a crank angle on the basis of a measured trigger wheel angle and the stored trigger wheel angle offset.

Abstract: The present application provides a calibration device for calibrating a crank angle of a calibrateable combustion engine, the calibrateable combustion engine and a method for calibrating. The calibration device is provided to determine a trigger wheel angle offset from a combustionless driving of the combustion engine in that an in-cylinder pressure profile is recorded, on the basis of which a trigger wheel angle offset is determined and stored at an offset memory of the combustion engine. The combustion engine is configured to determine a crank angle on the basis of a measured trigger wheel angle and the stored trigger wheel angle offset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synchronization of an internal combustion, four-stroke engine during engine startup. The engine comprises a number of cylinders with pistons linked to a crankshaft, means to provide a series of pulses on each cycle of the engine, and an engine management system that includes: a memory; means to determine the engine cycle after the engine is cranked; and means to count thereafter the series of pulses until the engine comes to a stop in order to determine the engine cycle of the engine when subsequently stopped so that data representative of the engine cycle may be stored in the memory. According to one aspect of the invention, the means to determine the engine cycle after the engine is cranked is a means to determine the engine cycle during running of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to verifying the cycle of a fuel injection internal combustion engine during running of the engine.