Patent JPS5618248A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5038744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling spark ignition in an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Barrack Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-06-21
•
Granted: 1991-08-13
•
Expires: 2010-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling spark reignition in an internal combustion engine based on the detected luminosity or pressure in the combustion chamber is provided. Only the luminosity or pressure measurement may be used as a basis for this control. This method and apparatus is also capable of providing same cycle control of spark reignition.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay K. Martin
- 👤 Peter G. Hartman
- 👤 Steven L. Plee
- 👤 Donald J. Remboski, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:08
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P9/00; F02P9/002; F02P15/00; F02P15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminosity detecting means detects the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means generated as a result of the detected luminosity during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the luminosity detects the luminosity of H 2 O.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the luminosity detects the luminosity of CH.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the luminosity detects the luminosity of OH.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means generated as a result of the detected luminosity during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means generated as a result of the detected luminosity during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the pressure within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected pressure, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the pressure within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected pressure, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein said pressure detecting means detects the pressure within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means generated as a result of the detected pressure during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular combustion cycle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the pressure within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation, generating an output signal based on the detected pressure, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means generated as a result of the detected pressure during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the pressure within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation, generating an output signal based on the detected pressure, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle based on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means generated as a result of the detected pressure during that particular combustion cycle and a reference threshold value so as to improve combustion for that particular cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce exhaust emissions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combusiton cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said lumnosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce fuel consumption.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to increase torque.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited so as to reduce the number of fast burns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce exhaust emissions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce fuel consumption.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to increase torque.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited so as to reduce the number of fast burns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said luminosity detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce cycle-to-cycle variation within the combustion chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited based only on a comparison between the output signal from said pressure detecting means and a reference threshold value so as to reduce cycle-to-cycle variation within the combustion chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited so as to reduce the number of misfires.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 7, wherein a particular combustion cycle is conditionally reignited so as to reduce the number of misfires.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, setting a threshold value for the output signal, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle only when the detected luminosity exceeds said threshold value, the setting of said threshold value being dependent on an engine operating condition so as to improve engine performance.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for igniting the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber, generating an output signal based on the detected luminosity, setting a threshold value for the output signal, conditionally reigniting a particular combustion cycle only when the detected luminosity exceeds said threshold value, the setting of said threshold value being dependent on an engine operating condition so as to improve engine performance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, wherein an engine operating condition is determined based only on the detected luminosity in the combustion chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3620201A
Cited
US3898971A
Cited
US3926165A
Cited
US4181112A
Cited
US4217872A
Cited
US4164912A
Cited
US4341195A
Cited
US4428349A
Cited
US4398526A
Cited
JPS57193777A
Cited
US4414954A
Cited
US4438751A
Cited
US4653459A
Cited
US4887574A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |