System and method for detecting engine conditions using ignition system
AssigneeAltronic, Inc.
InventorsDavid Lepley, Matthew Traina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for determining engine conditions using an ignition system. An ignition coil assembly has an ignition transformer with primary windings and secondary windings. A control unit is adapted to send excitation pulses to the primary windings to generate a spark at a spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine. The control unit is adapted to send additional excitation pulses to the primary windings at times other than to generate a spark at the spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine. The control unit is adapted to determine engine conditions using measurements of the ignition coil after the additional excitation pulses.
Claims19
An ignition system, comprising:
- an ignition coil assembly having an ignition transformer with primary windings and secondary windings;
- a control unit adapted to send one or more excitation pulses to the primary windings to generate a spark at a spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- the control unit adapted to send one or more additional excitation pulses to the primary windings at times other than to generate a spark at the spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- the control unit adapted to determine engine conditions using measurements of the ignition coil after the one or more additional excitation pulses.
An ignition system, comprising:
- an ignition coil assembly having an ignition transformer with primary windings and secondary windings;
- a control unit adapted to send one or more excitation pulses to the primary windings to generate a spark at a spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- the control unit adapted to send one or more additional excitation pulses to the primary windings at times other than to generate a spark at the spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- a datastore having stored measurements associated with stored engine conditions;
- the control unit adapted to determine engine conditions by comparing measurements of the ignition coil after the one or more additional excitation pulses with the stored measurements.
A method for controlling an ignition system, comprising:
- providing an ignition coil assembly having an ignition transformer with primary windings and secondary windings;
- sending one or more excitation pulses to the primary windings to generate a spark at a spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- sending one or more additional excitation pulses to the primary windings at times other than to generate a spark at the spark apparatus and ignite a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of an engine;
- determining engine conditions using measurements of the ignition coil after the one or more additional excitation pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.