A engine starting method is carried out to start an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first hub, a second hub, and a damper. The damper connects the first hub and the second hub in a power transmission path between the engine and a generator capable of power generation and powered travel. The engine starting method determines whether or not the engine needs to be started, begins to crank the engine via the generator when the engine needs to be started, performs a first ignition when torque fluctuation caused by torsion in the first hub and the second hub is in a range of being absorbable by the damper during the cranking, and suppresses engine torque generated by the first ignition below engine torque generated by second and subsequent ignitions.

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.

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.

A combustion control system and method for a turbulent jet ignition engine is presented. A controller is configured to receive a torque request, determine a target spark stagger based on a first spark from a first ignition device and a second spark from a second ignition device, determine an adjusted maximum brake torque (MBT) based on the spark stagger, determine a delta spark based on a difference between the adjusted MBT and an actual leading spark from the first and second ignition devices, determine a torque efficiency based on the delta spark, estimate an actual torque, and command a first and a second spark timing from the first and second ignition devices to satisfy the torque request.

A combustion control system and method for a turbulent jet ignition engine is presented. A controller is configured to receive a torque request, determine a target spark stagger based on a first spark from a first ignition device and a second spark from a second ignition device, determine an adjusted maximum brake torque (MBT) based on the spark stagger, determine a delta spark based on a difference between the adjusted MBT and an actual leading spark from the first and second ignition devices, determine a torque efficiency based on the delta spark, estimate an actual torque, and command a first and a second spark timing from the first and second ignition devices to satisfy the torque request.

An ignition system has an ignition plug and an ignition control unit that controls the ignition plug. When an engine is in a predetermined operating state, the ignition control unit performs ignition control after top dead center to perform ignition after the compression top dead center. The ignition system has an airflow support structure that facilitates the flow of airflow through a discharge gap at least after the compression top dead center. The ignition system is configured such that due to the airflow support structure and the timing of the ignition, airflow at a flow rate of 5 m/s or more flows through the discharge gap during a spark period after top dead center, which is the generation period of the discharge spark in the ignition control after top dead center.

An ignition system has an ignition plug and an ignition control unit that controls the ignition plug. When an engine is in a predetermined operating state, the ignition control unit performs ignition control after top dead center to perform ignition after the compression top dead center. The ignition system has an airflow support structure that facilitates the flow of airflow through a discharge gap at least after the compression top dead center. The ignition system is configured such that due to the airflow support structure and the timing of the ignition, airflow at a flow rate of 5 m/s or more flows through the discharge gap during a spark period after top dead center, which is the generation period of the discharge spark in the ignition control after top dead center.

An object is to improve scavenging performance of a pre-combustion chamber connected to a main combustion chamber via an orifice and suppress reduction in combustion performance of an internal combustion engine. This control device for an internal combustion engine including a main combustion chamber and a pre-combustion chamber having at least one orifice between the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber, includes a first control device which controls operation of an ignition coil to generate spark discharge at a spark plug, thus combusting fuel gas, and a second control device which controls operation of the ignition coil at a timing other than the timing of combusting the fuel gas, to promote scavenging of the pre-combustion chamber.

An ignition coil control system may include first and second ignition coils, and a spark plug including a pair of electrodes in which generates spark discharge by discharge currents of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil, a DC-DC converter connected to a primary coil of the first ignition coil, a primary coil of the second ignition coil and a battery; in which converts current magnitude supplied to a primary coil of the first ignition coil and a primary coil of the second ignition coil from a battery, and a controller in which controls the spark discharge of the electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil base on a pulse signal, wherein the controller is configured to selectively execute a multi-state ignition through the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil and a single-stage ignition through one of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil according to an operation region of an engine.

An electronic engine timing system that includes at least (1) an engine position sensor that includes a diametric magnet and two or more hall effect sensors configured and positioned to sense diametric magnet position, (2) sensor data receiving circuitry configured for receiving sensory input, including at least input from the engine position sensor; and (3) control circuitry configured to control firing of one or more cylinders of the engine at least in part by calculating one or more timing advance positions for one or more cylinders of the engine and by causing the one or more cylinders to fire according to the one or more calculated timing advance positions, the control circuitry further configured to calculate the one or more timing advance positions for the one or more cylinders separately from one another based at least in part on input from the engine position sensor.