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:
Nov. 07, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 13, 2016
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Cherian A. Idicheria, Novi, MI (US);
Paul M. Najt, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An internal combustion engine is described and includes a combustion chamber formed by cooperation of a cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a piston. A plasma ignition controller is electrically connected to a groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter that includes a tip portion disposed to protrude into the combustion chamber. A current sensor is disposed to monitor secondary current flow between the plasma ignition controller and the groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter. The plasma ignition controller is disposed to execute a plasma discharge event. A controller is disposed to monitor a magnitude of the secondary current flow via the current sensor during the plasma discharge event. The controller includes an instruction set executable to evaluate integrity of the groundless barrier discharge plasma igniter based upon the magnitude of the secondary current flow during the plasma discharge event.