Abstract: An ignition apparatus inputs energy during a predetermined energy input period after the interruption of a primary electric current by an ignition switch and a discharge of an ignition plug caused by a secondary electric current. Moreover, the ignition apparatus includes a blow-off detection unit that detects, during the energy input period IGW after the start of the discharge by the ignition plug, occurrence of blow-off of the discharge. When the secondary electric current I2 drops below a blow-off detection electric current threshold value Ibo at a time instant tbo in a “second region” where it is impossible to perform a re-discharge after blow-off, the blow-off detection unit determines that blow-off has occurred and the ignition apparatus stops the energy input from an energy input unit to an ignition coil. By preventing unnecessary energy input, it is possible to suppress unnecessary electric power consumption and wear of electrodes of the ignition plug.

Abstract: A center electrode is held in insulating glass, in which a tip end portion of the center electrode protrudes. A ground electrode has a connection part connected to a housing. The ground electrode forms a spark discharge gap between the center electrode and the ground electrode. The ground electrode has a ground base material that includes the connection part and a ground protrusion part that protrudes from the ground base material toward the center electrode and forms the spark discharge gap between the center electrode and the ground electrode. An angle between a ground discharge surface of the ground protrusion part and a side surface of the ground protrusion part is a right angle or an acute angle. At least a portion of the side surface of the ground protrusion part and at least a portion of a side surface of the ground base material are flush with each other.

Abstract: An ignition device includes an ignition coil, an ignition plug and ignition control unit. The ignition control unit includes a secondary current adjusting unit that adjusts, in each cycle, an amount of the secondary current after initiating the discharge, a discharge extension detecting unit that detects an amount of extension of the discharge, and a short determination unit that determines whether a discharge-short has occurred. The ignition control unit controls the secondary current control unit such that a first step and a second step are repeatedly executed. The first step decreases the secondary current while keeping the secondary current higher than a predetermined lower current limit, when the extension amount detected by the discharge extension detecting unit is a predetermined extension amount or more. The second step increases the secondary current when the short determination unit determines that a discharge-short has occurred.

Abstract: In an ignition control device for controlling operation of an ignition apparatus, an ignition section has first and second electrodes disposed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A voltage application between the first and second electrodes enables a discharge to be generated between the first and second electrodes for igniting a gas mixture in the combustion chamber. A voltage application section performs at least one application of a determination voltage between the first and second electrodes. An occurrence ratio acquisition section acquires a discharge occurrence ratio at the ignition section for the at least one application of the determination voltage. A comparison section compares the discharge occurrence ratio acquired by the occurrence ratio acquisition section with a predetermined determination threshold to thereby determine a degree of wear of at least one of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is capable of having a high-degree of ignition performance and being reduced in size is provided. The ignition apparatus includes the spark plug mounted in an end of the plug hole formed in the internal combustion engine, the first ignition coil, the second ignition coil, and the control portion. The first ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and has a secondary side electrically connected to the spark plug. The second ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and is connected to the spark plug in parallel to the first ignition coil. The control portion controls energization of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil. The secondary voltage developed at the second ignition coil is lower in level than that developed at the first ignition coil.

Abstract: In an ignition apparatus, a controller outputs a discharge start signal instructing a start of a discharge in the spark plug, and a discharge control signal instructing control of a discharge current in the spark plug after the start of the discharge. A signal line connects between the controller and a control circuit. The discharge start signal and the discharge control signal are transferred from the controller to the control circuit via the signal line. The controller modulates, based on the plural command values, the discharge control signal such that the modulated discharge control signal includes information representing the plural command values and change timings for the respective command values. The control circuit controls, based on the discharge start signal and the modified discharge control signal, the energization circuit to thereby adjust the discharge current to each of the command values at a corresponding one of the change timings.

Abstract: An ignition device includes an ignition coil, an ignition plug and ignition control unit. The ignition control unit includes a secondary current adjusting unit that adjusts, in each cycle, an amount of the secondary current after initiating the discharge, a discharge extension detecting unit that detects an amount of extension of the discharge, and a short determination unit that determines whether a discharge-short has occurred. The ignition control unit controls the secondary current control unit such that a first step and a second step are repeatedly executed. The first step decreases the secondary current while keeping the secondary current higher than a predetermined lower current limit, when the extension amount detected by the discharge extension detecting unit is a predetermined extension amount or more. The second step increases the secondary current when the short determination unit determines that a discharge-short has occurred.

Abstract: An ignition device for generating a spark discharge at a spark plug based on a first voltage from a first supply and a second voltage from a second supply. The second voltage is higher than the first voltage. In the ignition device, a primary coil includes a center tap, a first terminal on a ground side of the center tap, and a second terminal on a first-supply side of the center tap, and a secondary coil is electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil and electrically connected to the spark plug. A first switch is configured to make or break an electrical connection between the first terminal and ground, a second switch is configured to make or break an electrical connection between the second supply and the center tap, and a third switch is configured to pass or interrupt a current from the second terminal to the first supply. A controller is configured to control an on/off state of each of the first to third switches.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a spark plug; a first ignition coil and a second ignition coil; a battery; a booster circuit that boosts a voltage supplied from the battery; a power transistor that conducts and interrupts a primary current flowing to a primary coil included in the first ignition coil; a MOSFET that applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit to a primary coil included in the second ignition coil; and an ECU that starts electric discharge by the spark plug by controlling the power transistor, and repeatedly applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit by the MOSFET so that the electric discharge that is started is maintained.

