Gated ionization current supply voltage
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsAshish S. Gupta, Leon A. LaPointe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine, a method of operating the internal combustion engine, and a controller are disclosed. The method may be implemented in part by the controller and comprises determining a shaft angle of an engine shaft; supplying, to an ion sensor fluidly coupled to a combustion chamber of the engine a low voltage at a beginning of a combustion cycle to generate an ion sensor current and a high voltage during an ionization voltage window based at least in part on the shaft angle, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber and the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase the ion sensor current above a current threshold.
Claims25
A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber and an ion sensor fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber, the method comprising:
- supplying a low voltage to the ion sensor during a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber;
- after supplying the low voltage, supplying a high voltage to the ion sensor during the combustion cycle at a first time based on a crankshaft angle of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, wherein the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase an ion sensor current above a current threshold;
- and
- discontinuing supply of the high voltage to the ion sensor at a second time based on the crankshaft angle during the combustion cycle.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber and an ion sensor fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber, the method comprising:
- supplying a high voltage to the ion sensor during a combustion cycle at a first time based on a crankshaft angle of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, wherein the high voltage is greater than 400 volts and is configured to generate an ion sensor current above a current threshold;
- and
- discontinuing supply of the high voltage to the ion sensor at a second time based on the crankshaft angle during the combustion cycle.
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a block including a combustion chamber;
- an ion sensor fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber;
- a crankshaft;
- a high voltage supply output electrically coupled to the ion sensor;
- and
- a controller comprising control logic configured to:
- supply a low voltage to the ion sensor during a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber;
- after supply of the low voltage, supply a high voltage to the ion sensor during the combustion cycle at a first time based on a crankshaft angle of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, wherein the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase an ion sensor current above a current threshold;
- and
- discontinue supply of the high voltage to the ion sensor at a second time based on the crankshaft angle during the combustion cycle.
A controller for an internal combustion engine, the controller comprising control logic structured to:
- supply a low voltage to the ion sensor during a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine, wherein the low voltage is configured to prevent premature ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber;
- after supply of the low voltage, supply a high voltage to the ion sensor during the combustion cycle at a first time based on a crankshaft angle of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, wherein the high voltage exceeds the low voltage and is configured to increase an ion sensor current above a current threshold;
- and
- discontinue supply of the high voltage to the ion sensor at a second time based on the crankshaft angle during the combustion cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.