High Frequency Ignition System Patents (Class 123/606)
  • 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: 10947949
    Abstract: A self-diagnosis method for an ignition coil includes receiving and confirming a current flag (C/F) signal through monitoring of primary current of an ignition coil; monitoring secondary current of the ignition coil upon receiving the C/F signal and confirming whether a fault flag (F/F) signal for determining whether misfire of the ignition coil occurs is input; and determining whether an abnormal signal of the ignition coil is generated based on the result of confirming the C/F signal and the F/F signal respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong-Soo Lee, Jung-Hun Lee, Sung-Kwan Bae, Do-Geun Jung
  • Patent number: 10815955
    Abstract: A capacitive ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a voltage converter which has two primary terminals and two secondary terminals a primary voltage source has two voltage source terminals (A+, A?) which are connected in each instance to one of the primary terminals so that a primary circuit is formed; a switch which is incorporated within the primary circuit and a controller so that the switch can be closed and opened; a first control device constructed to actuate the controller in accordance with an ignition pattern for closing and/or opening; an electrical capacitance (C1, C2) within the primary circuit; and a second control device (25) constructed to maintain constant a voltage rise at the secondary terminals, which occurs in order to reach the ignition voltage, as the ignition energy requirement of an ignition device connected to the secondary terminals changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: MAN Energy Solutions SE
    Inventors: Björn Dirumdam, Edwin Cruz Soler
  • Patent number: 10753336
    Abstract: An ignition device for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber, in particular an internal combustion engine, having a spark plug, which has a first electrode and a second electrode, and a high voltage source for generating an electrical high voltage pulse at an output of the high voltage source and having a high frequency voltage source for generating an electrical high frequency alternating voltage at an output of the high frequency voltage source, wherein the output of the high voltage source is electrically connected to the first electrode of the spark plug via a first electrical conductor path such that the high voltage pulse is applied to the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to an electrical ground potential, wherein the spark plug has a third electrode, wherein the output of the high frequency voltage source is electrically connected to the third electrode via a second electrical conductor path, such that the high frequency alternating voltage is appli
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Wollitzer, Gunnar Armbrecht, Martin Fuchs, Peter Awakowicz, Thomas Musch, Sven Gröger, Andre Bergner, Gordon Notzon, Marcel Van Delden
  • Patent number: 10629368
    Abstract: A current flowing in a sub-primary coil can be limited in an ignition apparatus in which a voltage, generated in a secondary coil at a timing when a current in a main primary coil is cut off, generates a secondary current, and then the sub-primary coil is energized so that a superimposition current is generated in the secondary coil and in which a sub-IC connected in series with the sub-primary coil is pulse-controlled so that a current flowing in the sub-primary coil is controlled and hence the superimposition current is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Idogawa, Naoki Kataoka, Yuichi Muramoto
  • Patent number: 10371117
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a blow-off determining unit. The blow-off determining unit determines, when a secondary electric current drops below a predetermined threshold value Ia during a determination period, that blow-off has occurred; the determination period is a predetermined time period ?T from the start of a spark discharge by a main ignition circuit. Further, when it is determined that blow-off has occurred during a main ignition (full-transistor ignition), it is controlled to perform a continuing spark discharge after the main ignition in a next cycle. Moreover, a secondary electric current command value I2a in performing the continuing spark discharge is set to an electric current value that is obtained by adding a predetermined electric current value ? to the predetermined threshold value Ia used in the blow-off determination. Consequently, in the next cycle, it is possible to reliably prevent blow-off, thereby reliably preventing a misfire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Kyouda, Satoru Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10190564
    Abstract: A method for actuating a spark plug, in which the spark plug is assigned a first ignition coil and second ignition coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BORGWARNER BERU SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Ganghua Ruan, Dejan Kienzle
  • Patent number: 10177537
    Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a high voltage transformer (12) comprising a primary winding (12.1) and a secondary winding (12.2). A primary resonant circuit (26) is formed by the primary winding (12.1) and a primary circuit capacitance (24). A secondary resonant circuit (16) is formed by an ignition plug (14), as a load, the secondary winding (12.2); the ignition plug (14) being represented by a secondary circuit capacitance (18) and a secondary circuit load resistance (Rp) put in parallel. Said load resistance value varies during an ignition cycle. The primary resonant circuit (26) and the secondary resonant circuit (16) have a common mode resonance frequency (fc) and a differential mode resonance frequency (fd).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Petrus Paulus Krüger, Barend Visser
