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 coil includes a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. A first switch is electrically connected to the first winding. A battery is electrically connected to the first winding. A booster is electrically connected to the battery. A second switch is electrically connected to the third winding. A drive device drives the first switch and the second switch. The drive device turns the first switch from on-state to off-state to allow a secondary current to flow through the second winding, turns the second switch from off-state to on-state to supply an output of the booster to the third winding, and superimpose a second current to the second winding. When a third winding current becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the booster controls such that power generated by the third winding current and an output voltage of the booster is restricted to constant power.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis device for an ignition circuit, comprising: an ignition plug; an ignition coil; a capacitor series connection including a high side capacitor and a low side capacitor; a switching-element series connection including a high side switching element and a low side switching element; an inter-terminal voltage detection unit for detecting an inter-terminal voltage of the capacitor series connection; an intermediate voltage detection unit for detecting an intermediate voltage at the connection point of the high side capacitor and the low side capacitor; and a determination unit for determining a failure location of the ignition circuit based on at least one of the inter-terminal voltage and the intermediate voltage.

Abstract: An ignition control device includes a main ignition circuit to generate a spark discharge to a spark plug by controlling energization of a primary coil of an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, an energy supply circuit that supplies energy based on a discharge continuation signal by controlling the energization of the primary coil during the spark discharge started by the operation of the main ignition circuit to supply a secondary current in the same direction as a main ignition continuously in a secondary coil of the ignition coil, a secondary current command circuit for outputting a command value of the secondary current based on the secondary current command signal, and an ignition control unit for setting signal values of the secondary current command signal and the discharge continuation signal.

Abstract: A maximum value of a discharge current from a capacitor 13, detected by a primary-side current detection means 24 disposed at a grounded end of the capacitor 13, is controlled such as not to exceed a predetermined first control value Y1. The first control value Y1 is derived based on magnetic saturation of a primary winding 3, with the control being performed by controlling the on-off state of an energy injection switching means 20. As a result, magnetic saturation of the primary winding 3 can be prevented, and the reliability of an ignition apparatus which incorporates an energy injection circuit 6 can be increased.

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 igniter includes a switching element, a control circuit section, and a protection element. The switching element is connected to a primary winding of an ignition coil. The control circuit section is configured to control operation of the switching element. The protection element is configured to electrically protect the control circuit section. The switching element and the protection element are formed in the same semiconductor chip, and are mounted on the same lead frame.

Abstract: An ignition device capable of more reliably protecting a primary winding of an ignition coil from high temperature is provided. The ignition device includes an ignition coil, a switching element, a temperature sensor, and a thermal cutout circuit. A primary winding of the ignition coil is connected to a DC power supply and the switching element. The temperature sensor is provided to measure the temperature of the switching element. The thermal cutout circuit forcibly turns off the switching element when the temperature of the switching element becomes higher than a predetermined forcible turn-off temperature Toff. The thermal cutout circuit is configured to lower the forcible turn-off temperature Toff when the power supply voltage Vb of the DC power supply decreases.

Abstract: The return circuit of the ignition device returns to the battery the current supplied to the primary coil by the operation of the second circuit, and the voltage detection unit detects the voltage VB. The operation stopping unit monitors the voltage VB and when it is determined that the voltage VB is excessive, that is, when the voltage VB exceeds the threshold voltage VBc, it stops the supply of energy by the second circuit. As a result, when a load dump state occurs, the supply of energy by the second circuit can be stopped. Thus, when a load dump state occurs by the operation of the second circuit, other devices can be protected from overvoltage.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines is provided. The ignition apparatus is equipped with an ECU. The ECU monitors a path length of a discharge of a spark for a period of time in which a second circuit delivers or inputs energy in the form of a threshold value determination. When the path length has become too short, the ECU determines that ignition is expected to be delayed and then selects a special mode to control the delay of the ignition. The ECU increase a target value of an energy input amount. This enables the delay of ignition resulting from a short extension of the path length to be minimized. The ignition apparatus equipped with the second circuit to continue the discharge of sparks is, thus, capable of reducing a variation in ignition without the need for uniformly increasing the energy input amount.

