IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,137,385
Granted Patent B2
US 7,137,385 · App. 10/458,712 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Device to provide a regulated power supply for in-cylinder ionization detection by using the ignition coli fly back energy and two-stage regulation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,137,385
App. No.
10/458,712
Granted
Nov 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

This feature of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus that provides a regulated power supply for in-cylinder ionization detection by harvesting the excess ignition coil leakage and magnetizing energy immediately following the turn off of the ignition coil IGBT. It uses an additional energy storage capacitor which replaces a first capacitor as the primary energy storage device. Thus, this feature of the present invention uses a two step method for charging the ionization detection circuit, as opposed to just one stage. The second capacitor is charged first, typically up to 400 Volts DC, and is then used as a reservoir to charge the first capacitor.

Claims (25)

1. A method of providing a regulated power supply for in-cylinder ionization detection, comprising the steps of:

harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy from a primary winding of an ignition coil; and

harvesting magnetizing energy from said primary winding of said ignition coil following turn off of said ignition coil.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy comprises the steps of:

turning a switch off;

reversing a transformer primaiy voltage;

forward biasing a diode; and

charging a capacitor.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy further comprises the step of capturing energy stored in a transformer leakage inductance and using it as an energy source for an ionization electronics circuit.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy further comprises the step of diverting leakage energy into a high voltage capacitor, whereby dissipation and resulting heaxing of a primary IGBT is reduced.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy thriher comprises the step of storing energy at 350 to 400 volts in a high voltage capacitor, whereby a smaller capacitor can be used to store energy.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of harvesting an ignition coil leakage energy further comprises the steps of:

firing a spark plug;

collapsing a secondaxy voltage of said transformer;

igniting an air-fuel mixture;

collapsing a primary voltage of said transformer; and

reverse biasing said diode.

7. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of supplying current to at least one ionization circuit.

8. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of supplying current to a second capacitor.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of supplying current to at least one ionization circuit.

10. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of supplying current to a second capacitor.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of supplying current comprises bleeding current from said capacitor to said at least one ionization current.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein said step of supplying current comprises bleeding current from said capacitor to said second capacitor.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein said step of supplying current comprises bleeding current from said capacitor to said at least one ionization current.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein said step of supplying current comprises bleeding current from said capacitor to said second capacitor.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Jun 9, 2014
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 033107/0717 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2014
From: VISTEON CORPORATION, AS GRANTOR; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AS GRANTOR
To: CITIBANK., N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032713/0065 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS ON REEL 025241 FRAME 0317 Recorded Apr 26, 2011
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDING, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 026178/0412 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (REVOLVER) Recorded Oct 19, 2010
From: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 025238/0298 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 19, 2010
From: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDING, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 025241/0317 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 022575 FRAME 0186 Recorded Oct 7, 2010
From: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025105/0201 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 022974 FRAME 0057 Recorded Oct 6, 2010
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025095/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2009
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022974/0057 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 21, 2009
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022575/0186 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2009
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
Reel/Frame 022368/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 7, 2008
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 020497/0733 →