1. An electrode core material for use in a spark plug electrode, comprising:
a copper matrix made of a copper-based material, wherein copper is the single largest constituent of the copper matrix by weight; and
a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates include iron and phosphorus such that the electrode core material comprises iron from about 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %, inclusive, phosphorus from about 0.02 wt % to 0.5 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper, and the precipitates strengthen the copper matrix so that the electrode core material is a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy.
2. The electrode core material of claim 1, wherein the electrode core material comprises the copper matrix from about 94.5 wt % to 99.94 wt %, inclusive, and the precipitates from about 0.05 wt % to 3.0 wt %, inclusive.
3. The electrode core material of claim 1, wherein the electrode core material comprises iron from about 0.1 wt % to 3.0 wt %, inclusive, phosphorus from about 0.02 wt % to 0.4 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper.
4. The electrode core material of claim 1, wherein copper is the single largest constituent of the electrode core material by weight, and iron is the second largest constituent of the electrode core material by weight.
5. An electrode core material for use in a spark plug electrode, comprising:
a copper matrix made of a copper-based material, wherein copper is the single largest constituent of the copper matrix by weight; and
a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates include iron, beryllium and cobalt such that the electrode core material comprises iron from about 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %, inclusive, beryllium from about 0.15 wt % to 0.5 wt %, inclusive, cobalt from about 0.35 wt % to 0.6 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper, and the precipitates strengthen the copper matrix so that the electrode core material is a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy.
6. An electrode core material for use in a spark plug electrode, comprising:
a copper matrix made of a copper-based material, wherein copper is the single largest constituent of the copper matrix by weight; and
a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates include nickel and silicon such that the electrode core material comprises nickel from about 2.2 wt % to 4.2 wt %, inclusive, silicon from about 0.25 wt % to 1.2 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper, and the precipitates strengthen the copper matrix so that the electrode core material is a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy.
7. The electrode core material of claim 1, wherein the precipitates have a mean particle diameter of less than 2 \u03bcm.
8. The electrode core material of claim 1, wherein the electrode core material has a thermal conductivity of greater than 250 W\xb7m\u22121\xb7K\u22121.
9. A spark plug electrode, comprising:
a core made of a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy including a copper matrix and a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates include iron and phosphorus such that the core comprises iron from about 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %, inclusive, phosphorus from about 0.02 wt % to 0.5 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper; and
a cladding surrounding the core, wherein the cladding is made of a nickel-based material where nickel is the single largest constituent of the nickel-based material by weight.
10. A spark plug, comprising:
a metallic shell having an axial bore;
an insulator being at least partially disposed within the axial bore of the metallic shell, the insulator having an axial bore;
a center electrode being at least partially disposed within the axial bore of the insulator; and
a ground electrode being attached to the metallic shell;
the center electrode, the ground electrode, or both the center and ground electrodes including a cladding formed of a nickel-based material and a core comprising a copper matrix and a plurality of precipitates dispersed throughout the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates include iron and phosphorus such that the core comprises iron from about 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %, inclusive, phosphorus from about 0.02 wt % to 0.5 wt %, inclusive, and the balance substantially copper.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A charge pump circuit, for generating a first output voltage and a second output voltage according to an input voltage, comprising:
a pump unit comprising at least an internal capacitor, a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to the input voltage, the second terminal is coupled to a first voltage so as to charge the internal capacitor with the input voltage and the first voltage during a first period, and allow the internal capacitor to provide a first output voltage to the fourth terminal during a second period and a third period in accordance with a voltage level of the third terminal;
a first switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to a second voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the third terminal of the pump unit, wherein the first switch is maintained off during the first period, and maintained on during the second period and the third period;
a second switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the fourth terminal of the pump unit, and a second terminal, wherein the second switch is maintained off during the first period, and maintained on during the second period and the third period;
a third switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second switch, and a second terminal, wherein the third switch is maintained on during the first period and the second period, and maintained off during the third period, wherein the first terminal of the third switch is also coupled to the output terminal of the first output voltage;
a fourth switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to a third voltage, and a second terminal, wherein the fourth switch is maintained on during the first period and the second period, and maintained off during the third period;
a fifth switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to a fourth voltage, and a second terminal, wherein the fifth switch is maintained off during the first period and the second period, and maintained on during the third period;
a fly capacitor, comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the third switch and the second switch of the fifth switch, the second terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth switch, wherein the second terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the third voltage during the second period, for charging the fly capacitor with the first output voltage and the third voltage; the fly capacitor provides the second output voltage to the second terminal of the fly capacitor in accordance with a voltage level of the fourth voltage during the third period; and the second terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the third voltage, so as to provide the first output voltage to the first terminal of the fly capacitor during the first period in accordance with a voltage level of the third voltage; and
a sixth switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the fly capacitor, and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second output voltage, wherein the sixth switch is maintained off during the first period and the second period, and maintained on during the third period.
2. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1, wherein the pump unit further comprises:
a seventh switch comprising the first terminal of the pump unit, and another terminal coupled to a first terminal of the internal capacitor, wherein the first terminal of the internal capacitor serves as the fourth terminal of the pump unit; and
an eighth switch comprising the second terminal of the pump unit, and another terminal coupled to a second terminal of the internal capacitor, wherein the second terminal of the internal capacitor serves as the third terminal of the pump unit.
3. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1, wherein the pump unit comprises:
M internal capacitors, wherein M is a positive integer greater than 0,
wherein during the first period, the internal capacitors are connected in parallel and coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the pump unit; during the second period and the third period, the internal capacitors are connected in series and configure an internal capacitor series having a voltage accumulating terminal coupled to the fourth terminal of the pump unit and a voltage basis terminal coupled to the third terminal of the pump unit.
4. The charge pump circuit according to claim 3, wherein the pump unit further comprises:
M first internal switches, respectively coupled between first terminals of the corresponding internal capacitors and the first terminal of the pump unit, for turning on to conduct therebetween during the first period;
M second internal switches, respectively coupled between second terminals of the corresponding internal capacitors and the second terminal of the pump unit, for turning on to conduct therebetween during the first period; and
M\u22121 third internal switches, each having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of an ith third internal switch is coupled to the first terminal of an ith internal capacitor, the second terminal of the ith third internal switch is coupled to the second terminal of the i+1th internal capacitor, for turning on to conduct therebetween during the second period and the third period so as to allow the internal capacitors to be serially connected and configure the internal capacitor series, wherein i is a positive integer, and 0<i<M.
5. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 further comprises:
an output capacitor, comprising a first terminal coupled to a grounding terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the sixth switch.
6. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage, the third voltage, and the fourth voltage are grounding voltages.
7. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second voltage is the input voltage.
8. A charge pump circuit, comprising:
a pump unit comprising an input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal of the pump unit receives an input voltage, and the output terminal of the pump unit provides a first output voltage;
a first switch includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first switch being coupled to the output terminal of the pump unit, wherein the first switch is maintained turning off during the first period, and maintained turning on during the second period and the third period, the second terminal of the first switch being coupled to the output terminal of the first output voltage;
a second switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second switch being coupled to the second terminal of the first switch, wherein the second switch is maintained on during the first period and the second period, and maintained off during the third period;
a third switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the third switch being coupled to a first voltage, wherein the third switch is maintained on during the first period and the second period, and maintained off during the third period;
a fourth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the fourth switch being coupled to a second voltage, wherein the fourth switch is maintained off during the first period and the second period, and maintained on during the third period;
a fly capacitor comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the fly capacitor being coupled to the second terminal of the second switch and the second terminal of the fourth switch, the second terminal of the fly capacitor being coupled to the second terminal of the third switch, wherein the second terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the first voltage during the second period for charging the fly capacitor with the first output voltage and the first voltage; during the third period, the fly capacitor provides the second output voltage to the second terminal of the fly capacitor in accordance with a voltage level of the second voltage; and the second terminal of the fly capacitor is coupled to the first voltage during the first period, so as to allow the fly capacitor to provide the first output voltage in accordance with a voltage level of the first voltage; and
a fifth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the fifth switch being coupled to the second terminal of the fly capacitor, wherein the fifth switch is maintained off during the first period and the second period, and maintained on during the third period, the second terminal of the fifth switch is coupled to the output terminal of the second output voltage.
