IP Library Granted Patent US 11,359,594
Granted Patent B2
US 11,359,594 · App. 17/056,334 · Granted Jun 14, 2022

Internal combustion engine control device

Inventor: Eiichirou Ohata (Hitachinaka, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
F02P9/002F02P3/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,359,594
App. No.
17/056,334
Granted
Jun 14, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An internal combustion engine control device includes an ignition control unit which executes an ignition control for controlling an ignition plug which discharges electricity in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine to ignite fuel. The ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that a predetermined ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug when the ignition plug performs ignition, and a predetermined pre-heating electric energy smaller than the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug before the ignition plug performs ignition.

Claims (41)

1. An internal combustion engine control device comprising:

an ignition control unit which executes an ignition control for controlling an ignition plug which discharges electricity in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine to ignite fuel, wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that a predetermined ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug when the ignition plug performs the ignition, and a predetermined pre-heating electric energy smaller than the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug before the ignition plug performs the ignition.

2. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the pre-heating electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug before a fuel injection valve attached to the internal combustion engine injects the fuel.

3. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the ignition plug discharges electricity by the pre-heating electric energy to generate a spark before the fuel injection valve injects the fuel.

4. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the pre-heating electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug a plurality of times before the fuel injection valve injects the fuel.

5. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the pre-heating electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug between a time when a fuel injection valve attached to the internal combustion engine injects the fuel and a time when the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug.

6. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 5 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that a spark is not generated without the ignition plug discharging electricity by the pre-heating electric energy between a time when the fuel injection valve injects the fuel and a time when the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug.

7. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 5 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the pre-heating electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug a plurality of times between a time when the fuel injection valve injects the fuel and a time when the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug.

8. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that a first electric energy is supplied as the pre-heating electric energy to the ignition plug before a fuel injection valve attached to the internal combustion engine injects the fuel,

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that a second electric energy is supplied as the pre-heating electric energy to the ignition plug between a time when the fuel injection valve injects the fuel and a time when the ignition electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug, and

the first electric energy is larger than the second electric energy.

9. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the pre-heating electric energy is supplied to the ignition plug a plurality of times per ignition.

10. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that an electric energy for causing the ignition plug to discharge electricity is supplied to the ignition plug in a period including at least an exhaust stroke in which the fuel after combustion is discharged from the cylinder.

11. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 10 , wherein

the exhaust stroke is a period during which an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine is open.

12. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 10 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that the ignition plug discharges electricity a plurality of times during the period.

13. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 12 , wherein

a discharge cycle of the ignition plug in the period is shorter than a discharge cycle when the ignition plug performs the ignition.

14. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the ignition control unit executes the ignition control such that

the discharge cycle of the ignition plug in the period is within a range from a predetermined lower limit value to an upper limit value, and

the lower limit value is changed according to a time elapsed after start of the internal combustion engine.

15. An internal combustion engine control device comprising:

an ignition control unit which controls energization of an ignition coil which provides electric energy to an ignition plug which discharges electricity in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine to ignite fuel, wherein

the ignition control unit controls the energization of the ignition coil such that the ignition plug is provided with the electric energy for heating the ignition plug before the ignition plug performs the ignition,

the ignition control unit controls the energization of the ignition coil by continuously transmitting a pulse signal at a first frequency to an igniter connected to the ignition coil before a fuel injection valve attached to the internal combustion engine injects the fuel,

the ignition control unit controls the energization of the ignition coil by continuously transmitting a pulse signal at a second frequency to the igniter between a time when the fuel injection valve injects the fuel and a time when the ignition plug performs the ignition, and

the first frequency is lower than the second frequency.

16. The internal combustion engine control device according to claim 15 , wherein

the ignition control unit controls the energization of the ignition coil such that the ignition plug is provided with the electric energy for heating the ignition plug before the ignition plug performs the ignition at a time of start of the internal combustion engine.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 057655/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2020
From: OHATA, EIICHIROU
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054394/0440 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-099160 · May 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210231093A1 · Jul 29, 2021