Patents Assigned to SEM AB
  • Patent number: 11560869
    Abstract: An electronic circuit (101) for controlling a spark of a spark plug (SP1) in a capacitor discharge ignition system (100) for a combustion engine. The electronic circuit (101) comprises an ignition coil (110) dimensioned and configured to provide current to the spark plug (SP1), an ignition capacitor (C1) dimensioned and configured to supply energy to the primary winding (L1), an voltage source (130) dimensioned and configured to supply energy to at least one of the ignition capacitor (C1) and the primary winding (L1), a first switch (SW1) connected to the first primary terminal (TL1) and the first source terminal (TS1), a second switch (SW2) connected to the second capacitor terminal (TC2) and the second source terminal (TS2), and a third switch (SW3) connected to the second capacitor terminal (TC2) and the first source terminal (TS1). A capacitor discharge ignition system (100) including the electronic circuit (101) and a combustion engine including the capacitor discharge ignition system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jörgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson, Johan Eklund, Tomas Karlsson, Lars Svensson
  • Publication number: 20220099062
    Abstract: A magneto ignition system for battery less hand-held combustion engines includes a claw generator with a stationary circular power coil winding enclosed by two iron claw halves and with a rotating flywheel magnet ring with multiple magnetic poles. The stationary circular coil winding includes a trigger coil with a stationary coil winding arranged in a plane orthogonal to the stationary circular power coil winding. The magneto ignition system further includes an engine control module ECM for establishment of appropriate ignition timing, and an ignition coil module ICM. The stationary circular power coil winding may provide the electrical power supply to both the ignition timing module ECM and the ignition coil module ICM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jörgen BENGTSSON, Bert GUSTAFSSON, Lars SVENSSON
  • Patent number: 11225939
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spark plug extension body connecting an ignition coil with a spark plug for a spark ignited internal combustion engine, as well as a method for providing such a spark plug extension body for reduction of partial electrical discharges in the spark plug extension body. In conventional spark plug extensions are coil springs used as electrical conductor against the spark plug terminal and/or ignition coil terminal. These coil springs cause Corona effects and short circuiting requiring replacement of the spark plug extension. With the invention the entire electrical conductor (CRu, 64, CRL) is in a rod like form and at least both ends (CRu, CRL) of the electrical conductor (CRu, 64, CRL) are made as a monolith in a flexible and electrically conducting polymeric material, preferably electrically conducting rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jorgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson, Mats Andren
  • Publication number: 20210180555
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved ignition system for spark ignited combustion engines. According to the invention the voltage over a coil winding 6P on the primary side of the ignition coil is regulated to a sufficiently low voltage level during timed periods of the ignition cycle, such that at least one function out of three in total, i.e. prevention of premature spark-on-make, or spark suppression after onset of ignition, or improved frequency response between primary and secondary side of the ignition coil after end of ignition, is obtained. When applied in an inductive ignition system a differential amplifier (8) may be connected over the primary winding 6P regulating a control switch 2CS via a drive unit (9). The invention is preferably implemented in ignition systems with ion sense circuitry 5C,5R on the secondary side of the ignition coil, and implementing all three functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventors: Patrik ALRIKSSON, Jörgen BENGTSSON
  • Patent number: 10989160
    Abstract: A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; 5 ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are 10 retrieved and used in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jakob Angeby
  • Publication number: 20200003582
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive position sensor, comprising: a first part with a cylindrical coil winding (14) having a longitudinal direction, a second part with a soft magnetic plunger core (20). The invention also relates to the soft magnetic plunger core and a magnetic shield around said cylindrical coil winding for said inductive position sensor. According to the invention is the soft magnetic plunger core as well as the magnetic shield hollow, preferably with circular cross-section, and made from electrical steel or soft iron sheet material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jörgen BENGTSSON
  • Publication number: 20190219023
    Abstract: A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; 5 ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are 10 retrieved and used in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jakob ANGEBY
  • Patent number: 10288032
    Abstract: A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jakob Angeby
  • Patent number: 10164410
    Abstract: The following invention relates to an ignition coil assembly for an ignition system comprising an ignition coil where said assembly has a main axis and is configured for insertion into and/or removal out of a well associated with an internal combustion engine, wherein the assembly comprises an elongated extension body made of flexible material, said extension body comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion wherein the extension body is arranged to be transversally bendable in relation to the main axis so that the upper end portion and the lower end portion may assume an angle (?) in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Lars-Ake Andersson, Jorgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 9945751
