Chrysler Group LLC

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Michael S Boggess

David W Fiddes

Mark R Arcori

Mikhail Zarkhin

A position sensing system uses two sensing elements to sense the rotary position of target wheels mounted on two camshafts. The two sensing elements are mounted in a common sensor housing and preferably the two sensor elements share power and ground wires, and each sensor element has its own signal wire. The wires preferably are contained within a common conduit that extends from the housing to a location outside of the rocker cover. The end of the conduit may support one-half of an electrical connector that terminates the wires from the sensors. Mounting the two sensing elements in a common housing simplifies mounting the sensors on the engine, and reduces the number of wires required to power and derive signals from the two sensors. The target wheels are mounted directly on the camshafts and are positioned along the axis of the camshaft, spaced from the camshaft ends.

Camshaft position sensing for dual overhead cam variable valve timing engines

A camshaft assembly including a target wheel is manufactured using an assembly process in which the camshaft is formed from a hollow tube. After the cam rings and a target wheel ring have been correctly positioned on the hollow tube, the tube is pressurized to expand its diameter, locking the rings into position on the tube. Locating the target wheel along the axis of the camshaft and spaced from the camshaft end allows the sensor to be located along the axis of the camshaft, and precludes the need to increase the overall length of the head to accommodate the target wheel and the sensor. In a dual overhead engine, the target wheels may be mounted on the two camshafts so that they may be read by a dual element sensor that is mounted between the two wheels.

Camshaft assembly including a target wheel

An ignition coil assembly for providing ignition energy to a spark plug in accordance with a dwell pulse and transmitting diagnostic data related to an ignition event occurring after the dwell pulse. The assembly has an ignition coil with a spark plug terminal adapted to mate with the spark plug, and a transistor for conducting current flow through the primary winding of the ignition coil. The current flow is in accordance with the dwell pulse, which arrives over a signal line. A diagnostic block receives at least one electrical signal from the ignition coil and derives diagnostic data therefrom for transmitting over the same signal line in the absence of the dwell pulse.

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Harrison Township, MI, United States of America

Michael S Boggess