Patent ID: 6498490
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: F02D,F02P

Abstract:
An ion current sense ignition bias circuit comprising:an energy storage device operatively connected in series with a spark gap and an ignition coil secondary winding, said energy storage device charged by a spark current of said ignition coil secondary winding said energy storage device acting as an ion current generating source; a first voltage control device operatively connected in parallel with said energy storage device, said first voltage control device limiting a voltage to be charged onto said energy storage device by said spark current to within a specified value; a diode in series with said first voltage control device; a first resistor operatively connected in parallel with said diode; said energy storage device, said first voltage control device, said diode, and said first resistor are located in proximity to said ignition coil secondary winding; a second resistor operatively connected in series with said first resistor, via an electrical harness wire, a voltage across which corresponds to a measured ion current; a second voltage control device operatively connected in parallel with said second resistor, said second voltage control device oriented and configured allow a selected magnitude of voltage to be generated across said second resistor by said ion current without voltage limiting; and said second resistor and said second voltage control device located in proximity with a remote module for measurement and processing of said measured ion current.