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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7251571 | Methods of diagnosing open-secondary winding of an ignition coil using the ionization current signal In a first embodiment, the present invention is a method of detecting an open secondary winding, including the steps of enabling an integrator, resetting the integrator, detecting an ionization current, integrating the ionization current over a spark window, compari... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7215528 | Turn-on coil driver for eliminating secondary diode in coil-per-plug ignition coils A circuit for controlling an ignition coil that attenuates the feed forward voltage by slowing the initial turn-on of the coil driver is disclosed. The turn-on circuit includes a control signal input node, a capacitor, a resistor, a diode, and a coil driver. The con... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7188466 | Passive, high-temperature amplifier for amplifying spark signals detected in igniter in gas turbine engine A system for detecting spark in an igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an inductive pick-up is positioned adjacent the igniter, to detect current pulses in the ign... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7129705 | Ignition spark tester A device for testing the functioning in an internal combustion engine of spark plugs which are recessed within the cylinder head. Connection to the recessed spark plugs can be accomplished by an elongated device shaped to fit within and extend beyond the spark plug ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7093421 | Spark igniter for gas turbine engine An igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an auxiliary electrode is provided, which is embedded in and covered by a solid insulator. During initial phases of operatio... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093422 | Detecting spark in igniter of gas turbine engine by detecting signals in grounded RF shielding A system for detecting spark in an igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an inductive pick-up is positioned adjacent the igniter, to detect current pulses in the ign... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7055372 | Method of detecting cylinder ID using in-cylinder ionization for spark detection following partial coil charging The present feature of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining cylinder ID. When a cylinder is compressed, the resistance increases across the spark plug gap. Thus, if a spark coil is only partially charged before activation of the spark, the ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 6998846 | Ignition diagnosis using ionization signal The present feature of the invention is generally directed to a subsystem of an ignition diagnostics and feedback control system using ionization current feedback. It utilizes the ionization signal from an ionization detection circuit to monitor ignition parameters,... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6954074 | Circuit for measuring ionization current in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine A circuit for measuring ionization current in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine including an ignition coil, having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and an ignition plug. The ignition plug ignites an air/fuel mixture in the combustion ch... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6943554 | Ionic current detection apparatus for internal combustion engine An ionic current detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine does not generate a false ionic current, and hence it does not generate a false knock component signal either, thereby avoiding an incorrect combustion determination or an incorrect knock determi... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6909289 | Electrical high tension tester An electrical high tension test device having first and second contacts connectable to a high tension circuit, a first electrode connected to one contact; a second electrode connected to the second contact, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from one... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6664789 | Engine ignition timing device An ignition timing device for timing an engine having a timing port and a timing mark indicative of a position of a movable member. The ignition timing device includes a sensor adapted to be secured in the timing port to provide a timing mark signal indic... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6642718 | Ignition system monitoring assembly An ignition system monitoring assembly for use in a combustion engine is disclosed. The assembly includes an igniter having at least one positioning guide with at least one transmittal member being maintained in a preferred orientation by one of the posit... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6559647 | Diagnosing spark plugs malfunction in a dual plug engine The present invention related generally to a method for determining spark plug malfunction and more particularly to a method for determining spark plug malfunction in an internal combustion engine in which at least two spark plugs are disposed in each cyl... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6429658 | Engine ignition timing device An ignition timing device for timing an engine having a timing port includes a sensor securable in the timing port to provide a timing mark signal. An ignition sensor is adapted to provide an ignition signal. A comparator receives the timing mark signal a... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6426626 | Apparatus and method for testing an ignition coil and spark plug A method and apparatus for testing spark plugs and ignition coils. An apparatus includes a power supply for supplying power to an ignition coil to generate a spark across a spark plug. A capture circuit captures an energy signal reflected from the ignitio... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6424155 | Igniting system with a device for measuring the ion current An inductive ignition apparatus for a combustion engine includes a measurement device for ascertaining the ionization current at the spark plug of each cylinder, and includes for each spark plug an ignition coil device which forms the ignition high voltag... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6396278 | Hand-held ignition voltage tester A hand-held ignition voltage tester for detecting voltage on a spark plug wire in an ignition system, such as a distributorless ignition system. The tester includes a housing, positive and negative power cables and a capacitive probe for capacitively coup... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6396277 | Coil on plug signal detection An apparatus for measuring ignition charge signals produced by coils of coil-on-plug devices of an internal combustion engine. A signal detector comprises an insulating substrate having a first conductive planar layer on a first side and a second conducti... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6281682 | Sensor for detecting ignition current and ion current in ignition secondary circuit An ignition secondary sensor is provided which is disposed in a high voltage path between an ignition coil and a spark plug for use with a detecting circuit for detecting ignition current and ion current flowing through a spark plug. The sensor comprises ... