Patents by Inventor Marco Loenarz

Marco Loenarz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10961972
    Abstract: An ignition system including a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least two coil stages to provide a current to a spark plug, including two stages including a first transformer including a first primary winding inductively coupled to a first secondary winding; a second transformer including a second primary winding inductively coupled to a second secondary winding; the control unit enabled to simultaneously switch on and off two corresponding switches to maintain a continuous ignition fire, and includes a step-down converter stage with a switch and a diode. The method includes i) switching off the switch; and ii) toggling the two corresponding switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG S.A.
    Inventors: Frank Lorenz, Marco Loenarz, Peter Weyand
  • Patent number: 10844825
    Abstract: An ignition system includes a controller which controls two stages—to provide current to a spark plug. The stages include a first transformer including a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second transformer including a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. A switch is electrically connected between a supply high side and the high side of the first primary winding. A second switch is electrically connected between the first primary winding and the power supply low side supply. A third switch is connected between the junction of the switch and high side end of the first inductor and a point between the low side of the second primary winding and low side supply. A fourth switch is located between the low side of the second primary winding and the point. A fifth switch is located between the point and low side supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Frank Lorenz, Marco Loenarz
  • Publication number: 20190162155
    Abstract: An ignition system includes a controller which controls two stages—to provide current to a spark plug. The stages include a first transformer including a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second transformer including a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. A switch is electrically connected between a supply high side and the high side of the first primary winding. A second switch is electrically connected between the first primary winding and the power supply low side supply. A third switch is connected between the junction of the switch and high side end of the first inductor and a point between the low side of the second primary winding and low side supply. A fourth switch is located between the low side of the second primary winding and the point. A fifth switch is located between the point and low side supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Lorenz Frank, Marco Loenarz
  • Patent number: 9945346
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an ignition system which includes a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least one coil stage, the at least one coil stage adapted to successively energize and de-energize to provide a current to a spark plug, each coil stage includes a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding. The method includes measuring low side voltages at one or more of each coil stage and controlling a duty cycle or a pulse width of a PWM-signal of a step-down converter stage dependent on a battery voltage, a maximum primary current threshold, and the measured voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Frank Lorenz, Marco Loenarz, Peter Weyand
  • Publication number: 20160298592
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an ignition system which includes a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least one coil stage, the at least one coil stage adapted to successively energise and de-energise to provide a current to a spark plug, each coil stage includes a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding. The method includes measuring low side voltages at one or more of each coil stage and controlling a duty cycle or a pulse width of a PWM-signal of a step-down converter stage dependent on a battery voltage, a maximum primary current threshold, and the measured voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: FRANK LORENZ, MARCO LOENARZ, PETER WEYAND
  • Publication number: 20160298593
    Abstract: An ignition system including a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least two coil stages to provide a current to a spark plug, including two stages including a first transformer including a first primary winding inductively coupled to a first secondary winding; a second transformer including a second primary winding inductively coupled to a second secondary winding; the control unit enabled to simultaneously switch on and off two corresponding switches to maintain a continuous ignition fire, and includes a step-down converter stage with a switch and a diode. The method includes i) switching off the switch; and ii) toggling the two corresponding switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: FRANK LORENZ, MARCO LOENARZ, PETER WEYAND
  • Patent number: 9399979
    Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition transformer with two primary windings. The ignition system is designed to generate, for a given ignition event, a unipolar current through the secondary winding by way of a control circuit that is configured to first energize and deenergize the first primary winding to establish a first electrical arc across the spark-plug electrodes and, when the current in the secondary winding reaches, or drops below, a current threshold, repeatedly energizes and deenergizes the second primary winding to establish a plurality of second current pulses across the electrodes in order to maintain the burn phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Luxembourg SA
    Inventors: Volker Heise, Marco Loenarz, Frank Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20150034059
    Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition transformer with two primary windings. The ignition system is designed to generate, for a given ignition event, a unipolar current through the secondary winding by way of a control circuit that is configured to first energize and deenergize the first primary winding to establish a first electrical arc across the spark-plug electrodes and, when the current in the secondary winding reaches, or drops below, a current threshold, repeatedly energizes and deenergizes the second primary winding to establish a plurality of second current pulses across the electrodes in order to maintain the burn phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Volker Heise, Marco Loenarz, Frank Lorenz