Ignition control system for internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938954-B2
Application number	US-201615097690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

An ECU outputs an ignition signal Si to an ignition apparatus through an ignition communication line, and outputs a discharge waveform control signal Sc with a logic H through a waveform control communication line. The ignition apparatus performs the closing operation of an ignition switching element, in a period during which the ignition signal Si is input. In an input period of the discharge waveform control signal Sc after stopping the input of the ignition signal Si, the ignition apparatus controls the electric current to flow through a primary coil, by the opening-closing operation of a control switching element. When the voltage of the waveform control communication line Lc is the logic H in an output stop period of the discharge waveform control signal Sc, the ECU determines that the waveform control communication line is abnormal, and executes a fail-safe process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ignition control system for an internal combustion engine, the ignition control system comprising:
an ignition apparatus including
an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil,
a spark plug connected with the secondary coil, the spark plug communicating with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine,
a discharge control circuit configured to continue discharge of the spark plug after a start of the discharge of the spark plug, and
a discharge control unit configured to control a discharge current of the spark plug by operating the discharge control circuit, after the start of the discharge of the spark plug;

an electronic control unit configured to output an ignition signal and a discharge waveform control signal to the ignition apparatus, the ignition signal commanding energization of the primary coil, and the discharge waveform control signal commanding control of the discharge current by the discharge control circuit;
an ignition communication line configured to transmit the ignition signal from the electronic control unit to the ignition apparatus;
a waveform control communication line configured to transmit the discharge waveform control signal from the electronic control unit to the ignition apparatus; and
a switching apparatus configured to switch a connection state of the discharge control unit and an electric power source between a conduction state and an interruption state, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the waveform control communication line is abnormal, based on at least one of i) a condition that an electric potential of the waveform control communication line in a period during which the discharge waveform control signal is not output to the waveform control communication line corresponds to an electric potential when the discharge waveform control signal is output and ii) a condition that electric current flows through the primary coil or the secondary coil in a period other than a period during which the discharge waveform control signal is output to the waveform control communication line and a period during which the ignition signal is output to the ignition communication line, and
the electronic control unit is configured to place the switching apparatus into the interruption state when it has been determined that the waveform control communication line is abnormal.

2. The ignition control system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to
i) control an air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine in a first mode and in a second mode, the first mode controlling the air-fuel ratio to a predetermined air-fuel ratio, the second mode controlling the air-fuel ratio to an air-fuel ratio that is leaner than the predetermined air-fuel ratio of the first mode,
ii) output the discharge waveform control signal in the second mode, and
iii) prohibit execution of the second mode when it has been determined that the waveform control communication line is abnormal.

3. The ignition control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to variably control a delay time of an input timing of the discharge waveform control signal to the ignition apparatus relative to an input timing of the ignition signal to the ignition apparatus,
the discharge control unit is configured to control a discharge current value depending on the delay time such that the discharge current value in a case where the delay time is relatively long is greater than the discharge current value in a case where the delay time is relatively short, and
the electronic control unit is configured to decrease an upper limit of output of the internal combustion engine when it has been determined that the waveform control communication line is abnormal.

4. An ignition control system for an internal combustion engine, the ignition control system comprising:
an ignition apparatus including
an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil,
a spark plug connected with the secondary coil, the spark plug communicating with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine,
a discharge control circuit configured to continue discharge of the spark plug after a start of the discharge of the spark plug, and
a discharge control unit configured to control a discharge current of the spark plug by operating the discharge control circuit, after the start of the discharge of the spark plug;

an electronic control unit configured to output an ignition signal and a discharge waveform control signal to the ignition apparatus, the ignition signal commanding energization of the primary coil, and the discharge waveform control signal commanding control of the discharge current by the discharge control circuit;
an ignition communication line configured to transmit the ignition signal from the electronic control unit to the ignition apparatus; and
a waveform control communication line configured to transmit the discharge waveform control signal from the electronic control unit to the ignition apparatus, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the waveform control communication line is abnormal, based on at least one of i) a condition that an electric potential of the waveform control communication line in a period during which the discharge waveform control signal is not output to the waveform control communication line corresponds to an electric potential when the discharge waveform control signal is output and ii) a condition that electric current flows through the primary coil or the secondary coil in a period other than a period during which the discharge waveform control signal is output to the waveform control communication line and a period during which the ignition signal is output to the ignition communication line,
the electronic control unit is configured to variably control a delay time of an input timing of the discharge waveform control signal to the ignition apparatus relative to an input timing of the ignition signal to the ignition apparatus,
the discharge control unit is configured to control a discharge current value depending on the delay time such that the discharge current value in a case where the delay time is relatively long is greater than the discharge current value in a case where the delay time is relatively short, and
the electronic control unit is configured to decrease an upper limit of output of the internal combustion engine when it has been determined that the waveform control communication line is abnormal.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakamura Satoshi

Classifications

• F02P3/02

  having inductive energy storage, e.g. arrangements of induction coils {(ignition coils structurally combined with sparking plugs F02P13/00; constructional details of ignition coils H01F38/12)} · CPC title

• F02P11/06

  Indicating unsafe conditions · CPC title

• F02B5/02

  Methods of operating · CPC title

• F02P9/007

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

• F02P15/006

  Ignition installations combined with other systems, e.g. fuel injection (to advance or to retard the ignition spark F02P5/045) · CPC title