Multiple discharge ignition control apparatus and method for internal combustion engines
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorsMakoto Toriyama, Yuki Yamauchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a multiple discharge ignition control apparatus, a battery, an energy storage coil and a first IGBT are connected in series. Further, the energy storage coil, a diode, a primary coil and a second IGBT are connected in series. The energy storage coil is connected with a capacitor through the diode, and a secondary coil is connected with a spark plug and a resistor for current detection. An ignition control circuit switches the IGBTs between ON and OFF each time the secondary current detected by the resistor reaches a positive or negative discharge holding current in multiple discharge operation. A booster circuit is provided in addition to the energy storage coil and its output is feedback-controlled.
Claims20
A multiple discharge ignition control apparatus for internal combustion engines having an ignition coil with a primary coil and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug, the multiple discharge ignition control apparatus comprising:
- an energy storage coil;
- first switch means connected in series with the energy storage coil;
- second switch means being connected in series with the energy storage coil and the primary coil;
- the first switch means and the second switch means being alternately turned on and off to repeatedly charge and discharge the energy storage coil thereby to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil both in a forward direction and in a reverse direction by the charging and discharging to carry out multiple discharge in the spark plug;
- current detection means for detecting the secondary current;
- and
- control means for switching the first switch means and the second switch means between ON and OFF each time the secondary current reaches a predetermined discharge holding current value in the multiple discharge.
A multiple discharge ignition control apparatus for internal combustion engines having an ignition coil with a primary coil and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug, the multiple discharge ignition control apparatus comprising:
- a booster circuit connected to the primary coil for boosting power supply voltage;
- and
- switching means repeatedly turned on and off to intermittently cause a current to flow from the booster circuit to the primary coil, so that a secondary current is repeatedly generated in the secondary coil to effect multiple discharge,
- wherein the booster circuit includes
- a plurality of boosting elements connected in parallel,
- boosting switching elements that respectively turn on and off energization of the plurality of boosting elements;
- detection means for detecting a total sum of currents supplied through the plurality of boosting elements;
- and
- boosting control means for controlling turn-on/off of the boosting switching elements based on the total sum of currents detected by the detection means.
A multiple discharge ignition control method for internal combustion engines having an ignition coil with a primary coil and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug, the multiple discharge ignition control method comprising:
- generating an ignition time signal at an ignition time;
- supplying a primary current to the primary coil in response to the ignition time signal thereby to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil for starting ignition by the spark plug;
- generating a multiple discharge period signal following the ignition time signal;
- repeating alternately turning on and off energization of the primary coil during the multiple discharge period signal to generate the secondary current in the secondary coil both in a forward direction and in a reverse direction to carry out multiple discharge in the spark plug;
- detecting the secondary current;
- and
- switching the turning on and off of the energization of the primary coil each time the secondary current reaches a predetermined discharge holding current value in the multiple discharge.
A multiple discharge ignition control method for internal combustion engines having an ignition coil, a spark plug and a booster circuit, the ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil connected to the spark plug, and the booster circuit including a plurality of boosting means, the multiple discharge ignition control method comprising:
- generating an ignition time signal at an ignition time;
- supplying a primary current to the primary coil from in response to the ignition time signal thereby to generate a secondary current in the secondary coil for starting ignition by the spark plug;
- generating a multiple discharge period signal following the ignition time signal;
- repeating alternately turning on and off energization of the primary coil by supplying currents of the plurality of boosting means of the booster circuit during the multiple discharge period signal to generate the secondary current in the secondary coil both in a forward direction and in a reverse direction to carry out multiple discharge in the spark plug;
- detecting a total sum of the currents of the plurality of boosting means at a location where the plurality of boosting means are integrated;
- and
- controlling turn-on/off of the boosting means based on the total sum of the currents of the plurality of boosting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.