Patent Abstract:
An engine tachometer device for determining the revolutions per minute of an engine which generates sparks and has a predetermined configuration. A computer memory is utilized for storing engine configuration data. The engine configuration data associates engine configurations with predetermined equations. An engine configuration selector selects from the computer memory one of the engine configurations which is indicative of the configuration of the engine. An engine characteristic calculator which is connected to the engine and to the engine configuration selector and to the computer memory determines the revolutions per minute of the engine based upon the generated sparks and upon the equation associated with the selected engine configuration. Accordingly, the device accurately monitors the RPM of all configurations of engines.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to engine monitoring devices, and more particularly to adaptable engine monitoring devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Engine monitoring is used throughout many industries to determine performance of an engine as well as to determine when servicing of an engine is needed. For example, the automotive industry examines such engine characteristics as the revolutions per minute of an engine over a period of time in order to assess the engine&#39;s performance and to determine when the engine might need servicing. 
     Industries use many different engine configurations that can range from one to eight cylinders and from two to four strokes. However, present engine monitoring devices are not adaptable for accurately monitoring these different configurations since they are specifically designed to monitor only one or two engine configurations. 
     Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide an engine tachometer device that is adaptable to all configurations of engines. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a device in a self-contained case that can accurately monitor all configurations of engines. It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide engine servicing indications based upon the monitored engine. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an engine tachometer device is provided for determining the revolutions per minute of an engine which generates sparks and has a predetermined configuration. A computer memory is utilized for storing engine configuration data. The engine configuration data associates engine configurations with predetermined equations. An engine configuration selector selects from the computer memory one of the engine configurations which is indicative of the configuration of the engine. An engine characteristic calculator which is connected to the engine and to the engine configuration selector and to the computer memory determines the revolutions per minute of the engine based upon the generated sparks and upon the equation associated with the selected engine configuration. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims in the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the present invention and together, with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, the same reference numeral indicates the same parts. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the data flow among the components of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the interconnections among the components of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view depicting an embodiment of the display and button configuration for the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view depicting the preferred embodiment of the display and button configuration for the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting the operational steps to calculate the revolutions per minute (rpm) according to the techniques of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in a run mode. 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in a total mode. 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in a service timer  1  mode to reset St1 back to preset. 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in a service timer  2  mode. 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in order to perform a clear function. 
     FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting the steps to operate the present invention in a run mode to accumulate engine actual run time. 
     FIG. 12 is a functional flow diagram depicting the button activation sequences related to the tachometer mode. 
     FIG. 13 is a functional flow diagram depicting the button activation sequences related to the runtime mode and total time mode. 
     FIG. 14 is a functional flow diagram depicting the button activation sequences related to the service time  1  mode. 
     FIG. 15 is a functional flow diagram depicting the button activation sequences related to the service time  2  mode. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning to the Figures, particularly FIG. 1, an adaptable engine tachometer device is illustrated and generally designated with the reference numeral  30 . The adaptable engine tachometer device  30  determines the revolutions per minute (rpm  32 ) for many different configurations of engines. Various engine configurations include, but are not limited to, engine cylinder configurations ranging from single cylinder engines (e.g., lawn mowers, chain saws, etc.) to eight cylinder engines (e.g., an eight cylinder automobile engine), as well as engines that are two or four stroke engines. 
     Within the present invention, sensor  36  senses sparks emitted by running engine  34 . Based upon the sensed sparks, sensor  36  provides spark signals  40  to rpm calculator  42 . RPM calculator  42  determines the rpm  32  of running engine  34  based upon spark signals  40  and a selected equation. 
     A user of the present invention operates an engine configuration selector  44  in order to indicate to the rpm calculator  42  the configuration of engine  34 . In this manner, the present invention takes into account the engine configuration when it calculates the RPM based upon the input signal from engine  34 . For example, for a three cylinder engine the present invention takes into account that the input signal is from a three cylinder engine. 
     RPM calculator  42  selects an equation from engine configuration data  46  that matches the configuration of engine  34 . Engine configuration data  46  associates a particular engine configuration with a particular equation as shown by reference numeral  48 . In the preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes the number of cylinders and the number of strokes to express the configuration of engine  34 . 
     However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to utilizing the number of cylinders and the number of strokes for the engine configuration data  46 , but also includes utilizing only the number of cylinders as the engine configuration information in engine configuration data  46 . Moreover, in another embodiment of the present invention, only the number of strokes is used as the engine configuration information in engine configuration data  46 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts the components of the present invention and their interconnections. Wires  70 , preferably eighteen gauge, connect spark plugs  72  of an engine to sensor  36 . Sensor  36  contains a sensitivity filter  74  in order to have the capability of adjusting the sensitivity of sensor  36  to detect the firings of spark plugs  72 . In the preferred embodiment, sensitivity filter  74  has a high sensitivity setting and a low sensitivity setting as depicted by reference numeral  76 . A high sensitivity setting enables the present invention to detect all firings of spark plugs  72 . A low sensitivity setting enables the present invention to look for one spark and ignore all other sparks. 
