System and method for pre-processing ionization signal to include enhanced knock information
View Patent ↗A system and method for pre-processing an ionization signal to amplify knock information and combining the amplified knock information with the ionization signal to create a knock-enhanced ionization signal is disclosed. In one embodiment, an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit detects the ionization signal, processes the ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal and then combines the original ionization signal with the knock-amplified ionization signal to create a knock-enhanced ionization signal. The step of processing the ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal may comprise any singular step, or combination, of amplifying, band-pass filtering, AC-coupling, and offsetting said in-cylinder ionization signal.
1. An ignition system that utilizes an ionization signal to monitor engine knock, comprising:
an ionization detection circuit, said ionization detection circuit being configured to output a knock-enhanced ionization signal, comprising:
an ionization detection portion, said ionization detection portion being configured to detect an in-cylinder ionization signal,
a knock processing portion, said knock processing portion being configured to process said in-cylinder ionization signal to output an knock-amplified ionization signal, and
an additive portion connected to said ionization detection portion and said knock processing portion, said additive portion being configured to superimpose said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-enhanced ionization signal.
2. The ignition system of claim 1 , wherein said knock processing portion is present in a powertrain control module (PCM).
3. The ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying said in-cylinder ionization signal.
4. The ignition system of claim 3 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.
5. The ignition system of claim 4 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.
6. The ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.
7. The ignition system of claim 1 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.
8. The ignition system of claim 1 , wherein said knock processing portion is present in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.
9. The ignition system of claim 1 , further comprising a powertrain control module (PCM), wherein said PCM receives said knock-enhanced ionization signal from said on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.
10. The ignition system of claim 9 , wherein the processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to output said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.
11. A method for processing an ionization signal, comprising:
detecting an in-cylinder ionization signal,
processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce a knock-amplified ionization signal,
superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce a knock-enhanced ionization signal, and
outputting said knock-enhanced ionization signal.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying said in-cylinder ionization signal.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises band-pass filtering said in-cylinder ionization signal.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal further comprises AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal is performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of receiving said knock-enhanced ionization signal at a powertrain control module (PCM).
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-enhanced ionization signal is performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the steps of detecting an in-cylinder ionization signal, processing said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal, and superimposing said knock-amplified ionization signal onto said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said a knock-enhanced ionization signal are performed in an on-plug integrated ionization detection circuit.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of processing of said in-cylinder ionization signal to produce said knock-amplified ionization signal comprises amplifying, band-pass filtering, and AC-coupling said in-cylinder ionization signal.