Circuit apparatus for measuring the primary voltage of an ignition coil
First Claim
1. Circuit apparatus for evaluating voltage produced in the primary winding of an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine after interruption of a path of current therethrough, said apparatus comprising:
- means for comparing voltage present across said primary winding or a fraction thereof with a reference voltage, said comparing means including a comparing element (2) of a kind which provides a change from a normal output logic level to a modified logic level so long as said voltage being compared with said reference voltage, as augmented or diminished by hysteresis-producing circuit elements if said elements are present in said comparing means, exceeds said reference voltage;
means (4) responsive to the output of said comparing means for producing a digital signal representative of the duration of said modified logic level at an output of said comparing means, andevaluation circuit means (3), responsive to said voltage which is compared to said reference voltage, for producing an analog electrical signal representative of the value of an ignition voltage in said engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The voltage developed by a primary winding of an ignition coil is supplied to a voltage divider for furnishing an analog signal of reduced amplitude for evaluation on an analog basis, which reduced amplitude analog signal is averaged by a capacitor connected between the voltage divider tap and ground. The capacitor eliminates the undesired effect of voltage spikes, but is not large enough to interfere with the measurement of voltages exceeding the ignition-initiating primary winding voltage value. The same reduced primary winding voltage is supplied through an input resistor to one input of a differential amplifier connected to operate as a switch having hysteresis and having a reference voltage applied to it such that the output will be the provision of a steady voltage having a duration corresponding to the spark discharge duration, for subsequent digital evaluation. The tap of the voltage divider that provides the analog output voltage for the system is subjected to a clamping action provided by another voltage divider of low ohm value connected across a 5-volt source and having its tap connected to the tap of the first mentioned voltage divider by a diode, so that primary winding voltages above the spark-initiating voltage will be measured on a reduced scale, while the differential amplifier and other integrated circuits are prevented from having overvoltages applied to them. The circuit is therefore suited for economical manufacture in so-called hybrid technology.
15 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Circuit apparatus for evaluating voltage produced in the primary winding of an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine after interruption of a path of current therethrough, said apparatus comprising:
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means for comparing voltage present across said primary winding or a fraction thereof with a reference voltage, said comparing means including a comparing element (2) of a kind which provides a change from a normal output logic level to a modified logic level so long as said voltage being compared with said reference voltage, as augmented or diminished by hysteresis-producing circuit elements if said elements are present in said comparing means, exceeds said reference voltage; means (4) responsive to the output of said comparing means for producing a digital signal representative of the duration of said modified logic level at an output of said comparing means, and evaluation circuit means (3), responsive to said voltage which is compared to said reference voltage, for producing an analog electrical signal representative of the value of an ignition voltage in said engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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- 3. The circuit apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for averaging said voltage fraction is a capacitor (C1) connected to said tap connection of said voltage divider.
Specification