Abstract: Method for igniting a fuel/air mixture in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine comprising combustion chambers which are delimited by walls that are at ground potential, using an ignition device comprising an ignition electrode provided in each combustion chamber, in which method, via an electrical DC/AC converter, an electric oscillating circuit is excited, which is connected to the secondary side of the DC/AC converter, and in which the ignition electrode, which is guided through one of the walls delimiting the combustion chamber in a manner in which it is electrically insulated from said walls by an insulator and extends into the combustion chamber, constitutes a capacitance in cooperation with the walls of the combustion chamber that are at ground potential, and in which the excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled so a corona discharge igniting the fuel/air mixture is created in each combustion chamber at the ignition electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing (1) which holds a connector (2) and is potted with an electrically insulating compound. According to the invention, it is provided that the connector (2) holds a printed circuit board (4), the connector (2) comprises contact pins (5, 5a) for contacting a female connector matching the connector (2), said contact pins (5, 5a) being pressed into the printed circuit board (4), contact forks (6) which each clamp a conductor (7) in the interior region of the housing (1) are inserted into the printed circuit board (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a glow plug to a target value of the surface temperature while the engine is running, wherein an effective voltage is generated by pulse width modulation of a vehicle electrical system voltage and this effective voltage is applied to the glow plug, the electric resistance of the glow plug is measured and compared to a resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature, and the effective voltage is varied as a function of the deviation of the measured value of the electric resistance from the expected value of the electric resistance. According to the invention, a pressure sensor of the glow plug is used to measure the combustion chamber pressure and the resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature is determined as a function of the combustion chamber pressure.

Abstract: A device and a method for receiving ceramic heating elements (PTC elements, cold conductors) in a heating device, use an insulating frame and at least one contact plate held by the latter and on which the heating elements can be placed. The device is characterized in that the contact plate is frictionally held in the frame. The method is characterized in that at least on the contact plate side remote from the heating element reception side is moulded on or spread a layer of the following materials: plastic, polymer ceramic, ceramic.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating engine parameters in a combustion engine gas exchange system based on dynamic pressure readings taken by one or more pressure sensors. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method and system may use an artificial neural network (ANN) to process the dynamic pressure readings and any additional engine conditions that may have been provided.