EP1233177A1 - Gerät für das Erfassen eines Ionenstroms - Google Patents

Gerät für das Erfassen eines Ionenstroms Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1233177A1
EP1233177A1 EP02001302A EP02001302A EP1233177A1 EP 1233177 A1 EP1233177 A1 EP 1233177A1 EP 02001302 A EP02001302 A EP 02001302A EP 02001302 A EP02001302 A EP 02001302A EP 1233177 A1 EP1233177 A1 EP 1233177A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ion current
adjusting
sensing circuit
resistor
sensitivity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP02001302A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1233177B1 (de
Inventor
Craig J. Rolfe
Jean-Philippe Divo
Ramon Pavan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Technologies Inc
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Delphi Technologies Inc
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Publication of EP1233177A1 publication Critical patent/EP1233177A1/de
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P17/00—Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
    • F02P17/12—Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/30—Controlling fuel injection
    • F02D41/3011—Controlling fuel injection according to or using specific or several modes of combustion
    • F02D41/3017—Controlling fuel injection according to or using specific or several modes of combustion characterised by the mode(s) being used
    • F02D41/3023—Controlling fuel injection according to or using specific or several modes of combustion characterised by the mode(s) being used a mode being the stratified charge spark-ignited mode
    • F02D41/3029—Controlling fuel injection according to or using specific or several modes of combustion characterised by the mode(s) being used a mode being the stratified charge spark-ignited mode further comprising a homogeneous charge spark-ignited mode