  • Patent number: 10167841
    Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion state detecting apparatus is configured in such a way as to include a circulation unit that short-circuits a primary winding so as to form a circulation path including the primary winding, while a spark discharge is produced in an ignition plug, and a circulation current control unit that controls a circulation current flowing in the circulation path and in such a way that based on an ion current detected by an ion current detection apparatus, the combustion state of an inflammable fuel-air mixture is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Nakamura, Takahiko Inada
  • Patent number: 10122155
    Abstract: A corona ignition system is described for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, with a resonant circuit, which contains an ignition electrode, a high frequency generator connected to the resonant circuit, in order to generate an AC voltage for exciting the resonant circuit, and a direct current voltage source, in order to generate an input voltage for the high frequency generator. According to this disclosure, provision is made that parallel to the direct current voltage source a capacitor is connected to the high frequency generator, which capacitor on transient oscillation of the resonant circuit compensates mismatches between the resonant circuit and the direct current voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BORGWARNER LUDWIGSBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Schremmer, Thomas Holzschuh
  • Patent number: 10006432
    Abstract: A method of responding to a detected blowout in a coil ignition system is provided in this disclosure. The method includes receiving a characteristic regarding operation of a coil ignition system; determining a blowout condition exists for the coil ignition system based on the characteristic; and providing a command to the coil ignition system based on the determination that the blowout condition exists, wherein the command is structured to reduce a residual charge amount in the coil ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Akash S. Desai, Karthik Kappaganthu, Benjamin L. Olivas, Douglas L. Sprunger, David Stroh
  • Patent number: 9964092
    Abstract: An ECU outputs an ignition signal and a discharge waveform control signal. An ignition device performs a closing operation of an ignition switching device while the ignition signal is input into the ignition device. The ignition device adjusts a current flowing through a primary coil to a discharge current command value determined based on the discharge waveform control signal, by performing an opening-closing operation of a control switching device in a period in which the discharge waveform control signal is input into the ignition device after an input of the ignition signal into the ignition device is stopped. The ECU sets the discharge current command value that is a command value for a discharge current of a spark plug to a higher value as a rotation speed is higher, and prolongs a duration, in which discharge controller controls the discharge current, as the rotation speed is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Takashi Yoshida
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9938954
    Abstract: An ECU outputs an ignition signal Si to an ignition apparatus through an ignition communication line, and outputs a discharge waveform control signal Sc with a logic H through a waveform control communication line. The ignition apparatus performs the closing operation of an ignition switching element, in a period during which the ignition signal Si is input. In an input period of the discharge waveform control signal Sc after stopping the input of the ignition signal Si, the ignition apparatus controls the electric current to flow through a primary coil, by the opening-closing operation of a control switching element. When the voltage of the waveform control communication line Lc is the logic H in an output stop period of the discharge waveform control signal Sc, the ECU determines that the waveform control communication line is abnormal, and executes a fail-safe process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9903335
    Abstract: An ignition device includes: an ignition plug producing plasma discharge between a pair of discharge electrodes of an ignition plug; an ignition coil provided with a primary coil and a secondary coil, the secondary coil applying voltage between the pair of discharge electrodes; a voltage applying unit applying alternating current voltage to the primary coil, a frequency of the alternating current voltage being set to produce voltage resonance in a circuit including the ignition plug and the secondary coil. The voltage applying unit sets an output period of the alternating current voltage to be longer than a first period at which a partial breakdown start to occur at the pair of discharge electrodes, and shorter than a second period at which a total breakdown occurs at the pair of discharge electrodes, when an air/fuel ratio is lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Kinoshita, Shinichi Okabe, Fumiaki Aoki, Akimitsu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9853601
