A detection apparatus for detecting a cam angle of a 4-stroke multi-cylinder engine in which explosion intervals are unequal intervals, includes a detection target member configured to rotate in synchronism with a camshaft, and first and second cam angle sensors configured to detect rotation of the detection target member. The detection target member includes a plurality of first detection target portions arranged, at equal pitches, as many as the number of cylinders of the multi-cylinder engine. The second cam angle sensor is arranged while being shifted in the rotation direction with respect to the first cam angle sensor such that any one of detection signals of the plurality of first detection target portions by the first cam angle sensor and the second cam angle sensor is output at a timing corresponding to each explosion interval.

The aim of the present invention is a method for synchronizing an engine comprising at least one movable piston of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, said method comprising a first step (e1) involving initializing a second memory space, a second step (e2) involving waiting for an edge on a fourth signal (CAM_TOT), a fourth step (e4) involving testing the value of a counter (CPT), an eighth step (e8) involving selecting the theoretical angular positions of the slots of the second signal (CAM_IN) relative to the edges of a first signal (CRK) and of the slots of a third signal (CAM_EX) relative to the edges of the first signal (CRK).

A method for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, in which via a rotating magnetic pole wheel a voltage signal with a number of positive and negative half-waves is produced in at least one coil arrangement that is located on a core leg of an iron core during each rotation of the magnetic pole wheel, wherein the voltage signal is used to determine the gap width of the air gap between the magnetic pole wheel and the core leg.

A method for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, in which via a rotating magnetic pole wheel a voltage signal with a number of positive and negative half-waves is produced in at least one coil arrangement that is located on a core leg of an iron core during each rotation of the magnetic pole wheel, wherein the voltage signal is used to determine the gap width of the air gap between the magnetic pole wheel and the core leg.

A device for detecting and monitoring crank shaft rotary speed and position in a four stroke engine, wherein a first and a second sensor are arranged to sense passage of reference marks on a rotatable element or elements. The first sensor is a high precision sensor which is arranged to sense passage of reference marks on a crank shaft flywheel of the engine, and the second sensor is a low speed sensor which is arranged to sense passage of reference marks on the crank shaft flywheel or reference marks or a wheel being associated with a cam shaft of the engine. The invention also concerns a method and a vehicle.

A current source sensor delivers detection information in the form of an intermediate signal by selectively applying a low-level or high-level current to a communication bus depending on the passage of a mobile target, the sensor including a sensitive portion detecting the passage of a of the mobile target, an electronic module controlling and shape signals coming from the sensitive portion, an embedded intelligence module designed, inter alia, to receive information from another sensor through a first signal present on the communication bus, the first signal being the sum of the abovementioned intermediate signal generated by the sensor and of another intermediate signal generated by the other sensor, wherein the embedded intelligence module is adapted to modify a first low level and a first high level of the intermediate signal, respectively, into a second low level and into a second high level depending on a the first signal.

The embodiments described herein include systems with a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) interface and methods of their operation. Embodiments of VRS interfaces include a clearing signal generator configured to generate a clearing signal corresponding with the timing of a noise event. The clearing signal may be configured to clear a post-processing circuit.

The aim of the present invention is a method for synchronizing an engine comprising at least one movable piston of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, said method comprising a first step (e1) involving initializing a second memory space, a second step (e2) involving waiting for an edge on a fourth signal (CAM_TOT), a fourth step (e4) involving testing the value of a counter (CPT), an eighth step (e8) involving selecting the theoretical angular positions of the slots of the second signal (CAM_IN) relative to the edges of a first signal (CRK) and of the slots of a third signal (CAM_EX) relative to the edges of the first signal (CRK).

A method for evaluating the compression of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an electric starter motor and a respective starting battery, comprising: start capturing the battery voltage signal when the starter motor stars to rotate the internal-combustion engine so as to initiate operation of the engine under its own power; cease capturing the battery voltage signal when the engine enters operation under its own power; process the captured voltage signal for the location of local minimums; calculate the time difference between consecutive local minimums; detect if there is a variation of time between the calculated differences higher than a predetermined threshold between any said calculated time differences; and, if there is such variation, signal a potential engine malfunction. Also provided is a device for accomplishing the foregoing.

An engine synchronization method may include: detecting teeth numbers of crank teeth installed on a crankshaft based on a pulse signal generated from a crankshaft position sensor; calculating a tooth period between a falling edge and a next falling edge of the pulse signal generated from the crankshaft position sensor and detecting a missing tooth based on the calculated tooth period; determining whether the detected missing tooth is an actual missing tooth based on a tooth number detected at the time of detecting the missing tooth; and performing synchronization control of an engine when it is determined that the detected missing tooth is the actual missing tooth.