Method for operating a glow plug, and glow plug control device

US9488153B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Bleil · Ludwigsburg, DE
• Yasar Güncar · Bruchsal, DE
• Markus Pados · Linkenheim-Hochstetten, DE
• Ralf Müller · Geringswalde, DE
• Clemens Rinkert · Bretten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 7, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 8, 2016
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F02P19/022
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for operating a glow plug by means of pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses which are generated by controlling a load transistor, wherein a heating current flowing through the glow plug is measured and the duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated voltage pulses is changed in accordance with values of the heating current. The heating current can be measured by means of a current measurement circuit, through which a sense current flows parallel to the load transistor, and the value of the heating current is calculated by multiplying a measured value of the sense current by a kILIS factor, wherein the temperature of the current measurement circuit is measured and the kILIS factor is defined in accordance with the measured circuit temperature. A glow plug control device is also disclosed.