Garlan J Huberts

6922057, Jul 26, 2005

Jun 11, 2003

10/458724

Guoming G. Zhu - Novi MI, US
Michael T. Nation - Ypsilanti MI, US
Bruce Wang - Troy MI, US
Kenneth L. Gould - Fayetteville GA, US
Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US
Kevin D. Moran - Trenton MI, US

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

F02P017/12

324382, 324402

A charge pump is used to supply current to the ionization detection circuit. To detect in-cylinder ions generated during the combustion process, a DC bias voltage needs to be applied. There are two ways to generate the DC bias: conventional DC power supply (large electronics) and capacitor charges by primary or secondary flyback voltage (high voltage capacitor). Typically, flyback voltage is used to charge the capacitor which supplies current to the ionization detection circuit. This necessitates the use of high voltage capacitors. Generally, ceramic capacitors are used. However, as temperature fluctuates, the board that the capacitor is mounted on can flex, causing the ceramic capacitor to crack. This invention proposes to use a high voltage charge pump to provide enough DC bias voltage for measuring ionization current. In a preferred embodiment, a model number M1C4827 EL driver is used in the charge pump circuit.

6951201, Oct 4, 2005

Jun 11, 2003

10/458627

Guoming G. Zhu - Novi MI, US
Michael T. Nation - Ypsilanti MI, US
Bruce Wang - Troy MI, US
Kenneth L. Gould - Fayetteville GA, US
Kevin D. Moran - Trenton MI, US
Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

F02P005/152
G01L023/22

12340627, 123630, 73 3508

In a first preferred embodiment, the present feature of the invention multiplexes both the ionization and driver current feedback signals into one signal, thus reducing cost and making coil packaging easier. The multiplexed signal first outputs the ionization detection signal and then replaces the ionization signal with the charge current feedback signal when the charge command Vis enabled. In other words, the multiplexed feedback signal outputs the ionization feedback signal and switches to the charge current feedback signal when the charge command Vis active. In a second preferred embodiment, the present feature of the invention comprises a method and apparatus to multiplex the ignition driver gate signal with both the ignition coil charge current feedback signal and the ionization signal, thus reducing the package pin count by two.

7063079, Jun 20, 2006

Jun 11, 2003

10/458492

Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US
Michael T. Nation - Ypsilanti MI, US
Guoming G. Zhu - Novi MI, US
Kevin D. Moran - Trenton MI, US
Bruce Wang - Troy MI, US
Kenneth L. Gould - Fayetteville GA, US

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

G01C 23/22

123630, 123652, 73 3508

Two embodiments of an integrated ionization detection circuit and ignition coil driver, an ASIC and a single electronic package, are disclosed. The apparatuses reduce the cost and complexity of an in-cylinder ionization detection system by combining like functionality into one ASIC or electronic module easing packaging constraints. In both embodiments, a current sink is used. The current sink removes noise in the form of voltage splices. The voltage spikes are high voltage, but of short duration. The current sink prevents these spikes from turning on the IGBT. However, the current sink allows the IGBT command signal to pass. This device also comprises a switch whereby ionization current and coil primary current are multiplexed.

7966992, Jun 28, 2011

Feb 15, 2009

12/371612

Chris Paul Glugla - Macomb MI, US
Michael Damian Czekala - Canton MI, US
Garlan J Huberts - Milford MI, US
Daniel Lawrence Meyer - Dearborn MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

F02M 1/00

123434, 123435, 123345, 123609, 123630

A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one actuator for controlling charge dilution of at least one cylinder and at least one spark plug per cylinder include attempting to improve combustion quality by modifying ignition energy of the at least one spark plug before modifying charge dilution of the cylinder, and modifying both ignition energy and charge dilution substantially simultaneously to establish combustion if an ionization sense signal associated with the cylinder indicates a misfire.

8078384, Dec 13, 2011

Jun 25, 2010

12/823394

Christopher Paul Glugla - Macomb MI, US
Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US
Gopichandra Surnilla - West Bloomfield MI, US
Michael Damian Czekala - Canton MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

G06F 19/00
F02P 15/08

701102, 701110, 123637

Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include determining presence of charge dilution and selecting a spark restrike mode to provide multiple spark events during a single combustion cycle. Charge dilution may be determined based on commanded air/fuel ratio and exhaust gas recirculation, for example. Multiple spark events may be controlled using time-based restrike or current-based restrike in response to one or more operating parameters or conditions.

8490598, Jul 23, 2013

Aug 20, 2009

12/544389

Qiuping Qu - Troy MI, US
Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US
Christopher Paul Glugla - Macomb MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

G06F 19/00
G01N 27/62

1234062, 12340612, 123536, 701102, 324459, 324466, 324468

Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include an ignition coil that generates a pre-discharge ionization signal during charging of the ignition coil after reaching a first threshold charge level and prior to spark discharge and a controller that determines an engine operating condition, such as pre-ignition or plug fouling, in response to the pre-discharge ionization signal. The ignition coil may also generate digital feedback and ionization signals used to by the controller for to control ignition coil dwell and repetitive sparking, as well as providing various combustion diagnostics.

20040084036, May 6, 2004

Jun 11, 2003

10/458632

David Porter - Westland MI, US
Garlan Huberts - Milford MI, US
Constantine Panagos - Saint Clair Shores MI, US
Guoming Zhu - Novi MI, US
Michael Nation - Ypsilanti MI, US
Bruce Wang - Troy MI, US
Kenneth Gould - Fayetteville GA, US
Kevin Moran - Trenton MI, US

F02P005/15

123/634000, 123/647000, 123/650000

Internal combustion engine (ICE) on-plug ignition coils with transistor drivers located in powertrain control modules (PCM) or other remote locations are prone to high electrical and magnetic interference (EMI) emissions and are subject to interference from other components due to long connecting wires. Ionization detection circuits have even greater sensitivity to EMI because of their very low signal current levels (microampere). The present feature of the invention integrates both the coil driver transistor and ionization detection circuits into the on-plug ignition coil. In a preferred embodiment, parts rated at 140 degrees centigrade are used in both the coil driver transistor and the ionization circuits which are located on the coil to address temperature and thermal shock concerns. Additionally, parts rated at 20 G are used in both the coil driver transistor and the ionization circuits to address vibration concerns. By placing the circuit on top or on the side of the coil, the connection distance from the circuit to the secondary winding is minimized. Thus, the circuit is less susceptible to electrical and electromagnetic noise.

20130206106, Aug 15, 2013

Feb 10, 2012

13/371170

Garlan J. Huberts - Milford MI, US
Qiuping Qu - Troy MI, US

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

F02P 5/04

12340627

A system for monitoring and cleaning a spark plug is disclosed. In one example, an amount of carbonaceous soot at the center electrode ceramic of the spark plug is determined in response to a voltage of a sense resistor that is in electrical communication with the spark plug. The system may institute spark plug cleaning after carbonaceous soot is detected so that the possibility of engine misfire may be reduced.