Patent ID: 6588259
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: F02D

Abstract:
A motorcycle comprising:a frame; front and rear wheels coupled to said frame for rotation with respect to said frame; an engine mounted to said frame, said engine including a housing, a crankshaft mounted for rotation within said housing, first and second cylinders, and first and second pistons in said first and second cylinders, respectively, whereby said pistons reciprocate within said cylinders in a four stroke combustion cycle to rotate said crankshaft; a crankshaft velocity sensor positioned to monitor the rotational speed of said crankshaft; and a processor interconnected with said crankshaft velocity sensor, said processor being programmed to measure a first rotational speed of said crankshaft prior to either of said pistons reaching an initial top-dead-center, and measure a second rotational speed of said crankshaft prior to either of said pistons reaching an initial top-dead-center, and determine the phase of said engine based on the comparison of the first and second rotational speeds.