Internal combustion engine electronic ignition system

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: means responsive to said square wave electrical signal trailing and leading edges for producing a time variable electrical signal that is initiated at each said trailing edge, changes from a selected initial level with time toward another level at such a rate as to attain a selected second level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value and is terminated at each said leading edge; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected second level when said engine speed is less than said selected value and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing an electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said electrical signal; and means for applying said electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 3

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: means responsive to said square wave electrical signal trailing and leading edges for producing an electrical signal that changes from a selected initial level with time toward another level at such a rate as to attain a selected second level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value and for reestablishing said first electrical signal to said selected initial level, respectively, whereby a time variable electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected second level when said engine speed is less than said selected value and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing an electrical output signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said electrical output signal; and means for applying said electrical output signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: means responsive to said square wave electrical signal trailing and leading edges for producing an electrical signal that changes from a selected initial level with time toward another level at such a rate as to attain a selected second level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value and for reestablishing said first electrical signal to said selected initial level, respectively, whereby a time variable electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected second level when said engine speed is less than said selected value and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing an electrical output signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said electrical output signal; and means for applying said electrical output signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 5

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: means responsive to said square wave electrical signal trailing and leading edges for producing a first electrical signal that changes from a selected initial level with time toward another level at such a rate as to attain a selected second level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value and for reestablishing said first electrical signal to said selected initial level, respectively; means responsive to said first electrical signal attaining said selected second level when said engine speed is less than said selected value for producing a second electrical signal; means responsive to said second electrical signal and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing a third electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said third electrical signal; and means for applying said third electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 6

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: means responsive to said square wave electrical signal trailing and leading edges for producing a first electrical signal that changes from a selected initial level with time toward another level at such a rate as to attain a selected second level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value and for reestablishing said first electrical signal to said selected initial level, respectively; means responsive to said first electrical signal attaining said selected second level when said engine speed is less than said selected value for producing a second electrical signal; means responsive to said second electrical signal and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing a third electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said third electrical signal; and means for applying said third electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 7

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: a capacitor; means responsive to each leading edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the charge of said capacitor and to each trailing edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the discharge of said capacitor at such a rate as to attain a selected charge level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value whereby a time variable electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected charge level when said engine speed is less than said selected value and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing an electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said electrical signal; and means for applying said electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 8

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: a capacitor; means responsive to each leading edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the charge of said capacitor and to each trailing edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the discharge of said capacitor at such a rate as to attain a selected charge level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value whereby a time variable electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected charge level when said engine speed is less than said selected value and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing an electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said electrical signal; and means for applying said electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 9

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: a capacitor; means responsive to each leading edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the charge of said capacitor and to each trailing edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the discharge of said capacitor at such a rate as to attain a selected charge level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value whereby a time varaible electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected charge level when said engine speed is less than said selected value for producing a first electrical signal; means responsive to said first electrical signal and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing a second electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said second electrical signal; and means for applying said second electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.

Claim 10

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type that includes mutually exclusive discrete circuits responsive to each selected half cycle of a series of alternating current timing signals produced in synchronism with an associated engine that are operative, respectively, to effect engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment and to produce a series of substantially square wave electrical signals having leading and trailing edges with the trailing edges being substantially coincident with the point of zero crossover of each selected half cycle of the timing signals into the next half cycle, the improvement of circuitry operative to inhibit engine speed ignition spark advance adjustment with engine speeds less than a selected value, comprising: a capacitor; means responsive to each leading edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the charge of said capacitor and to each trailing edge of said square wave electrical signals for effecting the discharge of said capacitor at such a rate as to attain a selected charge level only when said engine speed is less than said selected value whereby a time varaible electrical signal is produced between each said square wave electrical signal; means responsive to said time variable electrical signal attaining said selected charge level when said engine speed is less than said selected value for producing a first electrical signal; means responsive to said first electrical signal and the said leading edge of the next said square wave electrical signal for producing a second electrical signal and to the said trailing edge of the same said square wave electrical signal for terminating said second electrical signal; and means for applying said second electrical signal to said circuitry operative to effect engine speed ignition spark advance in such a manner as to inhibit the operation thereof.