Sun Electric Corporation

Yam C Leung

James R Caruth

Richard A Karlin

Keith A Kreft

Gerald C Trussell

Robert W Arnston

Gary F Comiskey

Zoltan Voross

Robert C Shepardson

Thomas M Jankowski

Alfred C D'Souza

Aloysius T Cashel

Frank Perna

Frederick R Borgens

Dennis C Sienaski

Gary L Van Ermen

Arthur Damm

The disclosure describes an improved automated engine diagnosing device employing a digital data processor computer and a cathode ray tube display monitor which displays engine parameter (i.e., condition) values in alphabetic, numeric, and graphical form. Some data is accumulated from the engine by means of direct digital measurements, whereas other data is obtained from the engine by an analog-to-digital converter. The data is then processed by the computer and displayed on the cathode ray tube display monitor.

Engine test and display apparatus

The disclosure describes apparatus for disabling selected cylinders of an internal combustion engine operated by periodic cycles of ignition signals. The apparatus prevents one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components, such as spark plugs, which normally receive the ignition signals. In order to achieve this purpose, a clock pulse generator generates a uniform pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal from the engine. Three bistable flipflop circuits are used to produce output signals having states representative of the number of clock pulses received from the clock pulse generator. Gating circuitry returns the output signals to an initial state after receipt of a predetermined number of clock pulses, such as the number of cylinders in the engine being diagnosed. As the apparatus commences operation, removable setting means set the output signals to their initial state by means of a setting pulse generated by one of the ignition signals. The repetition rate of the setting pulse is divided before being applied to the flipflop circuits in order to improve the diagnostic usefulness of the system. The transmission of the setting pulse also is delayed so that the output signals normally are returned to their initial state by the gating circuitry and clock pulses prior to the time the setting pulse is received by the flipflop circuits. A selecting circuit generates a disabling pulse in response to a predetermined state of the output signals. The disabling pulse switches a disabling device, such as a triac, to a conductive state to prevent a predetermined ignition signal from firing a selected spark plug, thereby aiding the diagnosis of the engine.

Signal disabling engine diagnosing apparatus

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Blommingdale, IL, United States of America

Yam C Leung