Ignition Coil Dwell Control via Temperature Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ignition coil control systems fail to accurately account for ignition coil temperature variations, leading to fluctuations in ignition spark energy and potential misfires or increased wear on the ignition system.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine the dwell time for charging the ignition coil based on engine temperature, ambient temperature, and the most recent spark ignition dwell time, with iterative updates of the ignition coil temperature considering heat transfer from the engine and ambient air, and internal resistive heating, allowing for real-time tracking of coil temperature without additional equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ignition coil temperature is not monitored, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ignition spark energy becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The ignition coil itself serves as the temperature sensor by utilizing its own resistance characteristics. The control system measures the voltage across the ignition coil during charging and discharging phases to calculate its resistance, which directly reflects the coil temperature. This eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors while providing accurate temperature information for stable spark energy control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the ignition coil's electrical parameters (voltage and current) and uses this feedback to calculate real-time temperature. The calculated temperature is then fed back to adjust the charging parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stable ignition spark energy without requiring additional hardware sensors.
2Reliability
If the dwell time is extended to compensate for high temperature, then the ignition spark energy is maintained, but the system response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the dwell time based on real-time ignition coil temperature calculations. Instead of using a fixed or conservatively extended dwell time, the control unit continuously computes the optimal charging duration according to the current coil state. This dynamic adjustment maintains reliable ignition spark energy while minimizing unnecessary delays in system response.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures accurate control of the ignition coil current by closely tracking the ignition coil temperature, thereby stabilizing the ignition spark energy and reducing wear on the ignition system.
Implementation Method 1
The ignition coil may be charged with electrical energy from the battery for the determined dwell time
Implementation Method 2
The ignition coil may generate a spark in a spark plug based on the stored energy in the ignition coil
Implementation Method 3
the change rate of the coil temperature depends on heat transfer from the engine and the ambient air
Implementation Method 4
current flow within the ignition coil may heat the ignition coil internally
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for determining an ignition coil dwell time based on an estimated ignition coil temperature. In one example, a method may include estimating the ignition coil temperature based on heat transfer between engine and the ignition coil, heat transfer between ambient and the ignition coil, and internal resistive heating of the ignition coil.