Abstract: A spark plug suppressor and a method of producing a spark plug suppressor from a suppressor precursor liquid that may be cured at a temperature below 300° C. The spark plug suppressor may include particles or grains dispersed in a matrix of electrically conducting material, electrically semiconducting material, or electrically non-conducting material. The suppressor may include a conductive glass seal component and a resistive suppressor component. The resistive suppressor component may be at least partially embedded in the glass seal component, and the glass seal component may seal a center electrode of the spark plug, a terminal of the spark plug, or both the center electrode and the terminal.

Abstract: A manufacturing method, firing tray, and microwave kiln for spark plug insulators. Using microwave energy and particularly structured time-temperature profiles may allow for efficient sintering of the spark plug insulator ceramic material. The method may use a combination of radiant heat energy heating and microwave energy heating to facilitate the sintering process.

Abstract: An extruded insulator for a spark plug that is made in a manner that minimizes pores, relics and/or other defects in the insulator microstructure so that the overall dielectric strength or performance of the insulator is improved. The extruded insulator avoids many of the drawbacks associated with such defects, but also has a stepped internal bore for receiving a center electrode. In one embodiment, the extruded insulator is made with a method that uses a multi-phase extrusion process to extrude a ceramic paste around an elongated arbor and form an extruded section, and then removes the arbor from the extruded section to reveal a stepped internal bore.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a corona igniter is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 85.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 15.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: A method for making an extruded insulator for a spark plug in a manner that minimizes pores, relics and/or other defects in the insulator microstructure so that the overall dielectric strength or performance of the insulator is improved. The method may be used to manufacture an extruded insulator that avoids many of the drawbacks associated with such defects, but also has a stepped internal bore for receiving a center electrode. In one embodiment, the method uses a multi-phase extrusion process to extrude a ceramic paste around an elongated arbor and form an extruded section, and then removes the arbor from the extruded section to reveal a stepped internal bore.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a corona igniter is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 90.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 10.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a corona igniter is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 90.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 10.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a spark plug is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 90.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 10.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a spark plug is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 85.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 15.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: Methods of making an insulator for a condition sensing spark plug and tooling that can be used to perform the various methods, the tooling and methods involving machining one or more channels in the insulator body. The machined channels can be used to accommodate one or more wires from a sensing, display, or processing device. In one particular example, the wires are thermocouple wires used to sense temperature in an internal combustion engine while the spark plug is in use. The methods and tooling may result in channels that are formed more precisely, economically, and efficiently.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a corona igniter is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 85.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 15.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a spark plug is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 85.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 15.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.

Abstract: A spark plug and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator extending between a terminal end and a nose end. A conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the ceramic insulator and a ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface is operatively attached to the shell. An elongate center electrode has a body extending between opposite ends. The body of the center electrode is formed of a compacted and sintered conductive or semi-conductive ceramic material. The ceramic material of the body comprises at least one oxide. For example, the body of the center electrode can be formed of a perovskite structure or a spinel structure.

Abstract: A spark plug (20) for igniting a mixture of fuel and air of an internal combustion engine comprises a center electrode (22) and a ground electrode (24). At least one of the electrodes (22, 24) includes a body portion (28, 30) formed of thermally conductive material and a firing tip (32, 34) disposed on the body portion (28, 30). The firing tip (32, 34) includes a ceramic material, providing an exposed firing surface (36, 38). The ceramic material is an electrically conductive, monolithic ceramic material. The ceramic material of the firing tip (32, 34) includes at least one perovskite structure and/or at least one a spinel structure.

Abstract: A ceramic insulator for surrounding an electrode of an ignition device, such as a corona igniter or spark plug, is provided. The insulator is formed of a ceramic material including alumina in an amount of 28 to 38 wt. %, silica in an amount of 57 to 67 wt. %, and calcium oxide in an amount of 3 to 7 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The ceramic insulator is typically formed by firing a mixture of Kaolin, calcium carbonate, and silica, wherein the calcium carbonate acts as a flux during firing. The ceramic material has a relative permittivity of about 5.5 to 6.5 and thus improves the electrical efficiency of the ignition device. The ceramic material is also capable of withstanding temperatures of 900 to 1000° C. and has excellent thermal shock resistance, making it suitable for use in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A spark plug (20) for igniting a mixture of fuel and air of an internal combustion engine comprises a center electrode (22) and a ground electrode (24). At least one of the electrodes (22, 24) includes a body portion (28, 30) formed of thermally conductive material and a firing tip (32, 34) disposed on the body portion (28, 30). The firing tip (32, 34) includes a ceramic material, providing an exposed firing surface (36, 38). The ceramic material is an electrically conductive, monolithic ceramic material. The ceramic material of the firing tip (32, 34) includes at least one perovskite structure and/or at least one a spinel structure.

Abstract: A spark plug and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator extending between a terminal end and a nose end. A conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the ceramic insulator and a ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface is operatively attached to the shell. An elongate center electrode has a body extending between opposite ends. The body of the center electrode is formed of a compacted and sintered conductive or semi-conductive ceramic material. The ceramic material of the body comprises at least one oxide. For example, the body of the center electrode can be formed of a perovskite structure or a spinel structure.