Abstract: A corona ignition system is described for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, with a resonant circuit, which contains an ignition electrode, a high frequency generator connected to the resonant circuit, in order to generate an AC voltage for exciting the resonant circuit, and a direct current voltage source, in order to generate an input voltage for the high frequency generator. According to this disclosure, provision is made that parallel to the direct current voltage source a capacitor is connected to the high frequency generator, which capacitor on transient oscillation of the resonant circuit compensates mismatches between the resonant circuit and the direct current voltage source.

Abstract: A method for controlling a corona ignition system in which a corona discharge is produced at an ignition electrode by exciting a resonating circuit with an AC voltage produced by a high-frequency generator. The AC voltage is adjusted to a target value depending on an operating state of the engine. Combustion onset is determined by evaluating an electrical variable of the resonating circuit and the target value of the AC voltage is reduced by a predefined value following a predefined number of engine cycles or a predefined operating period. The determined combustion onset is evaluated in one or more engine cycles. The target value for the momentary engine operating state is then increased if, by evaluation of the combustion onset, it is found that a predefined requirement is no longer met. Otherwise, the reduced target value is stored as a new target value for the momentary engine operating state.

Abstract: Described is a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein an ignition control device is prompted by control signals of an engine control device to activate an ignition device by means of which an ignition of a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is affected. It is provided according to this disclosure, that the engine control device communicates a target ignition angle or information about an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to the ignition control device, and the ignition control device sets an operating parameter of the ignition device in dependence on the target ignition angle or the information about the operating condition of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine. Target ignition times for the individual cylinders are given by an engine control device through trigger signals transmitted to the ignition control device. After receiving a trigger signal, the ignition control device activates the ignition device associated with this trigger signal to effect ignition in the respective cylinder. The ignition control device stores a firing order in which an ignition is to be cyclically effected in the individual cylinders, and it is checked whether trigger signals for all cylinders are received in the stored firing order, and if not, a substitutional ignition time is calculated for the at least one cylinder for which no trigger signal has been received, from at least two trigger signals for the cylinders or one of the remaining cylinders, and the respective ignition device or ignition devices are activated according to the calculated substitutional ignition time.

Abstract: A corona ignition system that can be operated with relatively low expenditure in the vicinity of its resonant frequency. For each ignition, impedance and frequency values are stored in a data structure and are allocated to a respective voltage value. The data structure is complemented by an adjustment variable whose value specifies whether the present frequency value of the present engine cycle has been classified as too high or too low. The value of the adjustment variable is determined anew in each engine cycle. To that end, a comparison is made between a present frequency value with an earlier frequency value and a present impedance value with an earlier impedance value. Based upon the comparison, a value can be assigned to the adjustment value to cause a lower or higher frequency value of the corona discharge in the next cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device that has a high-frequency generator and a resonant circuit that contains an ignition electrode, wherein a primary voltage is fed into the high-frequency generator, the resonant circuit is excited by a secondary voltage generated by the high-frequency generator, and a corona discharge is thus produced at the ignition electrode, a series of values of an electric variable are measured during the excitation of the resonant circuit, it is checked, by evaluating the measured values, whether the corona discharge has transitioned into an arc discharge, and a determination of an arc discharge is responded to by reducing the secondary voltage and thus extinguishing the arc discharge.

Abstract: A corona ignition system is described for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, with a resonant circuit, which contains an ignition electrode, a high frequency generator connected to the resonant circuit, in order to generate an AC voltage for exciting the resonant circuit, and a direct current voltage source, in order to generate an input voltage for the high frequency generator. According to this disclosure, provision is made that parallel to the direct current voltage source a capacitor is connected to the high frequency generator, which capacitor on transient oscillation of the resonant circuit compensates mismatches between the resonant circuit and the direct current voltage source.

Abstract: A method for setting adjusting frequency of an electric oscillating circuit of a corona ignition device. The circuit is excited with a starting value (f1) of the excitation frequency and a reference value (IR) of a frequency-dependent variable is measured. The excitation frequency is incrementally changed. After every increment a value (I) of the frequency-dependent variable is measured and it is determined whether the measured value (I) deviates significantly from the reference value (IR). Depending upon the measured value (I) relative to the reference value, the value (f) of the excitation frequency is either set as the new starting value (f1) or stored as a boundary value. Further incremental changes to the excitation frequency are made in one of two directions and further comparisons of the values I and IR are performed. Ultimately, the excitation frequency can be set to a mean value between first and second boundary values.

Abstract: Method for igniting a fuel/air mixture in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine comprising combustion chambers which are delimited by walls that are at ground potential, using an ignition device comprising an ignition electrode provided in each combustion chamber, in which method, via an electrical DC/AC converter, an electric oscillating circuit is excited, which is connected to the secondary side of the DC/AC converter, and in which the ignition electrode, which is guided through one of the walls delimiting the combustion chamber in a manner in which it is electrically insulated from said walls by an insulator and extends into the combustion chamber, constitutes a capacitance in cooperation with the walls of the combustion chamber that are at ground potential, and in which the excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled so a corona discharge igniting the fuel/air mixture is created in each combustion chamber at the ignition electrode.