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to the field of wireless communication infrastructure, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and system for envelope tracking. The system for envelope tracking comprising: a transistor; an RF transistor; a driver; a switcher current source; and a subtracting network; wherein the system is configured such that when an envelope voltage is less than a predetermined voltage value, the RF transistor is configured for decreasing an amount of absorbed biasing current, and when the envelope voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage value, the RF transistor is configured for increasing an amount of absorbed biasing current. The goal of RF transistor sinking is to absorb the redundant biasing current generated by the envelope tracking supply modulator to eliminate distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Sandro Lanfranco, Xiaokun Yang, Zhancang Wang
  • Patent number: 9695793
    Abstract: A corona ignition system for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising a oscillating circuit, which contains an ignition electrode, a high-frequency generator, which is connected to the oscillating circuit, in order to produce an AC voltage to excite the oscillating circuit, a converter in order to produce an input voltage for the high-frequency generator from an on-board supply voltage, a voltage controller to stabilize the input voltage produced by the converter for the high-frequency generator, and a control unit for controlling the high-frequency generator, wherein the control unit communicates an imminent load change of the converter to the voltage regulator, before the load change occurs as a result of activation or deactivation of the high-frequency generator. A method for controlling a corona ignition system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BORGWARNER LUDWIGSBURG GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Kernwein
  • Patent number: 9587618
    Abstract: An spark ignition type internal combustion engine allows the spark discharge by the ignition plug to react with the electric field created in the combustion chamber and generates the plasma, thereby igniting the fuel air mixture to reduce the emission of the unburned fuel and to improve fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine in a spark ignition type internal combustion engine that allows an electric field created in a combustion chamber to react with a spark discharge by an ignition plug and generates plasma, thereby igniting fuel air mixture. The engine includes an electromagnetic wave emission device that emits an electromagnetic wave in the combustion chamber when the fuel air mixture is combusted, and a protruding member protruding from a partitioning surface that partitions the combustion chamber. At least a part of the protruding member is made of a conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Atsushi Nishiyama, Takeshi Serizawa, Hiroaki Oi
  • Patent number: 9261466
    Abstract: A device for determining a composition of a fuel mixture is provided, in particular for determining an ethanol component and/or a water component in the fuel mixture. The device includes at least one housing having at least one electrically conductive housing element through which the fuel mixture is able to flow. At least one internal conductor, which is at least partially enclosed by the housing element, is introduced into the housing element. In addition, the device has at least one connection device for the coupling of microwave signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Soergel, Dirk Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9065293
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a battery heating circuit, comprising a switch unit 10 , a switching control module 100 , a one-way semiconductor component D10 , a damping component R, and a transformer T, wherein: the switching control module 100 is electrically connected with the switch unit 10; the battery, the damping component R, the first winding of the transformer T, and the switch unit 10 are connected in series with each other to constitute a battery discharging circuit; the battery, the damping component R, the second winding of the transformer T, and the one-way semiconductor component D10 are connected in series with each other to constitute a battery charging circuit. The transformer in certain embodiments of the present invention serves as an energy storage component, and has a current limiting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Wenhui Xu, Yaochuan Han, Wei Feng, Qinyao Yang, Wenjin Xia, Shibin Ma
  • Patent number: 9057663
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the start of combustion in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by means of a corona discharge, wherein, to generate the corona discharge, an electrical resonant circuit is excited, in which an ignition electrode that is electrically insulated with respect to combustion chamber walls constitutes a capacitor together with the combustion chamber walls, and, to identify the start of combustion, an electrical variable of the resonant circuit is evaluated. The position of an extremum is evaluated, the extremum occurring in the course of the electrical variable after ignition of the corona discharge and before extinguishment thereof, or the course of the electrical variable is compared with a reference course, wherein a threshold value is predefined and fuel combustion is concluded on the basis of a deviation by more than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Trump, Steffen Bohne
  • Patent number: 8973561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for energizing an HF resonant circuit which contains an igniter as a component for igniting a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine by means of a corona discharge, wherein the igniter comprises an ignition electrode and an insulator surrounding the ignition electrode, by means of a DC-AC inverter which is excited by successive current pulses which each last while a switch controlled by a control circuit is in its conducting switching state. It is provided according to the invention that the switch is actuated when an instantaneous value of an alternating current or an alternating current voltage excited in the HF resonant circuit falls below a first switching threshold (A?, B?, C?) and the switch s actuated when the instantaneous value of the alternating current or the alternating current voltage excited in the HF resonant circuit exceeds a second switching threshold (A+, B+, C+).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ganghua Ruan, Gerd Braeuchle, Markus Mueller
  • Patent number: 8925532
    Abstract: A method for controlling the power supply of a radiofrequency spark plug in an internal combustion engine up to an electric voltage sufficient for generating a highly branched spark. To this end, the electric voltage for powering the spark plug is increased step by step up to an adequate voltage adapted for ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Maxime Makarov, Frédéric Auzas
  • Patent number: 8892335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device which, in a cyclically operating combustion engine, ignites a fuel-air mixture by means of a corona discharge originating from an ignition electrode in that by means of a primary voltage applied to a primary side of a DC/AC converter, an electrical oscillator circuit is excited, which oscillator circuit is connected to the ignition electrode, wherein the impedance on the primary side of the DC/AC converter is successively measured. According to the invention it is provided that by evaluating the impedance measurements, a time of the start of a corona discharge is determined, this time is compared with a target value, and the activation of the primary side of the DC/Ac converter is changed depending on a result of this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems, GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Schremmer
  • Patent number: 8844490
    Abstract: A corona igniter 20 includes an insulator 28 surrounding a central electrode 24 and a shell 30 surrounding the insulator 28. The shell 30 presents a shell gap 38 having a shell gap width ws between a shell lower end 34 and a shell inner surface 90 or shell outer surface 92. The shell 30 has a shell thickness ts decreasing toward the shell lower end 34 allowing the shell gap width ws to increase toward the shell lower end 34. The shell gap 38 is open at the shell lower end 34 allowing air to flow therein, and the shell gap width ws is greatest at the shell lower end 34. The increasing shell gap width ws enhances corona discharge 22 along the insulator 28 between the central electrode 24 and shell 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventors: John Antony Burrows, James D. Lykowski, Alfred Permuy, Keith Hampton
  • Patent number: 8839753
    Abstract: A corona igniter 20 includes an electrode gap 28 between the central electrode 22 and the insulator 32 and a shell gap 30 between the insulator 32 and the shell 36. An electrically conductive coating 40 is disposed on the insulator 32 along the gaps 28, 30 to prevent corona discharge 24 in the gaps 28, 30 and to concentrate the energy at a firing tip 58 of the central electrode 22. The electrically conductive coating 40 is disposed on an insulator inner surface 64 and is spaced radially from the electrode 22. The electrically conductive coating 40 is also disposed on the insulator outer surface 72 and is spaced radially from the shell 36. During operation of the igniter 20, the electrically conductive coating 40 provides a reduced voltage drop across the gaps 28, 30 and a reduced electric field spike at the gaps 28, 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventors: John Antony Burrows, James D. Lykowski, John William Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8807124
    Abstract: When the first switch is on, the ignition capacitor is charged up to a voltage value whose absolute value is larger than an output voltage value of a DC power source, through resonance caused by a resonance coil and the ignition capacitor; when the second switch is on, the ignition capacitor supplies energy to the ignition coil device, and when the second switch is off, the energy is released and a high voltage is applied across electrodes of an ignition plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kimihiko Tanaya
  • Patent number: 8800539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel/air mixture in one or more combustion chambers which are delimited by walls that are at ground potential, wherein an electric resonant circuit is excited in which an ignition electrode, which is guided through one of the walls delimiting the combustion chamber in an electrically insulated manner and which extends into the combustion chamber, in cooperation with the walls of the combustion chamber that are at ground potential constitutes a capacitance, and in which the excitation of the resonant circuit is controlled such that a corona discharge igniting the fuel/air mixture is created in the combustion chamber at the ignition electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Toedter, Helmut Mueller, Gerd Braeuchle