     Microprocessor  78  sets sensitivity filter  74  at one of these settings by adjusting the gain of sensitivity filter  74 . A low gain setting picks up the strongest sparks. A high gain setting picks up as many sparks as possible. In this manner, the present invention is able to pick up a spark signal from a combination of spark leads. For example, on an eight cylinder engine, the present invention picks up a signal from just one spark lead or it could pick up a combined signal from all eight spark leads together based upon the sensitivity setting. 
     Microprocessor  78  is instructed by a user of the present invention to use a particular sensitivity value by buttons  80 . Buttons  80  preferably includes three buttons (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 ) which indicate to microprocessor  78  such items of information as the sensitivity setting, the configuration of the engine, and other items that are discussed more fully below. 
     Microprocessor  78  utilizes memory  82  to store the equations associated with a particular engine configuration in order to determine the rpm of an engine. Memory  82  also stores the intermediate calculations of microprocessor  78  that are generated during determination of the rpm of the engine. In the preferred embodiment, memory  82  is a complementary metallic-oxide semiconductor chip as may be obtained from Arizona Microchip and has 128 bytes of RAM. Moreover, microprocessor  78  is preferably a PIC16C923 and is available from Arizona Microchip. 
     The results of the calculations by the microprocessor  78  are made visible to the user via a display  84 . Display  84  also provides to the user the current set values and configuration data of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment display  84  is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     Power source  86  supplies electrical power to the various components of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, a lithium three volt CR2032 battery is used. Also, clock  87  is provided to provide timing information to microprocessor  78 . The preferred embodiment uses the clock already contained within the PIC16C923. 
     Additionally, the present invention includes monitoring other aspects of a vehicle through connection to fuel sensor  91 , speed sensor  93 , and battery sensor  95 . The monitored aspects of the vehicle are provided as readouts on the same device of the present invention as that which provides monitoring and readout of an engine&#39;s RPM. 
     In the preferred embodiment, fuel sensor  91  includes a flotation device in a vehicle&#39;s fuel tank to monitor the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. Speed sensor  93  includes monitoring the rotation of a vehicle&#39;s tire and calculating the speed of the vehicle based upon the number of rotations per unit time and upon the geometry of the vehicle&#39;s tire. Battery sensor  95  includes monitoring the voltage of the vehicle&#39;s battery. 
     It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to monitoring only these aspects of a vehicle, but includes monitoring such other aspects of a vehicle as monitoring and providing readouts to a user of such other aspects as the oil pressure of a vehicle through oil sensor  97 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the adaptable engine tachometer device  30 . The adaptable engine tachometer device  30  is a self-contained device with the following length/width/depth dimensions: 60×80×15 millimeters. Three buttons  80  (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 ) are provided below the display  84  in order to switch device  30  between its various functions and modes. 
     Within display  84  is contained a visual indication region  100  for the current setting of the engine configuration. Moreover, visual indication region  102  indicates the particular mode which device  30  is in. Visual indication region  104  provides the calculated RPM of the engine as well as other engine-related information (e.g., maximum RPM and engine service-related information). 
     FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of device  30  which provides additional functionality and information to the user (versus the embodiment depicted in FIG.  3 ). For example, either the rpm or miles per hour (mph) information can be displayed as shown at reference numeral  110 . At reference numeral  111 , the following information is displayed: RPM, MPH, St1, St2. At reference numeral  112 , a fuel bar is displayed in order to show fuel level. 
     Moreover, the mode (which device  30  is in) is displayed at reference numeral  114 . 
     Engine service-related information is displayed at reference numeral  116  in order to inform the user that the engine is possibly in need of some type of service. For example, device  30  is capable of determining how long an engine has been running and informing the user that a specified amount of time has elapsed and that the engine might require servicing. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the steps to determine the RPM of a running engine. Start indication block  150  indicates that process block  154  is to be executed. At process block  154 , Ariel lead wires are wrapped around a spark plug lead several times across the proper number of spark leads for the engine configuration setting. At process block  158 , the sensor turns on the adaptable engine tachometer device automatically when a spark signal is sensed from the running engine. 
     The particular engine configuration of the running engine is inputted into the device at process block  162 . At process block  166 , the microprocessor displays “high” or “low” values below the displayed engine configuration setting on the device so that the user can select the particular sensor sensitivity value. Process block  168  sets the sensitivity filter to the sensitivity value that was established in process block  166 . 
     At decision block  170 , if the user has selected a “high” sensitivity value, then process block  174  is performed wherein the microprocessor looks for all spark signals from the sensor. However, if the sensitivity value is set to “low”, then process block  178  is performed wherein the sensitivity pickup of the sensor is such that the sensor looks only for one particular spark signal and ignores all other sparks in the low input (n.b.: the term “low input” refers to “ghost sparks” which have a lower voltage than the one particular spark; i.e., the closest spark which the pickup lead is wrapped around). 
     At process block  182 , the microprocessor uses the RPM calculation equation based upon the engine configuration that was selected at process block  162 :          RPM     =       (     T1                 Spark                 Count   *   Constant     )       (     T0                 Period                 Count     )                              
     T0 is set as period timer at preferably 61 microsecond resolution and starts with the synchronization spark and ends with the last spark detected. T1 is set as a sparks counter. The following table depicts the constants used to calculate the RPM: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Engine Configuration 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Cylinder 
                 Stroke 
                 Constant 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 2 
                 983040 
               
