Autotronic Controls Corporation

Stephen C Masters

Douglas B Waits

Richard Kirk Bennett

Brandon K Uhde

Ezell R Clarke

Ingolf Gerber

Robert B Woleslagle

A system and method of managing the energy stored in a single ignition coil of a distributor inductive ignition for an engine. The engine comprises a plurality of cylinders and the ignition coil has a primary coil current. The ignition coil has a stored energy and a released energy during an ignition period. A pre-dwell time period and a pre-dwell current level is determined. The stored energy of the ignition coil and the released energy of the ignition coil are balanced during the ignition period at least in part by dwelling the primary coil current in the ignition coil at substantially the pre-dwell current level.

High energy ignition method and system using pre-dwell control

An electronic driver and method for producing an output waveform for use by a tachometer comprises an input line that is connected in series with at least one ignition coil. The at least one ignition coil is driven during at least one current dwell period per an ignition cycle. A signal representative of at least one spark is caused to be generated on the input line by the at least one ignition coil during the at least one current dwell period of the ignition cycle. A controller is coupled to the input line. The controller discriminates between single and multiple sparks over consecutive ignition cycles. The signal is representative of at least one spark received on the input line from the at least one ignition coil. The controller responsively forms an output waveform having substantially equally spaced pulses aligned with the first spark and the output waveform corresponds to the ignition cycle received on the input line.

System and method for driving a tachometer

A measuring gauge includes a rotatable LED pointer having a light output. As the pointer is rotated about a lens at a constant rate, the output of the LED pointer appears as an arc of light to a user. The arc of light represents a quantity of a desired display unit. A brushless motor and a rotary transformer are magnetically coupled to the LED pointer. A high speed controller is coupled to the motor and the rotary transformer. The controller receives an indication of the quantity and is responsively programmed to actuate the rotary transformer in order to illuminate the LED pointer as it rotates radially about a face of a graduated lens at a substantially constant speed and to activate and deactivate the LED pointer so as to adjust the length of the arc of light and thereby to indicate the quantity of the desired display unit to the user.

System and method for providing a display utilizing a fast photon indicator

A system and method of adjusting the rate of supplementary fuel flow to an engine while monitoring the operating characteristics of an engine. The amount of pressure to apply to a regulator valve is determined based at least in part upon the operating conditions of the engine and information included in a stored fuel grid.

Method and system for the control of fumigation

A engine control device is disclosed for monitoring and controlling the RPM of an engine. The device restricts the over-revving of an engine due to a lack of resistance by monitoring the RPM and determining whether measured RPM indicate a likely lack of resistance causing over-revving of an engine, such as would occur if the tires are slipping relative to the road. The revlimiter may monitor the revolutions per minute of a crankshaft of an engine and, upon certain conditions, may slow the engine when the RPM exceed certain parameters. The revlimiter may slow the engine if the RPM of the crankshaft exceed a target RPM value. The programming of the device may be gear specific. In this manner, the revlimiter serves to prevent engine over-revving and serves as a form of traction control.

Slew rate revlimiter

A system and method of managing the energy stored in a single ignition coil of a distributor inductive ignition for an engine is described. The engine comprises a plurality of cylinders and the ignition coil having dwell control parameters. The engine is operated at different operating speeds. At least one engine performance parameter is determined. At least one dwell control parameter of the ignition coil in all of the different speeds is adjusted, the adjustment based at least in part upon an evaluation of the at least one engine performance parameter. The cylinders of the engine are fired. The stored energy of the ignition coil is altered to an optimum value between the firings of the engine cylinders, the altering being effected for each of the different speeds and as a result of the adjusting of the dwell control parameters.

High energy ignition method and system

A programmable electronic ignition system is provided including a hand-held programmer, or in the alternative a computer, for controlling engine control parameters including revolutions per minutes limiters, ignition timing retards, gear shift controls and revolutions per minute switching. The hand-held programmer or computer provides a menu driven interface which directs the user through the engine control parameters using easy to recognize terms. The programmable electronic ignition system can employ a cylinder location sensor to identify a predetermined cylinder for controlling individual cylinder ignition timing retards.

User interface for electronic controller and timing sensor

A programmable electronic ignition system is provided including a hand-held programmer, or in the alternative a computer, for controlling engine control parameters including revolutions per minutes limiters, ignition timing retards, gear shift controls, revolutions per minute switching, and fuel addition. The hand-held programmer or computer provides a menu driven interface which directs the user through the engine control parameters using easy to recognize terms. The programmable electronic ignition system can employ a cylinder location sensor to identify a predetermined cylinder for controlling individual cylinder ignition timing retards.

Method and apparatus for controlling a motorcycle engine

User interface for electronic controller

An electronic ignition system includes a converter for receiving DC power from a source of DC power such as a battery. The convertor converts the DC power at low voltage to a high frequency signal which is stepped up to provide a higher voltage to a charge storage device such as a capacitor. The higher voltage on the capacitor is then made available to an ignition coil under the control of a microprocessor or a microcontroller for providing high voltage electrical energy to one or more spark plugs of an internal combustion engine.

Digital ignition

An electronic ignition system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a Hall effect device for detecting crankshaft rotation. A circuit is provided to select first or second ignition timing responsive to the Hall effect device output based on the rate of crankshaft rotation.

Hall effect ignition

An exhaust system tuned during low RPM operation while the exhaust chamber retains its preset tuning for optimal high RPM operation. An exhaust controller according to an embodiment of the present invention receives an RPM signal from the engine and processes the signal to activate a solenoid which controls a valve that injects coolant water into the exhaust chamber. The injection of the water into the exhaust chamber has the effect of cooling the exhaust gases, thereby increasing the density of the exhaust charge in the chamber and slowing the exhaust pulse wave, thereby optimizing performance at relatively lower RPM levels.

Electronically controlled water injection system

An electronic ignition system replacing corresponding stock circuitry but utilizing the stock magneto and ignition coil provided with the engine of a sport vehicle, such as a jet ski or snowmobile, to provide improved performance. A timing circuit is provided as part of the ignition circuitry to enable a trigger pulse of a predetermined duration to be delivered to the ignition coil and further, to inhibit subsequent trigger pulses limiting the engine speed below a determined rpm limit. The timing circuitry uses an over-temperature switch connecting a capacitance to lengthen the inhibit time period reducing the maximum rpm limit. A holeshot switch connected across the over-temperature switch lowers the rpm limit while the throttle is held in the full speed position. Compensated pickup circuitry, automatic battery connect/disconnect, low impedance kill switch circuitry and an impedance protected tachometer output is provided to enhance the performance and features of the ignition systems of sport vehicles.

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El Paso, TX, United States of America

Stephen C Masters