Method of detecting cylinder ID using in-cylinder ionization for spark detection following partial coil charging
First Claim
1. A method of determining cylinder ID using an ionization signal, comprising the steps of:
- partially charging at least one coil only up to a predetermined level, said predetermined lever being below a fully charged level at which normal firing events occur;
observing at least one ionization signal; and
determining whether a spark has occurred in at least one cylinder, wherein cylinder ID is determined based on said step of determining whether a spark has occurred in said at least one cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present feature of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining cylinder ID. When a cylinder is compressed, the resistance increases across the spark plug gap. Thus, if a spark coil is only partially charged before activation of the spark, the air gap is not broken down and no ignition occurs in the cylinder in compression. The failure of a spark plug to spark is reflected in the ionization signal. In a preferred embodiment, the dwell time is selected so that the spark plug located in a cylinder that is not in compression will spark, while a spark plug in a cylinder that is in compression will not. The cylinder in compression will output an ionization signal with a shorter duration than a cylinder not in compression. In a preferred embodiment, two methods are used to calculate the duration of the spark, edge detection and integration.
67 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of determining cylinder ID using an ionization signal, comprising the steps of:
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partially charging at least one coil only up to a predetermined level, said predetermined lever being below a fully charged level at which normal firing events occur; observing at least one ionization signal; and determining whether a spark has occurred in at least one cylinder, wherein cylinder ID is determined based on said step of determining whether a spark has occurred in said at least one cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for determining cylinder identification using an ionization signal comprising:
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at least one cylinder; a coil operably connected to said a cylinder; and a cylinder identification circuit operably connected to said coil, wherein said cylinder identification circuit determines cylinder identification by partially charging said coil only up to a predetermined level, said predetermined lever being below a fully charged level at which normal firing events occur, observing an ionization signal, and determining whether a spark has occurred in said at least one cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification