Ignition secondary analyzer
First Claim
1. Apparatus for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having induction coil means for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and distributor means for cyclically distributing said voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order, said apparatus comprising:
- measuring means coupled to said secondary ignition circuit for producing measurement signals indicating the amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in said secondary ignition circuit for respective spark plugs in each engine cycle,integrating means responsive to said measurement signals for producing a comparison signal indicating the average measurement signals developed for all spark plugs,offset means for producing an offset signal,comparator means for comparing successive measurement signals with said comparison signal and producing a fault signal when a said measurement signal differs from said comparison signal by more than said offset signal, andindicating means responsive to a said fault signal for indicating a fault.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine is analyzed to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, the circuit having an induction coil for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and a distributor for cyclically distributing the voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order. The peak amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in the secondary ignition circuit for respective spark plugs in each engine cycle is measured to produce measurement signals systematically related thereto. A comparison signal is derived that is systematically related to the average peak amplitude of voltage pulses of the one polarity developed for all spark plugs. Successive measurement signals are compared with the comparison signal, and a fault is indicated when a measurement signal differs from the comparison signal by more than a predetermined differential. A fault is also indicated when the measurement signal is less than a predetermined amplitude. A fault is also indicated when peak voltage pulses of the opposite polarity exceed the average peak by more than a predetermined differential. The spark plugs at fault are individually identified, as is the nature of the fault.
32 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having induction coil means for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and distributor means for cyclically distributing said voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order, said apparatus comprising:
-
measuring means coupled to said secondary ignition circuit for producing measurement signals indicating the amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in said secondary ignition circuit for respective spark plugs in each engine cycle, integrating means responsive to said measurement signals for producing a comparison signal indicating the average measurement signals developed for all spark plugs, offset means for producing an offset signal, comparator means for comparing successive measurement signals with said comparison signal and producing a fault signal when a said measurement signal differs from said comparison signal by more than said offset signal, and indicating means responsive to a said fault signal for indicating a fault.
-
-
2. Apparatus for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having induction coil means for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and distributor means for cyclically distributing said voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order, said apparatus comprising:
-
measuring means coupled to said secondary ignition circuit for producing measurement signals identifying the peak amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in said secondary ignition circuit for respective said spark plugs in each engine cycle, integrating means coupled to said secondary ignition circuit for producing a comparison signal identifying the average peak amplitude of voltage pulses of said one polarity developed for all said spark plugs, offset means for producing an offset signal, comparator means for comparing successive measurement signals with said comparison signal and producing a fault signal when a said measurement signal differs from said comparison signal by more than said offset signal, and indicating means responsive to a said fault signal for indicating a fault. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having means for generating a succession of high voltage outputs from a coil, and means for distributing said outputs to a plurality of portions of said circuit in a predetermined order, each said portion including a spark plug, said method comprising:
-
measuring the voltage of each output of said coil; storing a first reference voltage which is indicating the average of the positive components of said measured output voltages; storing a second reference voltage which is indicating the average of the negative components of said measured output voltages; comparing each successive measurement of the output of said coil with said reference voltages and generating data to identify faults in said circuit if the positive component of said output exceeds said first reference voltage by a predetermined differential, if the negative component of said output exceeds said second reference voltage by a predetermined differential, or if the negative component of said output is less than a predetermined amplitude; identifying the portion of said circuit to which each said output is distributed; and displaying said data to identify the location of any faulty portions detected by said comparing means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A method for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having induction coil means for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and distributor means for cyclically distributing said voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order, said method comprising:
-
measuring the amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in said secondary ignition circuit for respective spark plugs in each engine cycle and producing measurement signals indicating said amplitudes, deriving a comparison signal indicating the average measurement signals developed for all spark plugs, comparing successive measurement signals with said comparison signal, and indicating a fault when a said measurement signal differs from said comparison signal by more than a predetermined differential.
-
-
19. A method for analyzing the secondary ignition circuit of a spark ignited internal combustion engine to identify the location of faulty portions of the circuit, said circuit having induction coil means for generating sparking voltage pulses repetitively, and distributor means for cyclically distributing said voltage pulses to respective spark plugs in a predetermined order, said method comprising:
-
measuring the peak amplitude of respective voltage pulses of one polarity developed at a single point in said secondary ignition circuit for respective said spark plugs in each engine cycle and producing measurement signals indicating said amplitudes, deriving a comparison signal indicating the average peak amplitude of voltage pulses of said one polarity developed for all said spark plugs, comparing successive measurement signals with said comparison signal, and indicating a fault when a said measurement signal differs from said comparison signal by more than a predetermined differential. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification