Ignition coil and method for operating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018258902-A1
Application number	US-201815911534-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 9, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating an ignition coil is described, wherein a secondary voltage pulse is generated by feeding a primary voltage pulse into a transformer of the ignition coil, and a primary current, a primary voltage, a secondary current and/or a secondary voltage are measured, wherein the course of the primary current, the primary voltage, the secondary voltage and/or the secondary current are monitored and, when a malfunction is determined during subsequent primary voltage pulse, an error signal is generated which indicates that a malfunction has occurred during the previous primary voltage pulse and classifies the malfunction. In addition, a corresponding ignition coil is described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating an ignition coil, comprising:
feeding a primary voltage pulse into a transformer of the ignition coil and thereby generating a secondary voltage pulse; measuring a primary current, a primary voltage, a secondary current and/or a secondary voltage; monitoring the course of the primary current, the primary voltage, the secondary voltage and/or the secondary current; and when a malfunction is determined from the monitoring, generating an error signal during a subsequent primary voltage pulse, wherein the error signal indicates that a malfunction occurred during the previous primary voltage pulse and the error signal classifies the malfunction.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the classification of the malfunction is a function of the duration of the error signal.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the error signal is generated at a signal output at which a monitoring signal pulse is generated at least during some primary voltage pulses, the monitoring signal pulse being started as soon as the primary current reaches a first predetermined threshold value, and the monitoring signal pulse being terminated as soon as the primary current reaches a second predetermined threshold value that is greater than the first predetermined threshold value.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the error signal is started and terminated before the primary current reaches the first threshold value.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the beginning of the error signal is triggered by an increase of the primary voltage to a predetermined value.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the error signal is a pulse.

7 . An ignition coil, comprising:
a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side; a signal output; and a control and monitoring unit having sensors, the control and monitoring unit configured to:
control the transformer and feed a primary voltage pulse into the primary side of the transformer to generate a secondary voltage pulse for a spark plug;
monitor the course of primary current, primary voltage, secondary voltage and/or secondary current to detect a malfunction;
in response to the detection of a malfunction, generate during a subsequent primary voltage pulse, an error signal on the signal output, the error signal indicating that a malfunction has occurred during the previous primary voltage pulse; and
classify the malfunction.

8 . The ignition coil according to claim 7 , wherein the classification of the malfunction is a function of the duration of the error signal.

9 . The ignition coil according to claim 7 , wherein the control and monitoring unit is configured to generate a monitoring signal pulse on the signal output at least during some primary voltage pulses, which is started as soon as the primary current reaches a first predetermined threshold value, and the monitoring signal pulse is terminated as soon as the primary current reaches a second predetermined threshold value, which is greater than the first predetermined threshold value.

10 . The ignition coil according to claim 7 , wherein the control and monitoring unit only generates the monitoring signal pulse if no malfunction has been determined during the preceding primary voltage pulse.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Ludwigsburg Gmbh

Inventors

• Kienzle Dejan
• Wüstenhagen Dirk

Classifications

• H01F27/402

  Association of measuring or protective means · CPC title

• G01R19/00

  Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof (G01R5/00 takes precedence; for measuring bioelectric currents or voltages A61B5/24) · CPC title

• F02P3/0407 Primary

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

• F02P13/00

  Sparking plugs structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines ({connection of ignition coil to spark plug connector F02P3/02;} with fuel injectors F02M57/06 {; spark plug connector per se H01T13/04 – H01T13/06; predominant aspects of sparking plug, see H01T13/40 – H01T13/44}) · CPC title

• F02D41/22

  Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} · CPC title