  • Patent number: 8701638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Schremmer
  • Publication number: 20140020666
    Abstract: A system, circuit, and method are provided for generating continuous plasma to control combustion including the ignition and maintenance of the combustion process. An electric potential difference is generated across a pair of electrodes in a combustible bulk gas in the form of an oscillating driving potential just below the arcing threshold which alternates in polarity to cause an alternating gap current between the electrodes which generates continuous plasma to contribute to combustion of the bulk gas by providing for more efficient combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SPHENIC TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventor: Alexandre Plotnikov
  • Patent number: 8550059
    Abstract: A method of igniting a mixture of oxidant and fuel in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using a spark plug arranged so that it protrudes into the combustion chamber of the engine. The method includes powering the spark plug using a first alternating electrical signal of a frequency higher than 1 MHz, and second powering the spark plug using a second alternating electrical signal of a frequency higher than 1 MHz, the second power taking place after the first powering following a time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Maxime Makarov, Frederic Auzas
  • Patent number: 8528532
    Abstract: A supply device for a radio frequency ignition system, including a supply circuit to provide a supply voltage to an output connected to a plasma generation resonator at a frequency defined by a control signal provided by a control device for the supply circuit. The control device includes a receiver interface for a determination request for the optimum control frequency, a receiver interface for receiving signals measuring the voltage at the pins of a capacitor in the supply circuit, a determination module for the optimum control frequency, to provide successive different control frequencies for the supply circuit for successive ignition commands on reception of a request and to determine an optimum control frequency based on received measured signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Julien Couillaud, Xavier Jaffrezic
  • Patent number: 8499746
    Abstract: There is provided an internal-combustion engine that allows plasma to be used safely, efficiently, and in a manner conducive to resource conservation. An internal-combustion engine having an intake valve for opening and closing a combustion chamber, the internal-combustion engine comprising a valve-driving mechanism for driving the intake valve; and a plasma-generating device positioned within a region containing gas used for combustion during a combustion stroke, the plasma-generating device being composed of an antenna and a microwave-generating device, wherein the plasma-generating device composed of the antenna and the microwave-generating device generates plasma at a timing intimately associated with a state of openness of the intake valve in response to the driving of the valve by the valve-driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Imagineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Takashi Furui
  • Patent number: 8453628
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for generating corona discharges in two combustion chambers of a combustion engine, into each of which a high-frequency igniter (HFZ3, HFZ4) protrudes which is part of a high-frequency resonant circuit, by providing only one single transformer (TR4), which has a primary side and a secondary side, at least one primary winding on the primary side and a secondary winding on the secondary side, connecting the secondary winding of the transformer (TR3, TR4) to both resonant circuits and feeding into both resonant circuits the high frequency alternate current flowing through the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Mueller
  • Patent number: 8387597
    Abstract: A high-voltage generator device, including an inductive-capacitive resonator capable of producing a high voltage, a mechanism generating a high-frequency control pulse train, a voltage source, a capacitor, and a voltage generator including a switching transistor, the control electrode of which is connected to the output of the mechanism generating the high-frequency control pulse train, the source of the switching transistor being connect to ground, and the drain of the switching transistor being capable of delivering a voltage pulse train to the inductive-capacitive resonator in response to the control pulse train received on the control electrode of the switching transistor. The drain of the switching transistor is connected to the inductive-capacitive resonator via an isolating transformer, the isolating transformer being connected in parallel with a capacitor, the isolating transformer also being connected to the voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Paulo Barrosso, Clement Nouvel
  • Patent number: 8316832