Abstract: In a control apparatus, a discharge control unit controls an igniter unit so that a flow of current from a primary coil towards a ground side is blocked, thereby generating a high voltage in a secondary coil, and controls a spark plug so that the spark plug generates electric discharge. An energy input control unit controls an energy input unit so as to input electrical energy to an ignition coil after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit. A control unit and an abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the igniter unit or the ignition coil based on a first threshold and a first current value that is a value corresponding to a current detected by a current detection circuit at this time, when a first predetermined period elapses after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is capable of having a high-degree of ignition performance and being reduced in size is provided. The ignition apparatus includes the spark plug mounted in an end of the plug hole formed in the internal combustion engine, the first ignition coil, the second ignition coil, and the control portion. The first ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and has a secondary side electrically connected to the spark plug. The second ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and is connected to the spark plug in parallel to the first ignition coil. The control portion controls energization of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil. The secondary voltage developed at the second ignition coil is lower in level than that developed at the first ignition coil.

Abstract: According to an ignition device, a first switching unit applies a voltage between electrodes of by spark plug by turning on/off energization from an on-vehicle battery to a primary coil. Further, a second switching unit applies a voltage having the same direction as a spark discharge generated by turning on/off the first switching unit between the electrodes of the spark plug by supplying electrical energy accumulated in a booster circuit into a primary coil. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly reduce a complexity of the on/off switching of the first and second switching units compared to a conventional technology.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal-combustion engine includes a main ignition CDI circuit that has a main ignition boosting circuit boosting battery voltage and a main ignition capacitor storing electric charge boosted by the main ignition boosting circuit, and that releases the electric charge stored in the main ignition capacitor to a primary coil of an ignition coil to make an ignition plug generate spark discharge, and an energy input circuit that has an energy input boosting circuit boosting battery voltage and an energy input capacitor storing electric charge boosted by the energy input boosting circuit, and that releases the electric charge stored in the energy input capacitor to the primary coil, during a spark discharge started by operation of the main ignition CDI circuit, to make a secondary current flow in the same direction and to a secondary coil of the ignition coil, thereby making spark discharge continue which is started by the operation of the main ignition CDI circuit.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a housing, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, and an annular ground electrode. The housing has a small-diameter portion which has a smaller inner diameter and defines a front end thereof. The ground electrode is secured to a front end surface of the small-diameter portion and forms a spark gap between itself and an outer periphery of the center electrode. The ground electrode is smaller in outer diameter than the front end surface of the small-diameter portion. A annular weld which joints the ground electrode and the small-diameter portion is formed in an annular boundary through which the front end surface of the small-diameter portion and the base end surface of the ground electrode face each other. The annular weld continuously and fully extends in a circumferential direction of the ground electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug 1 includes a tubular housing 2, a tubular insulator 3 held inside the housing 2, a center electrode 4 held inside the insulator 3 such that a distal end portion 41 protrudes, a ground electrode 5 that forms a spark discharge gap G between it and the center electrode 4, and a standing member 6 that stands distalward from a distal end portion 21 of the housing 2. In at least one of a pair of side surfaces 61 of the standing member 6 which face in a plug circumferential direction, there is formed a guide step portion 62 for guiding the flow of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to the spark discharge gap G.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a housing, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, and an annular ground electrode. The housing has a small-diameter portion which has a smaller inner diameter and defines a front end thereof. The ground electrode is secured to a front end surface of the small-diameter portion and forms a spark gap between itself and an outer periphery of the center electrode. A pocket is formed between the inner periphery of the housing and a portion of the porcelain insulator which is located closer to a front end of the porcelain insulator than the mounting shoulder is. An air vent extends from outside the ground electrode in a radial direction of the spark plug to the pocket to establish communication between the pocket and the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a spark plug; a first ignition coil and a second ignition coil; a battery; a booster circuit that boosts a voltage supplied from the battery; a power transistor that conducts and interrupts a primary current flowing to a primary coil included in the first ignition coil; a MOSFET that applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit to a primary coil included in the second ignition coil; and an ECU that starts electric discharge by the spark plug by controlling the power transistor, and repeatedly applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit by the MOSFET so that the electric discharge that is started is maintained.

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: A spark plug 1 includes a tubular housing 2, a tubular insulator 3 held inside the housing 2, a center electrode 4 held inside the insulator 3 such that a distal end portion 41 protrudes, a ground electrode 5 that forms a spark discharge gap G between it and the center electrode 4, and a standing member 6 that stands distalward from a distal end portion 21 of the housing 2. In at least one of a pair of side surfaces 61 of the standing member 6 which face in a plug circumferential direction, there is formed a guide step portion 62 for guiding the flow of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to the spark discharge gap G.

Abstract: An alternating current generation system is provided. In the system, in a rotor, a plurality of detection subject portions are arrayed along a circumferential direction in correspondence to reversal states of the magnetic poles in a plurality of magnetized portions. A detecting unit is disposed opposing the rotor so as to generate an output signal corresponding to passage state of the detection subject portions. A phase control unit outputs, to a power converter, a control signal to perform phase control of switching elements depending on the rotation phase of the rotor, based on the output signal from the detecting unit.