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US 8,297,248 B2Granted
Efficiency enhancement to a laser ignition system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDouglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for a laser ignition system to operate in at least two modes based on a four-stroke combustion cycle, wherein laser light energy is generated to ignite an air/fuel mixture for combustion and may be additionally used for heating cylinder walls, such as during a cold start, at times other than when the laser ignites an air/fuel mixture for combustion.
Claims24
A method for a laser ignition in an engine cylinder, comprising:
- during an engine start, igniting an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder by focusing a laser at a first cylinder location;
- and
- heating the cylinder with laser energy by focusing the laser at a second cylinder location different from the first cylinder location when engine temperature is less than a threshold, the heating including generating laser pulses during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder.
A method for a laser ignition in an engine cylinder, comprising:
- during an engine start, igniting an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder by focusing a laser at a first cylinder location;
- and
- heating the cylinder with laser energy by focusing the laser at a second cylinder location different from the first cylinder location, a heating duration at the second location being shorter at higher speeds than at lower speeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.