Patent ID: 7053623
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: F02P

Abstract:
1. A sparking ignition system with diagnostic capabilities for an internal combustion engine controlled by a computer control module, said sparking ignition system comprising: a sparking device having an electrical insulator with a longitudinal bore, a grounding electrode, and an electrically conductive center wire supported in said longitudinal bore and including a firing end proximate said grounding electrode for producing a spark therebetween; said sparking device including a sensing feature electrically connected between said center wire and said grounding electrode; a coil for generating intermittent high voltage signals; a lead wire for transferring the intermittent high voltage signals from said coil to said center wire to produce cyclical sparks between said firing end and said grounding electrode; a low voltage diagnostic device operatively connected to said lead wire for sending a low voltage signal to and receiving a low voltage return signal from said sensing feature in the interval between sequential sparks and returning diagnostic feedback to an engine control module; and an electrically conductive flexor joint operatively interconnecting said lead wire and said center wire for maintaining a positive electrical connection between said lead wire and said center wire during severe relative motions therebetween such that the low voltage signals traveling between said lead wire and said center wire are uninterrupted even during harsh vibration conditions to provide continuous diagnostic feedback to the engine control module.