9. The charge pump circuit according to claim 8, wherein the pump unit further comprises:
a first pump unit, comprising a first internal capacitor, a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first pump unit is coupled to an input voltage, the second terminal of the first pump unit is coupled to a third voltage for charging the first internal capacitor with the input voltage and the third voltage during the second period and the third period, and allowing the first internal capacitor to provide an output voltage to the fourth terminal of the first pump unit in accordance with a voltage level of the third terminal of the first pump unit during the first period;
a sixth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the sixth switch being coupled to a fourth voltage, the second terminal of the sixth switch being coupled to the third terminal of the first pump unit, wherein the sixth switch is maintained on during the first period, and maintained off during the second period and the third period;
a seventh switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the seventh switch being coupled to the fourth terminal of the first pump unit, wherein the seventh switch is maintained on during the first period, and maintained off during the second period and the third period;
an internal capacitor, comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the internal capacitor being coupled to the second terminal of the seventh switch and the second terminal of the internal capacitor being coupled to the third voltage during the first period for charging the internal capacitor with the output voltage and the third voltage, wherein the internal capacitor provides a first output voltage to the output terminal of the pump unit in accordance with a voltage level of the second terminal of the internal capacitor during the second period and the third period;
an eighth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the eighth switch being coupled to the second terminal of the internal capacitor and the second terminal of the eighth switch being coupled to the third voltage, wherein the eighth switch is maintained on during the first period, and maintained off during the second period and the third period; and
a ninth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the ninth switch being coupled to the second terminal of the internal capacitor, the second terminal of the ninth switch being coupled to the fourth voltage, wherein the ninth switch is maintained off during the first period, and maintained on during the second period and the third period.
10. The charge pump circuit according to claim 9, wherein the third voltage is a grounding voltage.
11. The charge pump circuit according to claim 9, wherein the fourth voltage is the input voltage.
12. The charge pump circuit according to claim 9, wherein the first pump unit further comprises:
a tenth switch, comprising the first terminal of the first pump unit, and another terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first internal capacitor, wherein the first terminal of the internal capacitor serves as the fourth terminal of the first pump unit; and
an eleventh switch, comprising the second terminal of the first pump unit, and another terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first internal capacitor, wherein the second terminal of the first internal capacitor serves as the third terminal of the first pump unit.
13. The charge pump circuit according to claim 9, wherein the first pump unit comprises:
M first internal capacitors, wherein M is a positive integer greater than 0,
wherein during the second period and the third period, the first internal capacitors are connected in parallel and coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first pump unit; and during the first period, the internal capacitors are connected in series and configure an internal capacitor series having a voltage accumulating terminal coupled to the fourth terminal of the pump unit and a voltage basis terminal coupled to the third terminal of the pump unit.
14. The charge pump circuit according to claim 13, wherein the pump unit further comprises:
M first internal switches, respectively coupled between first terminals of the corresponding first internal capacitors and the first terminal of the pump unit, for turning on to conduct therebetween during the first period;
M second internal switches, respectively coupled between second terminals of the corresponding first internal capacitors and the second terminal of the pump unit for turning on to conduct therebetween during the first period; and
M\u22121 third internal switches, each having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of an ith third internal switch is coupled to the first terminal of an ith first internal capacitor, the second terminal of the ith third internal switch is coupled to the second terminal of the i+1th first internal capacitor, for turning on to conduct therebetween during the second period and the third period so as to allow the first internal capacitors to be serially connected and configure the internal capacitor series, wherein i is a positive integer, and 0<i<M.
15. The charge pump circuit according to claim 8 further comprises:
an output capacitor, comprising a first terminal coupled to a grounding terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the fifth switch.
16. The charge pump circuit according to claim 8, wherein the first voltage, and the second voltage are grounding voltages.