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for ion current sensing in an internal combustion engine.
  • a more effective emission control can be achieved through an improved burning control system.
  • Such a burning control system requires the detection of conditions of the burning of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an engine. Many physical parameters, such as the pressure in the combustion chamber, the light generated by the burning of the air-fuel mixture, the ion current in the combustion chamber, and others can be detected as an indication of conditions of the burning of the air-fuel mixture. It is thought that particularly the ion current detection is very useful.
  • Ions are generated during the combustion of the air-fuel mixture, the ion concentration directly depending on the burning conditions inside the combustion chamber. Accordingly, the detection of the ion concentration in the combustion chamber means a direct observation of a chemical reaction caused during the burning of an air-fuel mixture.
  • an ion-sensing device e.g. an ion-sensing electrode
  • Said ion-sensing device can be independently arranged inside the combustion chamber or integrated in an ignition device, e.g. a glow plug device or a sparking plug device.
  • an ignition device e.g. a glow plug device or a sparking plug device.
  • the gas mixture in the combustion chamber is ignited by a spark produced in the electrode gap of a spark plug. After extinction of the spark, the two electrodes of the spark plug can be advantageously used as ion density measurement probe.
  • a combustion condition detector using the spark plug as ion density probe is e.g. described in US-A-5,675,072.
  • said ion-sensing device is supplied with a bias voltage so that the two electrodes of the spark plug form opposite electrodes for capturing the generated ions.
  • An ion current is generated by the migrating ions, the value of which can be easily measured. The information on the ion current can then be used to control the burning conditions inside said combustion chamber.
  • Ion sensing circuits for operating the ion sensing electrodes comprise a bias voltage unit and a current sensing unit.
  • these ion sensing circuits are dimensioned such that, even under full load conditions of the engine, i.e. when the ion current signal is maximum, saturation of the ion current signal is prevented. In other words, the sensitivity of the sensing circuit is adjusted so that saturation is prevented. It follows, that under normal combustion conditions, the measured ion current signal is far below the saturation level and the resolution of the measured signal is not optimal.
  • DIG engines generally operate with a number of combustion modes other than the homogeneous stoichiometric/rich mode used by traditional multiple port fuel injection (MPFI) engines. These additional modes will include stratified lean and homogeneous lean modes. It has been shown that when operating with highly diluted or lean air-fuel mixtures, the level of ionization detected in the combustion chamber tends to diminish. Especially in these cases an effective ion current measurement is no longer possible with prior art ion current sensing devices.
  • MPFI multiple port fuel injection
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a device for ion current sensing, which allows a more effective ion current measurement over a range of operating modes.
  • a device for ion current sensing in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, said first and second electrode being arranged inside said combustion chamber of said engine, and a sensing circuit, wherein the sensing circuit comprises controllable means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing circuit.
  • the sensitivity of the sensing circuit can be adjusted if the measured signal gets too weak for effective analysis. If the engine operates in a lean combustion mode, the sensitivity of the sensing circuit may be increased, and the amplitude of the measured signal increases.
  • the means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing circuit are preferably responsive to an engine operating mode of said internal combustion engine. Since the ion concentration in the combustion chamber and accordingly the ion current to be sensed are largely dependent from the different combustion modes of a DIG engine, said means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing circuit can e.g. be responsive to a combustion mode. In this case, a specific sensitivity of the sensing circuit could be associated with each specific combustion mode and the respective adjustment will be made each time the engine switches to the specific combustion mode. A similar setting is possible where means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing circuit can e.g. be responsive to an engine load condition of said internal combustion engine.
  • the device comprises means for determining a specific characteristic of said ion current signal, e.g. an amplitude of said ion current signal, and said means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing circuit are responsive to said specific characteristic of said ion current signal.
  • the sensitivity of the circuit may for instance be adapted in such a way, that the resulting amplitude of the measured signal lies within a specific range.
  • a control algorithm could operate in closed-loop mode by monitoring the amplitude of the measured ion current signal, and adjusting the sensitivity dynamically to an appropriate.
  • the sensitivity of the sensing circuit can be dynamically adjusted to the actual conditions inside the combustion chamber.
  • the sensitivity of the sensing circuit for ion current measurement can be maximized at all operating conditions.
  • the measured ion current signal Independent of the combustion mode or the load condition of the engine, the measured ion current signal will have a magnitude which is suitable for effective analysis.
  • the device according to the present invention allows an effective ion current based engine control under virtually any load condition.
  • the analyze of a suitable ion current signal allows the determination of a plurality of combustion parameters, such as the detection of air/fuel ratio or peak pressure inside the combustion chamber, the detection of knocking or misfire, etc.
  • the ion current signal measured in art engines with prior art ion sensing devices is too weak for suitable analysis. It follows that in these engines, dedicated sensors are required inn order to be able to determine the above described parameters under any condition. Since the device of the present invention allows an effective analyze of the signal independently from the combustion mode or load condition, these parameters can be determined at any time from the measured ion current signal. It follows that separate sensors for detecting these parameters are no longer required, resulting in reduced costs for the overall sensing equipment.
  • the device of the present invention may furthermore reduce the development time of the sensing device.
  • considerable time is spent in adjusting the fixed sensitivity in order to avoid saturation of the ion current signal but nevertheless to maximize the sensitivity of the sensing circuit.
  • the sensing circuit of the present invention is adaptive, this development time can be considerably reduced.
  • the amount of ions captured by the electrodes depends on the geometry of the electrodes. Accordingly the amplitude of the measured signal under specific conditions is dependent of the spark plug type. Replacing the spark plug by one of a different type can accordingly degrade the setting of the prior art devices. Since the sensitivity of the sensing circuit automatically adjusts to the actual condition inside the combustion chamber, replacement of the spark plug does not affect the quality of the measured ion current signal in a device according to the present invention.
  • Ion sensing circuits for operating the ion sensing electrodes comprise a bias voltage unit and a current sensing unit. It follows that the sensitivity of the sensing circuit can be adjusted in two different ways.
  • said means for adjusting the sensitivity comprise means for adjusting the bias voltage generated by said bias voltage generating unit.
  • the bias voltage applied to the ion sensing electrodes can e.g. be increased during lean of highly diluted operation, where the level of the measured ion current is much reduced. It has been observed that increasing the bias voltage across the spark gap tends to increase the level of the measured ion current.
