IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,251,571
Granted Patent B2
US 7,251,571 · App. 10/655,985 · Granted Jul 31, 2007

Methods of diagnosing open-secondary winding of an ignition coil using the ionization current signal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,251,571
App. No.
10/655,985
Granted
Jul 31, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a first embodiment, the present invention is a method of detecting an open secondary winding, including the steps of enabling an integrator, resetting the integrator, detecting an ionization current, integrating the ionization current over a spark window, comparing the integrated ionization current with a threshold, and setting an open secondary flag if the integrated ionization current is below the threshold. In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of detecting an open secondary winding by measuring spark duration including the steps of comparing an ionization signal with a first threshold, measuring the spark duration when the ionization signal is greater than the first threshold, comparing said spark duration with a second threshold, and setting an open secondary flag.

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for detecting an open secondary winding based on an ionization signal, comprising:

a first comparator having a first and a second input and an output, wherein said first input is operably connected to the ionization signal and said second input is operably connected to a first threshold;

a controller having a first and an enable input and an output, wherein said first input is operably connected to said output of said first comparator;

a timer having a first and an enable input, and an output, wherein said first input is operably connected to said output of said controller; and

a second comparator having a first and a second input and an output, wherein said first input is operably connected to said output of said timer and said second input is operably connected to a second threshold.

2. The open secondary winding detection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a powertrain control module having an output operably connected to said enable input of said controller.

3. An apparatus for detecting an open secondary winding based on an ionization signal, comprising:

an integrator having the ionization signal input, an enable input, a reset input and an output, said reset input being capable of resetting said integrator,

a comparator having a first input operably connected to said output of said integrator, a second input operably connected to a threshold value, and an output, and

a powertrain control module having an input operably connected to said output of said comparator and an output operably connected to said enable input of said integrator, wherein said reset input of said integrator is operably connected to an ignition charge pulse.

4. The open secondary winding detection apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising an open secondary detection enable flag signal operably connected to said enable input of said integrator.

5. The open secondary winding detection apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said ionization signal input of said integrator is operably connected to an ionization current measunng circuit.

6. The open secondary winding detection apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein an open secondary detection enable flag signal is sent by said powertrain control module to said enable input of said integrator and wherein said ionization current input of said integrator is operably connected to an ionization current measuring circuit.

Assignments (10)
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 022732 FRAME 0263 Recorded Oct 6, 2010
From: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025095/0451 →
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 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded May 26, 2009
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022732/0263 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2009
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
Reel/Frame 022368/0001 →