Abstract: Automatic control of spark advance in an electronic ignition system for an internal combustion engine is effected by using a first electromagnetic pick-up cooperating with a protuberance which is phase-displaced on a rotary part (flywheel) relative to top dead center by the maximum advance angle required, and a second pick-up which cooperates with peripheral teeth on the rotary part. Pulses from the second pick-up are counted during a predetermined interval (T) initiated by a pulse from the first pick-up to provide a count which is stored as a reference value representing the required spark advance angle, this stored reference value being subsequently compared with the number of pulses from the second pick-up counted with the commencement of the next pulse from the first pick-up to provide a spark-triggering pulse upon parity of the number of these subsequently counted pulses with the reference value.

Abstract: A device for automatically varying the ignition spark advance angle in an electronically controlled ignition system for an internal combustion engine, in which there is a first sensor for producing a train of pulses the pulse repetition frequency of which represents the engine speed and a second sensor for producing a single pulse once each revolution of the engine when the crankshaft is at the top dead center position.