    Abstract: A radiofrequency ignition device including: a control capable of generating an ignition control signal; a supply circuit controlled by the ignition control signal for applying a supply voltage on an output interface of the supply circuit at a frequency defined by the control signal; at least one plasma generation resonator connected on an output interface of the supply circuit and capable of generating a spark between two ignition electrodes of the resonator upon an ignition control; a mechanism measuring an electric parameter representative of a variation in a supply voltage of the resonator; and a module determining the fouling condition of the electrodes based on the measured electric parameter and on a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Franck DeLoraine, Julien Couillaud, Xavier Jaffrezic
  • Publication number: 20120260899
    Abstract: An ignition system wherein creation of misfires is suppressed and excellent ignition ability is realized. The ignition system includes a spark plug; a discharge power source applying a voltage in order to generate a spark discharge at the spark plug; an AC power source supplying AC power to a spark generated by the spark discharge; and an ignition cable electrically connecting the spark plug, the discharge power source and the AC power source. The ignition cable includes a discharge electrode connecting the discharge power source and the spark plug, an AC electrode transmitting AC power from the AC power source to the spark plug, and an insulator interposed between the discharge and AC electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Tatsunori Yamada, Kohei Katsuraya, Katsutoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8278807
    Abstract: A device including two plasma generation electrodes, a series resonator having a resonant frequency above 1 MHz and including a capacitor with two terminals, and an induction coil surrounded by a screen, the capacitor and the coil being placed in series, the electrodes being connected to the respective terminals of the capacitor. The ratio of the spark plug to the radius of the screen is equal to 0.56. The device can optimize the Q-factor of such a device by adjusting the radius of the coil to that of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Marc Pariente
  • Patent number: 8276570
    Abstract: A system and method to inject nanostructures into the fuel/oxidizer mixture, typically lean mixtures, to increase efficiency of internal combustion and/or decrease pollution. An electromagnetic pulse (suitably 1 to 100 GHz) couples energy to the nanostructures to produce a volumetric combustion of the fuel oxidizer mixture. The fuel/oxidizer mixture is substantially transparent to the band of the electromagnetic pulse. The nanostructures couple to the electromagnetic radiation, absorb the energy and heat rapidly producing many local ignitions that in turn produce volume combustion. The nanostructures may be filled or partially filled with energetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Elkanick, Delmar L. Barker
  • Patent number: 8191540
    Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprising a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1 k? and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: North-West University
    Inventors: Barend Visser, Petrus Paulus Kruger
  • Patent number: 8104444
    Abstract: An igniter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The igniter may have a body, and a pre-combustion chamber integral with the body and having at least one orifice. The igniter may also have at least one electrode associated with the pre-combustion chamber. The at least one electrode may be configured to direct RF energy to lower an ignition breakdown voltage requirement of an air and fuel mixture in the pre-combustion chamber. The RF energy alone may be insufficient to ignite and sustain combustion of the air and fuel mixture. The at least one electrode may also be configured to generate an arc that extends to an internal wall of the pre-combustion chamber and ignites the air and fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20110253114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel/air mixture in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine comprising one or more combustion chambers (1) which are delimited by walls (2, 3, 4) that are at ground potential, using an igniter, wherein an electrical transformer (12) having a baseline impedance (ZBaseline) that is characteristic for the selected ignition system on the primary side thereof is used to excite an electric oscillating circuit (7), which is connected to a secondary winding (17) of the transformer (12) and in which an ignition electrode (5), which extends through one of the walls (2, 3, 4) delimiting the combustion chamber (1) in an electrically insulated manner, constitutes a capacitance together with the walls (2, 3, 4) of the combustion chamber (1) that are at ground potential, and wherein the excitation of the oscillating circuit (7) is controlled such that a corona discharge (22) igniting the fuel/air mixture is created in the combustion chamber (1) at the ignition elec
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Torsten SCHREMMER
  • Publication number: 20110247599
    Abstract: A device for radiofrequency ignition of an internal combustion engine, including a power supply circuit including a transformer with a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator that has a resonant frequency in excess of 1 MHz and including two electrodes configured to generate a spark to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture in a cylinder of the engine in response to an ignition command. A measuring capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator, a measurement circuit measures a current at terminals of the measuring capacitor, the current providing an electrical image of how combustion is progressing, and a protection circuit is connected between the capacitor and the measurement circuit and is configured to spare the current measurement acquisition time from electrical effects caused by the ignition command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Franck Deloraine
