Patent ID: 7198028

Claim:
A control system for use with a light duty, non-automotive combustion engine, said system comprising: an ignition discharge capacitor coupled to a charge winding for receiving and storing a charge signal, an ignition switch coupled to said ignition discharge capacitor for discharging said capacitor and having signal input, an input coupled to an engine speed sensor for receiving an electronic speed signal representative of engine speed, an output coupled to said ignition switch for providing an electronic ignition signal that causes said ignition switch to discharge said ignition discharge capacitor and affects the ignition timing of the light duty, non-automotive combustion engine, and an electronic processing device coupled to said input for receiving said speed signal and coupled to said output for providing said ignition signal, wherein said control system is capable of monitoring the engine speed with said speed signal and is capable of rapidly changing the ignition timing with said ignition signal so that the engine speed is generally maintained in an idle engine speed range when the engine is idling, wherein said rapid change in the ignition timing includes a rapid timing advance if the engine speed falls below said idle engine speed range, and a rapid timing retard if the engine speed exceeds said idle engine speed range.