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US 10,641,233 B2Granted
Resonance boosted ignition voltage
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames Cress, Andrew Neaville
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device may determine a timing configuration for an ignition system. The device may pulse a driver to apply a set of resonant voltage pulses to the ignition system. The set of resonant voltage pulses may cause a set of increasing peak voltages. At least one peak voltage, of the set of increasing peak voltages, may satisfy a threshold to cause a spark in a spark plug of the ignition system.
Claims20
A machine, comprising:
- a natural gas engine;
- an ignition system;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- cause a first current to be provided to a coil of the ignition system,
- wherein the first current is configured to cause a first voltage that does not satisfy a threshold voltage to cause a spark in a spark plug of the ignition system;
- and
- cause, after a gap period, a second current to be provided to the coil of the ignition system to cause the spark in the spark plug of the ignition system,
- wherein the gap period is configured to cause a resonant effect on the first voltage,
- wherein the second current is configured to cause a second voltage that satisfies the threshold voltage based on the resonant effect on the first voltage.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining, by a processor, a timing configuration for an ignition system;
- and
- pulsing, by the processor, a driver to apply a set of resonant voltage pulses to the ignition system,
- wherein the set of resonant voltage pulses cause a set of increasing peak voltages, and
- wherein at least one peak voltage, of the set of increasing peak voltages, satisfies a threshold to cause a spark in a spark plug of the ignition system.
2 more elements
An engine control system, comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- cause a first current to be provided to a coil of an ignition system of an engine at a first time selected based on a first state of the engine,
- wherein the first current is configured to cause a first voltage that does not satisfy a threshold voltage to cause a spark in a spark plug of the ignition system;
- and
- cause, after a gap period and at a second time selected based on a second state of the engine and a configuration parameter relating to the first voltage, a second current to be provided to the coil of the ignition system to cause the spark in the spark plug of the ignition system,
- wherein the gap period is configured to cause a resonant effect on the first voltage,
- wherein the second current is configured to cause a second voltage that satisfies the threshold voltage based on the resonant effect on the first voltage.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.