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:
Oct. 04, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 11, 2003
Guoming G. Zhu, Novi, MI (US);
Michael T. Nation, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Bruce Wang, Troy, MI (US);
Kenneth L. Gould, Fayetteville, GA (US);
Kevin D. Moran, Trenton, MI (US);
Garlan J. Huberts, Milford, MI (US);
Guoming G. Zhu, Novi, MI (US);
Michael T. Nation, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Bruce Wang, Troy, MI (US);
Kenneth L. Gould, Fayetteville, GA (US);
Kevin D. Moran, Trenton, MI (US);
Garlan J. Huberts, Milford, MI (US);
Visteon Global Technologies, Inc., Van Buren Township, MI (US);
Abstract
In a first preferred embodiment, the present feature of the invention multiplexes both the ionization and driver current feedback signals into one signal, thus reducing cost and making coil packaging easier. The multiplexed signal first outputs the ionization detection signal and then replaces the ionization signal with the charge current feedback signal when the charge command Vis enabled. In other words, the multiplexed feedback signal outputs the ionization feedback signal and switches to the charge current feedback signal when the charge command Vis active. In a second preferred embodiment, the present feature of the invention comprises a method and apparatus to multiplex the ignition driver gate signal with both the ignition coil charge current feedback signal and the ionization signal, thus reducing the package pin count by two.