Patent ID: 6990405

Claim:
An engine control device comprising: a crank pulse generator that outputs a number of pulse signals as a crankshaft rotates, said pulse signals occurring at a standard pitch between signals, said generator also producing a pulse signal interruption at a prescribed rotational position of the crankshaft where no pulse signal is outputted, whereby a pitch between the pulse signals immediately before and after said interruption defines an irregular pitch that differs from the standard pitch; a crankshaft phase detector that detects the pulse signals outputted from said crank pulse generator as crank pulses, detects said irregular pitch, and judges the phase of said crankshaft based on the detected irregular pitch; an intake air pressure detector for detecting the intake air pressure in an intake pipe of an engine; an engine controller that controls the operation of said engine based on said phase of the crankshaft and said intake air pressure; and a crank pulse abnormality detector that determines an abnormal position of said crank pulse generator when said irregular pitch is not detected over a prescribed period of time while the crankshaft phase detector continues to detect said crank pulses.