Patent ID: 6584955
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: F02D,F02P

Abstract:
A device for detecting a phase angle for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having at least one spark plug for triggering an ignition spark, the device comprising:an ionic-current measuring device for measuring an ionic current and for providing a signal; an electronic control unit for determining whether the ignition spark occurred in at least one cylinder of the plurality of the cylinders based on the signal from the ionic-current measuring device; an arrangement for adjusting an energy of the ignition spark in the at least one cylinder so that the ignition spark occurs in response to a low internal pressure in the at least one cylinder and so that the ignition spark does not occur in response to a high internal pressure in the at least one cylinder; and an arrangement for determining the phase angle in the at least one cylinder based on observing at least one successful occurrence of the ignition spark and at least one unsuccessful occurrence of the ignition spark.