Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to adjust temporarily the quantity of fuel delivered to the cylinders of a fuel injected engine. The present invention allows a service technician to temporarily adjust the quantity of fuel being delivered to each cylinder or all cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having therein an electronic control unit capable of controlling the fuel quantity delivered to each cylinder and a general service computer connectable thereto and capable of transmitting data to the ECU. When instructed by the service technician, the service computer sends signals to the ECU to adjust fuel injector data to the fuel injectors of so as to increase or decrease the amount of fuel being delivered to the fuel injected engine.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to adjust the quantity of oil delivered to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine of an outboard motor. The system includes an oiling system to distribute oil throughout the internal combustion engine. The oiling system has a pressure sensor connected between an oil injector and the internal combustion engine to sense oil pressure and produce an oil pressure indicative signal to an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is configured to monitor the oil pressure indicative signal and modify a modulated oil injection signal delivered to the oil injector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing operation and diagnosing faults in an engine including an electronic control unit. A diagnostic computer is coupled to the electronic control unit and displays engine testing and diagnostic text messages in any one of a plurality of selectable languages, energize ignition circuits on demand, display menu screen displays associated with engine testing, diagnostics and service, and generate summary screen displays and reports for later use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing operation and diagnosing faults in an engine including an electronic control unit. A diagnostic computer is coupled to the electronic control unit and displays engine testing and diagnostic text messages in any one of a plurality of selectable languages, energize ignition circuits on demand, display menu screen displays associated with engine testing, diagnostics and service, and generate summary screen displays and reports for later use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing operation and diagnosing faults in an engine including an electronic control unit. A diagnostic computer is coupled to the electronic control unit and displays engine testing and diagnostic text messages in any one of a plurality of selectable languages, energize ignition circuits on demand, display menu screen displays associated with engine testing, diagnostics and service, and generate summary screen displays and reports for later use.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.

Abstract: A shift enabling interrupt system that facilitates the shifting of gears of an outboard engine is disclosed. The system is activated by the signal from a sensor that determines if the user is attempting to shift the gears by detecting a lost motion in a shift linkage manually activated by the user to shift the gear train of the engine. Upon such activation, the system ECU carries out a set of steps that periodically reduce the speed of the engine by disabling one or more cylinders to facilitate the gear shift. After a predetermined number of revolutions, the disabled cylinders are again enabled to return the engine speed back to normal operation. A timer establishes a maximum elapsed time to complete the shifting operation and the gear shifting itself is only permitted if the RPM of the engine is less that a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to adjust temporarily the quantity of fuel delivered to the cylinders of a fuel injected engine. The present invention allows a service technician to temporarily adjust the quantity of fuel being delivered to each cylinder or all cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having therein an electronic control unit capable of controlling the fuel quantity delivered to each cylinder and a general service computer connectable thereto and capable of transmitting data to the ECU. When instructed by the service technician, the service computer sends signals to the ECU to adjust fuel injector data to the fuel injectors of so as to increase or decrease the amount of fuel being delivered to the fuel injected engine.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to adjust temporarily the quantity of fuel delivered to the cylinders of a fuel injected engine. The present invention allows a service technician to temporarily adjust the quantity of fuel being delivered to each cylinder or all cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having therein an electronic control unit capable of controlling the fuel quantity delivered to each cylinder and a general service computer connectable thereto and capable of transmitting data to the ECU. When instructed by the service technician, the service computer sends signals to the ECU to adjust fuel injector data to the fuel injectors of so as to increase or decrease the amount of fuel being delivered to the fuel injected engine.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for engine diagnostic via PDA. An engine diagnostic system, realized on a PDA, presents a menu to a user with a plurality of options related to engine diagnostic operations through a user graphical interface. The PDA is in connection with an engine management mechanism of an engine. The user makes a selection of an engine diagnostic operation to be performed with respect to the engine. The engine diagnostic system performs the selected engine diagnostic operation through the engine management mechanism of the engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling ignition timing during startup of a two-stroke internal combustion engine while avoiding ignition timing errors caused by engine speed fluctuations. A rotational component of the engine, such as a flywheel, bears a plurality of spaced indicator markers including a plurality of ignition triggering markers, each of which designates a position on the rotational component that is acceptable for triggering ignition in a respective cylinder of the engine. Ignition in each cylinder is triggered upon detecting the associated ignition triggering marker and without taking engine velocity into account. Ignition timing errors that could otherwise be introduced due to erroneous assumptions based on engine speed therefore are avoided.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.

