Ignition system and method for operating an ignition system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348633-A1
Application number	US-201415032974-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ignition system and a method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine are provided, including a primary voltage generator and a boost converter for generating an ignition spark. An ascertainment of a voltage requirement for the ignition spark is followed by a modification of a switch-on time of the boost converter relative to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

First claim

1 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . A method for adjusting a high voltage supply for an ignition spark in an ignition system to be generated with a primary voltage generator, the ignition system including the primary voltage generator and a boost converter, for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
ascertaining a voltage requirement for an ignition sparkover to be generated; and modifying, in response to the voltage requirement, a switch-on time of the boost converter relative to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ascertaining of the voltage requirement includes performing at least one of: (i) measuring an output voltage present across the spark gap or a corresponding measured voltage, and (ii) receiving a signal from an electronic control unit.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ascertaining of the voltage requirement includes comparing a measured electrical parameter, in particular, an output voltage present across the spark gap or a measuring voltage or a signal received by an electronic control unit, with an assigned reference.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
classifying the result of the comparing; and modifying a switch-on time of the boost converter as a function of a parameter assigned to the class.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: (i) the modifying of the switch-on time in response to a reduced voltage requirement results in a switching-on of the boost converter at a later point in time, and the modifying of the switch-on time in response to an increased voltage requirement results in an earlier switch-on of the boost converter.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the modifying of the switch-on time occurs with respect to a crankshaft angle of an internal combustion engine provided with the ignition system or with respect to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the ascertaining of a voltage requirement occurs during a first ignition process, and the modifying of the switch-on time occurs during a second, subsequent ignition process.

24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ascertaining of the voltage requirement includes one of the following:
ascertaining a predetermined operating state of an internal combustion engine, a predetermined voltage requirement or a predetermined switch-on time being assigned to the predetermined operating state; and measuring an output voltage present across the spark gap or a corresponding voltage, a maximum value of the output voltage measured in a predetermined time period corresponding to the voltage requirement.

25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the modifying of a switch-on time of the boost converter includes:
comparing a voltage supply for the ignition spark with the ascertained voltage requirement; ascertaining whether an exceedance condition is met by checking whether the voltage supply exceeds the voltage requirement at least by a predetermined voltage difference; and modifying the switch-on time to a later point in time relative to the switch-off time of the primary voltage generator when the exceedance condition is met, or modifying the switch-on time to an earlier point in time relative to the switch-off time of the primary voltage generator when the exceedance condition is not met.

26 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the voltage supply is ascertained by performing the following:
measuring an output voltage present across the spark gap or a corresponding voltage; evaluating a gradient of the measured output voltage, in particular, at the point in time of ignition; and deriving the voltage supply from the output voltage and/or from the gradient of the output voltage.

27 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the voltage supply is ascertained by performing the following:
determining influence variables of the ignition system, in particular, the temperature of a primary winding of the primary voltage generator and the primary current flowing through the primary winding; and deriving the voltage supply from the influence variables.

28 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the modifying of the switch-on time occurs in predefinable stages.

29 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the switch-on time of the boost converter is determined by the point in time at which a switch of the boost converter is switched on and cyclically switched.

30 . A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for adjusting a high voltage supply for an ignition spark in an ignition system to be generated with a primary voltage generator, the ignition system including the primary voltage generator and a boost converter, for an internal combustion engine, by performing the following:
ascertaining a voltage requirement for an ignition sparkover to be generated; and
modifying, in response to the voltage requirement, a switch-on time of the boost converter relative to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

31 . The computer readable memory medium of claim 30 , wherein the ascertaining of the voltage requirement includes performing at least one of: (i) measuring an output voltage present across the spark gap or a corresponding measured voltage, and (ii) receiving a signal from an electronic control unit.

32 . An ignition system, comprising:
a control arrangement configured for adjusting a high voltage supply for an ignition spark in an ignition system to be generated with a primary voltage generator, the ignition system including the primary voltage generator and a boost converter, for an internal combustion engine, by performing the following:
ascertaining a voltage requirement for an ignition sparkover to be generated; and
modifying, in response to the voltage requirement, a switch-on time of the boost converter relative to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

33 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ascertaining of the voltage requirement includes performing at least one of: (i) measuring an output voltage present across the spark gap or a corresponding measured voltage, and (ii) receiving a signal from an electronic control unit, in particular, an engine control unit.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Skowronek Tim
• Pawlak Thomas
• Sinz Wolfgang

Classifications

• F02P9/007

  by supplementary electrical discharge in the pre-ionised electrode interspace of the sparking plug, e.g. plasma jet ignition · CPC title

• F02P17/12

  Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/60) · CPC title

• F02P5/1516 Primary

  with means relating to exhaust gas recirculation, e.g. turbo · CPC title

• F02P3/0407

  Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with electronic switching means (F02P3/045 - F02P3/055 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02P2017/121

  by measuring spark voltage · CPC title