Abstract An apparatus for detecting combustion in an internal combustion engine which comprises: a plurality of cylinders wherein an ignition control is performed being synchronized with a revolution number of the internal combustion engine; and an ionic current detector installed at an ignition plug of at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders; the ionic current detector including a device for generating a voltage which corresponds to a level of an ionic current generated by the ignition plug, a device for generating a threshold value which is a combustion determining standard, and a comparator which generates an output signal that shows a combustion state, by comparing the voltage with the threshold value; the device for generating a threshold value is composed of a threshold level variable circuit which generates a threshold value corresponding to a running condition of the engine.
An apparatus for detecting combustion in an internal engine, comprising: a plurality of cylinders, wherein ignitions control is performed in synchronization with a revolution number of the internal combustion engine; and an ionic current detector installed at an ignition plug of at least one of the plurality of cylinders; said ionic current detector including means for generating a voltage which corresponds to a level of an ionic current generated by the ignition plug, means for generating a threshold value corresponding to a combustion determining standard, and a comparator for generating an output signal indicative of a combustion state, by comparing the voltage with the threshold value; said means for generating a threshold value comprising a threshold level variable circuit which generates a threshold value corresponding to a running condition of the engine, wherein said threshold level variable circuit includes means for generating a first threshold value when said engine has steady state running condition, and for generating a second threshold value when said engine has a non-steady stage running condition, said first threshold value being less than said second threshold value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for detecting combustion in an internal engine, comprising: a plurality of cylinders, wherein ignitions control is performed in synchronization with a revolution number of the internal combustion engine; and an ionic current detector installed at an ignition plug of at least one of the plurality of cylinders; said ionic current detector including means for generating a voltage which corresponds to a level of an ionic current generated by the ignition plug, means for generating a threshold value corresponding to a combustion determining standard, and a comparator for generating an output signal indicative of a combustion state, by comparing the voltage with the threshold value; said means for generating a threshold value comprising a threshold level variable circuit which generates a threshold value corresponding to a running condition of the engine, wherein said threshold level variable circuit includes means for generating a first threshold value when said engine has steady state running condition, and for generating a second threshold value when said engine has a non-steady stage running condition, said first threshold value being less than said second threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according of claim 1, wherein said threshold value generating means increases the threshold value corresponding to the engine revolution number or the engine load.