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6249123 | Automated determination of the size of a gap in an article of manufacture during assembly of the article of manufacture The present invention is an assembly line testing apparatus and method for automatically determining whether a size of a gap, within at least one component of an article of manufacture, is within an acceptable range, during assembly of the article of manu... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6236213 | Method and apparatus for inspecting spark plug while spark plug is installed in engine Method and apparatus for inspecting a spark plug as installed in an engine, for an abnormal size of a discharge gap and cracking of porcelain, based on a shape parameter value Sn (=Vn/Tn) calculated from a voltage parameter value Vn which is an average of... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6134947 | Load sensor for measuring engine cylinder pressure and seat occupant weight A load sensor for measuring engine cylinder pressure and vehicle seat occupant weight in a nonintrusive manner that is easily adaptable to existing vehicle components and occupancy support structures. The sensor of the invention provides a toroidal-shaped... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6091244 | Method and arrangement for detecting combustion misfires of a internal combustion engine The invention is directed to a method of detecting combustion misfires of an internal combustion engine wherein an ion current is generated during the operation of the engine. The ion current signal is detected over a pregiven time interval starting with ... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6064211 | Spark plug tester A tester for testing the spark plugs, distributor system, and wires used on combustion engines. The tester includes a housing that has an opening therethrough adapted and dimensioned for receiving a spark plug therethrough. The housing has at least one op... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6043660 | Circuit arrangement for measuring an ion current in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine A circuit arrangement measures an ion current generated in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during an iron current flow phase following an ignition phase. A voltage drop across a feedback resistor (R1) connected in parall... | 03/28/2000 |
| 5933009 | Spark plug ignited engine analyzing device and method An engine analyzing device for an internal combustion engine including a spark generator and means for testing the voltage of the sparks generated for a diagnosis of engine performance, the testing of the sparks generated relating to analysis of the spark... | 08/03/1999 |
| 5914604 | Circuit arrangement for measuring an ion current in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine An ion current in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is measured by using the spark plug as an ion current sensor. The ignition circuit arrangement has an ignition coil or transformer with a primary winding forming a primary circuit a... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5841283 | Discriminator circuit for detecting the event spark plug in a distributorless ignition system A discriminator circuit for detecting an event spark plug in a distributorless ignition system. The voltage waveform during event and waste cycles of the ignition system is conditioned and applied to a pair of comparators which compare the voltage wavefor... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5834939 | Hand-held ignition voltage tester A hand-held ignition voltage tester for detecting voltage on a spark plug wire in an ignition system, such as a distributorless ignition system. The tester includes a housing, positive and negative power cables and a capacitive probe for capacitively coup... | 11/10/1998 |
| 5828217 | Misfire detecting device for internal combustion engine A misfire detecting device for an internal combustion engine having a double-ended or single-ended distributorless ignition system is provided. The device comprises a first capacitor connected to a secondary winding side of a spark plug and in parallel to... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5754051 | Misfire detecting device A misfire detecting device for an ignition system, comprises high voltage applying means for applying a pulsed high voltage to each spark plug of an engine after completion of firing of the spark plug, voltage restricting means for restricting a peak of t... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5751147 | Preignition detecting method A preignition detecting method which prevents preignition (PI) from being misjudged as having occurred when an ignition plug is fouling. It is determined whether or not the ignition plug fouls in accordance with a voltage, developed across a detecting res... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5747677 | Apparatus and method for detecting pressure in an engine cylinder An apparatus for detecting pressure in an engine cylinder comprises a cylinder pressure sensor inserted between an ignition plug screwed into an engine cylinder head and a bearing surface on which the ignition plug is mounted. The sensor outputs a detecti... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5672972 | Diagnostic system for a capacitor discharge ignition system An apparatus is provided for monitoring ignition in individual cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine of the type having an ignition system which includes a separate transformer for each cylinder. Each transformer has primary and secondary coils. The second... | 09/30/1997 |
| 5652381 | Ignition system test instrument An ignition system test instrument used on spark ignited engines includes a housing having a spark chamber. A sleeve with an open and a closed end is slidably mounted over the housing. A compression chamber is formed between the sleeve closed end and the ... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5644491 | Self contained multi-function engine monitor and timer for providing engine running time, job time, service time and tachometer functions An engine monitor includes, in a self-contained preferably sealed unit, a spark sensor, inductively and capacitively coupled through the case to a spark pick up wire, a timer, and a running time detector, responsive to inputs from the spark pick up to pro... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5581188 | Misfire detecting device A misfire detecting device for an ignition system, comprises high voltage applying device for applying a pulsed high voltage to each spark plug of an engine after completion of firing of the spark plug, voltage restricting device for restricting a peak of... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5554930 | Spark plug voltage probe device in an internal combustion engine In a spark plug voltage probe device which detects a voltage applied to a spark plug installed in an internal combustion engine so as to analyze a burning condition in the internal combustion engine on the basis of the voltage applied to the spark plug, a... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5543716 | Sparkplug voltage probe for use with an internal combustion engine by clamping sparkplug cables with an insulation base In a sparkplug voltage probe device in use for an internal combustion engine, an insulator base is attached to the internal combustion engine, an upper surface of the insulator base having a plurality of grooves in which the sparkplug cables are placed. A... | 08/06/1996 |