Patent Application
20140116382
This application claims priority to DE 10 2012 112 273.3, filed Dec. 14, 2012, and DE 10 2012 110 386.0, filed Oct. 30, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating an ion current which occurs as a direct current between a central electrode and one or more side electrodes of a spark plug of a spark ignition engine which is supplied repeatedly with an ignition voltage. Such a method is generally described in U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0016952 A1.
With the known method, an ion current is generated that flows as a direct current between a central electrode and one or more side electrodes of a spark plug of a spark ignition engine which drives a vehicle. The vehicle has an engine control unit, which in each engine cycle, that is to say in each operating cycle of the spark ignition engine, determines a target ignition point for each spark plug. In order to generate an ion current, besides the ignition voltage source, disclosed as an ignition coil in US 2011/0016952 A1, a second voltage source is also provided, which continuously delivers a DC voltage between 30 V and 500 V. As a second voltage source, US 2011/0016952 A1 discloses a DC voltage transformer (DC-DC converter), which generates the desired second voltage from the on-board power supply voltage of 12 V. The second voltage applied continuously to the spark plug is superimposed by the ignition voltage during the ignition process, only, and is to enable a signal evaluation during the entire operating cycle of the spark ignition engine.
A high-voltage diode, which allows the ion current to pass, but protects the DC voltage transformer from the high ignition voltage, is arranged in the electrical line between the DC voltage transformer and the spark plug. A low-voltage diode, which allows the high ignition voltage to pass, but blocks the ion current, is arranged between the secondary winding of the ignition coil and the central electrode of the spark plug.
The ion current produced has to be amplified and filtered in a number of stages before it can be examined for anomalies, for example for knocking, auto-ignition or preignition.
The apparatus known from US 2011/0016952 A1 is relatively complex and cannot be integrated into an ignition coil. If the apparatus cannot be integrated into an ignition coil or if a common assembly cannot be formed from the ignition coil and the apparatus for generating and measuring ion current, the influence of interferences on the ion current signals increases and requires further filtering.
An apparatus for generating and measuring an ion current, which flows between the electrodes of a spark plug, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,490 B2. This apparatus has a capacitor which serves as a voltage source for the generation of the ion current and which is charged via the secondary winding of an ignition coil. The ion current that is to be measured and examined for anomalies flows through the secondary winding of the ignition coil. This not only has the disadvantage that the ion current produced has to be filtered in a complex manner, but also has the further disadvantage that the inductance of the secondary winding damps the ion current signal. The damping pertains particularly to the frequency range in which knocking occurs. The damping hinders the detection of anomalies of the combustion processes in the engine and in particular hinders the detection of knocking.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,177 B2 discloses an internal combustion engine, in which ignition coils and fuel injectors are powered by the same high-voltage source which generates the ion currents flowing between electrodes of ignition plugs. An engine control unit controls a plurality of switches which connect the high-voltage source with the fuel injectors, ignition coils and spark plugs at individual times.
The present invention provides an alternative method for generating an ion current between the electrodes of a spark plug. The alternative method should be particularly well suited for determining anomalies in the combustion process, in particular for determining knocking, but, where possible, also for determining auto-ignition and preignition. Also taught herein is an apparatus necessary for carrying out the method that is sufficiently compact that it can be combined with an ignition coil to form an assembly.
The method according to this disclosure is used to generate an ion current which occurs as a direct current between a central electrode and one or more side electrodes of a spark plug of a spark ignition engine which is supplied repeatedly, specifically in each engine cycle, with an ignition voltage from an ignition voltage source. For each spark plug of the spark ignition engine, an engine control unit determines a target ignition point and/or an activation point for the ignition voltage source lying before the target ignition point. With use of an ignition coil as an ignition voltage source, the activation point is that point within an engine cycle at which the process for charging the ignition coil begins. This point can be determined by the engine control unit, and the charging can be started by a control signal, for example by the rising flank of the control signal, which closes a switch, for example a semiconductor switch, whereby the primary winding of the ignition coil is supplied with a voltage from the on-board power supply of a vehicle in which the spark ignition engine is located. For the generation of the ion current, a second voltage source supplies a second voltage to the spark plug and causes an ion current when ions are present in the combustion chamber of the engine in the region of the electrodes of the spark plug. The ion current is generated by a second voltage source such that the ignition voltage source need not also provide the voltage for the generation of the ion current. The second voltage source provided for the generation of the ion current is not connected continuously to the electrodes of the spark plug, but is rather only connected intermittently to the electrodes of the spark plug when the engine is running, specifically for a first time interval Δt1, which is shorter than the duration of the engine cycle. This time interval Δt1 does not have to be constant, but can be of different length. Beyond the first time interval Δt1, it is possible to store electrical energy in the second voltage source, by which the ion current is generated in the first time interval Δt1. This ion current takes a line path which avoids the ignition voltage source.
This disclosure teaches a number of advantages:
The start of the first time interval Δt1 is preferably controlled in accordance with the ignition point or in accordance with the activation point of the ignition voltage source. It is known that the ignition point and/or the activation point of the ignition voltage source can be determined by an engine control unit. The control signal coming from the engine control unit for this purpose can also be used in accordance with the invention to control the start of the first time interval Δt1 and can mark directly the start of the first time interval Δt1. However, the start of the first time interval Δt1 is preferably controlled in such a way that it is delayed by a second time interval Δt2 with respect to the ignition point or with respect to the moment of activation of the ignition voltage source. The start of the time interval Δt1 can thus be set precisely where, in accordance with experience, the profile of the ion current significant for the assessment of the combustion process starts, and a section of the ion current profile which may be difficult to interpret and/or may be tainted with interference signals can be completely excluded.
The second voltage for generating the ion current is expediently set such that it is in the range from 50 V to 250 V, in particular in the range from 120 V to 240 V, better still in the range from 150 V to 200 V.
A voltage source, which comprises one or a plurality of stores for electrical energy, in particular one or a plurality of capacitors, can be used as a second voltage source. The stores are expediently charged only outside the first time interval Δt1 in order to avoid any harmful interaction between the charging process and the discharging process of the one or more stores, which could impair the generation and measurement of the ion current.
The one store or a plurality of stores for the electrical energy may only partially discharge in the first time interval Δt1, in particular, such that the second voltage falls by no more than 15%, preferably by no more than 10%, of its value at the start of the first time interval Δt1. The lesser the extent to which the second voltage falls, the easier it is to compare the profile or curve of the currently measured ion current with a normal profile or curve of the ion current and to establish the presence or absence of anomalies of the combustion process on the basis of deviations between the currently observed profile or curve and the normal curve or profile of the ion current.
The second voltage, with the aid of which the ion current is generated, could be generated, as in the prior art, by means of a DC voltage transformer (DC-DC converter), which converts the on-board power supply voltage of, for example, 12 V DC voltage into a DC voltage of, for example, 150 V to 200 V. The increased second voltage is preferably generated however with the aid of a voltage multiplier, which is fed outside the first time interval Δt1 with an AC voltage and delivers the increased second voltage as a DC voltage. In particular, a voltage multiplier that contains a cascade of asymmetrical voltage doublers is used. Such a cascade has the advantage that it can be produced easily and in a compact manner and does not cause any interferences in the ion current that would have to be filtered out again before any anomalies of the combustion process can be discovered. A cascade of asymmetrical voltage doublers consists, in each stage of the cascade, of diodes and capacitors. This has the great advantage that these capacitors can be used simultaneously as stores of the electrical energy which is required in the first time interval Δt1 for the generation of the ion current. A separate store for the electrical energy is not required in this case, since the capacitors of the voltage multiplier perform a double function since they contribute to the voltage amplification and also store the electrical energy necessary for the ion current. This double function contributes to the fact that apparatuses for carrying out the method according to this disclosure can be formed in a compact manner.
If the spark ignition engine is installed in a vehicle, it is then assigned a battery which feeds the electrical on-board power supply. The voltage multiplier however requires an AC voltage as input voltage. The DC voltage of the battery (on-board power supply voltage) can be converted into an AC voltage by inverters. The so generated AC voltage is then supplied to the voltage multiplier. An inverter necessary for this purpose can be produced with low circuit complexity for the conventional on-board power supply voltage of 12 V and also for the less frequently used on-board power supply voltages of, for example, 24 V, 40 V and 48 V.
It has already been mentioned that the first time interval Δt1 does not have to be constant. It is preferably variable and is preferably varied as a function of the speed of the spark ignition engine. In particular, it is shortened with increasing speed. The first time interval Δt1 can thus be adapted to the engine cycles becoming shorter with increasing speed. The engine speed is a parameter which, in vehicles equipped with a data bus, is permanently available on the data bus, so that the engine control unit or, if present, a separate ignition control unit can access said parameter in order to control the duration of the first time interval Δt1 according to the speed of the spark ignition engine. The control process is preferably implemented with the aid of a computing circuit, which may be provided in the engine control unit or in a separate ignition control unit. In particular, a microprocessor or a microcontroller can be used as a computing circuit. The computing circuit has a memory which it can access, or it can access an external memory, in which a number of pairs of values are stored. Each pair of values assigns a specific first time interval Δt1 to a specific speed. If the value of the current speed of the engine is transmitted to the computing circuit, it accesses the memory in which the pairs of values are stored, ascertains or calculates from the stored pairs of values the duration Δt1 of the first time interval belonging to the currently transmitted speed, and separates the second voltage source from the spark plug when the ascertained or calculated first time interval Δt1 is reached. If a current speed for which no pair of values is stored, is transmitted to the computing circuit, then the computing circuit may either search for the pair of values that is closest to the currently transmitted engine speed and may change the first time interval Δt1 to the duration specified in this pair of values, or it can determine the two closest pairs of value between which the currently submitted speed value lies, and calculate the duration of the first time interval Δt1 matching the current speed value by a method of interpolation.