Abstract: An oil temperature compensation control is disclosed for use with an oil delivery system in an outboard marine engine. The control includes an oil injection system that normally routes lubricant through a closed loop, and periodically diverts lubricant to the engine. The control includes a temperature sensor to acquire an oil temperature indicative signal, which preferably, is an indirect measurement of oil temperature. The control includes a microprocessor connected to receive the oil temperature indicative signal, and in response thereto, to control the period lubricant is routed to the engine by the oil injection system. The microprocessor includes a memory to store a look-up table that includes a solenoid pulse width for a variety of temperature signals so that the solenoid can be toggled based on the viscosity of the oil to provide proper lubrication to the engine regardless of external temperatures.

Abstract: State-of-the-art fuel injectors can be defined by a third-order polynomial to define their performance curve and to optimize performance of the fuel injected engine. Such systems are preprogrammed to use a set of fixed coefficients when replacing fuel injectors. Therefore, these replacement fuel injectors must be manufactured with very precise tolerances so as to operate efficiently with these fixed coefficients. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that allows the use of production fuel injectors that are more economical since they can be manufactured with wider tolerances. The production fuel injectors are supplied with a computer program and a data file having a set of replacement coefficients that are determined especially for that particular fuel injector. The approach allows the restoration of the existing coefficients if the replacement fuel injector does not solve the service problem experienced by the user of the fuel injected engine.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for calibrating a position sensor having a variable output corresponding to the variable position of a movable member. The system and method establishes for the position sensor a first output corresponding to a first given position of the movable member. The system and method stores the first output from a first operating session in memory to use in establishing the first output for a second operating session. The system and method may also use a biasing factor in establishing the first output for a second operating session. The system and method may also establish a second output corresponding to a second given position of the movable member as a function of a second output from a previous operating session or as a function of a biasing factor. The system and method may be used to control an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Engine control apparatus and methods for avoiding heavy soot production yet providing smooth engine acceleration and deceleration without significant engine RPM increases and decreases with small throttle movements are described. In one embodiment, once the fuel injection angle reaches the angle at which soot formation begins, one or more cylinders are controlled to operate with later injection angles and lower fueling, which results in lower torque production and lower soot formation, while at the same time the remaining cylinders are set to operate with advanced injection angles and higher fueling, which results in a homogenous mixture of air and fuel, higher torque, and also lower soot formation. Therefore, for a first range of throttle positions, all cylinders operate in the stratified combustion mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing desired operational characteristics of an engine having a positionable throttle and a plurality of cylinders wherein data representing the same gross amount of fuel to be injected into all of the cylinders at any given throttle position and engine RPM setting is provided to obtain a gross optimization of the desired engine operational characteristics and the data representing the gross amount of fuel to be provided to each cylinder is adjusted for each cylinder individually at any given RPM setting to provide data representing a specific amount of fuel to be provided to each cylinder individually to optimize the desired engine operational characteristics with respect to fuel injection.

Abstract: A system for determining the direction of rotation of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine includes a sensor assembly for generating a crank rotation direction signal. The sensor assembly includes a stator having a sprocket fixed to the crank and having a plurality of teeth. The rotation of the crank, and the sprocket with the crank, results in changes in the magnetic field, and such changes or flux create a current in a conductor. The rotor also includes, at one angular location about the sprocket, a first interruption that serves as a first reference point or marker. The interruption in the sprocket teeth creates an irregularity in the magnetic flux and, consequently in the generated current or signal. The rotor also includes a second interruption or marker at an angle other than 1800 from the first marker. The second interruption differs physically from the first interruption, so that a second irregularity which is distinguishable from the first irregularity occurs in the generated signal.