Ignition system and method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356259-A1
Application number	US-201415032829-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 16, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, including a first voltage generator and a bypass, is described. The bypass may include, for example, a boost converter for maintaining a spark generated with the aid of the first voltage generator. A speed of an internal combustion engine used with the ignition system is ascertained and the operating mode of the bypass is modified in response to the speed change.

First claim

1 - 13 . (Canceled)

14 . A method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a first voltage generator and a bypass for maintaining a spark generated with the first voltage generator, the method comprising:
ascertaining a speed of an internal combustion engine used with the ignition system; and modifying the operating mode of the bypass in response to a speed change.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the modifying of the operating mode includes modifying a time interval of the voltage generation by the bypass.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the modifying of the time interval of the voltage generation includes at least one of a shifting of the time interval across the crank angle, and a lengthening or shortening of the time interval.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
classifying the speed; and comparing the class with a reference.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: (i) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a signal of an engine control unit, and (ii) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a crank angle over time.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
modifying the operating mode of the bypass in accordance with a stored reference.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the modifying of the operating mode of the bypass includes a change of a spark duration to at least one of the following:
(i) 2 ms to 4 ms if the speed reaches a range between 1500 rpm and 4500 rpm, (ii) 1 ms to 3 ms if the speed reaches a range between 3500 rpm and 5500 rpm, and (iii) 0.5 ms to 2 ms if the speed reaches a range between 4500 rpm and 6500 rpm.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the modifying of the operating mode of the bypass includes performing the following:
determining a time interval of the voltage generation by the bypass as a function of the ascertained speed; and operating the bypass in the determined time interval.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the determination of a time interval of the voltage generation includes performing the following:
classifying the ascertained speed under one of the speed intervals stored in a memory, each of the speed intervals being assigned a predetermined time interval of the voltage generation, and changing the time interval of the voltage generation to the time interval assigned to the appropriate speed interval.

23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the time interval of the voltage generation is the time interval in which a switch of the bypass is cyclically switched on and off.

24 . A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a first voltage generator and a bypass for maintaining a spark generated with the first voltage generator, by performing the following: ascertaining a speed of an internal combustion engine used with the ignition system; and modifying the operating mode of the bypass in response to a speed change.

25 . The computer readable medium, wherein the bypass includes a boost converter.

26 . An ignition system, comprising:
a processor configured for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a first voltage generator and a bypass for maintaining a spark generated with the first voltage generator, by performing the following:
ascertaining a speed of an internal combustion engine used with the ignition system; and
modifying the operating mode of the bypass in response to a speed change.

27 . The ignition system, wherein the bypass includes a boost converter.

28 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the bypass includes a boost converter.

29 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: (i) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a signal of an engine control unit, in particular, a digital bus signal, and (ii) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a crank angle over time, in particular, within an electrical circuit and/or an ASIC of the ignition system.

30 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: (i) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a signal of an engine control unit, in particular, a digital bus signal, and (ii) the ascertainment of the speed includes an evaluation of a crank angle over time.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Skowronek Tim
• Pawlak Thomas
• Sinz Wolfgang

Classifications

• F02P15/10

  having continuous electric sparks · CPC title

• F02P3/0407

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

• F02P5/1514

  with means for optimising the use of registers or of memories, e.g. interpolation · CPC title

• F02P9/007 Primary

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

• F02P2017/121

  by measuring spark voltage · CPC title