Alternatively, it is possible to change the first time interval Δt1 as a result of access by the computing circuit, to which the current speed value is transmitted, to a memory in which a computing instruction is stored, in accordance with which the computing circuit, for the current speed value, calculates the duration of the first time interval Δt1 and, once the end of the calculated duration of the first time interval Δt1 is reached, separates the second voltage source from the spark plug.
It has already been mentioned that the observed actual curve or profile of the ion current can be compared with a normal curve or profile of the ion current in order to conclude whether there are any anomalies in the course of the combustion process or whether there are any deviations from an optimal combustion process on the basis of the deviations between the two curves or profiles. For this purpose, the currently observed curve or profile of the ion current is preferably stored, either in the engine control unit or in a separate ignition control unit, in which a normal curve or profile of the ion current is also stored, so that any differences between the stored current curve or profile of the ion current and the curve or profile of the ion current stored as a normal curve or profile can be determined. If significant deviations are determined, corrective action can be taken by the engine control unit or, if present, by an ignition control unit with regard to the engine control or the ignition control by forming a control variable for changing an engine parameter, which can be influenced by the engine control unit or by the ignition control unit. For example, the ignition point, the quantitative ratio of drawn-in air to injected fuel, the quantitative ratio of drawn-in air to a fed-back quantity of exhaust gas and, in the case of an engine with exhaust gas turbocharger or charge air compressor, the boost pressure are possible engine parameters.
The ion current does not have to be measured during the entire first time interval Δt1. However, it is preferably measured and also evaluated during the entire first time interval Δt1 in order to uncover any anomalies in the curve or profile or deviations from the optimal curve or profile of the combustion process. The ion current should not be measured for longer than it delivers usable results. This time interval can be specified by the engine control unit, preferably in a speed-dependent manner, but can also be optimized autonomously in the engine control unit or in a separate ignition control unit in that the measurement for example is then interrupted as soon as the engine control unit or, where applicable, the ignition control unit identifies, in accordance with predefined criteria, the fact that the curve of the ion current is normal, or as soon as the intensity of the ion current falls below a predefined value, for example is less than 20% or 10% of its previously observed maximum or is smaller than a predefined absolute value of the current intensity.
The duration of the second time interval Δt2 is preferably variable and can be changed according to the speed, in particular can be shortened with increasing speed. At medium speed a duration of 0.5 ms to 1 ms from the appearance of the control signal for the start of charging of the ignition coil has proven to be of value for the time delay Δt2.
These teachings are advantageously suitable for spark ignition engines having different ignition systems. These teachings are suitable not only for ignition systems with single-spark ignition coils, in which each spark plug is assigned an ignition coil, but are also suitable for spark ignition engines with two-spark ignition coils, which are ignition coils that simultaneously generate an ignition voltage for two spark plugs. This disclosure is also suitable for spark ignition engines with multi-spark ignition. In the case of multi-spark ignition, one ignition coil generates a close sequence of individual sparks with short charge time by being switched on and off repeatedly. Lastly, this disclosure can also be used for spark ignition engines which operate with dual-core ignition coils, that is to say ignition coils that, compared to single-spark ignition coils, deliver an extended ignition spark. A dual-core ignition is disclosed for example in DE 10 2012 106 207.2.
The present disclosure is suitable both for ignition systems that deliver a positive ignition voltage and for ignition systems that deliver a negative ignition voltage. The present disclosure is particularly suitable for ignition systems that deliver a positive ignition voltage, that is to say the central electrode of the spark plug is charged positively with respect to the one or more side electrodes. If the central electrode of the spark plug is charged positively for the ion current generation, the electrons provided as a result of the ignition in the combustion chamber then migrate to the central electrode, where they form an electron cloud, which promotes the current conduction between the central electrode and the one or more side electrodes. If the central electrode of the spark plug is poled negatively, however, then the electrons migrate to the one or more side electrodes and to the wall of the combustion chamber, which impairs the current conduction between the central electrode and the one or more side electrodes. It is therefore preferable if the central electrode of the spark plug is poled positively.
