Method for adjusting an excitation frequency of an oscillating circuit of a corona ignition device

摘要

A method for setting adjusting frequency of an electric oscillating circuit of a corona ignition device. The circuit is excited with a starting value (f1) of the excitation frequency and a reference value (IR) of a frequency-dependent variable is measured. The excitation frequency is incrementally changed. After every increment a value (I) of the frequency-dependent variable is measured and it is determined whether the measured value (I) deviates significantly from the reference value (IR). Depending upon the measured value (I) relative to the reference value, the value (f) of the excitation frequency is either set as the new starting value (f1) or stored as a boundary value. Further incremental changes to the excitation frequency are made in one of two directions and further comparisons of the values I and IR are performed. Ultimately, the excitation frequency can be set to a mean value between first and second boundary values.

主权项

1. A method for adjusting an excitation frequency of an electric oscillating circuit of a corona ignition device, comprising:
exciting the oscillating circuit with a starting value of the excitation frequency, measuring a value of a frequency-dependent variable of the oscillating circuit and storing the measured value as a reference value; incrementally increasing the excitation frequency proceeding from the starting value; after every increment, measuring a value of the frequency-dependent variable of the oscillating circuit and performing a check to determine whether the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable deviates from the reference value by more than a predefined threshold value, wherein: if the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable deviates from the reference value by more than the threshold value and the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable is better than the reference value, the measured value is stored as the new reference value and the value of the excitation frequency associated with the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable is chosen to be the new starting value and, proceeding from the new starting value, the excitation frequency is incrementally increased; if the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable deviates from the reference value by more than the threshold value and is worse than the reference value, the value of the excitation frequency associated with this measured value of the frequency-dependent variable is stored as a first boundary value and, proceeding from the starting value, the excitation frequency is incrementally decreased; if, after decreasing the excitation frequency, a value of the frequency-dependent variable is measured that deviates from the reference value by more than the predefined threshold value and is better than the reference value, the measured value is stored as the new reference value and the value of the excitation frequency associated with the measured value of the frequency-dependent variable is chosen to be the new starting value and, proceeding from the new starting value, the excitation frequency is incrementally decreased; if, after decreasing the excitation frequency, a value of the frequency-dependent variable is measured that deviates from the reference value by more than the predefined threshold value and is worse than the reference value, the value of the excitation frequency associated with this measured value of the frequency-dependent variable is stored as a second boundary value; wherein the excitation frequency is then set to a mean value between the first boundary value and the second boundary value.