Ignition module for internal combustion engine with integrated communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10634111-B2
Application number	US-201715829540-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 12, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device for the ignition system of an engine, which may incorporate circuitry for voltage amplification via transformer action, while also containing circuitry for sensing operational parameters, circuitry for calculation of derived values from the sensed data or operational parameters, circuitry for storage of the data and derived values, circuitry for engine system control, and circuitry for the wireless communication of data and derived values.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated ignition module for an internal combustion engine, the module comprising:
a housing configured for attachment to a chassis;
an ignition circuit disposed in the housing;
a programmable controller disposed in the housing; and
a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing, the transceiver operably and communicably coupled to the controller to wirelessly exchange data between the controller and an external electronic device;
wherein the ignition circuit is controlled by the controller and includes an ignition coil disposed in the housing; and
wherein the ignition circuit further includes a charging coil and an energy storage device.

2. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is oriented out of phase with electromagnetic radiation generated by the ignition coil.

3. The module according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one air temperature sensor operable to sense and transmit a temperature of ambient combustion air and at least one engine temperature sensor operable to sense and transmit an operating temperature of the engine, the controller configured to detect the transmitted temperatures.

4. The module according to claim 3 , further comprising an engine speed sensor operable to sense and transmit a measured speed of the engine to the controller.

5. The module according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is operably coupled to an actuator associated with a choke valve that controls a flow of ambient combustion air to the engine, the controller configured to adjust a position of the choke valve based on the transmitted temperatures and speed of the engine.

6. The module according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator is a stepper motor.

7. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured via program instructions to collect and analyze engine operational data obtained via a plurality of sensors and perform basic analytics to generate derived engine data.

8. The module according to claim 7 , wherein the external electronic device is configured via program instructions to perform more in-depth analytics on the derived engine data received from the controller via the transceiver.

9. The module according to claim 8 , wherein the external electronic device sends control instructions to controller via the transceiver based on the more in-depth analytics to alter operation of the engine.

10. The module according to claim 1 , further comprising an auto-choke system disposed in the housing.

11. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the transceiver including transmission and reception of data to and from the external electronics device.

12. An integrated ignition module for an internal combustion engine, the module comprising:
a housing configured for attachment to a chassis;
an ignition circuit disposed in the housing;
a programmable controller disposed in the housing; and
a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing, the transceiver operably and communicably coupled to the controller to wirelessly exchange data between the controller and an external electronic device;
wherein the ignition circuit is controlled by the controller and includes an ignition coil disposed in the housing; and
wherein the transceiver is oriented out of phase with electromagnetic radiation generated by the ignition coil.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Bykowski Jonathan T
• Kleczewski Michael R
• Patrawala Pezaan S

Classifications

• F02D41/22

  Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} · CPC title

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• F02N11/0807

  Remote means · CPC title

• F02P3/00

  Other installations · CPC title

• F02D41/067

  with control of the choke (non electronic control of choke see F02M1/10) · CPC title