The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2000
Filed:
May. 13, 1998
Koichi Nakata, Susono, JP;
Kazuhisa Mogi, Susono, JP;
Youichi Kurebayashi, deceased, late of Toyohashi, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
An ion current detection device is disclosed that is designed to hold an ion current output voltage within a prescribed limit to ensure proper operation of a processing device connected to the output side thereof, while, at the same time, shortening the decay time of the LC resonance associated with an ignition coil. An ion current flows from one end of a capacitor and back to the other end thereof passing through an ignition coil secondary winding, a spark plug, an ion current detecting resistor, and a load resistor. A voltage equal to -(ion current value).times.detecting resistor value appears at a node between the ion current detecting resistor and the load resistor. This voltage is inverted by an inverting circuit and supplied as an ion current output to the processing circuit. The resistance value R1 of the ion current detecting resistor and the resistance value R2 of the load resistor are chosen to satisfy two requirements, that is, to hold the ion current output within supply voltage and to quickly attenuate and reduce the noise (LC resonance current) caused by the ignition coil.