Importance

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Abstract

A method of detecting the reference crank angle position in an internal combustion engine at the time of starting the engine, the engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of cylinders and associated with an ignition timing control device having a pulse signal generating mechanism including a rotor and a pair of first and second pulsers angularly spaced around the rotor for detecting passage of reactors disposed on the rotor. According to the method, the internal combustion engine is cranked, and the electric pulse signal generated by the first pulser is counted by a counter by referring to the content of a latch circuit. The counter is reset and enabled to count the electric pulse signal again when the reference crank angle position is not detected until the count of the counter reaches a predetermined count. The predetermined count being equal to a maximum number of electric pulses that can be generated by the first pulser while the rotor makes one revolution. The internal combustion engine is continuously cranked until the reference crank angle position is detected before the count of the counter reaches the predetermined count.

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First Claim