Abstract: Described is a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein an ignition control device is prompted by control signals of an engine control device to activate an ignition device by means of which an ignition of a fuel-air mixture in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is affected. It is provided according to this disclosure, that the engine control device communicates a target ignition angle or information about an operating condition of the internal combustion engine to the ignition control device, and the ignition control device sets an operating parameter of the ignition device in dependence on the target ignition angle or the information about the operating condition of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine. Target ignition times for the individual cylinders are given by an engine control device through trigger signals transmitted to the ignition control device. After receiving a trigger signal, the ignition control device activates the ignition device associated with this trigger signal to effect ignition in the respective cylinder. The ignition control device stores a firing order in which an ignition is to be cyclically effected in the individual cylinders, and it is checked whether trigger signals for all cylinders are received in the stored firing order, and if not, a substitutional ignition time is calculated for the at least one cylinder for which no trigger signal has been received, from at least two trigger signals for the cylinders or one of the remaining cylinders, and the respective ignition device or ignition devices are activated according to the calculated substitutional ignition time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a corona ignition system in which a corona discharge is produced at an ignition electrode by exciting a resonating circuit with an AC voltage produced by a high-frequency generator. The AC voltage is adjusted to a target value depending on an operating state of the engine. Combustion onset is determined by evaluating an electrical variable of the resonating circuit and the target value of the AC voltage is reduced by a predefined value following a predefined number of engine cycles or a predefined operating period. The determined combustion onset is evaluated in one or more engine cycles. The target value for the momentary engine operating state is then increased if, by evaluation of the combustion onset, it is found that a predefined requirement is no longer met. Otherwise, the reduced target value is stored as a new target value for the momentary engine operating state.

Abstract: A method for controlling a corona ignition device, which comprises an ignition electrode, at which a corona discharge is produced, a resonating circuit, which contains the ignition electrode, and a high-frequency generator connected to the resonating circuit, wherein the resonating circuit is excited with an AC voltage (Ui) produced by the high-frequency generator, the frequency of said voltage being specified by a control signal (Ud) applied across the high-frequency generator, the frequency of the control signal (Ud) is changed as the control variable of a control circuit, and the phase position between the current (Ii) flowing in the resonating circuit and a voltage signal is regulated to a target value, characterised in that the target value is changed during the operation of the corona ignition device. A corona ignition device for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is also described.

Abstract: A method for setting adjusting frequency of an electric oscillating circuit of a corona ignition device. The circuit is excited with a starting value (f1) of the excitation frequency and a reference value (IR) of a frequency-dependent variable is measured. The excitation frequency is incrementally changed. After every increment a value (I) of the frequency-dependent variable is measured and it is determined whether the measured value (I) deviates significantly from the reference value (IR). Depending upon the measured value (I) relative to the reference value, the value (f) of the excitation frequency is either set as the new starting value (f1) or stored as a boundary value. Further incremental changes to the excitation frequency are made in one of two directions and further comparisons of the values I and IR are performed. Ultimately, the excitation frequency can be set to a mean value between first and second boundary values.

Abstract: A corona ignition system that can be operated with relatively low expenditure in the vicinity of its resonant frequency. For each ignition, impedance and frequency values are stored in a data structure and are allocated to a respective voltage value. The data structure is complemented by an adjustment variable whose value specifies whether the present frequency value of the present engine cycle has been classified as too high or too low. The value of the adjustment variable is determined anew in each engine cycle. To that end, a comparison is made between a present frequency value with an earlier frequency value and a present impedance value with an earlier impedance value. Based upon the comparison, a value can be assigned to the adjustment value to cause a lower or higher frequency value of the corona discharge in the next cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device that has a high-frequency generator and a resonant circuit that contains an ignition electrode, wherein a primary voltage is fed into the high-frequency generator, the resonant circuit is excited by a secondary voltage generated by the high-frequency generator, and a corona discharge is thus produced at the ignition electrode, a series of values of an electric variable are measured during the excitation of the resonant circuit, it is checked, by evaluating the measured values, whether the corona discharge has transitioned into an arc discharge, and a determination of an arc discharge is responded to by reducing the secondary voltage and thus extinguishing the arc discharge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device which, in a cyclically operating combustion engine, ignites a fuel-air mixture by means of a corona discharge originating from an ignition electrode in that by means of a primary voltage applied to a primary side of a DC/AC converter, an electrical oscillator circuit is excited, which oscillator circuit is connected to the ignition electrode, wherein the impedance on the primary side of the DC/AC converter is successively measured. According to the invention it is provided that by evaluating the impedance measurements, a time of the start of a corona discharge is determined, this time is compared with a target value, and the activation of the primary side of the DC/Ac converter is changed depending on a result of this comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device which, in a cyclically operating combustion engine, ignites a fuel-air mixture by means of a corona discharge originating from an ignition electrode in that by means of a primary voltage applied to a primary side of a DC/AC converter, an electrical oscillator circuit is excited, which oscillator circuit is connected to the ignition electrode, wherein the impedance on the primary side of the DC/AC converter is successively measured. According to the invention it is provided that by evaluating the impedance measurements, a time of the start of a corona discharge is determined, this time is compared with a target value, and the activation of the primary side of the DC/Ac converter is changed depending on a result of this comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.