Bombardier Motor Corporation of America

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Brp US Inc.

Outboard Marine Corporation

Bombardier Motor Corperation of America

Scott A Koerner

Mark J Skrzypchak

Michael J French

Dale A Wiegele

Gregry Remmers

Philip J Bylsma

Anteo Opipari

Dell Francis

Mike A Tanner

Gregory J Binversie

George Broughton

Todd D Craft

Paul T Ng

Patrick C Tetzlaff

Thomas A Busse

Patrick Robert Taylor

Phillip J Bylsma

Lester M Szukala

Douglas M Goebel

Wilbur V Quinnett

Matthew J Edwards

Les Szukala

An outboard motor is presented that includes a control unit to control operation of an internal combustion engine and automated components of the motor. An array of indicators is associated with the control unit directly on an external or visible surface thereof or integrally formed therewith. The indicators may be independently activated to convey diagnostic information regarding engine operation. The control unit controls activation of the indicators in such a manner such that different diagnostic data is conveyed depending upon whether the engine is in an operating or starting mode.

Engine mounted fault indicators

A control unit assembly is disclosed including a housing, at least one processor to control operation of an engine, and a voltage regulator configured to regulate a voltage of at least one rail of the engine. The at least one processing unit and the voltage regulator reside on a common circuit board.

Common composition engine control unit and voltage regulator

A method and system of throttle calibration control is presented that includes a TPS designed to provide an output indicative of throttle plate position when the throttle plate is opened and provide an output of throttle actuator position when the throttle plate is closed. The TPS output is received by an ECU to control subsequent engine operation. When an input is received from the TPS indicating that the throttle actuator is within a pre-set idle throttle position range and below an idle position benchmark, the ECU automatically reestablishes present and subsequent engine operation.

Method and system of throttle control calibration

A system and method to dynamically control a switching alternator is disclosed. A switching alternator system is disclosed that includes a plurality of windings configured to deliver an AC power and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical configuration of the plurality of windings. A processor is included that is programmed to control the plurality of switches to deliver a desired DC power.

Dynamically controlled switching alternator system

An apparatus and method for conditioning an internal combustion engine for storage is disclosed. The engine includes an ECU that is programmed to initiate an auto-fogging procedure. The auto-fogging procedure automatically introduces increased amounts of lubricating oil into the engine thereby coating the cylinders and some of the internal components of the engine with a protective film of oil for storage.

Apparatus and method of conditioning an engine for storage

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.

Shift interrupt system

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.

Oil pressure monitoring system for two-stroke engines

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.

Engine diagnostic via PDA

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.

Diagnostic system and method to temporarily adjust fuel quantity delivered to a fuel injected engine

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

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.

Methods and apparatus for engine diagnostics

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. In order to optimize performance and reduce emissions after engine startup, the engine preferably incorporates measures to determine when a calculated engine velocity exceeds a threshold engine velocity and to change over to an ignition control scheme that takes calculated engine velocity into account after the calculated engine velocity exceeds the threshold engine velocity. The threshold engine velocity preferably is one that at least approaches a minimum idle speed of the engine. In the case of a 95-135 hp V-4 engine, the threshold velocity preferably is on the order 300 rpm to 400 rpm. The method is particularly beneficial in engines having less than six cylinders because those engines exhibit the most dramatic pressure and speed fluctuations during engine startup.

Method and apparatus for controlling ignition during engine startup

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.

Growing community of inventors

Kenosha, WI, United States of America

Scott A Koerner