Internal combustion engine having common power source for ion current sensing and fuel injectors
First Claim
1. An electrical power system for a direct-injection multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a fuel injector and spark plug associated with each cylinder, the fuel injector injecting fuel directly into the cylinder in response to a control signal, the spark plug having an associated ignition coil for selectively operating as an ignition source and ionization sensor, the power system comprising:
- a high voltage power supply connectable to, and supplying substantially the same nominal boosted voltage higher than nominal battery voltage to, the fuel injectors and ignition coil during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power system for an engine powered at least in part by a battery having a battery voltage and including a fuel injector and at least one ionization sensor includes at least one common power supply connected to the fuel injector and the ionization sensor and supplying a voltage higher than the battery voltage for operation of the fuel injector and the ionization sensor at least during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical power system for a direct-injection multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a fuel injector and spark plug associated with each cylinder, the fuel injector injecting fuel directly into the cylinder in response to a control signal, the spark plug having an associated ignition coil for selectively operating as an ignition source and ionization sensor, the power system comprising:
a high voltage power supply connectable to, and supplying substantially the same nominal boosted voltage higher than nominal battery voltage to, the fuel injectors and ignition coil during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electrical power system for an engine powered at least in part by a battery having a battery voltage and including a fuel injector and at least one ionization sensor, comprising:
at least one common power supply connected to the fuel injector and the ionization sensor and supplying a voltage higher than the battery voltage for operation of the fuel injector and the ionization sensor at least during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrical power system for a direct-injection multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a fuel injector and spark plug associated with each cylinder, the fuel injector injecting fuel directly into the cylinder in response to a control signal and the spark plug operating as at least an ionization sensor, the power system comprising:
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an ignition coil coupled to at least one of the spark plugs for operating as at least an ionization sensor; and a microprocessor-based engine controller coupled to the ignition coil and having a high voltage power supply selectively connectable to, and supplying substantially the same nominal boosted voltage higher than nominal battery voltage to, the fuel injectors and ignition coil at least during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge, the engine controller selectively supplying a lower voltage control signal to the fuel injectors and ignition coil to control fuel injection and spark discharge, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification