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EP0138495A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ignition timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-10-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of using as a fuel a regular (low-octane) gasoline, a premium (high-octane) gasoline, or a mixture of both type of gasolines. The engine produces knocks when the ignition timing is advanced beyond a reference ignition timing determined as a function of the type of gasoline being used. This advance ignition timing control apparatus detects the knocks, and provides as an output a signal according to the occurrence rate of the knocks which essentially indicates the type of gasoline in use. By means of this signal, this ignition timing control apparatus performs two types of controls one of which is to change over one reference ignition timing adapted for the premium gasoline to the other reference ignition timing for the regular gasoline to retard the current ignition timing, and the other of which is to continuously displace the reference ignition timing in the direction of retard angle by using a proportion factor calculator and an interpolator. At the same time, the changed-over reference ignition timing or the displaced reference ignition timing is corrected by the detected knock signals on a real time basis. The combined ignition timing signal serves to energize an ignition coil to suppress the occurrence of knocks. This operation will continue until no knocks occur. Additionally, other operating parameters such as a compression ratio, a supercharging pressure, and air/fuel ratio etc., can also serve to suppress the occurrence of knocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Tooru Okada
- 👤 Takanao Yokoyama
- 👤 Akira Takahashi
- 👤 Yoshiaki Danno
- 👤 Kazumasa Iida
- 👤 Atsushi Ueda
- 👤 Toshio Iwata
- 👤 Takeo Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:42
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/15; F02P5/152; F02P5/1527; F02P5/155; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals in said engine; knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; a fuel discriminating means, responsive to the output of said knock signal deriving means, for discriminating between a high-octane rating fuel and a low-octane rating fuel for a fuel used in said engine; a setting means, responsive to the output of said fuel discriminating means, for setting reference ignition timing characteristic for either said high-octane rating fuel or said low-octane rating fuel; and, a correction signal generating means, responsive to the output of said knock signal deriving means upon the occurrence of knock, for generating a correction signal for correcting said reference ignition timing characteristic set by said setting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals in said engine; knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; a fuel discriminating means, responsive to the output of said knock signal deriving means, for discriminating between a high-octane rating fuel and a low-octane rating fuel for a fuel used in said engine; a setting means, responsive to the output of said fuel discriminating means, for setting reference ignition timing characteristic for either said high-octane rating fuel or said low-octane rating fuel; and, a correction signal generating means, responsive to the output of said knock signal deriving means upon the occurrence of knock, for generating a correction signal for correcting said reference ignition timing characteristic set by said setting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said setting means includes means for phase-shifting said reference ignition timing characteristic of one of said fuels from that of the other of said fuels by a preset fixed value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said setting means includes means for separately presetting said reference ignition timing characteristics for both of said fuels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said correction signal generating means includes means for resetting said correction signal generating means at the time when said reference ignition timing characteristic is changed over to the setting for said low-octane rating fuel from said high-octane rating fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a vibration acceleration sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 5 wherein said knock signal deriving means comprises a bandpass filter connected to said sensing means to pass therethrough only a frequency component inherent in the knocks, a noise level detector for converting the output of said bandpass filter into a DC voltage with a predetermined amplification, said DC voltage being higher than the noise component while lower than the knock component of the filtered output, and a comparator for comparing the outputs of said filter and said noise level detector to derive said knock signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6 wherein said fuel discriminating means comprises a pulse generator connected to said comparator which generates one pulse per the occurrence of said knock during one ignition, and a counter connected to said pulse generator to count the output pulses of said pulse generator and to provide a logic signal indicating the presence of a predetermined knock occurrence rate per a predetermined time interval defined by a timer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said setting means comprises a flip-flop set by said logic signal from said counter, a reference ignition timing signal generator the igntion timing characteristic of which is set for said high-octane rating fuel, a ignition timing phase-shifter for shifting the timing of said reference ignition timing signal generator in dependence on the output of said flip-flop to control the ignition timing of an ignition coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8 wherein said correction signal generating means comprises a retard controlling voltage generator for integrating the output of said comparator if present, and an adder for adding the output of said retard controlling voltage generator with the output of said flip-flop, the added result being inputted to said phase-shifter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said reference ignition timing setting means comprises a flip-flop set by said logic signal from said counter, a data selector responsive to the output of said flip-flop to select one of first and second ignition timing characteristics for said high-octane and low-octane rating fuels respectively, first and second storages for respectively storing said first and second characteristics, a engine speed detecting means, a load condition detecting means, and an ignition timing computing unit for converting ignition timing data, determined by an engine speed detected by said engine speed detecting means and determined by a load condition detected by said load condition detecting means, into corresponding address data and for sending the address data to said first and second storages, said computing unit reading out the selected output of said data selector to control the ignition timing of an ignition coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
ll. An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10 wherein said correction signal generating means comprises a retard controlling voltage generator for integrating the output of said comparator if present, an analog-digital converter for converting the integrated value of said voltage generator into a digital value, and a subtractor for subtracting said digital value from the output of said data selector, the result being inputted to said computing unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said fuel discriminating means includes means for providing an operating region of said engine to be discriminated and for discriminating said fuel in dependence on the presence or absence of a knock in said operating region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12 wherein said fuel discriminating means comprises means for detecting the load condition of said engine, and means for determining on the basis of the detected result of said detecting means whether or not said load condition lies in a load region where knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said high-octane rating fuel and for determining that the fuel in use is said low-octane rating fuel if knocking arises outside said load region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12 wherein said fuel discriminating means comprises means for detecting the load condition of said engine and means for determining on the basis of the output of said detecting means whether or not said load condition lies in a load region where knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said low-octane rating fuel while no knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said high-octane rating fuel and for determining that the fuel in use is said low-octane rating fuel if knocking arises in said load region while determining that the fuel in use is said high-octane rating fuel if no knocking arises in said load region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12 wherein said fuel discriminating means further comprises first means for setting an operating condition adapted for said high-octane rating fuel, second means for setting an operating condition adapted for said low-octane rating fuel, means for detecting the load condition of said engine, means for determining on the basis of the detected result of said detecting means whether or not said load condition lies in a load region where knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said high-octane rating fuel and for determining that the fuel in use is said low-octane rating fuel if knocking arises outside said load region under an operating condition instructed by said first means, and means for transferring from an operation instructed by said first means to an operation instructed by said second means if it is determined by said determining means that the fuel in use is said low-octane rating fuel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12 wherein said fuel discriminating means further comprises first means for setting an operating condition adapted for said high-octane rating fuel, second means for setting an operating condition adapted for said low-octane rating fuel, means for detecting the load condition of said engine, means for determining on the basis of the output of said detecting means whether or not said load condition lies in a load region where knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said low-octane rating fuel while no knocking arises in the case of said engine being operated with said high-octane rating fuel and for determining that the fuel in use is said low-octane rating fuel if knocking arises in said load region while determining that the fuel in use is said high-octane rating fuel if no knocking arises in said load region, and means for transferring between operations instructed by said first means and said second means in response to the fuel in use determined by said determining means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said operation condition instructed by said first means is a compression ratio.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said operation condition instructed by said first means is a supercharging pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said operation condition instructed by said first means is an air-fuel ratio.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
148 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals of said engine; a knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; means for generating reference ignition timing signals; a correction magnitude determining means for determining an ignition timing correction magnitude for suppressing the occurrence of knock from the output of said knock signal deriving means; a displacement magnitude determining means for determining from the output of said knock signal deriving means or the output of said correction magnitude determining means a displacement magnitude for said reference ignition timing corresponding to the octane rating of a fuel used in said engine; and, an ignition timing determining means responsive to the outputs of said correction magnitude determining means and said displacement magnitude determining means to determine an ignition timing of said engine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
148 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals of said engine; a knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; means for generating reference ignition timing signals; a correction magnitude determining means for determining an ignition timing correction magnitude for suppressing the occurrence of knock from the output of said knock signal deriving means; a displacement magnitude determining means for determining from the output of said knock signal deriving means or the output of said correction magnitude determining means a displacement magnitude for said reference ignition timing corresponding to the octane rating of a fuel used in said engine; and, an ignition timing determining means responsive to the outputs of said correction magnitude determining means and said displacement magnitude determining means to determine an ignition timing of said engine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20 wherein said ignition timing determining means includes an interpolating operation means for performing an interpolating operation between two reference ignition timing characteristics according to a proportional factor corresponding to the octane rating of said fuel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21 wherein said knock sensing means comprises a vibration acceleration sensing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
97 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 22 wherein said knock signal deriving means comprises a bandpass filter connected to said sensing means for passing therethrough only a frequency component inherent in the knocks, a noise level detector for converting the output of said bandpass filter into a DC voltage with a predetermined amplification, said DC voltage being higher than the noise component while lower than the knock component of the filtered output, and a comparator for comparing the outputs of said filter and said detector to derive said knock signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 23 wherein said correction magnitude determining means comprises an integrator for integrating the output of said comparator, and an analog-digital converter connected to said integrator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 23 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means comprises a pulse generator connected to said comparator to generate one pulse per the occurrence of said knock for one ignition, a counter connected to said pulse generator to count the output pulses of said generator and to provide a logic signal indicating the presence of a predetermined knock occurrence rate per a predetermined time interval, an up/down counter counted-up by said counter, a first timer for defining said predetermined time interval, a second timer for defining another predetermined time interval, longer than said predetermined time interval, counting-down said up/down counter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 24 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means includes an advance/retard decision unit for comparing the output of said A/D converter with a predetermined value to provide as an output an advance control signal or a retard control signal according to the compared result, first and second timers connected to said decision unit to receive said advance and retard control signals respectively, and an up/down counter counted up and down respectively by said first and second timers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
