Kerdea Technologies, Inc.

Horizon Walker Gitano-Briggs

Ken Ervin Fosaaen

Sensing combustion events using a resistive based oxygen sensor exposed to exhaust gases of a periodic combustion process in a combustion engine. The oxygen sensor is disposed in the exhaust plenum of the engine and includes a metal oxide semiconductor layer bridging a gap between first and second electrodes. Spikes in the resistance of the metal oxide semiconductor layer, caused by its reaction to transient changes in the oxygen level and exhaust temperature, are indicated in a combustion signal. The combustion signal may be used to monitor for combustion misfire event(s). Further, a combustion misfire event may be detected by comparing the detected spike timing with expected spike timing, with a spike not being present at a time when a spike is expected indicating a combustion misfire event. Related devices and systems are also disclosed.

Resistive based combustion sensing method and apparatus

Method and apparatus for monitoring and/or detecting combustion misfire events in periodic combustion processes in internal combustion engines, using combustion signals derived from a first oxygen sensor exposed to exhaust gas of a periodic combustion process and a second oxygen sensor exposed to the same exhaust gas. The first oxygen sensor is resistive-based, and responds relatively faster to changes in the temperature and/or composition of the exhaust gas. The second oxygen sensor is voltaic-based or ampometric-based, and responds relatively slower to changes to the temperature and/or composition of the exhaust gas. When the temperature and/or composition of the exhaust changes rapidly but transiently due to a combustion misfire event, the different response rates of the first and second combustion signals allows for the combustion misfire event(s) to be detected. Either and/or both oxygen sensors may be used to control the engine in a conventional fashion.

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Nibong Tebal, Malaysia

Horizon Walker Gitano-Briggs