Abstract: A device for radiofrequency ignition of an internal combustion engine, including a power supply circuit including a transformer with a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator that has a resonant frequency in excess of 1 MHz and including two electrodes configured to generate a spark to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture in a cylinder of the engine in response to an ignition command. A measuring capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator, a measurement circuit measures a current at terminals of the measuring capacitor, the current providing an electrical image of how combustion is progressing, and a protection circuit is connected between the capacitor and the measurement circuit and is configured to spare the current measurement acquisition time from electrical effects caused by the ignition command.

Abstract: A device for generating a radiofrequency plasma, that includes a voltage generator, and at least one ignition assembly that includes an ignition plug and a switch provided between a supply terminal of the plug and an output of the generator adapted for electrically connecting the output of the voltage generator to the plug upon reception of a control signal, and an electronic control unit generating the control signal. The electronic control unit measures values representative of evolution in time of the output voltage of the generator. The device further includes a mechanism varying the voltage and/or the frequency of the electric current applied to the supply terminal of the plug based on measured values. The evolution of the generator output voltage is representative of the condition of the plug (new or used).

Abstract: A measuring device including: a supply circuit for radiofrequency ignition including a transformer including a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator having a resonance frequency higher than 1 MHz, and including two electrodes capable of generating a spark upon an ignition control; a measuring capacitor connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator; a measuring circuit of ionization current of the combustion gases in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine associated with the resonator, the circuit being connected at terminals of the measuring capacitor; and/or a measuring circuit that measures a voltage at the resonator terminals upon an ignition control, the circuit being connected to terminals of the measuring capacitor.

Abstract: A radiofrequency ignition device including: a control capable of generating an ignition control signal; a supply circuit controlled by the ignition control signal for applying a supply voltage on an output interface of the supply circuit at a frequency defined by the control signal; at least one plasma generation resonator connected on an output interface of the supply circuit and capable of generating a spark between two ignition electrodes of the resonator upon an ignition control; a mechanism measuring an electric parameter representative of a variation in a supply voltage of the resonator; and a module determining the fouling condition of the electrodes based on the measured electric parameter and on a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: A device for radiofrequency ignition of an internal combustion engine, including a power supply circuit including a transformer with a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator that has a resonant frequency in excess of 1 MHz and including two electrodes configured to generate a spark to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture in a cylinder of the engine in response to an ignition command. A measuring capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator, a measurement circuit measures a current at terminals of the measuring capacitor, the current providing an electrical image of how combustion is progressing, and a protection circuit is connected between the capacitor and the measurement circuit and is configured to spare the current measurement acquisition time from electrical effects caused by the ignition command.

Abstract: A radiofrequency plasma generating device, including: a control module generating a control signal at a control frequency, a power supply circuit including a breaker switch controlled by the control signal, the breaker switch applying an excitation signal to an output of the power supply circuit at the control frequency defined by the control signal, a resonator exhibiting a resonant frequency of greater than 1 MHz, connected to the output of the power supply circuit and adapted to generate a voltage for making a spark when it is excited by the excitation signal, and a mechanism monitoring the control module and configured to modify the frequency of the resonator excitation signal in a manner synchronous with the control signal, during application of the excitation signal.

Abstract: A device for generating a radiofrequency plasma, that includes a voltage generator, and at least one ignition assembly that includes an ignition plug and a switch provided between a supply terminal of the plug and an output of the generator adapted for electrically connecting the output of the voltage generator to the plug upon reception of a control signal, and an electronic control unit generating the control signal. The electronic control unit measures values representative of evolution in time of the output voltage of the generator. The device further includes a mechanism varying the voltage and/or the frequency of the electric current applied to the supply terminal of the plug based on measured values. The evolution of the generator output voltage is representative of the condition of the plug (new or used).

Abstract: A generator of a pseudoperiodic logic signal of mean period Tmean includes: a reference clock of period Tref, a logic memory, changing state on receipt of a pulse, a first mechanism producing a normal pulse on completion of a base time interval Tsec=K×T ref, with K an integer, a second mechanism producing a shifted pulse on completion of a modified time interval T?sec=(K±1)×Tref, and a selector capable of selecting the mechanism that produces the pulse, in such a way as to regularly include a shifted pulse so as to correct the mean period, to generate a pseudoperiodic signal. Such a generator may find application, as an example, to driving a resonator for producing a plasma spark for radiofrequency ignition.

Abstract: A radiofrequency ignition device for an internal combustion engine, including: a supply circuit, including a transformer, a secondary winding of which is connected to a resonator including two electrodes configured to generate a spark so as to initiate combustion in a cylinder of the engine upon an ignition command, a measurement capacitor, connected in series between the secondary winding of the transformer and the resonator, and a measurement circuit measuring ionization current of the combustion gases, connected to the measurement capacitor and including a voltage generator with low input impedance, to provide a polarization voltage of the measurement capacitor so as to generate the ionization current, a first amplifier amplifying the ionization current and a measuring mechanism measuring a voltage representative of the amplified ionization current and connected at an output of the first amplifier.

Abstract: A measuring device including: a supply circuit for radiofrequency ignition including a transformer including a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator having a resonance frequency higher than 1 MHz, and including two electrodes capable of generating a spark upon an ignition control; a measuring capacitor connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator; a measuring circuit of ionization current of the combustion gases in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine associated with the resonator, the circuit being connected at terminals of the measuring capacitor; and/or a measuring circuit that measures a voltage at the resonator terminals upon an ignition control, the circuit being connected to terminals of the measuring capacitor.

Abstract: A radiofrequency ignition device including: a control capable of generating an ignition control signal; a supply circuit controlled by the ignition control signal for applying a supply voltage on an output interface of the supply circuit at a frequency defined by the control signal; at least one plasma generation resonator connected on an output interface of the supply circuit and capable of generating a spark between two ignition electrodes of the resonator upon an ignition control; a mechanism measuring an electric parameter representative of a variation in a supply voltage of the resonator; and a module determining the fouling condition of the electrodes based on the measured electric parameter and on a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: A generator of a pseudoperiodic logic signal of mean period Tmean includes: a reference clock of period Tref, a logic memory, changing state on receipt of a pulse, a first mechanism producing a normal pulse on completion of a base time interval Tsec=K×Tref, with K an integer, a second mechanism producing a shifted pulse on completion of a modified time interval T?sec=(K±1)×Tref, and a selector capable of selecting the mechanism that produces the pulse, in such a way as to regularly include a shifted pulse so as to correct the mean period, to generate a pseudoperiodic signal. Such a generator may find application, as an example, to driving a resonator for producing a plasma spark for radiofrequency ignition.