System and method for pre-processing ionization signal to include enhanced knock information

• US 7,472,687 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Guoming G., Pursifull, Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Jr., Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US11/683,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 701/111, 701/114, 123/406.34, 123/406.14, 123/406.16, 123/406.21, 123/406.28, 123/406.29, 123/406.37, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 73/350.7, 73/350.8, 73/350.9, 731/170.2, 731/170.3, 731/180.1
• US Class Current: 123/406.34
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/12 Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current testing of sparking plugs H01T13/60
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 2017/128 for knock detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/221 for detecting or indicating knocks in internal combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/225 circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

A system and method for pre-processing an ionization signal to amplify knock information and combining the amplified knock information with the ionization signal to create a knock-enhanced ionization signal is disclosed. In one embodiment, an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit detects the ionization signal, processes the ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal and then combines the original ionization signal with the knock-amplified ionization signal to create a knock-enhanced ionization signal. The step of processing the ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal may comprise any singular step, or combination, of amplifying, band-pass filtering, AC-coupling, and offsetting said in-cylinder ionization signal.

Claims

1. An ignition system that utilizes an ionization signal to monitor engine knock, comprising:

an ionization detection circuit, said ionization detection circuit being configured to output a knock-enhanced ionization signal, comprising;

an ionization detection portion, said ionization detection portion being configured to detect an in-cylinder ionization signal,

a knock processing portion, said knock processing portion being configured to process said in-cylinder ionization signal to output an knock-amplified ionization signal, and

an additive portion connected to said ionization detection portion and said knock processing portion, said additive portion being configured to superimpose said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-enhanced ionization signal.

2. The ignition system of claim 1, wherein said knock processing portion is present in a powertrain control module (PCM).

3. The ignition system of claim 1, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying said in-cylinder ionization signal.

4. The ignition system of claim 3, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.

5. The ignition system of claim 4, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.

6. The ignition system of claim 1, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.

7. The ignition system of claim 1, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.

8. The ignition system of claim 1, wherein said knock processing portion is present in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.

9. The ignition system of claim 1, further comprising a powertrain control module (PCM), wherein said PCM receives said knock-enhanced ionization signal from said on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.

10. The ignition system of claim 9, wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.

11. A method for processing an ionization signal, comprising:

detecting an in-cylinder ionization signal,

processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal,

superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce a knock-enhanced ionization signal, and

outputting said knock-enhanced ionization signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying said in-cylinder ionization signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal is performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving said knock-enhanced ionization signal at a powertrain control module (PCM).

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-enhanced ionization signal is performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of detecting an in-cylinder ionization signal, processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal, and superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said a knock-enhanced ionization signal are performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.