               
                 1 
                 4 
                 1966080  
               
               
                 2 
                 2 
                 491520 
               
               
                 2 
                 4 
                 983040 
               
               
                 3 
                 2 
                 327680 
               
               
                 3 
                 4 
                 655360 
               
               
                 4 
                 2 
                 245760 
               
               
                 4 
                 4 
                 491520 
               
               
                 5 
                 2 
                 196608 
               
               
                 5 
                 4 
                 393216 
               
               
                 6 
                 2 
                 163840 
               
               
                 6 
                 4 
                 327680 
               
               
                 7 
                 2 
                 140434 
               
               
                 7 
                 4 
                 280686 
               
               
                 8 
                 2 
                 122880 
               
               
                 8 
                 4 
                 245760 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Based upon the selected equation and sensed spark signals, process block  186  calculates the RPM of the running engine before terminating at end block  190 . 
     An example of the calculations performed by process block  186  is the following. If a single cylinder/two stroke engine is operating at 3000 RPM, the present invention performs the following calculations: 
     Mode=1:2 (Constant=983040) 
     This engine produces 1 revolution per spark 
     3000 RPM=50 sparks per Second (1 rev per spark) 
     T0 Timebase=61 uS per count 
     Sample time=1 Second 
     T0 Period Count={fraction (1/61)} uS=16384 (over a 1 second sample period) 
     T1 Spark Count=50 Sparks (over a 1 second sample period) 
     Therefore, RPM=(50 * 983040)/16384=3000 
     If a single cylinder/four stroke engine is operating at 3000 RPM, the present invention performs the following calculations: 
     Mode=1:4 (Constant=1966080) 
     This engine will give 2 revolutions per spark 
     3000 RPM=25 sparks per Second (2 rev per spark) 
     T0 Timebase=61 uS per count 
     Sample time=1 Second 
     T0 Period Count={fraction (1/61)} uS=16384 (over a 1 second sample period) 
     T1 Spark Count=25 Sparks (over a 1 second sample period) 
     Therefore, RPM=(25 * 1966080)/16384=3000 
     Similar calculations are performed for engines that have more cylinders than one. 
     FIGS. 6-11 are flow charts for operating the adaptable engine tachometer device in various modes. FIG. 6 depicts the operational steps related to the “run mode” of the device. The steps of FIG. 6 clear the accumulative engine run time from memory. Process block  234  is the first step for accomplishing this task wherein buttons one and two (B 1  and B 2 ) are depressed simultaneously which causes the microprocessor to flash the run time in the lower left corner of the display. At process block  238 , buttons one and two are simultaneously depressed which instructs the microprocessor to clear the memory and to reset the run time back to zero for the next counting up of the run time. Processing terminates at end block  242 . 
     FIG. 7 depicts the operational steps related to the “total mode” wherein the total hours are accumulated while the engine is actually running. At process block  250 , button one is depressed in order to display the term “T/Time” in the upper right corner and the hours in the large center and the minutes in the upper left corner. The microprocessor retrieves from memory the current accumulated total hours and then displays that value. 
     Process block  254  indicates how to reset the total time that had been stored in the memory chip. First, button one is depressed in order to display “T/Time”. The maximum button is depressed and held for five seconds in order to flash “T/Time.” Within a span of five seconds, the following buttons are depressed in the preferred embodiment in order to perform this particular function: B 3 , B 1 , B 2  and then B 3 . The microprocessor receives input to the memory chip and the memory acknowledges the input code and clears total time back to zero hours and zero minutes. The total time is cleared from the stored memory and resumed back to a “T/Time” value of zero hours and zero minutes. Processing for this particular operation terminates at end block  258 . 
     FIG. 8 depicts the operational steps related to the service timer one mode. In this mode, the device counts down from a set number of hours while the engine is running and gives a service signal (“SSSS”) to the user when this time has elapsed. The first step is shown at process block  270  wherein the microprocessor counts down depressing the run time. The input is set by the user depressing buttons B 2  and B 3  in order to store the total hour setting in the memory chip. 
     Process block  274  shows how to more particularly set the time. To set the time, B 2  and B 3  are depressed together which causes the microprocessor to flash “St 1” in the lower left-hand corner of the display. While flashing “St 1”, B 2  is depressed which instructs the microprocessor that the time should be increased while B 3  indicates that the hours should be decreased. After the desired setting has been achieved, B 2  and B 3  are depressed together in order to save the setting in the memory chip. After the time setting is accomplished, the microprocessor displays from the memory chip the current total hours (T/time) that is stored in the memory chip. At process block  278 , when the time reaches zero, the microprocessor flashes “ST 1” in the large hours region located in the center of the display as well as a small steady “st 1” in the lower left corner. 
     The user can execute block  282  or block  283  at this point. Process block  282  indicates the step involved in clearing the “st 1” alarm. At process block  282 , the B 1  and B 2  buttons are depressed which starts to flash the “st 1” in the lower left-hand corner of the display. Buttons B 1  and B 2  are depressed again to clear the “st 1” alarm. Once the alarm has been cleared, the microprocessor retrieves from memory the current “st 1” time so that the microprocessor can begin the countdown again. Processing terminates at end block  286 . 
     Process block  283  indicates the step involved to reset St1 back to the preset setting without waiting for the St1 alarm to appear. At process block  283 , the B 1  and B 2  buttons are depressed together, which will flash the St1 in the lower left-hand corner. Within 5 seconds the user depresses the B 1  and B 2  buttons together to clear the current run time. Thereupon, the meter resets back to the preloaded set run time to count down again. Processing terminates at end block  286 . 
     FIG. 9 depicts the operational steps related to the service timer two mode (“st2”). In this mode the devices counts down from a set number of hours regardless of whether the engine is running and provides a service signal (“SSSS”) to the user when this time has elapsed. The first step in using this particular mode is process block  300 . At process block  300 , the microprocessor counts down using the clock time. This is where an input time has been set by the user by depressing buttons B 2  and B 3  to store the total hour setting in the memory chip. 
     At process block  304 , buttons B 2  and B 3  are depressed together in order to set the timer. The processor flashes “st 2” in the lower left corner. While the “st 2” is flashing, the B 2  button is depressed to indicate to the processor to increase the time while B 3  is used to decrease the hours. 
     After the desired setting has been achieved, buttons B 2  and B 3  are depressed together in order to save the setting in the memory chip. After the setting has been saved, the microprocessor displays the current elapsed total hours and minutes (T/Time). At process block  308 , when the time reaches “0”, the microprocessor flashes “ST 2” in the large hours region located in the center of the display as well as displays “ST 2” in the lower left corner and displays “call dealer” in the lower right corner. Processing for this particular mode terminates at end block  312 . 
     FIG. 10 depicts the operational steps to clear the last highest tachometer reading from memory. The first step to accomplish this is process block  320  wherein buttons B 1  and B 3  are depressed simultaneously while in the “tacho” mode. The depressing of these buttons causes the RPM and RPM/Max to flash in the upper right-hand corner of the display. At process block  324 , buttons B 1  and B 3  are depressed simultaneously again for the microprocessor to clear the last stored reading from the memory chip and to set up for the next spark reading signal input. Processing terminates at end block  328 . 
     FIG. 11 depicts the operational steps related to the “run” mode. In this mode, the unit accumulates the time the engine has been running. The first step is process block  340  wherein button B 1  is depressed in order to display the word “R/time” in the upper right corner. At process block  348 , the microprocessor retrieves from memory the run time and displays the hours in the large center display and the minutes in the upper left display. Processing terminates at end block  352 . 
     FIGS. 12-15 depict the button activation sequences to enable the adaptable engine tachometer device to transition between functions and between modes. FIG. 12 depicts the button activation sequences related to the tachometer mode (S01)  380 . In the preferred embodiment, tachometer mode  380  is transitioned from the service time two mode as indicated by continuation block A  384 . While the adaptable engine tachometer device is in the tachometer mode  380 , the display maximum RPM function  388  can be performed by depressing the maximum (B 3 ) button. After a five second time out, the display maximum RPM function  388  is terminated. 
