Abstract: A multi-spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes ignition coils each of which is mounted on one of spark plugs of an engine, an energy storing circuit, switching elements that repeatedly discharge electric energy stored by the energy storing circuit into the primary coil of the ignition coils; and a control circuit that controls the energy storing circuit and the switching elements according to consolidated signals each of which includes an energy storing command signal for storing electric energy into the energy storing circuit and a joint energy discharging period command signal for discharging the electric energy by the one of the spark plugs.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method that calculates parameters for ignition control with respect to a reference cylinder every 180° of crank angle and actuates a dwell-on period and the ignition of the ignition cylinder based on those parameters. A timer-monitored period between crank-position sensor pulse is minimized by setting a reference angle, and misfires are prevented by forcing the dwell-on period and the ignition of the ignition cylinder based on a number of crank-position sensor pulses corresponding to a pre-dwell-on period. Errors relating to missing pulses are also prevented.

Abstract: A contactless ignition system is provided with an ignition charge discharge condenser for charging an induced voltage of a generating coil, a first switching element, triggered to conduct when an induced voltage of a trigger coil reaches an initial trigger level, for supplying a voltage charged into the ignition charge discharge condenser into an ignition coil, and a trigger control condenser for charging induced voltages of the generating coil and the trigger coil, and triggering of the first switching element caused by an induced voltage of the trigger coil is inhibited by a second switching element during a specified discharge time following charging of the trigger control condenser.

Abstract: A constant energy ignition system is disclosed. A first programmable one shot multivibrator controls the dwell of an energy storage device and the firing time to produce an ignition pulse from the stored energy. A second programmable one shot multivibrator, having a duty cycle inversely proportional to the power supply voltage provides the time base for the dwell. A control signal, proportional to the difference of the integrals of the outputs of the first and second one shot multivibrators controls the duty cycle of the first programmable one shot multivibrator.

Abstract: An ignition control system for an internal combustion engine has means for determining the maximum energizing time of an ignition coil from a signal synchronized with the ignition timing of the engine and controlling the period that the energizing current reaches a predetermined value to a predetermined value, thereby determining the maximum energizing time of the ignition coil from the signal synchronized with the ignition timing of the engine, detecting the energizing current of the ignition coil, and variably setting the maximum closed-circuit rate of energizing the ignition coil according to the operating state of the engine and a battery voltage.

Abstract: An electronic ignition system for a reciprocal piston, spark ignition internal combustion engine includes sensors which generate output signals representative of the rotational position and speed of the engine output shaft. A computer responsive to the sensor inputs generates an output signal which electrically connects a source of electrical energy to the primary coil of an ignition transformer for a predetermined period of time prior to the desired energization of the spark plug regardless of the rotational speed of the engine output shaft, but dependent on the voltage of the source of electrical energy. Initiation of the predetermined period is dependent on a manually set spark advance.

Abstract: In an electronic ignition control apparatus having RAM to initially store first and second signals indicative of the starting and terminating points for calculation of a time necessary for rotation of a predetermined angle defined by integer times as large as a predetermined angular interval of an output shaft of an engine, a rotation time of the output shaft is calculated during rotation of an angle of the output shaft defined by the first and second signals from RAM to calculate an optimum spark advance angle in relation to the operating condition of the engine such that an angular position defined by integer times as large as the predetermined angular interval at the advance angle side of the calculated advance angle is determined to be stored in RAM as a third signal.

Abstract: An electronic ignition system comprising an ignition coil, having the spark gap in circuit with its secondary winding, a primary transistor and a current limiting circuit in circuit with its secondary winding, a filter transistor connected in front of said primary transistor and controlled by a control signal and a resistor network connected in the current path of the filter transistor, the filter transistor and the resistor network being so dimensioned that, during a rise in current in the primary winding, the further transistor is in saturated operation and a jump in the voltage across the resistor network to a constant maximum voltage when the current is limited by the current limiting circuit, a pulse being derivable from the voltage curve at the resistor network.

Abstract: In an electronic ignition control apparatus having RAM to initially store first and second signals indicative of the starting and terminating points for calculation of a time necessary for rotation of a predetermined angle defined by integer times as large as a predetermined angular interval of an output shaft of an engine, a rotation time of the output shaft is calculated during rotation of an angle of the output shaft defined by the first and second signals from RAM to calculate an optimum spark advance angle in relation to the operating condition of the engine such that an angular position defined by integer times as large as the predetermined angular interval at the advance angle side of the calculated advance angle is determined to be stored in RAM as a third signal.

Abstract: To provide a composite output pulse in which the pulse length increases relative to the angle of rotation as the speed of a rotating element, typically a rotor coupled to an internal combustion engine increases so that the closing angle of current supply to an ignition coil increases with speed, a magnetic element or other marker on a rotor is exposed to two transducers, one of which provide a signal which is position dependent and the other one a signal which is speed dependent. The output signals from the transducers are combined. The position dependent transducer provides an output pulse of fixed pulse length, relative to angle of rotation of the rotating element, the speed dependent pulse providing output pulses of variable pulse length which overlap with the pulse of fixed pulse length.

Abstract: In order to optimize the on/off ratio of the output switch in an electronic ignition system in which a monostable multivibrator is triggered by rpm-dependent transducer pulses, the time constant of the multivibrator may be changed by altering the discharging characteristics of its timing capacitor. A current-limiting circuit senses the current through the output switch and applies a signal to a circuit point which controls the discharging rate of the timing capacitor. The current-limiting circuit also prevents further increases in the primary coil current when a limiting value is reached.

Abstract: A speed discriminator circuit furnishes an upper speed range signal if the engine speed is above a preselected speed. When the engine speed is above the preselected speed, the electronic switch controlling the current flow through the primary winding of the ignition coil is switched to the conductive state at a time when a control signal which varies as a function of actual engine speed becomes less than a speed varying reference signal. The switch is opened, thereby creating the first spark, either when the control signal, which is an AC signal, passes through zero or when the current in the primary winding of the coil has reached a predetermined value indicating that sufficient energy for ignition has been stored in the ignition coil. When the speed is less than the preselected speed the electronic switch is closed when the AC control signal passes through zero and is reopened when the current through the primary winding of the ignition coil is indicative of sufficient stored energy for ignition.