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:
Jul. 26, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2001
Scott B. Kesler, Kokomo, IN (US);
Scott B. Kesler, Kokomo, IN (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An automotive ignition diagnostic system includes an ion current detection circuit producing a buffered representation of an ion current flowing across an electrode gap of an ignition plug in response to a bias voltage applied thereto. An ignition diagnostic circuit is responsive to the buffered representation of the ion current to charge a single integration capacitor. The diagnostic circuit is operable to produce an output signal having a pulse width defined by the amount of charge on the capacitor. When the ion current flows following a combustion event, the width of the output signal is controlled as a function of the quality of combustion in the corresponding cylinder. However, if sufficient ion current flows prior to combustion, the width of the output signal is controlled to indicate a fouled ignition plug.