Page 19 - Understanding Automotive Electronics

2735 | CH 1 Page 6 Tuesday, March 10, 1998 10:52 AM

1 AUTOMOTIVE FUNDAMENTALS

Figure 1.2
Cutaway View of a 6-
Cylinder, Overhead-
Valve, Inline Engine
(Source: Crouse)

FPO

The major components of the engine include the following:
1. Engine block
2. Cylinder
3. Crankshaft
4. Pistons
5. Connecting rods
6. Camshaft
7. Cylinder head
8. Valves
9. Fuel control system
10. Ignition system
11. Exhaust system
12. Cooling system
Electronics play a direct role in only the fuel control, ignition, and exhaust
systems. It will be shown in Chapters 5, 6, and 7 that in order to meet
government regulations for exhaust emissions and fuel economy, these systems
combine to optimize performance within regulatory constraints. In the earliest
days of government regulation, electronic controls were applied to existing
engine designs. However, as electronic technology evolved, the engine
mechanical configuration was influenced (at least indirectly) by the electronic
controls that were intended to be applied.

6 UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS