Integrated optical engine control system

• Main Authors: LAWRENCE LEROY KNEISEL, ZHONG-YOU(JOE) SHI, HARVINDER SINGH, BERNARD A MEYER, DAVID JAMES STEINERT, JAY DEAVIS BAKER, RICHARD KEITH MCMILLAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.08.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS OF SEALINGS IN COMBUSTION ENGINES; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; CYLINDERS, PISTONS OR CASINGS, FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER,MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE; MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUIDLEVEL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METERING BY VOLUME; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SELECTING; SIGNALLING; SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, WITH COMBUSTIBLEMIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF; TESTING; TRANSMISSION; TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILARSIGNALS; WEAPONS

An integrated control system comprising an integrated circuit (750) that controls at least one component or subsystem of an engine and a first light source (702,704) that generates a first light signal when triggered through the integrated circuit. The first light signal propagates from the first light source through a waveguide that may also serve as a substrate, wherein the signal that actuates the component of the engine can be the first light signal or a signal generated after the first light signal is produced. The component or subsystem of the engine may be an ignition system or a fuel injection system.