Bombardier Motor Corporation of America

Outboard Marine Corporation

Brp US Inc.

Philip J Bylsma

Michael J French

Gregry Remmers

Scott A Koerner

Mark J Skrzypchak

Dale A Wiegele

Mike A Tanner

Gregory J Binversie

Wolfram Hellmich

Todd D Craft

Samuel McGinley

Paul T Ng

Benjamin Jones

Eric A Criteser

Patrick Robert Taylor

Andrew E Kronquist

David B Koen

A power steering system for an outdrive engine has a steering actuator, a motor for operating the steering actuator, a motor speed sensor for determining at least indirectly a speed of the motor, a steering rate sensor for determining a steering rate, and a controller communicating with the steering rate sensor and with the motor speed sensor. The controller is programmed for determining if a fault has occurred in the power steering system based on the steering rate and the motor speed, and taking at least one steering fault action in response to the fault having occurred. A method for controlling a power steering system includes determining if a fault has occurred based on the steering rate and the speed of the motor, and taking at least one steering fault action in response to the fault having occurred.

Power steering system for an outdrive engine and method for controlling same

A method for controlling a trim-tilt angle of a propulsion unit of a marine outboard motor. The method includes: receiving a request to increase the trim-tilt angle of the propulsion unit; determining a motor operation parameter; determining the trim-tilt angle of the propulsion unit; prior to increasing the trim-tilt angle in response to the request, determining if the propulsion unit is in a trim limit condition; increasing the trim-tilt angle of the propulsion unit in response to the request when the propulsion unit is determined not to be in the trim limit condition; and one of maintaining the trim-tilt angle of the propulsion unit and stopping increase of the trim-tilt angle of the propulsion unit when the propulsion unit is determined to be in the trim limit condition. A method for controlling the trim-tilt angle in view of an over-trim condition of the propulsion unit is also disclosed.

Method for controlling a trim-tilt angle of a marine propulsion unit

A method for controlling a trim position of a marine propulsion unit for propelling a watercraft has the steps of: sensing an engine speed; positioning the propulsion unit at a first trim angle when the engine speed is less than or equal to a first predetermined engine speed, the first trim angle being constant; positioning the propulsion unit at a second trim angle when the engine speed is greater than the first predetermined engine speed and less than the second predetermined engine speed; and positioning the propulsion unit at a third trim angle when the engine speed is greater than or equal to the second predetermined engine speed, the third trim angle being constant. A system for controlling a trim position of a marine propulsion unit for propelling a watercraft is also disclosed.

Method and system for controlling a trim position of a marine propulsion unit

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.

Water-cooled engine control

A method for calibrating an electronic control unit for an internal combustion engine. The electronic control unit may have multiple channels with each channel being adapted to provide an input drive signal to a fuel delivery apparatus. A first channel is selected for calibration. A reference signal of desired and known parameters is also defined. The reference signal is defined such that it is indicative of the cyclical performance of a fuel delivery apparatus such as a fuel injection device. A command signal is generated and passed through the circuitry of the selected channel. The channel circuitry generates a drive signal in response to the command signal. A desired parameter of the drive signal is measured for comparison with the known parameter of the reference signal. If necessary, the command signal is then adjusted so as to produce a modified drive signal which has a parameter with reduced variation from the known reference parameter.

Method and apparatus for calibrating and controlling fuel injection

A system is provided for calibrating a position sensor having a variable output corresponding to the variable position of a movable member. The system establishes, for the position sensor an original assumed output corresponding to a given position of the movable member, establishes for the position sensor a maximum output corresponding to the given position, the maximum output being greater than or equal to the assumed output, establishes for the position sensor a minimum output corresponding to the given position, the minimum output being less than or equal to the assumed output, determines an actual output of the position sensor and, if the actual output is between the maximum output and the minimum output, the system reestablishes the assumed output as being a function of the original assumed output and the actual output.

Method and apparatus for calibrating a position sensor used in engine control

An internal combustion engine assembly including an internal combustion engine including an engine block having at lest one cylinder, a piston mounted within the cylinder for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the cylinder, the fuel injector initiating a fuel injection event at a predetermined time and a circuit for generating a spark in the cylinder a predetermined amount of time after the injection event to cause combustion of fuel in the cylinder.

Time delay ignition circuit for an internal combustion engine

A capacitive discharge ignition system deriving the ignition pulse from a capacitor storing the flyback voltage induced from the fuel injector coil when the pulse supplied to the fuel injector coil is removed.

Capacitive discharge ignition for an internal combustion engine

A fuel-injection system for an internal combustion engine that operates in a stratified mode of fuel injection during a first engine speed range and a homogeneous mode of fuel injection during a second engine speed greater than the first range. A changeover speed is determined for a particular engine and, upon speed (or load) increasing to the point of changeover from the stratified mode, the engine speed update point changes from a first or 'standard' update point to a second predetermined 'provisional' update point for one or two revolutions after which the update point then reverts back to the 'standard' update point.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Philip J Bylsma