  • Patent number: 7900613
    Abstract: A high-frequency ignition system for spark ignition engines has a large ignition range with a cover measuring up to a plurality of square centimeters and enables the optional adjustment of the duration of the ignition. The combustion time can be minimized as a result of the large ignition range. Excellent degrees of efficacy can be obtained with this ignition using dielectric electrodes. The high-frequency ignition system can be very economically produced by means of high-frequency electronic components which are available at a very low cost as a result of the telecommunication market, and by means of standard spark plug technology. The high-voltage requirements are also significantly lower compared to classic ignition systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fachhochschule Aachen
    Inventor: Holger Heuermann
  • Patent number: 7730880
    Abstract: There is obtained an ignition apparatus, for an internal combustion engine, that can make a predetermined output current flow in a stable manner so that the combustion state of the internal combustion engine can always be maintained in a good condition, even in the case where the voltage of the power source connected with the energy storing coil fluctuates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Nagai, Hirohisa Kuwano, Ikuro Suga, Yusuke Naruse
  • Publication number: 20100116257
    Abstract: A supply device for a radio frequency ignition system, including a supply circuit to provide a supply voltage to an output connected to a plasma generation resonator at a frequency defined by a control signal provided by a control device for the supply circuit. The control device includes a receiver interface for a determination request for the optimum control frequency, a receiver interface for receiving signals measuring the voltage at the pins of a capacitor in the supply circuit, a determination module for the optimum control frequency, to provide successive different control frequencies for the supply circuit for successive ignition commands on reception of a request and to determine an optimum control frequency based on received measured signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Julien Couillaud, Xavier Jaffrezic
  • Patent number: 7665451
    Abstract: Ignition apparatus 10 includes high tension ignition cable 56. The cable 56 is of low electrical resistance per unit length. A central core 100 of the cable 56 is formed of carbon fiber filaments. An insulating layer 110 is provided around the core 100. A semiconductor layer 120 is provided around the insulating layer 110. Another insulating layer 130 is provided around the semiconductor layer 120. A layer of yarn around the other insulating layer 130 forms a protecting layer 140. A protective layer 150 of a flame retardant material forms an outer layer of the cable 56. The ignition apparatus 10 also includes one or more of: a field stabilizer device 30 for stabilizing and regulating high tension voltage in the cable 56; resistor spark plugs 60; connectors fitted to ends of the cable 56 that include resistors therein, such as resistor spark plug boots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Joe Luk Mui Lam
  • Patent number: 7588021
    Abstract: A spark plug circuit for, and a method of, reducing or preventing the corrosion of a spark plug electrodes in an internal combustion engine. The circuit and method provide a positive voltage across the center electrode/ground electrode gap, which repels positively charged corrosion mechanisms, such as calcium and phosphorus ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide, Inc
    Inventor: James D. Lykowski
  • Publication number: 20090165764
    Abstract: A device for controlling a power supply of a radio frequency ignition of a combustion engine, including: an interface that receives measurement signals of operating parameters of a combustion engine; an interface that outputs a control signal; a module that stores relationships between measurement signals and the frequency of a control signal to be generated; a module that determines the frequency of a control signal to be generated on the basis of measurement signals received on the reception interface and of the relationships stored; and a module that applies the control signal at the determined frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Julien Couillaud, Clement Nouvel
  • Publication number: 20090165763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel construction for creating a high-frequency ignition system for spark ignition engines, which is especially suitable for improving the characteristics of motor vehicles in terms of consumption, performance and exhaust gas emissions. Said high-frequency ignition can be used for carburetor engines, injection engines, direct-injection engines, and turbochargers. The high-frequency ignition comprises, according to the design, a large ignition range with a cover measuring up to a plurality of cm2 and enables the optional adjustment of the duration of the ignition. The combustion time can be minimised in relation to prior art by factors as a result of the large ignition range. Excellent degrees of efficacy can be obtained with this ignition, inter alia, using dielectric electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: FACHHOCHSCHULE AACHEN
    Inventor: Holger Heuermann