Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a state-of-discharge determiner working to determine whether a center and a ground electrode of a spark plug are electrically conducting with each other or insulated from each other. When the center and ground electrodes are determined to be conducted with each other, the ignition apparatus alters controlled conditions of a high-frequency power supply which supplies a high-frequency power to the spark plug so as to decrease an average of a primary voltage outputted from the high-frequency power supply to the spark plug, thereby reducing an actual current flowing between the center and ground electrodes of the spark plug. This eliminates the risk of mechanical wear of the center and ground electrodes which usually arises from the flow of high current between the center and ground electrodes, thus resulting in an increase in service life of the spark plug.

Abstract: A barrier discharge ignition apparatus has a tip end exposed to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and, when subjected to a high-frequency high-voltage AC burst, generates streamer discharges for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber. A central electrode of the apparatus, covered by a dielectric layer and coaxially enclosed in a ground electrode, extends into the combustion chamber to a greater distance than the ground electrode. An electrode portion close to the tip end of the inner periphery of the ground electrode protrudes towards the dielectric layer, for creating a localized high-density electric field. The streamer discharges thereby enter both the to combustion chamber and also a discharge chamber of the ignition apparatus.

Abstract: An ignition control device includes a control unit to control first to third switching elements so that during ignition discharge, which is started by turning off the first switching element, energy stored on a capacitor is discharged by turning off the third switching element and turning on the second switching element for supplying a primary current to an end of a primary winding opposite to an end thereof connected to a direct-current power supply. During inductive discharge of a spark plug, the control unit non-intermittently turns on the second switching element so that the second switching element is turned on over a successive energy input time period, according to the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a discharge portion of the center electrode in which a part thereof is surrounded by a bottom portion and a tubular tip portion of the center dielectric, the part of the discharge portion and the tubular tip portion are projected into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine from a substantially annular tip portion of the ground electrode that opens to the combustion chamber at a distal end of the ground electrode, a diameter-changing portion formed by reducing a diameter of a part of the tubular tip portion in a radial direction gradually as approaching toward a tip thereof, and a thin-walled portion formed by reducing a thickness of the tip of the tubular tip portion.

Abstract: An ignition control apparatus for engines is provided. The ignition control apparatus is designed to control a switch to release energy stored in a capacitor during spark discharge, thereby supplying a primary current to an other end side opposite a one end of a primary winding of an ignition coil connected to a dc power supply. This provides the ignition control apparatus which is capable of minimizing an increase in size or manufacturing cost and stabilizing the state of combustion of an air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: In an ignition control apparatus, a control unit controls switching elements so as to supply a primary current to the other end side of a primary winding opposite to one end thereof connected to a DC power source by discharging (which is performed by turning on a second switching element stored energy from a capacitor during ignition discharge (which is started by turning off a first switching element. In particular, the control unit controls the second switching element or the third switching element so as to provide variability to the amount of stored energy discharged from the capacitor according to an operating state of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes an adjuster. The adjuster adjusts, according to at least one of a primary voltage and a secondary voltage detected by a voltage detector, at least one of an application timing and an application level of auxiliary electrical energy to an ignition coil while main electrical energy is applied to a spark plug by the ignition coil. The application timing includes whether the auxiliary electrical energy is applied to the ignition coil.

Abstract: An ignition control apparatus of the present embodiment controls operation of an ignition plug provided so as to ignite an air-fuel mixed gas.

Abstract: In an ignition device, a base section of a discharge chamber is formed by a part of a central dielectric body. A front section of a ground electrode and a front end section of the central dielectric body are projected toward a combustion chamber of a head cylinder of an internal combustion engine by a predetermined height which is measured from a top ceiling wall of the head cylinder. The predetermined height of the front end section of the central dielectric body projected into the inside of the head cylinder is the same or higher than the predetermined height of the front end section of the ground electrode projected into the inside of the head cylinder. The predetermined height of the front end section of the ground electrode is within a range of 3 mm to 25 mm.

Abstract: It is possible to adjust electromagnetic energy introduced from a low-voltage side of a primary winding 20 of an ignition coil 2 after start discharging to a spark plug 1 from the ignition coil 2 in the correct proportion by threshold-determining either one or both of a primary voltage V1 applied to a primary side of the ignition coil 2 and a secondary current I2 flowing in a secondary side of the ignition coil 2, and by opening and closing a discharging switch 32 disposed between an auxiliary power supply 3 including an energy storage coil 330 and a low-voltage side terminal 201 of the ignition coil 2.

Abstract: In a laser ignition apparatus, a focusing optical element is configured to focus a pulsed laser light to a predetermined focal point in a combustion chamber of an engine. An optical window member is arranged on the combustion chamber side of the focusing optical element so as to separate the focusing optical element from the combustion chamber. A catoptric-light focal point, at which a catoptric light is to be focused, is positioned on the anti-combustion chamber side of a combustion chamber-side end surface of the optical window member. The catoptric light results from the reflection of the pulsed laser light by a pseudo mirror that is formed by the optical window member when the combustion chamber-side end surface thereof is fouled with contaminants. Further, the catoptric-light focal point falls in a region where no solid material forming either the focusing optical element or the optical window member exists.

