초록 ▼

In response to a predetermined engine crankshaft position a reference pulse is generated having a leading edge advanced with respect to that predetermined position as a function of the rotational speed of the crankshaft. At low engine speeds the reference pulse is directly used as the ignition curre

In response to a predetermined engine crankshaft position a reference pulse is generated having a leading edge advanced with respect to that predetermined position as a function of the rotational speed of the crankshaft. At low engine speeds the reference pulse is directly used as the ignition current. A start-of-dwell-time data word is derived in response to the trailing edge of the reference pulse and an end-of-dwell-time data word is derived in response to the leading edge of a subsequent reference pulse. These data words are used for engine operations at constant high speeds to advance the beginning and end of the dwell time of ignition current by an amount commensurate with an increase in engine speed. When the engine is rapidly accelerated the dwell time is started in response to the leading edge of the reference pulse and terminated when the end-of-dwell-time data word is decremented to zero.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for generating a rectangular wave output signal in accordance with a predetermined engine crankshaft position, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a reference pulse having a leading edge advanced with respect to said predetermined crankshaft position as a function of the speed of rotati

A method for generating a rectangular wave output signal in accordance with a predetermined engine crankshaft position, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a reference pulse having a leading edge advanced with respect to said predetermined crankshaft position as a function of the speed of rotation of the crankshaft and having a trailing edge substantially coinciding with said predetermined crankshaft position; (b) detecting the trailing edge of a preceding reference pulse and deriving from engine power demand and engine crankshaft speed a first value and successively decrementing said first value; (c) detecting whether the crankshaft speed is higher than a predetermined value; (d) detecting the occurrence of (1) said first value being reduced to zero and of (2) the leading edge of a subsequent reference pulse, causing a voltage to rise in response to the detection of the earlier of either one of occurrences (1) and (2) if the crankshaft speed is higher than said predetermined value, and causing said voltage to rise in response to the detection of occurrence (2) if the crankshaft speed is lower than said predetermined value; (e) deriving from said engine power demand and engine crankshaft speed a second value and successively decrementing said second value; and (f) detecting the trailing edge of said subsequent reference pulse and causing said voltage to fall in response to the detection of the trailing edge if said crankshaft speed is lower than said predetermined value; and (g) detecting when said second value reduces to zero and causing said voltage to fall in response to the detection of the second value becoming zero if said crankshaft speed is higher than said predetermined value. Apparatus for generating a rectangular wave output signal in accordance with a predetermined crankshaft position of an internal combustion engine which is controlled in response to engine power demand, comprising: means for generating a first signal representing the amount of power demand of said engine; means for generating a second signal representing the speed of rotation of the engine crankshaft; means for generating a reference pulse having a leading edge advanced with respect to said predetermined crankshaft position by an amount that is a function of said second signal representing the crankshaft rotation speed and having a trailing edge substantially coinciding with said predetermined crankshaft position; means for generating clock pulses; control means comprising means for detecting whether said second signal is higher or lower than a predetermined value, means for deriving from said first and second signals, in response to the trailing edge of a preceding reference pulse, a first and a second value representing respectively first and second optimum periods of time, means for counting said clock pulses in response to said trailing edge to provide a first count value and counting said clock pulses in response to the leading edge of a subsequent reference pulse to provide a second count value, means for detecting a first match between said first value and said first count value and a second match between said second value and said second count value, means for causing a voltage to rise in response to the leading edge of said subsequent reference pulse if said second signal is lower than said predetermined value and in response to the earlier occurring one of said leading edge and said first match if said second signal is higher than said predetermined value, and means for causing said voltage to fall in response to the trailing edge of said subsequent reference pulse if said second signal is lower than said predetermined value and in response to said second match if said second signal is higher than said predetermined value.