Ford Motor Company Limited

William R Allen

Edward L Korte

Ira C Miller, Jr

Kent A Wikarski

James T Lee

Eric L Clinton

Hsien C Pao

Valerian M Nita

A VRS sensor detects the angular rotation of a variable position camshaft which rotates in a variable relationship to a crankshaft, and transmits a Variable Cam Timing/Cylinder IDentification signal, representative of the position of the angular rotation of the camshaft, to an electronic engine controller (EEC). A profile ignition pickup (PIP) sensor detects the rotation of the crankshaft and transmits a PIP signal, representative of the rotation of the crankshaft to the EEC. The EEC receives the VCT/CID signal and the PIP signal and identifies the position of a first firing cylinder in a predetermined sequence of cylinder firing and determines the angular position of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft by detecting the varying time duration between VCT/CID signals and PIP signals.

Method and apparatus for detecting the angular position of a variable

Controlling ignition current in the ignition control system of an internal combustion engine includes determining the amount of time it takes current in the ignition coil to reach a desired or limit value and adjusting the time of starting ignition coil charging before spark firing to be substantially equal to the amount of time it takes ignition coil charging current to reach the desired or limit current value.

Ignition system with feedback controlled dwell

Growing community of inventors

Redford, MI, United States of America

William R Allen