Method and system for monitoring spark plug gap in ignition system of vehicle, ignition system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system, and the method comprises the steps: detecting the spark current of a spark plug in an ignition process; determining a gap corresponding to the detected current according to the detected current and a preset current and electrode gap model; wherein the gap is the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug. A system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system, a vehicle ignition system, and a vehicle are also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to an ignition system of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a technology for monitoring a spark plug gap. Background Art

[0002] As a consumable part, spark plugs need to be maintained after a certain period of service life to ensure the performance and safety of the ignition function of the spark ignition engine. The current detection method is mainly for maintenance personnel to uninstall the spark plugs and manually check the electrode gap, which is inconvenient.

[0003] It is necessary to propose an improved solution for the detection of spark plug performance. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present application, a method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system is provided to solve at least one of the above problems.

[0005] According to the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system provided in the present application, the method includes: during the ignition process, detecting the spark current of the spark plug; determining the gap corresponding to the detected current based on the detected current and a preset current and electrode gap model; and wherein the gap is the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug.

[0006] According to the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system of the present application, as an example, determining the gap corresponding to the detected current includes matching the detected current with the current in the model, and using the gap corresponding to the matched current as the gap corresponding to the detected current.

[0007] According to the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system of the present application, illustratively, the preset current and electrode gap model is a predetermined model for representing the relationship between the spark current and the gap size during ignition.

[0008] According to the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system of the present application, exemplarily, the method further includes: storing the determined gap; and / or outputting a warning signal when the determined gap is greater than a gap threshold.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, a system for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system is also provided, the system comprising: a current detection module, for detecting the spark current of the spark plug during the ignition process of the ignition system; a controller, for determining the gap corresponding to the detected current according to a preset current and electrode gap model, and generating a warning signal when the determined gap is greater than a gap threshold; an output module, for outputting the determined gap and / or outputting the warning signal; wherein the gap is the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug.

[0010] The system provided for monitoring the spark plug gap in the vehicle ignition system, exemplarily, the controller is further configured to: match the detected current with the current in the model, and use the gap corresponding to the matched current as the gap corresponding to the detected current.

[0011] A system for monitoring spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system is provided. For example, the system is implemented in the ignition system, the controller is implemented in a controller of the ignition system, and the output module includes one or both of an audio device, a display screen, and a communication interface of the vehicle.

[0012] An ignition system is also provided, which is configured to execute the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system described in any of the above examples, or includes a system for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any of the above examples.

[0013] A vehicle is also provided, comprising a system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any one of the above examples or a method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any one of the above examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The following will describe the embodiments of the present application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present application can be more fully understood, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the circuit of the spark plug ignition system in the vehicle is shown;

[0016] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a spark plug is schematically given;

[0017] Figure 3 The flow of the method for monitoring the spark plug gap according to an example of the present application is illustrated;

[0018] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to some examples of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the spark plug ignition system in the vehicle is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the pulse signal S sent by the control unit of the ignition control system, for example control Turning transistor 2 on or off. When transistor 12 is on, a magnetic field is established in the primary side L1 of the ignition coil 14, thereby storing energy in the ignition coil. When transistor 12 is off, the current in the primary side L1 of the ignition coil 14 is disconnected, but the magnetic field will continue to drive the current in the primary side L1 and the secondary side L2, which will cause an induced voltage on the primary side and the secondary side according to the transformation ratio of the ignition coil 14. When the induced voltage reaches the ignition voltage, an electric spark is generated at the spark plug 16 to ignite the mixture. At this time, the current flowing through the ignition circuit 1 is the spark current.

[0020] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a spark plug is schematically shown. The structure of a spark plug is known, and only the part related to the present application is described here, and the rest of the parts such as the housing, gasket, etc. are not described in detail. Figure 2 As shown, there is a gap 21 between the center electrode 20 and the side electrode 22. The gap 21 is caused by the ignition coil 14 (see Figure 1 ) generates an arc by the pulsed high voltage generated by the gap 21, thereby igniting the oil-gas mixture. From the perspective of ignition, the larger the gap 21, the longer the arc, the larger the contact area with the oil-gas mixture, and the easier the ignition will be. However, if the gap is too large, it will also bring other adverse effects. For example, the engine may stall during operation. If the gap 21 is too small, the arc is too short and the ignition energy is too weak, which may result in the ignition energy being too weak or even the inability to start the vehicle. Figure 1 The gap 21 is not shown, and the spark current in the illustrated spark plug 16 is the current generated by the arc in the gap 21.

