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. 21, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2007
Jeffrey B. Barrett, Bolton, MA (US);
Suraj Nair, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Ed Vandyne, Loveland, CO (US);
Luigi Tozzi, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Jeffrey B. Barrett, Bolton, MA (US);
Suraj Nair, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Ed VanDyne, Loveland, CO (US);
Luigi Tozzi, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Woodward Governor Company, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Abstract
A system and method for controlling knock in a lean burn internal combustion (IC) engine includes a spark plug having an electrode, an electrical circuit, and a controller. The electrical circuit is configured to provide a first voltage to the electrode and detect an ion current during a thermal-ionization phase of the combustion process, and provide a second voltage to the electrode to create a spark and initiate a combustion process within the combustion chamber. The controller is configured to monitor the ion current for a knock condition that includes at least an incipient knock condition, determine a crank angle of the IC engine where the incipient knock occurs, and adjust timing of the IC engine to operate at a crank angle that does not exceed a threshold level beyond inception of incipient knock.