Method and system for controlling the energization of at least one glow plug in an internal combustion engine
US5158050A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P19/023
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and system are provided for controlling the energization of at least one glow plug in an internal combustion engine wherein a solid state drive circuit, including a semiconductor switch, is utilized for applying an energizing current to the at least one glow plug from a voltage source based on a control signal to electrically heat the at least one glow plug. The control signal is preferably a 50 Hz switched ground duty cycle signal from an electronic control module (ECM). Based on the duty cycle input, the drive circuit for each of the glow plugs supplies current from a main feed bus. A glow plug current monitoring circuit is provided for each of the glow plugs to detect whenever an open or short circuit condition appears in any of the glow plugs. The semiconductor device preferable is a current sensing type of MOSFET called a SENSEFET. Each SENSEFET internally monitors individual current draw of its respective glow plug to verify its proper operation. Upon detecting an out-of-limit condition of a glow plug, the drive circuit for the particular glow plug is disabled to protect the drive circuit and a diagnostic circuit in enabled to indicate this fault mode through an indi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.