System to prevent reverse engine operation

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine, such as an outboard marine engine which includes, an advanced timing schedule a non-advanced timing, schedule, and a circuit for switching between the two schedules or disabling both schedules based upon engine operating conditions. The ignition system includes an opto-electronic time base generator which produces two sets of timing pulses relative to crankshaft position which are non-advanced timing pulses and advanced timing pulses. The time base generator comprises two LED-phototransistor pairs and an encoder disk attached to the crankshaft with slots to interrupt the radiation path between each LEDphototransistor pair. The encoder …