     The mode button (B 1 ) and Max button (B 3 ) are utilized in order to perform the flash maximum RPM function  392 . Upon the user depressing other keys or after a five second time out, function  392  terminates. However, if function  392  is still active and the user depresses buttons B 1  and B 3 , then the clear maximum RPM function  396  is performed. After function  396  has cleared the maximum RPM, the device returns to the tachometer mode  380 . 
     The toggle input gain function  400  is activated by the user depressing the B 2  and B 3  buttons. After the toggle input gain function  400  has terminated, then the device returns it to the tachometer mode  380 . The increment engine configuration function  404  is activated by the user depressing buttons B 1  and B 2  and then the device is returned to the tachometer mode  380  upon its termination. 
     While the device is in the tachometer mode  380 , the device can transition into the run time mode as indicated by continuation block B  410  by depressing the B 1  button. 
     FIG. 13 depicts the button activation sequences related to the run time mode  414  and the total time mode  418 . While the device is in the run time mode  414 , the flash run time function  424  is performed if the user depresses buttons B 1  and B 2 . Upon other keys being encountered or after a five second time out, the flash run time function  424  terminates. However, if the flash run time function  424  is still operating and the user depresses B 1  and B 2 , then the clear run time function  428  is activated. 
     The device transitions from the run time mode  414  to the total time mode  418  when the user depresses button B 1 . The total time mode  418  transitions to service time one mode as indicated by continuation block C  432  when the user depresses the B 1  button. 
     FIG. 14 depicts the button activation sequences related to the service time one mode  436 . While the device is in the service time one mode  436  and the user depresses the B 1  and B 2  buttons, the flash “st 1” alarm function  440  is performed. If other keys are encountered or after a five second time out, the flash “st 1” alarm function  440  terminates. However, if the user depresses the B 1  and B 2  buttons again while the flash “st 1” alarm function  440  is operating, then the clear “st 1” alarm function  444  is performed before returning the device back to the service time one mode  436 . 
     If the user depresses the B 2  and B 3  buttons while the device is in the service time one mode  436 , then the flash “st 1” set point function  450  is performed. If other keys are encountered or after a five second time out, the flash “st 1” set point function  450  returns the device back to the service time one mode  436 . However, if the flash “st 1” set point function  450  is running while the user depresses the B 2  button, then the increment “st 1” set point function  456  is performed. If the B 3  button is depressed while the flash “st 1” set point  450  is running, then the decrement “st 1” set point function  460  is performed. Lastly, if the B 2  and B 3  buttons are depressed while the flash “st 1” set point function  450  is running, then the store “st 1” set point function  464  is performed. 
     The device transitions to the service time two mode  480  from the service time one mode  436  when the user depresses the B 1  button. 
     FIG. 15 depicts the button activation sequences related to the service two mode  480 . If the user depresses buttons B 1  and B 3  while the device is in the service time two mode  480 , then the flash “st 2” alarm function  490  is performed. If other keys are encountered or a five second time out occurs, then the device returns to the service two mode  480 . However, if the user depresses the B 1  and B 3  buttons while the flash “st 2” alarm function  490  is operating, then the clear “st 2” alarm function  494  is performed. 
     The flash “st 2” set point function  498  is performed when the user depresses the B 2  and B 3  buttons while the device is in the service two mode  480 . If other keys or a ten second time out is encountered, then the device transitions back to the service time two mode  480 . However, if the user depresses the B 2  button while the flash “st 2” set point function  498  is operating, then the increment “st 2” set point function  502  is performed. However, if the B 3  button is depressed while the flash “st 2” set point function  498  is operating, then the decrement “st 2” set point function  506  is performed. However, if the B 3  button is depressed while the flash “st 2” set point function  498  is operating, then the decrement “st 2” set point function  506  is performed. Lastly, if the user depresses the B 2  and B 3  buttons while the flash “st 2” set point function  498  is operating, then the store “st 2” set point function  510  is performed. 
     The device transitions from the service two mode  480  back to the tachometer mode  380  when the user depresses the B 1  button as indicated by continuation block A  384 . 
     While the above-detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims. For example, while the mode transitions have been described herein by certain button activations, the mode transitions can be affected by other mode transition means, such as by including additional buttons to alleviate the user from having to depress two buttons simultaneously.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5