Closed-loop ignition timing control

摘要

Internal combustion engine ignition timing control for timing combustion events of an air-fuel mixture in engine cylinders in response to cylinder mean effective pressure feedback information. Cylinder mean effective pressure information is provided through monitoring of variation in ion content in cylinder combustion plasma through ionization current variation measurement and integration. Ion content variation monitoring is carried out at varying ignition timing angles and ignition timing is driven toward timing associated with a minimum ion content variation corresponding to a preferred ignition timing associated with maximum combustion efficiency.