  • the bias voltage generating unit may e.g. comprise a capacitor and a Zener diode element connected in parallel, wherein said capacitor (C1) is charged during a spark event to a breakdown voltage of said Zener diode element.
  • the means for adjusting the sensitivity may then comprise means for adjusting the breakdown voltage of said Zener diode element.
  • said Zener diode element comprises two terminals for connecting said Zener diode element into said sensing circuit, at least two Zener diodes, said Zener diodes having different breakdown voltages, and a controllable switching element for selectively connecting one of said Zener diodes between the two terminals of said Zener diode element.
  • the switching operation of the controllable switching element can be controlled by logical control signals generated by an ion current analyzing circuit. If the amplitude of the ion current signal decreases due to combustion mode changes, the analyzing circuit triggers the switching element to switch to a Zener diode having a higher breakdown voltage.
  • said means for adjusting the sensitivity comprise means for adjusting a gain of said ion current sensing unit.
  • the ion current sensing unit advantageously comprises a resistor element for converting the ion current into a voltage signal.
  • the means for adjusting the sensitivity then comprises means for adjusting the resistance of said resistor element.
  • a possible embodiment of said resistor element comprises two terminals for connecting said resistor element into said sensing circuit, at least two resistors, said resistors having different resistance values, and a controllable switching element for selectively connecting one of said resistors between the two terminals of said resistor element.
  • the switching operation of the controllable switching element can be controlled by logical control signals generated by an ion current analyzing circuit. If the amplitude of the ion current signal decreases due to combustion mode changes, the analyzing circuit triggers the switching element to switch to a resistor having a higher resistance value.
  • said resistor element comprises two terminals for connecting said resistor element into said sensing circuit, a first resistor being connected between said terminals of said resistor element, at least one second resistor and a controllable switching element for switching said second resistor in parallel to said first resistor.
  • the switching element is opened when the measured ion current is high, whereas in lean conditions, the resistors are switched in parallel.
  • said resistor element comprises a controllable potentiometer.
  • This controllable potentiometer can e.g. be a programmable IC having a variable resistance.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified representation of a first embodiment of an ion-sense system for an internal combustion engine.
  • Reference number 12 globally identifies an ignition coil 12 associated with the spark plug 6.
  • This ignition coil 12 consists of a primary coil 14, with relatively few windings, a secondary coil 16, with a large number of windings, and a common magnetic core for both coils 14, 16.
  • the primary coil 14 is connected to a battery 18 and to an electronic current breaker 20, which is operatively connected to an ignition controller 22.
  • the high electromotive force which is required for producing a spark between the electrodes 8, 10 of the spark plug 6 is induced in the secondary coil 16 by a sudden change in the magnetic flux in the common magnetic core of the ignition coil 12 when the charging current through the primary coil 14 is interrupted by the electronic current breaker 20 under the control of the ignition controller 22.
  • the spark plug 6 is used as an ion density detector in the combustion chamber.
  • An ion current sensing circuitry 24 is mounted in series with the secondary coil 16 and comprises mainly a bias voltage generating unit and a current to voltage converting unit.
  • the bias voltage generating unit comprises a capacitor C1. This capacitor C1 is charged during the spark event to a bias voltage that is limited by a Zener diode element DZ1. After the spark event, this bias voltage generates an electric field between the electrodes 8, 10. This electric field acts on ionized gas molecules in the cylinder, so that an ion flow establishes between the electrons 8, 10. As a result of this ion flow, a current 26 establishes in the ignition circuit.
  • This current is a direct image of the ion density in the combustion chamber. It is monitored as a voltage drop across resistor R1 and called the “ion current signal" (in the Figures the ion current signal is called “ICS" or “ion sense”).
  • ICS ion current signal
  • a second Zener diode DZ2 is used to clip a large negative current peak during the spark event from the measuring resistor R1.
  • the Zener diode element DZ1 is represented as having an adjustable breakdown voltage (indicated by the arrow in the graphical symbol of DZ1).
  • a possible embodiment of such an adjustable Zener diode element is schematically shown in Fig. 2.
  • This Zener diode element comprises three Zener diodes D1, D2, D3 having different breakdown voltages, e.g. V D1 >V D2 >V D3 .
  • the three Zener diodes D1, D2, D3 are connected on one side to a first terminal 28 of the Zener diode element DZ1.
  • a controllable switching element 32 is connected to the second terminal 30 of the Zener diode element DZ1. Switching element 32 has three switching positions, whereby in each switching position one of the Zener diodes D1, D2, D3 is connected between the terminals 28 and 30.
  • the switching element 32 can be controlled by a logical signal applied to the control input 34.
  • the logical signal can e.g. be generated by an ion current signal analyzing circuit 36 based upon an amplitude of the measured signal.
  • the analyzing circuit 34 may e.g. generate a logical signal 38, which causes the switching element 32 to switch to diode D1 having the highest breakdown voltage. If the measured ion current signal increases, signal 38 may cause the switching element 32 to switch to diode D2 or D3, thus decreasing the bias voltage applied across the electrodes 8 and 10.
  • FIG. 3 A second embodiment of an ion-sense system for an internal combustion engine is schematically represented in Fig. 3.
  • Zener diode element comprises a simple Zener diode DZ1.
  • the measuring resistor is replaced by a variable resistor element R1. Since resistor element R1 determines the gain of the current to voltage converter, an increase of the resistance of R1 causes the ion current signal to decrease and vice versa.
  • Resistor element R1 of Fig. 3 is represented as a controllable potentiometer which can be controlled by a logical signal generated by the signal analyzing circuit 36.
  • the controllable potentiometer can e.g. be a programmable IC having a variable resistance.
  • An alternative embodiment of an adjustable resistor element R1 is schematically represented in Fig. 4.
  • This resistor element R1 comprises three resistors R10, R12, R14 having different resistance values, e.g. R10>R12>R14.
  • the three resistors R10, R12, R14 are connected on one side to a first terminal 36 of the resistor element R1.
  • a controllable switching element 40 is connected to the second terminal 38 of the resistor element R1. Switching element 40 has three switching positions, whereby in each switching position one of the resistors R10, R12, R14 is connected between the terminals 36 and 38.
  • the switching element 40 can be controlled by a logical signal applied to the control input 42.
  • the analyzing circuit 34 may e.g. generate a logical signal 38, which causes the switching element 40 to switch to resistor R1 having the highest resistance. If the measured ion current signal increases, signal 38 may cause the switching element 40 to switch to resistor R2 or R3, thus decreasing the voltage signal at the terminals of resistor element R1.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combined Controls Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
EP02001302A 2001-02-16 2002-01-18 Gerät für das Erfassen eines Ionenstroms Expired - Lifetime EP1233177B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU90733 2001-02-16
LU90733A LU90733B1 (en) 2001-02-16 2001-02-16 Device for lon current sensing

