KNOCK DETECTION CIRCUIT

Abstract: A rectifying and integrating circuit, particularly in a knock-detection system for an internal combustion engine, comprises an operational amplifier OA, an integrat­ ing capacitor C2 with one side connected to the amplifier output and its other side connected to the signal input of the amplifier, a first rectifying device D2 connecting the amplifier output to the one side (i.e. output side) of the integrating capacitor, and a second rectifying device D1 connecting the amplifier output to its signal input. The signal input current is balanced by feedback through one or other of the two paths D2, C2 and D1, depending on the polarity of the input. Integration occurs on one polarity in the absence of a rectifier amplifier preceding a separate integrator, errors due to input offset voltages of the rectifier amplifier are avoided.

Description: This invention relates to a knock detection circuit for an internal combustion engine. In order to avoid the risk of damage to an internal combustion engine due to detonation, it is known to provide a system for detecting the effect known as knock and adjust the ignition timing accordingly so as to terminate the knock condition. US-A-4 351 282 discloses a knock detection circuit which comprises a knocking sensor for attaching to the engine, the output signal from this sensor being applied to a knocking decision circuit, which continuously compares the knock sensor signal with a reference level, to indicate a knock condition when the knock sensor signal exceeds the reference level. The reference level is generated by a circuit which comprises an operational amplifier having an input receiving the signal from the knock sensor, an integrating capacitor which has one side connected to an output of the operational amplifier and its other side connected to the input of the operational amplifier, a first rectifying device connecting the output of the operational amplifier to the one side of the capacitor, and an oppositely-poled rectifier device connecting the output of the operational amplifier to its input. Another known knock detection circuit comprises a knocking sensor for attaching to the engine, the signal from which is fed via a band-pass filter to a precision rectifier and thence to an integrator. A microprocessor controls the integrator in order to provide an output signal which is proportional to the knock signal level over a predetermined period, which is selected to correspond to the time interval (for each cylinder of the engine) during which knock would be expected to occur and thus to reduce those background noise components which coincide with the pass band of the filter. The output signal of the integrator is determined by the microprocessor and used for controlling the ignition timing and other parameters. The amplitude of the knock signal is found to vary considerably depending upon the operating conditions of the engine. The gain of the filter is necessarily, for practical purposes, predetermined according to the maximum signal levels to be processed. Therefore, under some conditions the level of the output signal from the filter is very low: under these conditions the input offset voltage errors of the operational amplifiers used for the rectifier and integrator have a large effect, particularly at low engine speeds because of the relatively long integration time then employed. The input offset voltage error of the rectifier amplifier is transferred to its output and adds to the input of the integrator. A large error in the integrator output level is therefore caused but in addition the integrator gain can require limiting in order to prevent the error consuming the whole of the available integrator output range. We have now devised a knock detection circuit which overcomes the drawbacks described above due to input offset voltage errors of the operational amplifiers employed. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a knock detection circuit for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rectifying and integrating circuit which comprises an operational amplifier having an input for receiving a signal from a knock transducer, an integrating capacitor having one side connected to an output of the operational amplifier and its other side connected to said input of the operational amplifier, said one side of the integrating capacitor delivering an output signal from the rectifying and integrating circuit, a first rectifying device connecting the output of the operational amplifier to said one side of the capacitor and a second, oppositely-poled rectifier device connecting the output of the operational amplifier to its said input, characterized in that the input signal is rectified and integrated over successive periods of time corresponding to the time intervals (for each cylinder of the engine) during which knock is expected to occur, and between which the capacitor is reset, to give successive knock measurement signals, a switch is connected to the output side of the integrating capacitor and is closable to reset the capacitor by discharging it to a predetermined voltage level, and in that a switch is connected between the output of the operational amplifier and its input and is closed during resetting of the integrating capacitor. When the input signal is of one polarity, current flows through the first rectifying device and the integrating capacitor to balance the input current and provide a voltage at the output of the circuit. However when the input signal is of the opposite polarity, current flows through the second rectifying device to balance the input current and maintain the amplifier input at a fixed voltage. Thus in effect the input signal is rectified for its one polarity and integrated. A diode pump arrangement may be connected between the amplifier output and the integrating capacitor in order that the integrator output may extend beyond the output voltage range of the amplifier itself. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a prior art knock detection circuit; FIGURE 2 is a diagram of a combined rectifying and integrating circuit in accordance with this invention, which circuit may replace the separate rectifying and integrating circuits of the knock detection system shown in Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a diagram of a modification of the circuit shown in Figure 2. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a prior art knock detection system. A signal from a piezo-electric transducer, attached to the internal combustion engine, is applied to the input IN of a band pass filter comprising, in the example shown, three successive operational amplifier stages BF₁, BF₂, BF₃. The output of the band-pass filter is fed to a precision rectifier circuit PR comprising an operational amplifier connected generally as shown, and the output of this rectifier is fed via a switch SWA to an integrator circuit I. This integrator circuit comprises an operational amplifier with the output from the rectifier applied to one of its inputs and an integrating capacitor C connected between its output OUT and that input. The output OUT is connected via an analogue-to-digital converter to a microprocessor serving to measure the integrator output and in consequence to control the ignition timing of the engine. The microprocessor also actuates switch SWA and another switch SWB in parallel with the integrating capacitor C, for controlling operation of the integrating circuit. In practice switches SWA and SWB are electronic switches and are controlled over a reset/integrate control line R/I from the microprocessor, with switch SWA controlled via an inverter as shown. Thus, for resetting, the control line serves to open switch SWA and close switch SWB for discharging the capacitor C, whilst for the integration period the control line closes switch SWA and opens switch SWB. Knock detection systems such as that shown in Figure 1 are however prone to the drawbacks described above due to input offset voltage errors of the operational amplifiers of the precision rectifiers. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a combined rectifying and integrating circuit in accordance with this invention, which may be used to replace both the precision recifying circuit PR and the integrating circuit I of knock detection systems such as shown in Figure 1. The circuit shown in Figure 2 comprises an operational amplifier OA and the knock signal delivered by the band-pass filter is applied to one input (the inverting input) of the operational amplifier via a coupling capacitor C₁ and a series resistor R₁. The other (non-inverting) input of the operational amplifier is connected to ground. An integrating capacitor C₂ is connected with one side to the amplifier output and its other side to the signal input of the amplifier in the usual way, and the one side of the capacitor C₂ providing the output OUT of the integrating circuit. However, a diode rectifying device D₂ is connected between the amplifier output and the one side or output side of the capacitor C₂ (and poled for conduction when the amplifier output is positive), whilst an oppositely-poled diode rectifying device D₁ is connected between the amplifier output and its signal input. Electronic switches SWA and SWB are provided, one in parallel with diode D₁ and the other between the capacitor output side and ground, and are controlled by the microprocessor. The operation of the circuit shown in Figure 2 is as follows. During the reset period, the microprocesor serves to close both switches SWA and SWB. Switch SWA therefore connects the amplifier output back to its signal input to ensure that this input is held at a voltage exactly balancing the input offset voltage and thus maintaining the amplifier output near the zero volts level. Whilst the signal input is held at this voltage level the integrating capacitor is discharged through switch SWB to zero voltage on its output side. Then during the integration period, both switches SWA and SWB are open: when the knock signal from the band-pass filter is of negative voltage, it is integrated because current flows through the integrating capacitor C₂ via diode D₂ balancing the input current and producing a positive voltage at the output OUT. When the knock signal from the bandpass filter is of positive voltage, there is no integration: such a positive input voltage causes the amplifier output to go negative, passing current through diode D₁ to balance the input current and maintain the amplifier input at a fixed voltage. It will be appreciated that the series resistor R₁ serves to convert the input voltage signal V in to a current signal which is then balanced by one or other of the two feedbacks paths depending on the polarity of the input. The coupling capacitor C₁ blocks any DC voltage present in the output from the band-pass filter and also blocks the offset voltage of the operational amplifier OA, thus preventing DC voltages having any effect on the integrator output OUT. It will also be appreciated that, during reset, the input offset voltage of the amplifier OA is exactly balanced so that the voltage can have no effect during the integration period. The only drift or error which can occur would be due to the leakage current of the diode D₁ and the biassing current of the amplifier. These can be reduced to a minimum by choosing components of very low leakage and bias current, and in particular the operational amplifier preferably comprises CMOS devices. However, a low cost operational amplifier using bipolar devices may be employed if input biassing resistors R₂, R₃ are added, as shown in Figure 3. This arrangement results in greater rates of drift than those exhibited by e.g. junction FET or MOSEFET input amplifiers, but still provides a considerable improvement over circuits of the type shown in Figure 1. The circuit of Figure 3 also includes a diode pump arrangement, allowing the integrator output OUT to extend beyond the output voltage range of the operational amplifier OA itself. Thus an additional capacitor C₃ is connected between the junction of the amplifier output with the diode D₁ and switch SWA on the one hand, and the diode D₂ on the other hand: a transistor T₁ is connected as an emitter-follower with its collector connected to the positive supply +V, its emitter connected to the output side of capacitor C₃ and its base connected to the output side of the integrating capacitor C₂. During negative excursions of the amplifier output, the capacitor C₃ is charged by the emitter follower and this charge is transferred to the integrating capacitor C₂ via diode D₂ during the positive excursions of the amplifier output, and so on.

Claims: A knock detection circuit for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rectifying and integrating circuit which comprises an operational amplifier (OA) having an input for receiving a signal from a knock transducer, an integrating capacitor (C2) having one side connected to an output of the operational amplifier and its other side connected to said input of the operational amplifier, said one side of the integrating capacitor delivering an output signal from the rectifying and integrating circuit, a first rectifying device (D2) connecting the output of the operational amplifier (OA) to said one side of the capacitor (C2) and a second, oppositely-poled rectifier device (D1) connecting the output of the operational amplifier to its said input, characterised in that the input signal is rectified and integrated over successive periods of time corresponding to the time intervals (for each cylinder of the engine) during which knock is expected to occur, and between which the capacitor is reset, to give successive knock measurement signals, a switch (SWB) is connected to the output side of the integrating capacitor (C2) and is closable to reset the capacitor by discharging it to a predetermined voltage level, and in that a switch (SWA) is connected between the output of the operational amplifier (OA) and its input and is closed during resetting of the integrating capacitor. A knock detection circuit as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that a resistor (R1) is connected in series with said input of the operational amplifier, serving to convert a voltage said input signal (VIN) to a current signal which is then balanced through the integrating capacitor (C2) or through said rectifying device (D1) depending on the polarity of the input voltage signal (VIN). A knock detection circuit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said operational amplifier (OA) comprises CMOS devices. A knock detection circuit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said operational amplifier (OA) comprises bipolar devices and the inputs of said operational amplifier are provided with biassing resistors (R2, R3). A knock detection circuit as claimed in any preceding claims, characterised in that a diode pump arrangement (C3, D2) is connected to the output of said operational amplifier (OA). A knock detection circuit as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said diode pump arrangement comprises an additional capacitor (C3) connected between the output of said operational amplifier (OA) and said first rectifying device (D2), and a device (T1) for providing charging current to said additional capacitor (C3) when the output of the operational amplifier is one polarity, the charge thus provided to the additional capacitor (C3) transferring to the integrating capacitor (C2) via said first rectifying device (D2) when the amplifier output changes polarity. A knock detection circuit as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said charging current device comprises a transistor (T1) with its base connected to said one side of the integrating capacitor (C2). A knock detection circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by means responsive to the knock measurement output signals of the rectifying and integrating circuit for controlling ignition timing of said engine in accordance therewith.

Inventors: MAINPRIZE, DAVID
Applicants: LUCAS INDUSTRIES PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G06G7
IPC codes: F02P5, G01R19, H03D1, H03H11, G01H17, F02P17, G01M15, G06G7