Importance

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Abstract

An ignition voltage analysis is performed to provide a combustion diagnosis. A first set of characteristic parameters are provided relating a plurality of spark plug voltage, current or gap impedance waveform signals to a plurality of combustion quality measures. A spark plug voltage, current or gap impedance waveform signal is sampled in real time during a first combustion process. A second set of characteristic parameters are then generated based upon the sampled first spark plug voltage waveform signal. The combustion process is classified as a one of a knocking combustion event, a normal combustion event, a slow burn event, a partial burn event, and a misfire event. The spark plug voltage, current or gap impedance waveform signals are classified according to a statistical closeness to parameters generated by a testing engine operated in each of the above operating modes. The sampled ignition voltage signals are correlated with combustion performance indices for use in practical in-vehicle implementation for feedback control, engine monitoring, or the like.

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First Claim