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1233177A1 true EP1233177A1 (de) 2002-08-21
EP1233177B1 EP1233177B1 (de) 2005-09-21

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EP02001302A Expired - Lifetime EP1233177B1 (de) 2001-02-16 2002-01-18 Gerät für das Erfassen eines Ionenstroms

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EP (1) EP1233177B1 (de)
DE (1) DE60206205T2 (de)
LU (1) LU90733B1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1489296A1 (de) * 2003-06-20 2004-12-22 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Treiberschaltung
EP1780536A2 (de) * 2005-11-01 2007-05-02 Phelon Euro AB Ionensensor für kleinen Benzinmotoren
WO2008003600A1 (de) * 2006-07-04 2008-01-10 Continental Automotive Gmbh Verfahren zur erhöhung der auflösung von ausgangssignalen mindestens eines messsensors für einen verbrennungsmotor sowie zugehöriges steuergerät

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008006673B4 (de) * 2008-01-30 2020-08-27 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Brennkraftmaschine mit Benzin-Direkteinspritzung
US7818998B2 (en) * 2008-09-30 2010-10-26 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. Detecting ionization signal for HCCI engines using a dual gain and dual bias voltage circuit

Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4505600A (en) * 1982-11-18 1985-03-19 Nittan Company, Ltd. Temperature sensor
WO1999031384A1 (de) * 1997-12-12 1999-06-24 Temic Telefunken Microelectronic Gmbh Verfahren zur ionenstrommessung bei brennkraftmaschinen sowie ionenstrommessvorrichtung
EP0933526A2 (de) * 1998-01-28 1999-08-04 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Apparat zur Detektion eines Ionenstromes
JP2000073845A (ja) * 1998-08-31 2000-03-07 Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd エンジンの制御装置
US6091244A (en) * 1997-06-25 2000-07-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and arrangement for detecting combustion misfires of a internal combustion engine

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JP3477923B2 (ja) 1995-06-29 2003-12-10 三菱電機株式会社 内燃機関用燃焼状態検知装置
US6092737A (en) 1999-02-02 2000-07-25 General Motors Corporation Direct acting fuel injector

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4505600A (en) * 1982-11-18 1985-03-19 Nittan Company, Ltd. Temperature sensor
US6091244A (en) * 1997-06-25 2000-07-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and arrangement for detecting combustion misfires of a internal combustion engine
WO1999031384A1 (de) * 1997-12-12 1999-06-24 Temic Telefunken Microelectronic Gmbh Verfahren zur ionenstrommessung bei brennkraftmaschinen sowie ionenstrommessvorrichtung
EP0933526A2 (de) * 1998-01-28 1999-08-04 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Apparat zur Detektion eines Ionenstromes
JP2000073845A (ja) * 1998-08-31 2000-03-07 Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd エンジンの制御装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 06 22 September 2000 (2000-09-22) *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1489296A1 (de) * 2003-06-20 2004-12-22 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Treiberschaltung
US7373803B2 (en) 2003-06-20 2008-05-20 Delphi Technologies Driver circuit for an ion measurement device
EP1780536A2 (de) * 2005-11-01 2007-05-02 Phelon Euro AB Ionensensor für kleinen Benzinmotoren
EP1780536A3 (de) * 2005-11-01 2009-01-14 Phelon Euro AB Ionensensor für kleinen Benzinmotoren
WO2008003600A1 (de) * 2006-07-04 2008-01-10 Continental Automotive Gmbh Verfahren zur erhöhung der auflösung von ausgangssignalen mindestens eines messsensors für einen verbrennungsmotor sowie zugehöriges steuergerät
US7894977B2 (en) 2006-07-04 2011-02-22 Continental Automotive Gmbh Method for increasing the resolution of output signals from at least one measuring sensor on an internal combustion engine and corresponding controller
KR101030161B1 (ko) 2006-07-04 2011-04-18 콘티넨탈 오토모티브 게엠베하 내연 엔진상 적어도 하나의 측정 센서로부터 출력 신호들의해상도를 증가시키는 방법 및 대응 제어기

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60206205D1 (de) 2005-10-27
EP1233177B1 (de) 2005-09-21
DE60206205T2 (de) 2006-06-14
LU90733B1 (en) 2002-08-19

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