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US 10,302,063 B2Granted
Method and system for ignition control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChris Paul Glugla, Nelson William Morrow, Garlan J. Huberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for addressing spark plug soot fouling. In one example, a method may include alternating one or more combustion events with spark timing advanced with one or more combustion events with nominal spark timing. The approach allows spark plug over-heating, and related issues such as knock, to be reduced.
Claims18
An ignition control method, comprising:
- supplying a first advanced spark timing to a cylinder for a first single combustion event;
- supplying a nominal spark timing to the cylinder for a first number of combustion events after supplying the first advanced spark timing to the cylinder;
- and
- supplying a second advanced spark timing to the cylinder for a second single combustion event after the first number of combustion events,
- wherein the nominal spark timing is supplied for a first number of combustion events, and the method further comprising, supplying the second advanced spark timing to the cylinder for a second number of combustion events, and
- wherein the first advanced timing and the first number of combustion events is based on one or more of an ionization sensor output, aircharge temperature, spark plug tip temperature, engine load, fuel octane, air-fuel ratio, humidity, EGR percentage, and engine temperature.
3 more elements
An engine ignition control method, comprising:
- responsive to an indication of fouling of a spark plug,
- periodically advancing spark timing from a nominal spark timing, a degree of advance, and a periodicity of the advanced spark timing based on one of more of an ionization sensor output, aircharge temperature, spark plug tip temperature, EGR, fuel octane, engine load, and engine temperature.
An engine system, comprising:
- an engine cylinder,
- a spark plug for initiating combustion in the engine cylinder,
- an ion sensor coupled to the spark plug, and
- a controller configured with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- indicating spark plug soot fouling based on an output of the ion sensor;
- and
- in response to the indication:
- supplying a first advanced spark timing to the engine cylinder for one or more combustion events;
- then supplying a nominal spark timing to the engine cylinder for a predetermined number of combustion events;
- and
- then supplying a second advanced spark timing to the engine cylinder for one or more combustion events after the predetermined number of combustion events, the second advanced spark timing adjusted based on ion sensor output estimated after supplying the first advanced spark timing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.