Single Conductor Ignition Coil Control for Lean Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single coil ignition systems for spark ignited engines operating with lean or diluted mixtures face challenges in maintaining combustion stability and efficiency, leading to increased complexity, cost, and assembly time when using dual coils.
Innovation Solution
A method that supplies two different ignition coil dwell times via a single conductor to operate two ignition coils for a single spark plug, reducing the number of conductors and complexity in the ignition system while maintaining improved combustion stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two ignition coils are operated at different times to increase spark duration and energy, then combustion stability is improved, but system complexity and wiring complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of two ignition coils into a single conductor by time-multiplexing the control signals. The controller alternates between controlling the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil through one shared conductor, eliminating the need for separate dedicated conductors for each coil while maintaining the ability to operate them at different times for improved combustion stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between controlling different ignition coils based on operational requirements. The controller can selectively activate the first ignition coil, the second ignition coil, or both at different times by dynamically changing the control signals sent through the shared conductor, allowing adaptive spark energy delivery while using minimal wiring
2Reliability
If two ignition coils are operated at different times to increase spark duration and energy, then combustion stability is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the control functions for two ignition coils into a single conductor, the patent reduces the number of connections that need to be made during assembly. This merging of control pathways directly reduces assembly time while preserving the dual-coil capability for enhanced combustion stability
3Reliability
If two ignition coils are operated at different times to increase spark duration and energy, then combustion stability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces system cost by merging the control infrastructure for two ignition coils into a single shared conductor. This eliminates the need for additional expensive wiring harnesses, connectors, and controller output channels that would be required if each coil had dedicated control pathways, making the dual-coil system more cost-effective while maintaining combustion stability improvements
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 reduces ignition system wiring complexity, assembly time, and cost while enhancing combustion stability by effectively managing spark energy and duration for lean or diluted engine operations.
Implementation Method 1
supplying two different ignition coil dwell times via a single conductor to operate two ignition coils for a single spark plug
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for delivering spark to an engine is disclosed. In one example, a single conductor carries a spark signal that is indicative of a desired spark advance for a plurality of ignition coils. The system and method may reduce wiring complexity for spark plugs that are supplied energy via two ignition coils.