[0021] Figure 3 The flow of the method for monitoring the spark plug gap according to an example of the present application is illustrated. The method can be used to monitor the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug in the vehicle ignition system, for example Figure 2 The gap 21 is shown. Figure 3 The method shown can be applied in a vehicle, for example, implemented in an ignition system of a vehicle, so as to determine the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug by detecting the current flowing through the spark plug during each ignition process. Figure 1 and Figure 2 A method for monitoring a spark plug gap according to an example of the present application is described.

[0022] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 1 and Figure 2In step S300, during the ignition process of the vehicle ignition system, the spark current of the spark plug is detected. Figure 1 The ignition system shown in FIG. During the ignition process, a current detection module is provided to detect the spark current I flowing through the spark plug 16. The current detection module may be a current detection circuit or a sensor for sensing current.

[0023] In step S302, a gap corresponding to the detected current is determined based on the detected current and a preset current and electrode gap model. The preset current and electrode gap model is a predetermined model for representing the relationship between the gap and the spark current of the spark plug, wherein the gap is the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug, such as gap 21. As an example, the model can be a functional relationship between the gap 21 and the spark current I determined based on big data, or a corresponding relationship table between the gap 21 and the spark current I. According to some examples, the spark current is converted into a voltage signal recognizable by the vehicle ECU. For example, the preset current and electrode gap model shows that when the gap 21 is 0.35 mm, the voltage corresponding to the spark current is between about 1710 mV and 1850 mV, mainly concentrated between 1800 mV and 1820 mV; when the gap 21 is 0.5 mm, the voltage corresponding to the spark current is between about 1650 mV and 1780 mV, mainly concentrated between 1710 and 1730 mV; when the gap 21 is 1.0 mm, the voltage corresponding to the spark current is between about 1500 mV and 1670 mV, mainly concentrated between 1570 and 1600 mV. It should be noted that the models listed here are only examples, and the specific models may vary due to reasons such as vehicle type.

[0024] According to some examples of the present application, the detected spark current is matched with the current in the model, and the matched current, that is, the gap corresponding to the matched current, is the gap corresponding to the detected current. In the case where the spark current is converted into a voltage signal recognizable by the ECU, the detected spark current can be converted into a voltage signal in the same way. Or, as an alternative, the pre-set model also includes the correspondence or conversion function between the spark current and the converted voltage. For example, if the voltage corresponding to the detected spark current is 1550 mV, a matching voltage can be found according to the model of the above example, and the gap of 1.0 mm corresponding to the matching voltage of 1550 mV is the size of the current gap, thereby determining the gap corresponding to the detected current.

[0025] According to the present application, step S304 may also be included, outputting the determined gap and / or outputting the warning signal. The warning signal is generated when the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold, indicating that the gap is too large at this time. In some examples, only the determined gap is output. In some examples, the warning signal is output only when the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold. In some examples, the determined gap is output and a warning signal is output when the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold. The output method includes, for example, a combination of one or more of the following methods: output to the vehicle's display screen, output in voice, output in text, output to a terminal electronic device such as a mobile phone that is communicatively connected to the vehicle's communication interface, and output to a remote service terminal that is communicatively connected to the vehicle.

[0026] Here, when the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold, a warning signal is output to prevent the harm caused by the gap being too large; but it can also include outputting a warning signal when the determined gap is less than a certain value to avoid the situation that the gap is too small, such as failure to successfully ignite. In other words, the determined gap can be compared with the threshold range, and if the determined gap falls outside the threshold range, a prompt signal is issued, wherein the gap size within the threshold range is a normal gap value.

[0027] According to the examples of the present application, the determined gap may also be stored, and in some cases, the detected current may also be stored. During vehicle maintenance, the stored data helps maintenance personnel understand the performance changes of the spark plugs. For example, maintenance personnel can understand the aging of the spark plugs based on the recorded gaps, which is impossible to achieve with the prior art that does not use the examples of the present application. Accordingly, the examples of the present application help people determine whether to replace the spark plugs earlier based on the gap records of the spark plugs without waiting for ignition failures to occur due to aging.

[0028] By executing the method for monitoring the spark plug gap in the vehicle ignition system according to the example of the present application, the corresponding spark plug gap can be determined by real-time detection of the spark current generated by the gap arc of the spark plug, thereby detecting abnormalities in time. In some examples, when the determined spark plug gap exceeds the gap threshold or falls outside the threshold range, a warning message is issued to prompt the user of the spark plug abnormality. In some examples, the stored detection values ​​help users, maintenance personnel, etc. understand the performance changes of the spark plug, replace the spark plug in time, or understand the cause of the spark plug abnormality.

