Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a high voltage transformer (12) comprising a primary winding (12.1) and a secondary winding (12.2). A primary resonant circuit (26) is formed by the primary winding (12.1) and a primary circuit capacitance (24). A secondary resonant circuit (16) is formed by an ignition plug (14), as a load, the secondary winding (12.2); the ignition plug (14) being represented by a secondary circuit capacitance (18) and a secondary circuit load resistance (Rp) put in parallel. Said load resistance value varies during an ignition cycle. The primary resonant circuit (26) and the secondary resonant circuit (16) have a common mode resonance frequency (fc) and a differential mode resonance frequency (fd).

Abstract: An ignition plug 10 comprises an elongate cylindrical body 12 of an electrically insulating material having a first end 12.1, a second end 12.2 opposite to the first end and a first face 14 at the first end. A first elongate electrode 16 having a first end 16.1 and a second end 16.2 extends longitudinally in the body. The first electrode terminates at the first end thereof a first distance d1 from the first end of the body in a direction towards the second end of the body. The body hence defines a blind bore 18 extending between the first end of the first electrode and the first end of the body. A second electrode is provided on an outer surface of the body and terminates at one of a) flush with the first face 14 of the body and b) a second distance d2 from the first end of the body in a direction towards the second end of the bod.

Abstract: A switched mode drive circuit 10 comprises a first switch 14 having a first terminal 14.1 and a second terminal 14.2, a second switch 16 having a first terminal 16.1 and a second terminal 16.2, an inductive component 20 comprising at least a first winding part 20.1 having a first end 20.1.1 and a second end 20.1.2 and a second winding part 20.2 having a first end 20.2.1 and a second end 20.2.2 and an energy storage device 18 having a first pole 18.1 and a second pole 18.2. The first and second terminals of each of the first and second switches and the first and second ends of each of the first and second winding parts are connected in series over the first and second poles of the energy storage device and the first and second winding parts are configured in one of a common mode and a differential mode.

Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a high voltage transformer (12) comprising a primary winding (12.1) and a secondary winding (12.2). A primary resonant circuit (26) is formed by the primary winding (12.1) and a primary circuit capacitance (24). A secondary resonant circuit (16) is formed by an ignition plug (14), as a load, the secondary winding (12.2); the ignition plug (14) being represented by a secondary circuit capacitance (18) and a secondary circuit load resistance (Rp) put in parallel. Said load resistance value varies during an ignition cycle. The primary resonant circuit (26) and the secondary resonant circuit (16) have a common mode resonance frequency (fc) and a differential mode resonance frequency (fd).

Abstract: An ignition plug 10 comprises an elongate cylindrical body 12 of an electrically insulating material having a first end 12.1, a second end 12.2 opposite to the first end and a first face 14 at the first end. A first elongate electrode 16 having a first end 16.1 and a second end 16.2 extends longitudinally in the body. The first electrode terminates at the first end thereof a first distance d1 from the first end of the body in a direction towards the second end of the body. The body hence defines a blind bore 18 extending between the first end of the first electrode and the first end of the body. A second electrode is provided on an outer surface of the body and terminates at one of a) flush with the first face 14 of the body and b) a second distance d2 from the first end of the body in a direction towards the second end of the bod.

Abstract: A switched mode drive circuit 10 comprises a first switch 14 having a first terminal 14.1 and a second terminal 14.2, a second switch 16 having a first terminal 16.1 and a second terminal 16.2, an inductive component 20 comprising at least a first winding part 20.1 having a first end 20.1.1 and a second end 20.1.2 and a second winding part 20.2 having a first end 20.2.1 and a second end 20.2.2 and an energy storage device 18 having a first pole 18.1 and a second pole 18.2. The first and second terminals of each of the first and second switches and the first and second ends of each of the first and second winding parts are connected in series over the first and second poles of the energy storage device and the first and second winding parts are configured in one of a common mode and a differential mode.

Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprises a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1K? and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding.

Abstract: The transformer (10) comprises a core (12), a primary winding (14) and a secondary winding 16. The core comprises an elongate limb (13) having a main axis (15) and comprising a plurality of segments (12.1 to 12.n) of a magnetic material and gaps (18.1 to 18.n?1) between segments arranged in alternating relationship along the main axis (15). The main axis (15) is parallel to a direction of a magnetic field in the limb (13). Each gap has a linear segment separating extent (gj which is parallel to the main axis (15). The value of n is larger than three and the gaps are filled with an isolation medium (20).

