System and method for ignition spark energy optimization
AssigneeTeledyne Technologies Incorporated
InventorsJabe R. Luttrelll, David Thibodeau, Stephen Santoro
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Abstract
A method for controlling spark energy from a spark plug of a combustion engine. The method includes determining a spark energy intensity based on at least one engine operating condition, determining a period of time to supply current to an ignition coil connected to the spark plug to achieve the determined spark energy intensity from the spark plug as a function of a voltage supplied from a power supply to the ignition coil, and connecting the power supply to the ignition coil for the determined period of time.
Claims34
A computer-assisted method for controlling spark energy from a spark plug of a combustion engine, comprising:
- determining a spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- determining a period of time to supply current to an ignition coil connected to the spark plug to achieve the determined spark energy intensity from the spark plug as a function of a voltage supplied from a power supply to the ignition coil;
- and
- connecting the power supply to the ignition coil for the determined period of time.
A computer-assisted method for controlling spark energy from a spark plug of a combustion engine, comprising:
- connecting the spark plug to a secondary winding;
- inductively coupling the secondary winding to a primary winding;
- determining a spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- determining a period of time to supply current to the primary winding to achieve the determined spark energy intensity from the spark plug as a function of a voltage supplied from a power supply to the primary winding;
- and
- connecting the power supply to the primary winding for the determined period of time.
A system for controlling spark energy of a combustion engine, comprising:
- a spark plug;
- a secondary winding connected to the spark plug;
- a primary winding inductively coupled to the secondary winding;
- a switch connected to the primary winding;
- a power supply connected to the switch;
- and
- a spark control module in communication with the switch, the spark control module for controlling the switch based on sensed engine operating conditions and a voltage supplied from the power supply, wherein the spark control module includes:
- a first circuit for determining a spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- a second circuit in communication with the first circuit for determining a period of time to supply current to the primary winding to achieve the determined spark energy intensity from the spark plug as a function of the voltage supplied from the power supply;
- and
- a third circuit in communication with the second circuit for transmitting a signal to the switch to connect the power supply to the primary winding for the determined period of time.
A computer-implemented method for controlling spark energy from a spark plug of a combustion engine, comprising:
- determining a desired spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- determining a period of time to energize an ignition coil connected to the spark plug to achieve the desired spark energy intensity as a function of a voltage supplied to the ignition coil;
- and
- transmitting a signal to energize the ignition coil for the determined period of time.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
- determine a desired spark energy intensity for a spark plug of a combustion engine based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- determine a period of time to energize an ignition coil connected to the spark plug to achieve the desired spark energy intensity based on a voltage supplied to the ignition coil.
An ignition spark energy module, comprising:
- a first circuit for determining a desired spark energy intensity for a spark plug of a combustion engine based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- and
- a circuit in communication with the first circuit for determining a period of time to energize an ignition coil connected to the spark to achieve the determined spark energy based a magnitude of a voltage supplied to the ignition coil.
An ignition spark control module, comprising:
- means for determining a desired spark energy intensity for a spark plug of a combustion engine based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- and
- means for determining a period of time to energize an ignition coil connected to the spark to achieve the determined spark energy based a magnitude of a voltage supplied to the ignition coil.
A system for controlling spark energy of a combustion engine, comprising:
- a spark plug;
- a secondary winding connected to the spark plug;
- a primary winding inductively coupled to the secondary winding;
- a power supply;
- means for determining a desired spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine;
- and
- means for connecting the power supply to the primary winding for a period of time to achieve the desired spark energy intensity based on a voltage supplied from the power supply to the primary winding.
A system for controlling spark energy of a combustion engine, comprising:
- a plurality of spark plugs;
- a plurality of secondary windings, each of the plurality of secondary windings connected to one of the plurality of spark plugs;
- a plurality of primary windings, each of the plurality of primary windings inductively coupled to one of the secondary windings;
- a plurality of switches, each of the plurality of switches connected to one of the plurality of primary windings;
- a plurality of power supplies, each of said plurality of power supplies connected to one of the plurality of switches;
- a plurality of spark control modules in communication with the plurality of switches, each of the spark control modules for controlling one of the plurality of switches to achieve a desired spark energy intensity based on an exhaust temperature of the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.