Laser ignition system based diagnostics

• US 9,255,565 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas Raymond, Miller, Kenneth James
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US14/152,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20150198134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/00 Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting testing fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00; testing ignition installations in general F23Q23/00; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 23/04 Other physical ignition means, e.g. using laser rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/042 by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for using an engine laser ignition system to perform a visual inspection of an engine and diagnose various cylinder components and conditions based on engine positional measurements. Laser pulses may be emitted at a lower power level during an intake and/or exhaust stroke to illuminate a cylinder interior while a photodetector captures images of the cylinder interior. Additionally, laser pulses may be emitted at a higher power level to initiate cylinder combustion while the photodetector captures images of the cylinder interior using the light generated during cylinder combustion.

Claims

1. A method for an engine, comprising:

operating a laser ignition device during an intake stroke at a lower power level to generate a first in-cylinder image;

operating the laser ignition device during a compression stroke at a higher power level to generate a second in-cylinder image;

displaying each of the first and second in-cylinder images to a vehicle operator on a display device; and

receiving input from the vehicle operator indicative of degradation of a first cylinder component based on the first image, and input indicative of degradation of a second, different cylinder component based on the second image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder component includes one or more of a fuel injector, a cylinder intake valve, and a cylinder piston ring, and wherein the second cylinder component includes one or more of a lens and a laser of the laser ignition device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, displaying a reference image of the first and second cylinder components being diagnosed on the display device to the vehicle operator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder component diagnosed is a cylinder piston ring and wherein the first in-cylinder image generated is indicative of crankcase vapor condensation at a piston.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder component diagnosed is an intake valve and wherein the first in-cylinder image is indicative of one or more of coolant entry into a cylinder via the intake valve, and an intake airflow pattern within the cylinder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder component diagnosed is a port fuel injector and wherein the first in-cylinder image is indicative of a spray pattern of the port fuel injector in an intake port of a cylinder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder component diagnosed is a cylinder combustion chamber and wherein the first in-cylinder image is indicative of a foreign object present in the combustion chamber.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine is coupled in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method further comprising maintaining a reference engine speed and load during the operating via adjustments to an electric motor.

3. A hybrid vehicle system comprising:

an engine including a cylinder;

an electric motor;

a display device in a cabin of a vehicle;

a laser ignition system coupled to a cylinder head and configured to direct light pulses into the cylinder;

a photodetection system coupled to the laser ignition system and the cylinder for generating images of an inside of the cylinder using the light pulses from the laser ignition system; and

a controller with non-transitory memory and computer readable instructions for;

operating the laser ignition system during an intake stroke at a lower power level;

displaying an in-cylinder image generated at the photodetection system following the operating to a vehicle operator on the display device;

displaying a reference image retrieved from the controller'"'"'s memory on the display device, the reference image based on the generated in-cylinder image;

receiving input from the vehicle operator via the display device indicative of cylinder component degradation; and

setting a diagnostic code based on the received input.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the photodetection system includes a CCD camera with a fish-eye lens.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller includes further instructions for:

adjusting an output of the electric motor when operating the laser ignition system to maintain a reference engine speed and load while generating the in-cylinder image.