US 5,178,001 A · Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can prevent malfunctions due to noise induced by a high ignition voltage which is developed by an ignition coil upon ignition. Generation of a misfiring detection signal can also be prevented during fuel supply cut-off operations. To these ends, in one aspect, and ignition apparatus includes: a controller for controlling the ignition of a cylinder of the engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof; a detector connected to a spark plug and an ignition coil for detecting an ion current which is generated between the electrodes of the spark plug upon combustion of an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder; and mask a for masking the output signal of the detector in response to discharge of the spark plug. In another aspect, an ignition apparatus includes: a controller for controlling the ignition of and the fuel supply to a cylinder of the engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof; a detector for detecting misfiring in the cylinder; and mask a for masking the output signal of the detector when the fuel supply to the cylinder is cut off.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil and a spark plug with electrodes, said apparatus comprising:

a controller for controling the ignition of a cylinder of said engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof;
a detector connected to said spark plug and said ignition coil for detecting an ion current which is generated between the electrodes of said spark plug upon combustion of an air/fuel mixture in said cylinder;
and mask means for masking the output signal of said detector in response to discharge of said spark plug.

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a controller for controlling the ignition of and the fuel supply to a cylinder of the engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof;
a detector for detecting misfiring in the cylinder;
and
mask means for masking the output signal of said detector when said controller cuts off the fuel supply to the cylinder.

1 more element

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil and a spark plug with electrodes, said apparatus comprising:

a controller for controlling the ignition of and the fuel supply to a cylinder of said engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof;
a misfiring detector for detecting misfiring in said cylinder, said misfiring detector including an ion current detector which is connected to said spark plug and said ignition coil for detecting an ion current which is generated between the electrodes of said spark plug upon combustion of an air/fuel mixture in said cylinder;
and
first mask means for masking the output signal of said ion current detector in response to discharge of said spark plug;
and
second mask means for masking the output signal of said misfiring detector when said controller cuts off the fuel supply to said cylinder.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14