Abstract: An ignition device includes a center electrode, a center dielectric covering the center electrode, a ground electrode disposed so as to form a discharge space with the center dielectric, and a high energy source for applying an AC voltage between the center electrode and the ground electrode to generate a streamer discharge. A distal end portion of the center electrode projects beyond a distal end of the ground electrode to an inside of the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to make a dielectric discharge portion. The ground electrode is formed with an airflow inlet and en airflow outlet at a lateral portion thereof for enabling an in-cylinder airflow to be introduced into the discharge space. A distal end portion of the ground electrode projects radially inward to make a ground electrode projecting portion so that a discharge space narrow portion is formed with the dielectric discharge portion.

Abstract: A laser ignition apparatus includes a housing that has a male-threaded portion for fixing the housing and a hexagonal portion for tightening the male-threaded portion. Between a combustion chamber-side end of the male-threaded portion and an anti-combustion chamber-side end of the hexagonal portion, there is defined a non-optical element arrangement region in which none of an introducing optical element, an enlarging optical element and a focusing optical element of the apparatus is arranged. At one of a combustion chamber-side end and an anti-combustion chamber-side end of the non-optical element arrangement region, there is formed a reference surface that extends perpendicular to an axial direction of the housing. One of the introducing optical element, the enlarging optical element and the focusing optical element is received in the housing in such a manner as to be elastically pressed against the reference surface from outside of the non-optical element arrangement region.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a discharge portion of the center electrode in which a part thereof is surrounded by a bottom portion and a tubular tip portion of the center dielectric, the part of the discharge portion and the tubular tip portion are projected into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine from a substantially annular tip portion of the ground electrode that opens to the combustion chamber at a distal end of the ground electrode, a diameter-changing portion formed by reducing a diameter of a part of the tubular tip portion in a radial direction gradually as approaching toward a tip thereof, and a thin-walled portion formed by reducing a thickness of the tip of the tubular tip portion.

Abstract: A barrier discharge ignition apparatus has a tip end exposed to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and, when subjected to a high-frequency high-voltage AC burst, generates streamer discharges for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber. A central electrode of the apparatus, covered by a dielectric layer and coaxially enclosed in a ground electrode, extends into the combustion chamber to a greater distance than the ground electrode. An electrode portion close to the tip end of the inner periphery of the ground electrode protrudes towards the dielectric layer, for creating a localized high-density electric field. The streamer discharges thereby enter both the to combustion chamber and also a discharge chamber of the ignition apparatus.

Abstract: In an ignition device, a base section of a discharge chamber is formed by a part of a central dielectric body. A front section of a ground electrode and a front end section of the central dielectric body are projected toward a combustion chamber of a head cylinder of an internal combustion engine by a predetermined height which is measured from a top ceiling wall of the head cylinder. The predetermined height of the front end section of the central dielectric body projected into the inside of the head cylinder is the same or higher than the predetermined height of the front end section of the ground electrode projected into the inside of the head cylinder. The predetermined height of the front end section of the ground electrode is within a range of 3 mm to 25 mm.

Abstract: A stick-type ignition coil have a central core, a cylindrical member, primary spool, primary coil, secondary spool, secondary coil, outer core and a resin insulator. The two longitudinal end corners and faces of the core are covered by respective buffer members. The inner circumferential corners of the outer core is supported by ring members. Some of the members disposed radially inside and other members disposed radially outside of the inside members are held slidably to each other in the ignition coil. The spools are made of resin containing a rubber in excess of 5 weight percent and reinforcing materials. The resin insulator contains a flexible material.

Abstract: A stick-type ignition coil have a central core, a cylindrical member, primary spool, primary coil, secondary spool, secondary coil, outer core and a resin insulator. The two longitudinal end corners and faces of the core are covered by respective buffer members. The inner circumferential corners of the outer core supported by ring members. Some of the members disposed radially inside and other members disposed radially outside of the inside members are held slidably to each other in the ignition coil. The spools are made of resin containing a rubber in excess of 5 weight percent and reinforcing materials. The resin insulator contains a flexible material.

Abstract: A stick-type ignition coil have a central core, a cylindrical member, primary spool, primary coil, secondary spool, secondary coil, outer core and a resin insulator. The two longitudinal end corners and faces of the core are covered by respective buffer members. The inner circumferential corners of the outer core is supported by ring members. Some of the members disposed radially inside and other members disposed radially outside of the inside members are held slidably to each other in the ignition coil. The spools are made of resin containing a rubber in excess of 5 weight percent and reinforcing materials. The resin insulator contains a flexible material.

Abstract: A stick-type ignition coil have a central core, a cylindrical member, primary spool, primary coil, secondary spool, secondary coil, outer core and a resin insulator. The two longitudinal end corners and faces of the core are covered by respective buffer members. The inner circumferential corners of the outer core is supported by ring members. Some of the members disposed radially inside and other members disposed radially outside of the inside members are held slidably to each other in the ignition coil. The spools are made of resin containing a rubber in excess of 5 weight percent and reinforcing materials. The resin insulator contains a flexible material.