105 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21 wherein said ignition timing determining means comprises first and second storages for respectively storing first and second ignition timing characteristics for a high-octane and a low-octane rating fuels respectively, a engine speed detecting means, a load condition detecting means, and an ignition timing computing unit for converting ignition timing data, determined by the engine speed detected by said engine speed detecting means and determined by a load condition detected by said load condition detecting means, into corresponding address data and for sending the address data to said first and second storages.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 27 wherein said interpolating operation means includes means for providing a proportional factor corresponding to the octane rating of said fuel based on the knock occurrence rate indicated by said displacement magnitude determining means, an interpolator for performing an interpolating operation according to said proportional factor between the first and the second ignition timing characteristics respectively stored in said first and second storages, and a subtractor for subracting the digital output of said correction magnitude determining means from the output of said interpolator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
91 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 27 wherein said interpolating operation means includes an adder for adding the output of said correction magnitude determining means and the output of said displacement magnitude determining means, means for providing a proportional factor corresponding to the octane rating of said fuel based on the output of said adder, an interpolator for performing an interpolating operation according to said proportional factor between the first and the second ignition timing characteristics respectively stored in said first and second storages.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20, further comprising means for retaining said displacement magnitude when said engine is outside of a predetermined operating region or a predetermined operating conditioin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 30 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means is determined only in an operating region where knock occurs.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20, further comprising operating parameter control means for controlling a supercharging pressure in addition to the ignition timing of said engine in response to the output of said correction magnitude determining means and/or the output of said displacement magnitude determining means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20, further comprising operating parameter control means for controlling a compression ratio in addition to the ignition timing of said engine in response to the output of said correction magnitude determining means and/or the output of said displacement magnitude determining means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20, further comprising operating parameter control means for controlling an air-fuel ratio in addition to the ignition timing of said engine in response to the output of said correction magnitude determining means and/or the output of said displacement magnitude determining means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20, further comprising means for varying the responsiveness of said displacement magnitude determining means in response to the output value of said correction magnitude determining means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
74 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 35 wherein said displacement magnitude determininig means includes means connected to the output of said correction magnitude determining means for rapidly varying the displacement magnitude determined by said displacement magnitude determining means in the retard direction or advance direction when said correction magnitude is above or below a predetermined value while resetting said correction magnitude in the advance or retard direction.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means includes means for storing said displacement magnitude during the stopped state of said engine.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20 wherein said ignition timing determining means includes an ignition timing operating means for phase-shifting the reference ignition timing signal in response to the output of said displacement magnitude determining means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 20 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means includes a reset circuit for initializing the reference ignition timing displacement magnitude at the time of fuel supply or start into a predetermined value.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
115 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals of said engine; a knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; means for generating reference ignition timing signals; a displacement magnitude determining means for determining from the output of said knock signal deriving means or the output of said correction magnitude determining means a displacement magnitude for said reference ignition timing corresponding to the octane rating of a fuel used in said engine; and, an ignition timing determining means responsive to the outputs of said displacement magnitude determining means to determine an ignition timing of said engine.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
115 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising: a sensing means for sensing knock signals of said engine; a knock signal deriving means, responsive to the output of said sensing means, for deriving said knock signals; means for generating reference ignition timing signals; a displacement magnitude determining means for determining from the output of said knock signal deriving means or the output of said correction magnitude determining means a displacement magnitude for said reference ignition timing corresponding to the octane rating of a fuel used in said engine; and, an ignition timing determining means responsive to the outputs of said displacement magnitude determining means to determine an ignition timing of said engine.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 40 wherein said ignition timing determining means includes an interpolating operation means for performing an interpolating operation between two reference ignition timing characteristics according to a proportional factor corresponding to the octane rating of said fuel.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 40 wherein said ignition timing determining means includes an ignition timing operating means for phase-shifting the reference ignition timing signal in response to the output of said displacement magnitude determining means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 40 wherein said displacement magnitude determining means includes a reset circuit for initializing the reference ignition timing displacement magnitude at the time of fuel supply or start into a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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