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to some examples of the present application. Figure 4The system shown includes a current detection module 40, a controller 42, and an output module 44. The detection module 40 is used to detect the spark current including the spark plug during the ignition process of the ignition system. The detection module 40 is, for example, connected in parallel to the spark plug detection circuit, for example, including a resistor connected in parallel to both ends of the spark plug, and the current is determined by the voltage of the resistor. The detection module 40 can also be a current sensor. The controller 42 is used to determine the gap corresponding to the detected current from a preset current and electrode gap model based on the detected current, and generate a warning signal when the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold. The output module 44 is used to output the determined gap and / or output a warning signal.

[0030] Figure 4 The system shown can perform, for example, Figure 3 For example, the detection module 40 is used to detect the spark plug 16 (see Figure 1 ) gap 21 (see Figure 2 ) in the arc (step S300). The controller 42 compares the detected spark current with the preset current and the current in the electrode gap model to find a matching current, and the gap corresponding to the matching current is the gap corresponding to the detected current (step S302). Further, according to some examples of the present application, the controller 42 also compares the determined gap with the gap threshold so that when the size of the gap exceeds the threshold, the output module 44 outputs a warning signal (step S304). In addition, the output module 44 also outputs the determined gap (step S304). The output module, for example, includes a display device of the vehicle, an audio device of the vehicle, or a communication interface of the vehicle. In the case where the output module includes a vehicle communication interface, it can be connected to, for example, a user's terminal device or a remote service end, so as to transmit the determined gap and / or warning signal to the user's terminal device or remote service end.

[0031] The system may also include a memory 46 for storing, for example, the determined gap and, in some cases, the detected current. According to an example of the present application, a preset current and electrode gap model may be, for example, stored in the memory, and the controller may read it from the memory when in use. The memory 46 may also be used to store the detection value of the detection module 40, and in some cases, the output module 44 obtains the data to be output from the memory 46.

[0032] The system for monitoring the spark plug gap in the vehicle ignition system according to the example of the present application can, on the one hand, detect the spark current generated by the gap arc of the spark plug in real time, thereby determining the corresponding spark plug gap and discovering abnormalities in time. On the other hand, the detected gap value helps users, maintenance personnel, etc. understand the performance changes of the spark plug, replace the spark plug in time, or understand the cause of the spark plug abnormality.

[0033] According to some examples of the present application, the system for monitoring the spark plug gap in the vehicle ignition system is implemented in the existing ignition system of the vehicle, and its existing hardware can be used. For example, the controller 42 is implemented in the controller of the vehicle ignition system, such as being implemented as a software module in the form of program instructions and executed by the controller of the ignition system. The memory 46 can use the existing memory of the ignition system.

[0034] According to the present application, an ignition system is also provided. The ignition system includes, for example, a combination of Figure 4 Any of the examples of the system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system described herein, or an ignition system configured to perform any of the examples of the method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system described herein.

[0035] The present application may also provide a vehicle comprising such an ignition system, or comprising, for example, a combination of Figure 4 A vehicle having any of the examples of the described system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system, or a vehicle having an ignition system configured to perform any of the examples of the methods described herein for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system.

[0036] Although specific embodiments of the present application have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the principles of the present application, it should be understood that the present application may be implemented in other ways without departing from such principles, for example, the technical features of the various embodiments / examples / examples of the present application may be combined with each other to form new implementation methods.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system, characterized in that: The method comprises: During the ignition process, detecting the spark current of the spark plug; Determining a gap corresponding to the detected current based on the detected current and a preset current and electrode gap model; and Wherein, the gap is the gap between the central electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining of the gap corresponding to the detected current includes: The detected current is matched with the current in the model, and the gap corresponding to the matched current is used as the gap corresponding to the detected current.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The preset current and electrode gap model is a predetermined model used to represent the relationship between the spark current and the gap size during ignition.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: storing the determined gap; and / or When the determined gap is greater than the gap threshold, a warning signal is output.

5. A system for spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system, characterized in that: The system comprises: A current detection module, used for detecting the spark current of the spark plug during the ignition process of the ignition system; A controller, which is used to determine a gap corresponding to the detected current according to a preset current and electrode gap model, and generate a warning signal when the determined gap is greater than a gap threshold; An output module, configured to output the determined gap and / or the warning signal; Wherein, the gap is the gap between the central electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The controller is further configured to: The detected current is matched with the current in the model, and the gap corresponding to the matched current is used as the gap corresponding to the detected current.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The system is implemented in the ignition system, the controller is implemented in a controller of the ignition system, and the output module includes one or both of an audio device, a display screen, and a communication interface of the vehicle.

8. An ignition system, characterized in that: The ignition system is configured to perform a method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or comprises a system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle comprises a system for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 or performs a method for monitoring a spark plug gap in a vehicle ignition system by detecting a spark plug gap according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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