Abstract: An improvement for a combination with a fuel injection type internal combustion engine which employs AC type high tension spark that is initiated by the injection valve opening. The improvement includes a gating circuit, and it has means for opening the gate at the beginning of a predetermined crank shaft position. Also, it closes the gate whenever the injection valve has opened, or at the end of a predetermined number of degrees of crank shaft rotation whichever occurs first.

Abstract: In the combination of an internal combustion engine which has an electronic ignition system that develops a continuous high-voltage AC type spark signal, there is an improvement which provides for controlling the duration of the spark signals. Such duration control acts to vary the crank angle degrees that are encompassed by the spark duration, which variation is in accordance with an engine parameter. The parameter may be engine load, and the variation control saves spark energy consumed while extending the life of the spark plugs.

Abstract: An engine timed ignition system of the type that combines a short duration high voltage spark with a reduced voltage DC spark sustaining signal. It includes in the system apparatus for starting the DC sustaining signal simultaneously with the high voltage spark. And, it includes apparatus to positively stop the DC sustaining signal after a predetermined interval in order to avoid a continuing spark discharge.

Abstract: A fuel control system which is applicable to an internal combustion engine that employs a diesel type fuel injection pump. That type of injection pump incorporates a metering valve to regulate the amount of fuel that is delivered to a pair of pumping plungers. The system includes a microprocessor, and there are means for controlling the metering valve by an output from the microprocessor so that the fuel delivered may be kept at an optimum at all times throughout the operating range of the engine.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine which employs fuel injection. It uses the injection valve plungers to initiate spark control signals when they lift due to the fuel injection pressure. An electronic comparator output provides the control signal.

Abstract: An ignition initiating signal is developed from the fuel injection nozzle valve of an internal combustion engine. The valve is actuated by fuel pressure which creates an insulating layer at the valve so that when the valve is unseated an electrical circuit is broken to create the ignition initiating signal. And, electrical circuit means are included which limit the voltage applied and the current flow at the valve seat in order to avoid breakdown of the fuel insulating layer and pitting of the valve seat.

Abstract: An ignition system that develops continuous-wave high-frequency spark signals. It employs a square wave oscillator which uses a unitary magnetic circuit and includes a control winding that acts to start and stop the oscillator. The control winding has a gate-turn-off type silicon controlled rectifier in circuit with it, which provides superior control action.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines that operate with a combustible mixture in only one cylinder at a time. It eliminates the need for a distributor by firing all of the spark plugs simultaneously in accordance with the engine timing for each cylinder. It employs a transformer with a single low voltage primary and a plurality of high voltage secondary windings.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit incorporated with an AC type ignition system which employs a high-frequency continuous-wave oscillator. The system includes a control winding on a transformer that has a high voltage spark signal output winding. There is a transistor in series with the control winding, to switch on and off a circuit that controls the starting and stopping of the oscillator. And, there are a pair of time delay circuits which produce delay times that are inversely proportional to the speed of an internal combustion engine that uses the ignition system. These time delay circuits may be connected so as to use only one of them. Or, they may be connected in series, so that a desired step timing change may be introduced (or not) upon demand.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines. It concerns an improvement for a controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency system, that has an output transformer with a control winding thereon. The system has an oscillator with the output transformer included therein. The oscillator generates spark energy, and an engine-timed unit controls an electronic switch that starts and stops the oscillator by breaking and making a loading circuit for the control winding. The improvement concerns a time constant element in electronic circuit means between the engine-timed unit and the electronic switch. The arrangement is such that the engine-timed unit controls the beginning of all spark intervals, and the end of each spark interval at less than a predetermined speed of the engine. But, only the time constant element controls the end of each spark interval at more than the predetermined speed of the engine.

Abstract: A special purpose electrical connector. It is for connecting an end of a resistive type of electrical conductor so as to have maximum electrical and mechanical properties.The resistive conductor has a resilient material core of desired resistivity which is surrounded by an insulator. A pair of conductive material wires are applied in a cooperative manner with one wire extending doubled for a substantial distance into the core. The other wire wraps around the outside of the insulator and pierces through to join the first within the resilient core, before extending axially beyond the end of the core and insulation.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The system is a type that employs a continuous-wave oscillator which includes a transformer with a high voltage output winding to supply the sparking circuit via a distributor. And, the transformer has an oscillator control winding for starting and stopping oscillation. There is an electronic switch to control application of a DC bias current to the control winding when the oscillator is not oscillating. And, the improvement concerns using plural crank angle controlled sensors with electronic circuit means to select a desired one of the sensors to provide the crank angle degree ignition timing desired.

Abstract: A control system controls the occurrence and the duration of time intervals during which sparks may be provided in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine driving a crank shaft as a function of loading parameters on the engine. In an automotive engine control system, parameters such as the vacuum in the carburetor, the throttle setting and the torque of the crank shaft are sensed, and corresponding signals are provided by the sensor. A distributor provides a pulse signal having a repetition rate corresponding to the rotational speed of the crank shaft. A frequency-to-voltage converter converts the pulse signal to an output voltage. The sensed parameter signals and the voltage from the converter are summed. The sum signal is used to control a one-shot multivibrator which is triggered by each pulse in the pulse signal from the distributor. The sum signal controls the width of the pulse from the one-shot multivibrator so as to control the timing of the various sparks in the engine's cylinders.

Abstract: A control system controls the occurrence and the duration of time intervals during which sparks may be provided in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine driving a crankshaft as a function of operating parameters of the engine. Sensors sense parameters such as the vacuum in the carburetor, the position of the throttle and the torque of the crankshaft and provide corresponding signals. A distributor provides a pulse signal. Each pulse in the pulse signal has a width corresponding to a predetermined rotational displacement of the crankshaft. A counter with associated logic circuitry counts clock pulses in an up-direction during the occurrence of a pulse of the distributor pulse signal. When the counter counts down to a particular count, a decoder triggers a one shot multivibrator to provide a pulse, each pulse provided by the one shot multivibrator corresponds to the start of a spark time interval.

Abstract: A control system controls the occurrence and duration of time intervals during which sparks may be provided in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine driving a crankshaft as a function of loading parameters on the engine. In an automotive engine control system, parameters such as the vacuum in the carburetor, the throttle setting and the torque of the crankshaft are sensed and corresponding signals are provided by the sensors. A first pulse signal is provided. The pulses in the first pulse signal correspond to the rotational speed of the crankshaft. The distributor provides a second pulse signal. Each pulse in the second pulse signal has a width corresponding to a predetermined rotational displacement of the crankshaft and has a relationship to the position of a piston in a corresponding cylinder. A circuit shapes the pulses of the second pulse signal and provides them to a network which provides a start pulse in accordance with the shaped pulses and the first pulse signal.

Abstract: A single-transformer high-frequency continuous-wave ignition system for an internal combustion engine. It employs a solid-state oscillator with a control winding for starting and stopping the oscillator, as timed by the engine. There is a D.C. bias current applied to the control winding. Cutting off the D.C. current ensures instantaneous starting of the oscillator, and an A.C. short circuit ensures stopping thereof.