Abstract: An attracting coil is directly wound on a non-magnetic heat-conductive sleeve and a plunger contacts the sleeve in a starter. An influence of heat generated through current flow to a motor and heat generated at the attracting coil through current flow to the attracting coil itself are transmitted and released from the attracting coil directly to the plunger. Therefore, decline of the attracting force of the attracting coil is prevented. A magnet switch is provided in the vicinity of the opposite end of a pinion of the motor. Thus, when the starter is mounted on an engine, the starter does not interfere with the engine and the mounting work is facilitated.

Abstract: A digitally controllable oscillator is provided with a variable-frequency ring oscillator including an odd number of inverting circuits connected together in a ring formation. The oscillator has a pulse circulation device to circulate a pulse signal through the inverters to introduce some delay in the signal. Digital data is produced by a data controller device. A counter is connected to the pulse circulation device and counts the number of times the pulse signal circulates through the inverters. A pulse is generated at a desired frequency based upon the counter's output and the introduced delay. A control device determines which of a plurality of delay signals is applied to the circuit that generates the pulse at the desired frequency.