Ion sensing arrangement for small gasoline engine
AssigneePhelon Euro AB
InventorJorgen Bengtsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ion sensing arrangement for a small internal combustion engine includes an ion sensor placed in the engine's combustion chamber to measure the conductivity of the combusted fuel-air mixture. Scaling circuitry, such as variable voltage divider circuitry, is connected to be in electrical communication with an output of the ion sensor. The scaling circuitry operates to adjust the output signal to a value appropriate for measurement. Preferably, the scaling circuitry adjusts the output signal based on a comparison with a reference value.
Claims17
An ion sensing arrangement for a small internal combustion engine comprising:
- an ion sensor situated in the engine's combustion chamber;
- scaling circuitry in electrical communication with said ion sensor;
- said scaling circuitry being operative to adjust a measured output of said ion sensor to a selected level;
- and
- a controller operative to vary said scaling circuitry so as to effect adjustment of said measured output.
An ion sensing arrangement for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a spark plug situated in the engine's combustion chamber;
- said spark plug being operative as an ion sensor to detect an ion signal;
- variable voltage divider circuitry comprising a plurality of parallel resistors;
- electrical switching elements associated with at least some of said parallel resistors to connect said associated resistors in and out of circuit;
- and
- a controller operative to vary said variable voltage divider circuitry so as to effect adjustment of said ion signal to a selected level.
A method of adjusting a measured output of an ion sensor in an internal combustion engine, said method comprising steps of:
- (a) detecting said measured output of said ion sensor;
- (b) comparing said measured output with a reference value;
- (c) scaling said measured output to have a maximum amplitude approximating said reference value;
- and
- (d) utilizing said measured output as scaled to control at least one engine parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.