Abstract: An ignition system has an ignition plug and an ignition control unit that controls the ignition plug. When an engine is in a predetermined operating state, the ignition control unit performs ignition control after top dead center to perform ignition after the compression top dead center. The ignition system has an airflow support structure that facilitates the flow of airflow through a discharge gap at least after the compression top dead center. The ignition system is configured such that due to the airflow support structure and the timing of the ignition, airflow at a flow rate of 5 m/s or more flows through the discharge gap during a spark period after top dead center, which is the generation period of the discharge spark in the ignition control after top dead center.

Abstract: An ignition system includes a dividing wall which divides a combustion chamber of an engine into a main chamber and a pre-chamber and has formed therein at least one spray hole which communicates between the main chamber and the pre-chamber, and a spark plug in which voltage is applied across a spark gap between a first electrode and a second electrode to create an electrical spark to ignite fuel. The pre-chamber has the first electrode. The dividing wall or a member which electrically conducts with the dividing wall has the second electrode. The ignition system executes an after-top-dead-center ignition control mode to ignite fuel after a compression stroke top dead center. In the after-top-dead-center ignition control mode, an ignition source which is in the form of a self-growable flame kernel is provided in a spray hole-nearby region, the spray hole, or the main chamber within a crank angle of 20° after an ignition timing at which the voltage starts to be applied across the spark gap.

Abstract: An ignition system has an ignition plug and an ignition control unit that controls the ignition plug. When an engine is in a predetermined operating state, the ignition control unit performs ignition control after top dead center to perform ignition after the compression top dead center. The ignition system has an airflow support structure that facilitates the flow of airflow through a discharge gap at least after the compression top dead center. The ignition system is configured such that due to the airflow support structure and the timing of the ignition, airflow at a flow rate of 5 m/s or more flows through the discharge gap during a spark period after top dead center, which is the generation period of the discharge spark in the ignition control after top dead center.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus performs energy input control in which energy is continuously inputted to an ignition coil to enable a spark discharge in a predetermined energy input period after interrupting a primary current by an ignition switch and generating a discharge of a spark plug by a secondary current. A combustion state determination circuit determines a combustion state by comparing a combustion pressure P detected by a combustion state detector. When the combustion pressure P is smaller than a second threshold Pth2, and there is room for improving the combustion state with respect to the present energy input condition, the energy input period IGW is increased or a target secondary current I2* is increased. By compensating the condition of the energy input control in accordance with the combustion state, a target combustion state can be achieved with just enough energy consumption.

Abstract: A spark plug has a spark plug housing of a cylindrical shape, an insulator of a cylindrical shape, a central electrode, a ground electrode and a terminal metal fitting. The insulator has a head part projecting toward a distal end side of the spark plug from the spark plug housing. The central electrode and the ground electrode forms a discharge gap. The terminal metal fitting, electrically connected to the central electrode, has a main body part and an exposed part. The exposed part of the terminal metal fitting has a head part. An outer diameter of the head part of the exposed part is greater than an outer diameter of the main body part. A ratio Dt/Di of not less than 0.8 is satisfied, Di represents an outer diameter of the head part of the insulator and Dt represents an outer diameter of the head part of the exposed part.

Abstract: A spark plug has a spark plug housing of a cylindrical shape, an insulator of a cylindrical shape, a central electrode, a ground electrode and a terminal metal fitting. The insulator has a head part projecting toward a distal end side of the spark plug from the spark plug housing. The central electrode and the ground electrode forms a discharge gap. The terminal metal fitting, electrically connected to the central electrode, has a main body part and an exposed part. The exposed part of the terminal metal fitting has a head part. An outer diameter of the head part of the exposed part is greater than an outer diameter of the main body part. A ratio Dt/Di of not less than 0.8 is satisfied, Di represents an outer diameter of the head part of the insulator and Dt represents an outer diameter of the head part of the exposed part.

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: A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical insulator, a center electrode, a terminal bracket, a ground electrode, and a resistor. The insulator is held on the inside of the housing. The center electrode 4 is held on the inside of the insulator, with a tip end being projected therefrom. The terminal bracket is held on the inside of the insulator, with a base end part and being projected therefrom. The ground electrode forms a spark discharge gap G between itself and the center electrode. The resistor contains carbon and is disposed on the inside of the insulator so as to be located between the center electrode 4 and the terminal bracket. In an axial direction X of the spark plug, the resistor has a higher carbon content in a first region positioned on a tip side, compared to a second region positioned on a base end side.

Abstract: A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical insulator, a center electrode, a terminal bracket, a ground electrode, and a resistor. The insulator is held on the inside of the housing. The center electrode 4 is held on the inside of the insulator, with a tip end being projected therefrom. The terminal bracket is held on the inside of the insulator, with a base end part and being projected therefrom. The ground electrode forms a spark discharge gap G between itself and the center electrode. The resistor contains carbon and is disposed on the inside of the insulator so as to be located between the center electrode 4 and the terminal bracket. In an axial direction X of the spark plug, the resistor has a higher carbon content in a first region positioned on a tip side, compared to a second region positioned on a base end side.

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 performs energy input control in which energy is continuously inputted to an ignition coil to enable a spark discharge in a predetermined energy input period after interrupting a primary current by an ignition switch and generating a discharge of a spark plug by a secondary current. A combustion state determination circuit determines a combustion state by comparing a combustion pressure P detected by a combustion state detector. When the combustion pressure P is smaller than a second threshold Pth2, and there is room for improving the combustion state with respect to the present energy input condition, the energy input period IGW is increased or a target secondary current I2* is increased. By compensating the condition of the energy input control in accordance with the combustion state, a target combustion state can be achieved with just enough energy consumption.

Abstract: An ignition system is provided, in which a Zener diode is connected in parallel with a spark plug, to suppress torque variation from becoming large in an engine when deterioration of the spark plug is advanced. Specifically, the ignition system includes a secondary coil having an end connected to a center electrode of the spark plug via a connecting path. The connecting path is connected to a constant-voltage path having a grounded end and including the Zener diode. The time from when an ignition signal is switched off until when ignition timing occurs is measured for a plurality of times. The difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the plurality of measurements is defined to be a variation range. A breakdown voltage of the Zener diode is adjusted based on requirements such as for rendering the variation range to be a predetermined time or smaller.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine which can appropriately judge deterioration of a spark plug is disclosed. The ignition system includes a spark plug and a Zener diode. These are connected in parallel. In the ignition system, a constant-voltage path whose one of two ends is grounded is connected to the connecting path which connects the center electrode of the spark plug to a secondary coil. The constant-voltage path includes a Zener diode and a resistor. In a case where electric current is detected at the resister in a term from the start of current supply to a primary coil to the end, the control apparatus judges the spark plug being deteriorated.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus is provided with a Zener diode as a limiter device, which limits a primary voltage of an ignition coil to be less than a Zener voltage, and a switching circuit, which prohibits a limiter function of the Zener diode at a start of discharge and switches the limiter device to perform the limiter function for a predetermined time period following the start of discharge. A secondary voltage is limited to be more than a secondary limit value. Even when blowout arises in discharging, re-discharging is avoided from arising immediately after the blowout and exhaustion of a spark plug caused by repetition of discharging is avoided.

Abstract: An ignition system is provided, which can restrict decreasing of constant-voltage duration of a spark plug and effectively prevents the occurrence of an accidental fire in an engine. A typical ignition system includes a secondary coil having one end connected to a positive side of a battery via a low-voltage side path and the other end connected to a center electrode via a connecting path which connects the secondary coil and the spark plug. A constant-voltage path having a grounded end is connected to the connecting path. A block diode is arranged between the secondary coil and a point where the constant-voltage path is connected with the connecting path. A Zener diode is disposed within the constant-voltage path. Each anode of the block diode and the Zener diode is mutually connected.