Plasma jet ignition system for internal combustion engine
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorMitsuhiko Ezoe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma jet ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a plasma jet spark plug which receives ignition energy from two energy sources, one for a spark ignition and the other for a plasma jet ignition, and performs a plasma jet ignition as well as a spark ignition. There are further provided various control circuits to control the ignition energy to reduce energy consumption and to promote the functions of the plasma jet ignition. One of these circuits is arranged to stop the plasma jet ignition during a cranking period while cranking is continued after duration of a plasma jet ignition for a predetermined time period. Another control circuit is arranged to control the plasma jet ignition energy corresponding to the engine temperature.
Claims15
A plasma jet ignition system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:
- a plasma jet spark plug having positive and negative electrodes forming a spark gap therebetween, and an insulating body surrounding said spark gap to form a discharge cavity with a spout orifice to eject a plasma gas produced in said discharge cavity,
- a first ignition energy source connected for supplying electric energy to said plug to perform a spark ignition,
- a second ignition energy source connected for supplying electric energy to said plug to perform a plasma jet ignition in addition to the spark ignition,
- an energy restriction circuit means for detecting an engine cranking period and for restricting the energy supply from said second ignition energy source to said plug during the engine cranking period to reduce energy consumption during cranking.
A plasma jet ignition system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:
- a plasma jet spark plug having positive and negative electrodes forming a spark gap therebetween, and an insulating body surrounding said spark gap to form a discharge cavity with a spout orifice to eject a plasma gas produced in said discharge cavity,
- a first ignition energy source for supplying electric energy to said plug to perform a spark ignition,
- a second ignition energy source for supplying electric energy to said plug to perform a plasma jet ignition in addition to the spark ignition,
- a temperature sensor means which senses the temperature of the engine for producing a temperature signal,
- an energy control circuit means which receives said temperature signal from said temperature sensor for reducing the energy supply from said second ignition energy source as the sensed temperature increases.
A plasma jet ignition system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:
- a first ignition energy source connected for supplying electric energy to a spark plug to perform a spark ignition,
- a second ignition energy source connected for supplying electric energy to a spark plug to perform a plasma jet ignition in addition to the spark ignition,
- an energy restriction circuit means for detecting an engine cranking period and for restricting the energy supply from said second ignition energy source to a spark plug during the engine cranking period to reduce energy consumption during cranking.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.