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1 A recent breakthrough in understanding the origin of ion signals from operating combustion engines [12] led to a new approach in integrating advanced ion current sensing into a compact ignition system. Thus it is now possible to continuously monitor mixture, ignition and combustion properties through online ion current recordings via a novel AC technique. In this paper this AC technique is compared to the standard DC technique and its known drawbacks: expensive high voltage components, sensitivity to plug fouling and expensive electronics. The AC technique is based on the specific properties of the electrical field of spark plugs being characterized by a point source with an extreme inhomogeneity of the electrical field due to the small center electrode. This causes a distinct diode characteristic of the ion signal: very low signals for negative voltages and high signals for positive ion sensing voltages, respectively.