Abstract: A distributed low noise amplifier (DLNA) comprises at least a first amplifier part 30.1 providing a first path 36.1 form an input of the amplifier to an output of the amplifier and a second amplifier part 30.2 providing a second path 36.2 from the input to the output. Each of the first and second paths being associated with a respective and different change in phase. The difference being larger than degrees in a noise suppression band to cause a phase difference between noise generated by the amplifier arrangement propagating along the first and second paths and destructive interference of the noise before the output of the DLNA, thereby to suppress noise in the noise suppression band. The respective gains of the amplifier parts 30.1 to 30.n may decrease in a direction from the input of the amplifier to the output thereof.

Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprises a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1K? and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding.

Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprising a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1 k? and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding.

Abstract: The transformer (10) comprises a core (12), a primary winding (14) and a secondary winding 16. The core prises an elongate limb (13) having a main axis (15) and comprising a plurality of segments (12.1 to 12. n) of a magnetic material and gaps (18.1 to 18.n?1) between segments arranged in alternating relationship along the main axis (15). The main axis (15) is parallel to a direction of a magnetic field in the limb (13). Each gap has a linear segment separating extent (gj which is parallel to the main axis (15). The value of n is larger than three and the gaps are filled with an isolation medium (20).

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (30) includes a gate (34), a source terminal (36), a drain terminal (38) and a variable input capacitance at the gate. A ratio between the input capacitance (Cfiss) when the device is on and the input capacitance Ciiss when the device is off is less than two and preferably substantially equal to one. This is achieved in one embodiment of the invention by an insulation layer 32 at the gate having an effective thickness dins larger than a minimum thickness.

Abstract: A distributed low noise amplifier (DLNA) comprises at least a first amplifier part 30.1 providing a first path 36.1 form an input of the amplifier to an output of the amplifier and a second amplifier part 30.2 providing a second path 36.2 from the input to the output. Each of the first and second paths being associated with a respective and different change in phase. The difference being larger than degrees in a noise suppression band to cause a phase difference between noise generated by the amplifier arrangement propagating along the first and second paths and destructive interference of the noise before the output of the DLNA, thereby to suppress noise in the noise suppression band. The respective gains of the amplifier parts 30.1 to 30.n may decrease in a direction from the input of the amplifier to the output thereof.

Abstract: A hardware random number generator (RNG) has a source of entropy for providing a bit stream (DIS) comprising successive bits of a first state and a second state. The RNG includes a first digital corrector circuit configured to provide from two successive bits in the bit stream an output bit of an output bit stream according to a first scheme to ensure that bits in the output bit stream are independent from one another. A serially connected second digital corrector circuit ensures that the bits in the output bit stream are also unbiased, so that the output bit stream is truly random. A Gaussian generator connected to an output of either the first corrector or the second corrector generates from the output bit stream words having standard Gaussian deviates.

Abstract: An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprising a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1 k? and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding.

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (30) includes a gate (34), a source terminal (36), a drain terminal (38) and a variable input capacitance at the gate. A ratio between the input capacitance (Cfiss) when the device is on and the input capacitance Ciiss when the device is off is less than two and preferably substantially equal to one. This is achieved in one embodiment of the invention by an insulation layer 32 at the gate having an effective thickness dins larger than a minimum thickness.

Abstract: A hardware random number generator (RNG) (10) comprises a source of entropy (12) for providing a bit stream (DIS) comprising successive bits of a first state and a second state and a first digital corrector circuit (28). The first circuit being configured to provide from two successive bits in the bit stream an output bit of an output bit stream (34) according to a first scheme to ensure that bits in the output bit stream (34) are independent from one another. A serially connected second digital corrector circuit (28) ensures that the bits in the output bit stream are also unbiased, so that the output bit stream is truly random. A Gaussian generator 40 connected to an output of either the first corrector or the second corrector generates from the output bit stream (34) words having standard Gaussian deviates.

Abstract: A method of producing ozone comprises the steps of generating intermittent bursts of corona discharge in an electrode region 20.2, and passing oxygen-containing fluid through the region, thereby to cause ionization of the oxygen. The electrode is energized by a train of voltage pulses. Each pulse has a rise time of better than 2 kV/100 ns.

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (30) includes a gate (34), a source terminal (36), a drain terminal (38) and a variable input capacitance at the gate. A ratio between the input capacitance (Cfiss) when the device is on and the input capacitance Ciiss when the device is off is less than two and preferably substantially equal to one. This is achieved in one embodiment of the invention by an insulation layer 32 at the gate having an effective thickness dins larger than a minimum thickness.