Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110041803 | Ignition Coil With Ionization And Digital Feedback For An Internal Combustion Engine - Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include an ignition coil that generates a pre-discharge ionization signal during charging of the ignition coil after reaching a first threshold charge level and prior to spark discharge and a controller that determines an engine operating condition, such as pre-ignition or plug fouling, in response to the pre-discharge ionization signal. The ignition coil may also generate digital feedback and ionization signals used to by the controller for to control ignition coil dwell and repetitive sparking, as well as providing various combustion diagnostics. | 02-24-2011 |
20130206106 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AN IGNITION SYSTEM - A system for monitoring and cleaning a spark plug is disclosed. In one example, an amount of carbonaceous soot at the center electrode ceramic of the spark plug is determined in response to a voltage of a sense resistor that is in electrical communication with the spark plug. The system may institute spark plug cleaning after carbonaceous soot is detected so that the possibility of engine misfire may be reduced. | 08-15-2013 |
20130284148 | IGNITION COIL WITH IONIZATION AND DIGITAL FEEDBACK FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include an ignition coil that generates a pre-discharge ionization signal during charging of the ignition coil after reaching a first threshold charge level and prior to spark discharge and a controller that determines an engine operating condition, such as pre-ignition or plug fouling, in response to the pre-discharge ionization signal. The ignition coil may also generate digital feedback and ionization signals used to by the controller to control ignition coil dwell and repetitive sparking, as well as providing various combustion diagnostics. | 10-31-2013 |
20140102412 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING SPARK TO AN ENGINE - A system and method for delivering spark to an engine is disclosed. In one example, a single conductor carries a spark signal that is indicative of a desired spark advance for a plurality of ignition coils. The system and method may reduce wiring complexity for spark plugs that are supplied energy via two ignition coils. | 04-17-2014 |
20140109568 | METHOD FOR PURGING CONDENSATE FROM A CHARGE AIR COOLER - Methods and systems are provided for performing a pro-active condensate clean-out of a charge air cooler. In response to condensate in a charge air cooler and engine operating conditions, airflow is increased to the intake manifold, purging condensate from the cooler. Engine actuators may also be adjusted to maintain torque demand during the clean-out procedure. | 04-24-2014 |
20140360476 | DUAL COIL IGNITION SYSTEM - A dual coil ignition system is provided. The dual coil ignition system includes a first inductive ignition coil including a first primary winding and a first secondary winding, and a second inductive ignition coil including a second primary winding and a second secondary winding, the second secondary winding connected in series to the first secondary winding. The dual coil ignition system further includes a diode network including a first diode and a second diode connected between the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding. | 12-11-2014 |
20150112573 | SPARK PLUG FOULING DETECTION FOR IGNITION SYSTEM - A method for determining a level of spark plug fouling and providing an indication to change the spark plugs of an ignition system is provided. The method includes providing a dwell command on a control wire of an ignition system and generating an indication of a recommendation to change a spark plug of the ignition system based upon a current on the control wire. | 04-23-2015 |
20150176508 | SPARK PLUG FOULING DETECTION FOR IGNITION SYSTEM - Methods and systems are provided for inferring spark plug fouling due to accumulation of fuel additives thereon. In one example, an engine controller may infer spark plug fouling due to accumulation of fuel additive based on a combination of engine operating parameters correlated with spark plug health. For example, the engine operating parameters may include a change in an adaptive knock term, an engine pre-ignition rate, and engine exhaust oxygen sensor switching frequency over a vehicle drive cycle, and an engine misfire rate. | 06-25-2015 |
20150176558 | SPARK PLUG FOULING DETECTION FOR IGNITION SYSTEM - Methods and systems are provided for determining a type of spark plug fouling. In one example, a method may include differentiating spark plug fouling due to soot accumulation from spark plug fouling due to fuel additive accumulation based on a current on a control wire of the spark plug following application of a dwell command. Further, exhaust oxygen sensor degradation and/or exhaust catalyst degradation may be determined based on switching frequencies of one or more exhaust oxygen sensors and the type of spark plug fouling. | 06-25-2015 |