Claims
- 1. A method of monitoring ignition efficiency, comprising the steps of:
monitoring a primary charge timing; monitoring a primary charge duration; monitoring an ignition timing; and monitoring an ignition duration.
- 2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of monitoring an ionization signal baseline by sending a warning signal indicating plug fouling or plug insulator overheating when said ionization baseline is elevated 20 percent or greater.
- 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring a primary charge timing, comprises detecting a first rise in an ionization signal.
- 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring a primary charge duration comprises:
detecting a first rise of an ionization signal; detecting a stepped rise of said ionization signal; and measuring a difference between said first rise and said stepped rise.
- 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring an ignition timing comprises detecting a stepped rise of an ionization signal.
- 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring an ignition duration comprises:
detecting a stepped rise of an ionization signal; detecting when said ionization signal drops after said stepped rise; and measuring a time difference between said signal drop and said stepped rise.
- 7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of monitoring preignition.
- 8. The method according to claim 3 wherein said step of monitoring a primary charge duration comprises:
detecting a first rise of said ionization signal; detecting a stepped rise of said ionization signal; and measuring a difference between said first rise and said stepped rise; and wherein said step of monitoring an ignition duration comprises: detecting a stepped rise of said ionization signal; detecting when said ionization signal drops after said stepped rise; and measuring a time difference between said signal drop and said step rise.
- 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of detecting plug fouling by detecting when an ionization baseline is elevated.
- 10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
detecting an open ionization circuit, comprising the steps of:
sampling a bias voltage; and determining if said bias voltage is below a threshold.
- 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said primary charge timing, said primary charge duration, said ignition timing, and said ignition duration are monitored for every cylinder of an engine.
- 12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
receiving a control signal; discharging a pulse from a primary winding of an ignition coil; charging a capacitor; combusting an air/fuel mixture; generating an ignition current, whereby said ignition current flows through a secondary winding of an ignition coil; applying a bias voltage across ignition plug electrodes to generate ionization current, wherein said ionization current flows in a same direction as said ignition current; and generating a mirror current, whereby said mirror current is proportional to said ionization current.
- 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of detecting plug fouling further comprises sending a warning signal indicating plug fouling or plug insulator overheating when said ionization baseline is elevated 20 percent or greater.
- 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:
detecting an open ionization circuit, comprising the steps of:
sampling a bias voltage; and determining if said bias voltage is below a threshold.
- 15. A method of detecting plug fouling, comprising the steps of:
detecting when an ionization baseline is elevated.
- 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of detecting when an ionization baseline is elevated further comprises sending a warning signal indicating plug fouling or plug insulator overheating when said ionization baseline is elevated 20 percent or greater.
- 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
receiving a control signal; discharging a pulse from a primary winding of an ignition coil; charging a capacitor; combusting an air/fuel mixture; generating an ignition current, whereby said ignition current flows through a secondary winding of an ignition coil; applying a bias voltage across an ignition plug electrodes to generate ionization current, wherein said ionization current flows in a same direction as said ignition current; and generating a mirror current, whereby said mirror current is proportional to said ionization current.
- 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:
detecting an open ionization circuit, comprising the steps of:
sampling a bias voltage; and determining if said bias voltage is below a threshold.
- 19. A method of detecting an open ionization circuit, comprising the steps of:
sampling a bias voltage; and determining if said bias voltage is below a threshold.
- 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:
detecting a shorted ionization circuit, comprising the steps of:
sampling a bias voltage; and determining if said bias voltage is above a threshold.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/423,163, filed Nov. 1, 2002, and 60/467,660, filed May 2, 2003, the entire disclosure of these applications being considered part of the disclosure of this application and hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60423163 |
Nov 2002 |
US |
|
60467660 |
May 2003 |
US |