US 5,174,267 A · Cylinder identification by spark discharge analysis for internal combustion engines

Abstract

Spark discharge signals monitored on primary windings of ignition coils of a coil per plug (CPP) ignition system are used to identify which cylinder of a cylinder pair is in compression and which cylinder in a cylinder pair is in exhaust. Once determined, the cylinder pair can be tracked such that the primary windings do not need to be monitored further. In one embodiment of the invention, the duration times of substantially simultaneous spark discharge signals in cylinders of a pair of cylinders are compared to one another. The shorter duration time signal indicates the cylinder in the compression cycle. One cylinder pair may be tested two or more times or one or more additional cylinder pairs may be tested to verify cylinder identification. In a second embodiment of the invention, two or more spark dwell signals are applied to the primary windings of the ignition coils for each spark event of a pair of cylinders. The time periods required for the second dwell signals to produce current flows in the primary windings equal to a predetermined current value is determined for each of the cylinders. The time preiods are then compared to one another with the shorter time period indicating the cylinder in exhaust.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of identifying cylinders in compression of cylinder pairs in an internal combustion engine having an even number of cylinders and a coil per plug ignition system, each coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding with the secondary winding being connected to a spark producing device in a cylinder corresponding to said coil, said method comprising the steps of:

driving said primary windings of said coils of said pair of cylinders substantially simultaneously to generate spark discharge energy in said secondary windings of said coils;
monitoring said primary windings for signals representative of spark discharge in spark producing devices connected to said secondary windings;
and
analyzing spark discharge signals on said primary windings to identify which cylinder of said cylinder pair is in compression and which cylinder of said cylinder pair is in exhaust.

1 more element

driving both primary windings of said coils of said cylinder pairs substantially simultaneously when one of said cylinders of said cylinder pairs is in compression to generate spark discharge energy in said secondary windings of said coils;
monitoring said primary windings of said coils for signals representative of spark discharge in spark producing devices connected to said secondary windings;
and
analyzing spark discharge signals on said primary windings to identify which cylinders of said cylinder pairs are in compression and which cylinders of said cylinder pairs are in exhaust.

1 more element

A coil per plug ignition system for an internal combustion engine having an even number of cylinders divided into at least one cylinder pair, each coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding with the secondary winding being connected to a spark producing device in a cylinder corresponding to said coil, said ignition system comprising:

first circuit means for driving said primary windings with dwell signals to produce spark discharges at spark producing devices connected to said secondary windings, said first circuit means being operable for driving substantially simultaneously primary windings of both coils of said at least one cylinder pair of said internal combustion engine;
sensor means coupled to said primary windings of said coils for generating primary signals representative of operation of said coils in response to said dwell signals;
and
second circuit means for analyzing said primary signals on said primary windings to identify which cylinder of said at least one cylinder pair is in compression and which cylinder of said at least one cylinder pair is in exhaust.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cylinder identification by spark discharge analysis for internal combustion engines

Life of this patent

Cylinder identification by spark discharge analysis for internal combustion engines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16