Innovate Technology Releases LM-1 at SEMA 2003

Affordably priced, the LM-1 is the first fully-digital air/fuel ratio meter for the professional and the enthusiast alike.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA, November 3, 2003– Innovate Technology, INC. today announced the release of the LM-1, the world’s first fully-digital air/fuel ratio meter. In a major advance for engine tuners, the LM-1 enables precise measurement of exhaust air/fuel ratio (AFR) at an affordable price. The meter’s digital signal processing technology provides data on exactly how rich or lean an engine is running at any load. The LM-1’s self-calibrating circuitry also compensates for changes in temperature, altitude, and sensor condition.

Tuning an engine for maximum power previously required long trial-and-error sessions on a dynamometer. With the LM-1, precise AFR measurement allows the user to correctly adjust many variables- including carburetor jetting, fuel injection, turbo fuel curves, etc.- without long and expensive dyno sessions.

Another key feature of the LM-1 is its ability to capture and log up to 44 minutes of AFR data, 12 times per second, in multiple sessions. This data can be quickly downloaded into a PC via the included serial cable, viewed, and analyzed via the included software or any standard spreadsheet program. And with the available auxiliary-input cable, the user can capture and log up to five additional inputs (RPM, MAF, MAP, TPI, etc.). Thus the LM-1 can serve as a completely integrated engine tuning workshop.

“We often see people make expensive modifications to their engines, only to lose horsepower after installation,” says Klaus Allmendinger, Innovate’s VP of Engineering. “The key to tuning is accurate measurement of results, and the key to accurate measurement is the LM-1.”

Competing air-fuel-ratio meters vary widely in their precision, price and portability. The best ones are in the $3-$5,000 range, are designed as lab-grade instruments for big operations, and require careful and regular calibration. They are, however, no more accurate than the LM-1. In fact, because of calibration problems, in many cases expensive analog meters are less precise than the LM-1’s 0.01? accuracy specification.

On the other end of the spectrum, low-cost analog AFR meters in the sub-$500 range typically use a standard, narrow-band oxygen sensor and are therefore only able to tell whether the fueling is rich or lean but not by how much. These types of meters are therefore of limited value for engine tuning.

“There’s a lot of technology in this device,” states Patrick Thompson, Innovate’s President, “but we’ve made every effort to keep the price as low as possible to make it affordable for everyone. Now your average enthusiast can measure, analyze, and tune as precisely as a big racing team.”

The standard LM-1 includes a Bosch wide-band oxygen sensor and cable, cigarette-lighter adapter, serial cable for PC connection, 9V battery, exhaust bung and plug, CD and manual. Available accessories include auxiliary input cables, battery-clip power cable, exhaust clamp, and analog output cable. Additional accessories include an RPM converter input cable, dash-mountable displays, and AC adapter. The LM-1 ships with a Bosch sensor, however, it can also function with other wide-band sensors, including Honda/NTK and VW sensors.

The LM-1 sells for a retail price of $349. Contact Innovate Technologies at (949) 388-4442 or visit www.tuneyourengine.com for more information.
Dealer inquiries welcome.