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US 9,217,638 B2Granted
Engine with laser ignition and measurement
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDouglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for increasing an efficiency of engine starting of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises operating a laser ignition device in an engine cylinder and identifying engine position in response thereto; and igniting an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder with the laser ignition device.
Claims19
A method, comprising:
- operating a laser ignition device in an engine cylinder;
- synchronizing fuel delivery based on engine and cylinder valve position laser sensed over different strokes of an engine cycle, the engine position based on a reflected laser signal, the cylinder valve position based on a blocked laser signal;
- and
- igniting an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder with the laser ignition device.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- synchronizing a first combustion event from rest of an engine start by:
- operating a laser ignition device coupled to an engine cylinder throughout an engine cycle to identify each of engine piston position and cylinder valve position in response to sensed light in the cylinder, the piston position identified during a compression, power, and exhaust stroke of the engine cycle based on a reflected laser signal, the cylinder valve position identified during an intake stroke of the engine cycle based on a blocked laser signal;
- and
- igniting an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder with the laser ignition device, a timing of the igniting based on the identified engine piston and cylinder valve position.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- shutting down an engine in response to idle-stop conditions;
- synchronizing a first combustion event from shutdown of an engine restart by operating a laser ignition device in an engine cylinder to emit lower power pulses throughout each stroke of an engine cycle and identifying engine position and cylinder valve position in response to sensed light in the cylinder;
- and
- after identifying engine and cylinder valve position, operating the laser ignition device to emit higher power pulses to ignite an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder, a timing of the igniting based on the identified engine and cylinder valve position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.