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US 10,118,608 B1Granted
Method for engine laser ignition system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAed M. Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a laser ignition system of an engine. In one example, a controller may operate the laser in a sealed cylinder hours after key-off. Then, the cylinder may be unsealed and a change in exhaust temperature may be correlated with laser functionality.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- spinning an engine unfueled to establish a baseline exhaust temperature and then seal a cylinder at a position of negative valve overlap;
- operating a laser ignition device in the sealed cylinder;
- spinning the engine unfueled to unseal the cylinder;
- and
- diagnosing the laser ignition device based on a change in measured exhaust temperature relative to the baseline exhaust temperature.
2 more elements
A method for an engine, comprising:
- operating a laser ignition device in a sealed, unfueled engine cylinder after an engine key-off;
- comparing a measured exhaust temperature after the operating to a baseline exhaust temperature established via unfueled engine spinning;
- and
- diagnosing the laser ignition device based on the comparing.
1 more element
An engine system, comprising:
- an engine cylinder;
- a laser ignition device coupled to the cylinder;
- an exhaust temperature sensor;
- an electric motor;
- and
- a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- waking up a powertrain control module from a sleep mode when a threshold duration has elapsed following an engine key-off;
- spinning the engine, unfueled via the motor, to establish a baseline exhaust temperature;
- sealing the cylinder by spinning the engine, unfueled via the motor, to a position where all cylinder valves are closed;
- operating the laser ignition device in the sealed cylinder for a duration;
- unsealing the cylinder by re-spinning the engine, unfueled via the motor, to a position where at least an exhaust valve is open;
- and
- diagnosing the laser ignition device by comparing an exhaust temperature measured after the operating with the baseline exhaust temperature.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.