METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AT MAXIMUM TORQUE UNDER VARYING OPERATING CONDITIONS

摘要

Spark ignition timing of an internal combustion engine is oscillated on opposite sides of the setting of a variable reference timing and the resultant engine speed is detected in at least three successive phases of the oscillation and stored in respective memories. The contents of the memories are compared with each other to detect whether they establish one of two predetermined relationships which occur exclusively in the absence of a manual command input to the engine. The variable reference setting is adjusted by a predetermined amount in a specified direction in response to the established relationship. The process is repeated so that the reference setting approaches an optimum advance angle at which the engine output torque is at a maximum. When the reference setting is at or near the optimum point or when a manual command engine input is present, the registered engine speed values establish a relationship other than the predetermined ones and the reference setting is not adjusted.