Described is a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein an ignition control device is prompted by control signals of an engine control device to activate an ignition device by means of which an ignition of a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is affected. It is provided according to this disclosure, that the engine control device communicates a target ignition angle or information about an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to the ignition control device, and the ignition control device sets an operating parameter of the ignition device in dependence on the target ignition angle or the information about the operating condition of the internal combustion engine.

A high-frequency discharge ignition device includes a current supply device which supplies an AC current to a spark discharge path formed in a gap of an ignition plug, a control device which controls the operation of the current supply device, and a voltage detection device which outputs a signal of a section where a magnetic induction voltage of a primary coil generated after a switch element of an ignition coil device is placed in a shutoff state exceeds a predetermined voltage, and the control device determines the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug according to an output signal of the voltage detection device and operates the current supply device based on the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug to supply the AC current to the spark discharge path.

In a general aspect, an apparatus can include an insulated-gate bipolar transistor device (IGBT), a gate driver circuit (driver) coupled with a gate terminal of the IGBT and a low-resistance switch device coupled between an emitter terminal of the IGBT and an electrical ground terminal, the low-resistance switch device being coupled with the electrical ground terminal via a resistor. The apparatus can also include a current sensing circuit coupled with the driver and a current sense signal line coupled with the current sensing circuit and a current sense node, the current sense node being disposed between the low-resistance switch device and the resistor. The apparatus can further include a control circuit configured, when the driver is off, to detect, based on a voltage on the current sense node, when a current through the resistor is above a threshold value and disable the IGBT in response to the detection.

A plasma generating device that improves plasma generating efficiency can further accommodate changes in plasma generating state because of changes in conditions of surroundings and the like. The plasma generating device is provided with an electromagnetic wave radiating device, which has an electromagnetic wave generating device that oscillates electromagnetic waves and a radiating antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves oscillated by the electromagnetic wave generating device, and a control device that controls the electromagnetic wave radiating device. The electromagnetic wave radiating device is provided with a power detector that detects traveling wave power output by the electromagnetic wave generating device and reflected wave power reflected from the radiating antenna, and the control device automatically controls the oscillation pattern for the electromagnetic waves on the basis of the proportion of the value for the reflected wave power to the value for the traveling wave power detected by the power detector.

A system and method for providing multiple commands to an ignition coil driver circuit to provide spark, ion signal integration, and ignition coil shunting during a cycle of a cylinder is presented. In one example, multiple voltage pulses are provided over a single conductor communication link. The voltage pulses provide encoded instructions for ignition timing, ignition coil shunting, and ion signal integration.

An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes: an ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil that are magnetically coupled to each other; a first switch element for turning on and off a current to the primary coil; and a spark plug, for igniting an air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine by using a spark discharge caused by switching the first switch element from the ON state to the OFF state. The internal combustion engine control apparatus is configured to: determine occurrence of one of an abnormality in a discharge voltage and a misfire of the spark plug, when the calculated time duration in which a voltage of the primary coil after the switching of the first switch element from the ON state to the OFF state is above a predetermined comparison reference voltage does not fall within an allowable range.

A step-up converter and an ignition system including a step-up converter are provided, which enable a better automated manufacture and reduced electrical insulation measures by a step-up converter constructed as follows: a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil galvanically isolated from the primary coil, the secondary coil being wound in multiple layers, and the primary coil being wound coaxially to the secondary coil over an outermost layer of the secondary coil, a first electrical terminal of the secondary coil branching off from an innermost layer of the secondary coil. The first electrical terminal of the secondary coil is configured for electrical connection to a high-voltage terminal for the spark gap.

Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber for burning a fuel mixture and a spark plug for performing spark ignition of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The spark plug includes electrodes for generating an ignition spark at a location within the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine includes an adjustment device for reducing a distance between the location of the ignition spark and an edge of the combustion chamber in the case of an increase in temperature of the internal combustion engine during operation.

The invention, while reducing noise, suppresses a load increase in a processor and a delay in drive control. An engine control unit includes a processor, a driving circuit including a switching element to drive a load such as a fuel injector and an ignition device, and a communication circuit that transmits control signals from the processor to the driving circuit via serial communication. The control signals each include a command frame for controlling the driving circuit and a data frame for driving the load. If a predetermined bits in each of the data frames received from the processor at predetermined time intervals are determined to be the same twice in succession, the engine control unit changes a state of a driving signal ‘Drive’ for driving the load and thereby changes an operating state of the switching element.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The method may include receiving knock data corresponding to knock levels over a time period. The method may also include determining from the knock data whether the knock levels change over the time period. Further, the method may include determining that a variation in the gas composition of the gaseous fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine has occurred when the knock levels change over the time period. In addition, the method may include adjusting an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to adapt a knock susceptibility of the internal combustion engine to the varying gas composition.