Capacitive ignition system with ion-sensing and suppression of AC ringing
AssigneeHoerbiger Kompressortechnik Holding GmbH
InventorsJoseph M Lepley, David Lepley, Steven B Pirko, Arno Gschirr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to reduce AC ringing of the secondary voltage after the spark event in a capacitive ignition system, which would influence ion-sensing, a secondary winding current (IR) flowing through the secondary winding (4) after the spark event is forced to flow through a forward-biased muting diode (D1) that is connected across the secondary winding (4).
Claims4
A capacitive ignition system (1) with ion-sensing comprising an ignition coil (2), with a primary winding (3) that is connected to an energy source for providing the energy for a spark event and with a secondary winding (4) having a first terminal (T1) connected to a spark plug (5) so that a secondary voltage (VS) across the secondary winding (4) is applied to the spark gap (8) of the spark plug (5), an ionization current biasing and measurement circuitry (6) on a secondary side of the ignition coil (2) for providing a biasing voltage to the spark gap (8) after the spark event for ion-sensing and a diode (D1) that is connected across the secondary winding (4), wherein the diode (D1) is connected across the secondary winding (4) so that it is reverse-biased for a spark current flowing through the spark gap (8) during the spark event of the spark plug (5) and forward-biased for an AC ringing voltage (VR) after the spark event.
A method for damping AC ringing after occurrence of a spark event in a capacitive ignition system (1) with ion-sensing comprising a primary winding (3) that is connected to an energy source that provides the energy for a spark event and a secondary winding (4) having a first terminal (T1) connected to a spark plug (5) so that a secondary voltage (VS) across the secondary winding (4) is applied to a spark gap (8) of the spark plug (5), whereas a spark current (Ispark) flows over the spark gap (8) during the spark event, wherein after the spark event a secondary winding current (IR) through the secondary winding (4) is forced to flow through a forward-biased muting diode (D1) that is connected across the secondary winding (4).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.