    Abstract: A computer-implemented platform may comprise hardware and software configured to manage an engine using knock intensity data. Knock intensities from a plurality of combustion cycles may be used to estimate a statistical distribution of knock intensities. The distribution of knock intensities may be used to determine a Descriptive Statistic, which may represent a state of tune of the engine. A calculated Descriptive Statistic may be compared to a desired Descriptive Statistic (e.g., that is representative of operation during a desired tune state of the engine). A deviation between the calculated and desired knock intensity distributions (e.g., between the calculated DS and desired DS) may be used to adjust a control parameter of the engine. Adjustment may be engine-wide. Adjustment may be cylinder-by-cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jakob Olofsson Ängeby, Sven Jörgen Peder Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 9945303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the performance of an engine, comprising the steps detecting an ion current in the form of a first signal analysing said first signal to determine at least one property determining a knock index based on said first signal and preferably on said at least one property combining said knock index with a plurality of factors related to properties of the engine or the operation of the engine to arrive at a engine index, and comparing said engine index with a sensitivity map of the engine to determine a correction required to improve the operation of the engine, and correcting the operation of the engine in accordance with the correction determined. The invention also relates to a system for controlling the performance of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jorgen Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 9810191
    Abstract: This invention relates to an engine for a vehicle using alternative fuel, preferably gas, comprising an engine (5) having a spark ignited ignition system (2) wherein said ignition system (2) includes misfire detection by means of a sensor device (4) providing information to a control system (20), connected to or within said ignition system (2), and wherein said combustion includes diluted operation to optimize emissions wherein said sensor device (4) includes an ion sensing measurement means (40) arranged to measure an ion current in said engine (5) and that said ignition system (2) has a built-in function to detect misfiring through an analysis of the ion current of the engine (5) during combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jörgen Bengtsson, Lars-Åke Andersson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20170234286
    Abstract: A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jakob ANGEBY
  • Patent number: 9651453
    Abstract: A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventor: Jakob Angeby
  • Patent number: 9353723
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ignition system (T) for a combustion engine, the internal combustion engine comprising a control system, the ignition system (T) further comprising a power source (30), at least one ignition coil (10, 11, 12) having at least one primary coil (L2, L4, L6) and one secondary coil (L3, L5, L7) for a spark plug (13, 14, 15) and a measurement device (50) for at least one of the parameters spark current, ion current, ignition voltage and primary voltage, said measurement device (50) being adapted to provide measurement signals to said control system for regulating the ignition system (T), the ignition system (T) also comprising means for transforming up voltage and storing energy, and a plurality of switches (S1-S7), said control system being adapted to control said switches (S1-S7), by means of said measuring signal(s), for the supply of adaptive spark energy and/or to control the polarity of the spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jorgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20150136098
    Abstract: The following invention relates to an ignition coil assembly for an ignition system comprising an ignition coil where said assembly has a main axis and is configured for insertion into and/or removal out of a well associated with an internal combustion engine, wherein the assembly comprises an elongated extension body made of flexible material, said extension body comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion wherein the extension body is arranged to be transversally bendable in relation to the main axis so that the upper end portion and the lower end portion may assume an angle (?) in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventors: Lars-Ake Andersson, Jorgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Publication number: 20150032361
    Abstract: This invention relates to an engine for a vehicle using alternative fuel, preferably gas, comprising an engine (5) having a spark ignited ignition system (2) wherein said ignition system (2) includes misfire detection by means of a sensor device (4) providing information to a control system (20), connected to or within said ignition system (2), and wherein said combustion includes diluted operation to optimize emissions wherein said sensor device (4) includes an ion sensing measurement means (40) arranged to measure an ion current in said engine (5) and that said ignition system (2) has a built-in function to detect misfiring through an analysis of the ion current of the engine (5) during combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jõrgen Bengtsson, Lars-Åke Andersson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6814055
    Abstract: A circuit to achieve a large ignition advance, limitation of speed of revolutions and to prevent backfiring and reverse direction running in a magnetic ignition system that comprises a flywheel with two poles and a two-legged iron core. An ignition transformer (L3/L4), a charging coil (L1) and a triggering coil (L2) that may be connected in antiphase to the charging coil are arranged on the first leg in the direction of rotation of the flywheel. A time-constant circuit (an RC net) and a control switch (T2) are arranged between the charging coil and a main switch (T1) that open/block triggering pulses such that charging takes place one revolution later than triggering. Limitation of the speed of revolutions is achieved with a time constant that can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sem AB
    Inventors: Johan Kihlberg, Lars-Olof Ottosson
  • Patent number: 6766787
    Abstract: A circuit to achieve a large ignition advance, limitation of speed of revolutions and to prevent backfiring and reverse direction running in a magnetic ignition system comprises a flywheel with two poles and a three-legged iron core. An ignition transformer (L3/L4), a triggering coil (L2) and a charging coil (L1) are arranged on the legs of the core. The triggering coil is arranged either on the first or second leg in the direction of rotation of the flywheel, and the charging coil on the final leg. A time-constant circuit (an RC net) and a control switch (T2) are arranged between the charging coil and a main switch (T1) that opens/blocks triggering pulses whereby limitation in the speed of revolutions is achieved by means of adjustment of the time-constant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sem AB
    Inventors: Johan Kihlberg, Lars-Olof Ottosson
  • Patent number: D726112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: SEM AB
    Inventors: Lars-Åke Andersson, Jörgen Bengtsson, Bert Gustafsson