An engine operation detection system includes an engine including a spark plug and a spark plug wire, and an engine run sensor including a signal wire including an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a spark plug signal from the spark plug wire, a data acquisition output wire outputting an engine on/off condition signal, a power supply providing power to the engine run sensing circuit, and an engine run sensing circuit configured to transform the spark plug signal into the engine on/off condition signal output via the data acquisition output wire.

An engine operation detection system includes an engine including a spark plug and a spark plug wire, and an engine run sensor including a signal wire including an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a spark plug signal from the spark plug wire, a data acquisition output wire outputting an engine on/off condition signal, a power supply providing power to the engine run sensing circuit, and an engine run sensing circuit configured to transform the spark plug signal into the engine on/off condition signal output via the data acquisition output wire.

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for a current circuit. According to various embodiments, the current circuit may be utilized for current detection or current limiting. The current circuit may be configured to compensate for a base current, making detection of an input current more accurate.

A control device for the selective control of a multiplicity of actuators of an internal combustion engine is provided. The control device includes a central control unit, and a multiplicity of actuators associated with the multiplicity of actuator controls, which are connected to the central control unit. Each actuator control, of the multiplicity of actuator controls, includes an address, so that the actuator controls are selectively controllable by the central control unit by means of the address. Also, each actuator control includes a comparator, which is configured to compare a signal, preferably a voltage or current signal, emitted by the central control unit with the address. The comparator also emits an activation signal via an activation line, if the comparison has resulted in a match of the signal with the address of the respective actuator control within a window, preferably a voltage window (ΔV).

A control device for the selective control of a multiplicity of actuators of an internal combustion engine is provided. The control device includes a central control unit, and a multiplicity of actuators associated with the multiplicity of actuator controls, which are connected to the central control unit. Each actuator control, of the multiplicity of actuator controls, includes an address, so that the actuator controls are selectively controllable by the central control unit by means of the address. Also, each actuator control includes a comparator, which is configured to compare a signal, preferably a voltage or current signal, emitted by the central control unit with the address. The comparator also emits an activation signal via an activation line, if the comparison has resulted in a match of the signal with the address of the respective actuator control within a window, preferably a voltage window (ΔV).

An ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil in which a main primary coil and an auxiliary primary coil are magnetically coupled with a secondary coil that is connected to a spark plug. In the ignition apparatus, a main ignition circuit unit controls energization of the main primary coil and performs a main ignition operation in which a spark discharge is generated in the spark plug. An energy supply circuit unit controls energization of the auxiliary primary coil and performs an energy supply operation in which a current that has the same polarity as a secondary current that flows through the secondary coil as a result of the main ignition operation is superimposed on the secondary current. The auxiliary primary coil includes a plurality of auxiliary-primary-coil portions. The energy supply circuit unit performs the energy supply operation using one or more of the plurality of auxiliary-primary-coil portions.

An ignition control system for an internal combustion engine includes a controller, which includes an IGT generating section and an IGW generating section and is connected to ignition devices through an IGT signal line and an IGW signal line. The IGW signal line includes bifurcated portions, which sequentially bifurcate from a common main signal line. The bifurcated portions each correspond to one of the ignition devices and include a branched line, which is connected to an energy supply circuit inside the corresponding ignition device.

The present invention provides spark plug that can improve detection accuracy of pre-ignition caused by flame kernel occurring inside spark plug. Terminal is located at a rear end side with respect to thread portion of metal shell. Detector electrode is provided at a portion located at a top end side with respect to a top end of contact portion between reduced diameter portion and shelf portion or packing in a space formed between outer periphery of insulator and inner periphery of the metal shell. The detector electrode and the terminal are connected by conductor. The detector electrode and the conductor are insulated from center electrode, the metal shell and ground electrode. Since the detector electrode is located in the space between the outer periphery of the insulator and the inner periphery of the metal shell, an early detection of the flame kernel occurring in this space can be possible.

The present invention provides spark plug that can improve detection accuracy of pre-ignition caused by flame kernel occurring inside spark plug. Terminal is located at a rear end side with respect to thread portion of metal shell. Detector electrode is provided at a portion located at a top end side with respect to a top end of contact portion between reduced diameter portion and shelf portion or packing in a space formed between outer periphery of insulator and inner periphery of the metal shell. The detector electrode and the terminal are connected by conductor. The detector electrode and the conductor are insulated from center electrode, the metal shell and ground electrode. Since the detector electrode is located in the space between the outer periphery of the insulator and the inner periphery of the metal shell, an early detection of the flame kernel occurring in this space can be possible.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving a collection of measurements of electric current amplitude in a primary winding of an engine ignition system having the primary winding and a spark plug, identifying an ignition start time, identifying an inflection point based on the plurality of measurements, determining an inflection point time representative of a time at which the identified inflection point occurred, determining a spark start time based on an amount of time between the ignition start time and the inflection point time, and providing a signal indicative of the spark start time.