Patent ID: 9470202
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: F02P

Claim Text:
1. A control apparatus for an engine ignition spark plug comprising: a switch comprising a control terminal and an output terminal both to be connected to an external transformer, said switch having a closed state to supply a voltage to the transformer and an open state to release the voltage from the transformer to the spark plug; a measuring module configured to measure in the open state a time duration of a voltage at the output terminal decreasing from a first value to a second value; a detecting module configured to detect an operating condition of the spark plug based on comparing the measured time duration to a time threshold, and to generate a detecting signal based on the comparing; and a driving module connected to the control terminal and configured to generate a driving signal for said switch based on the detecting signal; said detecting module configured to detect a first anomaly condition corresponding to a failed electrical spark of the spark plug, and a second anomaly condition corresponding to more than one failed electrical spark of the spark plug, with the driving signal to modify an operating mode of said switch based on detecting the first and second anomaly conditions.