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US 5,571,245 AGranted
Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine
AssigneeNippondenso Co., Ltd.
InventorsShinji Ooyabu, Kazuhiro Yamada, Mitsuyasu Enomoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, an ECU produces an ignition signal to an igniter/coil circuit with an igniter and ignition coil, which in turn sends back a monitor signal for ignition failure determination in the ECU. The ignition signal and the monitor signal are sent through a single signal line. The monitor signal is produced based on a primary current or a secondary current of the ignition coil.
Claims17
An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which applies a high voltage to an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an ignition coil means having a primary coil and a secondary coil;
- and
- an igniter circuit means for connecting/interrupting a supply of an energizing current to said primary coil in response to an ignition signal;
- wherein:
- said ignition coil means and said igniter circuit means are assembled as a unit in an integral form, and said unit has a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, a terminal for the ignition signal, and an output terminal to which said ignition plug is connected;
- said igniter circuit means includes:
- a semiconductor switching element for connecting/interrupting the supply of the energizing current from said power supply terminal via said primary coil to said ground terminal in response to the ignition signal;
- a constant current controlling circuit for detecting an energizing current to said primary coil and for blocking an input of the ignition signal to said semiconductor switching element in response to a detected value;
- and
- a monitor signal transmitting circuit for detecting an energizing current to said secondary coil so as to determine whether an ignition operation is normal or abnormal, and for transmitting a monitor signal in response to a determination result;
- said monitor signal transmitting circuit is so arranged that after the ignition signal is ended, a voltage is applied to said ignition signal terminal, whereby said monitor signal is transmitted from said ignition signal terminal;
- and
- said igniter circuit means is further comprised of a mask circuit for blocking the supply of the energizing current to said primary coil by said semiconductor switching element while the monitor signal is transmitted.
10 more elements
An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which applies a high voltage to an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an ignition coil means having a primary coil and a secondary coil;
- and
- an igniter circuit means for connecting/interrupting a supply of an energizing current to said primary coil in response to an ignition signal;
- wherein:
- said ignition coil means and said igniter circuit means are assembled as a unit in an integral form, and said unit has a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, a terminal for the ignition signal, and an output terminal to which said ignition plug is connected;
- said igniter circuit means includes:
- a semiconductor switching element connected to said ignition signal terminal, for connecting/interrupting the supply of the energizing current from said power supply terminal via said primary coil to the ground terminal in response to the ignition signal;
- a constant current controlling circuit for detecting an energizing current to said primary coil and for blocking an input of the ignition signal to said semiconductor switching element in response to a detected value;
- and
- a monitor signal transmitting circuit for determining whether an ignition operation is normal or abnormal, and for transmitting a monitor signal in response to a determination result;
- said igniter circuit means is constructed in such a manner that a condition under which the voltage has been applied to said ignition signal terminal is recognized as an input condition of the ignition signal;
- said semiconductor switching element is so constructed as to be conducted in response to the ignition signal;
- said constant current controlling circuit and said monitor signal transmitting circuit are operable by a voltage of the ignition signal;
- and
- said monitor signal transmitting circuit is arranged in such a way that the monitor signal is transmitted from said ignition signal terminal by lowering the voltage of said ignition signal terminal to a predetermined value.
12 more elements
An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which applies a high voltage to an ignition plug of the internal combustion engine, comprising:
- ignition coil means having a primary coil and a secondary coil;
- and
- igniter circuit means for connecting/interrupting a supply of an energizing current to said primary coil in response to an ignition signal;
- wherein:
- said ignition coil means and said igniter circuit means are assembled as a unit in an integral form, and said unit has a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, a terminal for the ignition signal, and an output terminal to which said ignition plug is connected;
- said igniter circuit means includes:
- a semiconductor switching element connected to said ignition signal terminal, for connecting/interrupting supply of the energizing current from said power supply terminal via said primary coil to said ground terminal in response to the ignition signal;
- a constant current controlling circuit for detecting an energizing current to said primary coil and blocking input of the ignition signal to said semiconductor switching element in response to a detected value;
- and
- a monitor signal transmitting circuit for determining whether an ignition operation is normal or abnormal, and for transmitting a monitor signal in response to a determination result;
- said monitor signal transmitting circuit is so arranged that after the ignition signal is ended, a voltage is applied to said ignition signal terminal, whereby said monitor signal is transmitted from said ignition signal terminal;
- and
- said igniter circuit means is further comprised of a mask circuit for blocking the supply of the energizing current to said primary coil by said semiconductor switching element while the monitor signal is transmitted.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.