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US006542074B1
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,542,074 Bi
Tharman et al. (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 1,2003
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 0420099 A2 4/1991
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Toan Pham
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
(57) ABSTRACT
The invention provides a monitoring system for monitoring an internal combustion engine. The monitoring system includes a power source having a winding and a magnet that magnetically interacts with the winding to generate a winding signal. The monitoring system further includes a conditioner that conditions the winding signal to generate a conditioned signal, a counter circuit powered by the conditioned signal that outputs an indication signal, and a visual or audible indicator that provides indication to the user upon receiving the indication signal.
49 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets