Spark plug fouling detection for ignition system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249774-B2
Application number	US-201314077064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A method for determining a level of spark plug fouling and providing an indication to change the spark plugs of an ignition system is provided. The method includes providing a dwell command on a control wire of an ignition system and generating an indication of a recommendation to change a spark plug of the ignition system based upon a current on the control wire.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
outputting a dwell command on a control wire to start dwell of an ignition coil;
comparing a sensed voltage at a low voltage terminal of a secondary winding of the ignition coil to a reference voltage;
opening a switch to turn a current sink off responsive to determining that the sensed voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the current sink being connected to the control wire;
determining a switching time from a beginning of the dwell command to a switching point, the switching point being the time at which the switch is opened;
comparing the switching time to a threshold; and
outputting an indication of a recommendation to change one or more spark plugs responsive to determining that the switching time is greater than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining if a trailing edge of the dwell command is detected responsive to determining that the sensed voltage is less than the reference voltage.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing a logic 1 at a D flip flop responsive to detecting a trailing edge of the dwell command while the sensed voltage is less than the reference voltage.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising closing the switch while the output of a D flip flop is logic 1.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising reporting the closed switching during the next combustion cycle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing a logic 0 at a D flip flop responsive to detecting a trailing edge of the dwell command while the sensed voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the indication of the recommendation to change one or more spark plugs comprises outputting a visual indication of the recommendation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the indication of the recommendation to change one or more spark plugs comprises outputting an audible indication of the recommendation.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huberts Garlan J
• Qu Qiuping

Classifications

• H01T13/60

  of electrical properties · CPC title

• F02P3/0453

  Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with semiconductor devices · CPC title

• F02P17/12 Primary

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