The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a-1d show four different curves of the ion current,
The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.
a shows a typical curve of the ion current in a combustion chamber of a four-stroke engine under normal combustion conditions. The curve over time of the measured ion current is characterized by a smooth curve. After the ignition point, the current intensity of the ion current rises and passes through a first maximum and a second maximum, which is lower than the first maximum, and then gradually falls to zero.
b shows a changed curve of the ion current, which is produced as a result of the fact that the combustion is accompanied by knocking. Knocking is noticeable in the combustion chamber as a result of pressure surges that are reflected in the curve of the ion current and lead to characteristic deflections of the current intensity.
c shows a curve of the intensity of the ion current in the case of preignition. Reference is made to preignition when the fuel/air mixture is ignited prematurely and in an uncontrolled manner at the end of the compression phase in the spark ignition engine, before the ignition point. This is a problem that occurs predominantly in modern, highly compressing spark ignition engines. After the ignition point, additional current peaks caused by knocking can be seen in
d shows a curve of the intensity of an ion current with the occurrence of auto-ignition. Reference is made to auto-ignition when, in a spark ignition engine, the combustion process is not triggered or is not only triggered by the ignition spark of the spark plug, but by overheated components in the combustion chamber, for example by spark plug electrodes, exhaust valves or by sharp, overheated edges. Auto-ignitions can occur both before and after the ignition point and cause the combustion process to be initiated at a number of points. This can intensify the overheating and lead to engine damage.
The significant deviations of the currently observed ion current curve from the curve with normal combustion can be discovered by comparison of the observed curve with the curve with normal combustion and can be reduced or remedied by taking measures in the engine control.
The control device 3, triggered by the trigger signal transmitted by the engine control unit 7, opens a time window (possibly delayed by Δt2) for the generation and measurement of the ion current. The time window is the time interval with the duration Δt1. The control device 3 closes the time window once the provided duration Δt1 has elapsed, said duration being set depending on the speed of the engine. For this purpose, the control device 3, besides the control signal 8, also receives a signal 9 from the engine control unit 7 via the “terminal 1”, said signal containing information concerning the current speed of the engine. At the end of the first time interval Δt1, the control device 3 separates the spark plug 5 from the supply with the second DC voltage by the ion current measuring device 2.
The start of the first time interval having the duration Δt1 can be delayed as required by a second time interval Δt2 with respect to the control signal 8 of the engine control unit. The second time interval Δt2 may, for example, be 0.5 ms to 1 ms long and can be changed in a speed-dependent manner.
The ion current measuring device 2 measures the ion current that is caused as a result of the fact that the ion current measuring device 2 supplies the spark plug 5 with the second DC voltage. The measured curve of the ion current can be compared in the ion current measuring device 2 with a stored normal curve of the ion current. The way in which such a comparison can be carried out is known to a person skilled in the art and does not form part of the subject of the present invention. The result of this comparison can be transmitted via the control device 3 to the engine control unit 7, such that the engine control unit 7 can change the engine control as necessary so that significant deviations of the ion current curve from the normal ion current curve are reduced or remedied.
The ion current flowing via the spark plug 5 is measured in a measuring circuit 12 and is preferably also evaluated in the ion current measuring device 2. The evaluation preferably includes the comparison of the curve of the measured ion current with a stored normal curve of the ion current. The ion current measuring device 2 may for this purpose be equipped with a computing circuit, which can perform such an evaluation, for example with a microprocessor, microcontroller or with an ASIC. The result of the measurement or evaluation of the ion current is transmitted via the control device 3 to the engine control unit 7.
A switch 13 separates the measuring circuit 12 from the voltage multiplier 10 and from the driver circuit 11, as long as the driver circuit drives the voltage multiplier 10 in order to charge the capacitors thereof.
The circuit arrangement 14 illustrated in
At the output terminal 17 of the voltage multiplier 14 appears the DC voltage increased with respect to the on-board power supply voltage, the increased voltage being 200 V in the present example. It is applied to the electrodes of the spark plug 5 for the duration of the first time interval Δt1.
The ion current flowing between the electrodes of the spark plug 5 flows through a resistor R7. The voltage falling across the resistor R7 is a measure for the intensity of the ion current and can be tapped between an output terminal 18 and a ground terminal.
A bipolar transistor 19 with insulated gate electrode is connected in parallel to the resistor R7. Whilst the voltage multiplier 10 is charged, this bipolar transistor 19 is switched on and thus bridges the resistor R7. During the first time interval Δt1 in which the ion current is generated and measured, the bipolar transistor 19 is opened however and the pulse-width modulation signal, which is otherwise fed via the input 16, is switched off. This avoids the interspersing of interference signals into the ion current and facilitates the measurement and evaluation thereof. The bipolar transistor 19 is controlled by the control signal 20, which may be delayed, see
While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2012 110 386.0 | Oct 2012 | DE | national |
| 10 2012 112 273.3 | Dec 2012 | DE | national |