Abstract: An ignition control device includes a main ignition circuit to generate a spark discharge to a spark plug by controlling energization of a primary coil of an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, an energy supply circuit that supplies energy based on a discharge continuation signal by controlling the energization of the primary coil during the spark discharge started by the operation of the main ignition circuit to supply a secondary current in the same direction as a main ignition continuously in a secondary coil of the ignition coil, a secondary current command circuit for outputting a command value of the secondary current based on the secondary current command signal, and an ignition control unit for setting signal values of the secondary current command signal and the discharge continuation signal.

Abstract: An ignition device includes a secondary current control circuit that receives a secondary current control signal IGa from an ECU, and a feedback circuit outputs a control signal for controlling energization of an primary coil to an energy supply circuit according to a result of comparison of a control value of the secondary current outputted from the secondary current control circuit and a detected value of the secondary current. Further, the ECU outputs a secondary current control signal IGa in accordance with engine parameters. Thereby, the secondary current substantially indicating the amount of energy that is supplied into the ignition coil from the energy supply circuit can be controlled in accordance with the operating condition of the engine. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excess or shortage of energy supplied from the energy supply circuit to an ignition coil from occurring.

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: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided. The ignition apparatus includes an ECU. The ECU calculates a target value E* of an energy input amount of energy inputted into a spark plug based on an in-cylinder flow velocity v, a cylinder pressure P, and an air-fuel ratio AFR. The ECU also calculates a command value I* of a secondary current based on the in-cylinder flow velocity and control an operation of a second circuit according to the target value E* and the command value I*. The calculation of the target value E* using the in-cylinder flow velocity v, the cylinder pressure P, and the air fuel ratio AFR enables the energy input amount to be controlled according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The calculation of the command value I* based on the in-cylinder flow velocity v enables the secondary current to be controlled so as to eliminate a risk of the blowout of sparks.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a spark plug and an ignition coil. The spark plug has a plug terminal protruding proximalward from an insulator. The ignition coil includes a coil main body, which includes a primary coil and a secondary coil, and a helical spring that electrically connects the secondary coil and the plug terminal. The plug terminal is made of a material that is both electrically conductive and magnetic. The plug terminal includes a terminal main body, which has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the spring, and a terminal extension portion that has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the spring and extends proximalward from the terminal main body. A distal end portion of the spring abuts the terminal main body. The terminal extension portion is inserted and arranged in the spring. Between an outer circumferential surface of the terminal extension portion and an inner circumferential surface of the spring, there is interposed an insulating member.

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: A failure diagnosis device for an ignition circuit, comprising: an ignition plug; an ignition coil; a capacitor series connection including a high side capacitor and a low side capacitor; a switching-element series connection including a high side switching element and a low side switching element; an inter-terminal voltage detection unit for detecting an inter-terminal voltage of the capacitor series connection; an intermediate voltage detection unit for detecting an intermediate voltage at the connection point of the high side capacitor and the low side capacitor; and a determination unit for determining a failure location of the ignition circuit based on at least one of the inter-terminal voltage and the intermediate voltage.

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: In an ignition device, a second circuit energizes a primary coil from its negative side in a first direction to thereby maintain energization of a second coil in a second direction during spark discharge started by a first circuit. The maintained energization continuously supplies energy to a spark plug, thus performing a continuation of the spark discharge. The first direction is opposite to a direction of energization of the primary coil carried out by the first circuit, and the second direction is the same as a direction of energization of the second coil that has been started based on the first circuit. A humidity detection unit detects humidity of intake air into an engine. The control section controls the first circuit to advance start timing of the spark discharge generated by the first circuit in accordance with an increase in the humidity of the intake air.

Abstract: An igniter includes a switching element, a control circuit section, and a protection element. The switching element is connected to a primary winding of an ignition coil. The control circuit section is configured to control operation of the switching element. The protection element is configured to electrically protect the control circuit section. The switching element and the protection element are formed in the same semiconductor chip, and are mounted on the same lead frame.