Development of vacuum-tube-based voltage and current probes for automotive ignition systems

作者：Fryskowski Bernard^*

来源：Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering , 2015, 229(8): 958-968.

DOI：10.1177/0954407014549063

• Spark ignition engines
• automotive ignition system
• spark plug
• spark energy measurement
• vacuum tubes

In this paper, new high-voltage and current contact probes are proposed as development tools for spark energy measurements. The probes are equipped with active electronic components, namely high-voltage vacuum tubes, unlike the other well-known voltage and current probes containing mostly resistors, capacitors, Zener diodes or spark dischargers. The attenuation of the designed high-voltage probe is variable. Furthermore, the impedance of the current probe can be regulated. The voltage and current probes based on vacuum tubes are tolerant of reverse polarity and are polarity sensitive. They can be applied only to ignition systems with double-ended coils and to other systems equipped with multi-electrode-type spark plugs, which need a positive polarity of the central electrode.

• 出版日期2015-7