Abstract: The ignition coil of an electronic ignition system, wherein a voltage is induced in the coil by way of a magnet wheel, has an auxiliary coil connected to charge a capacitor by way of a diode. The different voltage of the auxiliary coil and capacitor controls the cut-off of current in the ignition coil.

Abstract: The invention provides an alternator driven by an engine crankshaft (11). A stator mounted on the engine (10) includes circumferentially spaced power coils (19) lying in the plane of and radially inward of the power magnets (20) mounted on the engine flywheel (12). Ignition coils (18) are mounted circumferentially spaced from the power magnets (20), but axially offset therefrom to couple with the fringe flux of the power magnets, thus allowing a high output from the power coils (19) without overloading the ignition coils (18).

Abstract: A trigger circuit comprises first, second and third triggerable switches each being rendered conductive when a signal at its control terminal reaches the threshold level. The first switch is connected to accept a timing pulse signal. The first and second switches are connected in series with each other and a control terminal of the third switch to activate the third switch when both the first and second switches have become conductive.A delay circuit is in series with the first switch and in parallel with the gate and one other terminal of the second switch. A time delay is introduced after the first switch is activated by the timing pulse signal and before the second switch is activated to thus trigger the third switch.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ignition device which can provide a good ignition timing characteristic over an engine speed range from low to high by using a first angular signal corresponding to a given crank position of an engine and a second angular signal corresponding to a crank position retarded by a given angle behind the generating position of the first angle signal.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition system is provided in a self-contained hermetically sealed housing having improved component packaging. The capacitor discharge ignition system includes an ignition coil and an auxiliary coil for charging a capacitor of the capacitor discharge ignition system in response to a rotating magnetic field. The auxiliary coil is fabricated with a coil shape factor having a greater height and lower mean turn diameter than conventional auxiliary coils. The lower mean turn diameter of the auxiliary coil provides space within the housing for circuit components of the capacitor discharge ignition system to be placed between the auxiliary coil and the inner wall of the housing. Thus, the circuit components are removed from the conventional location between the primary and secondary windings of the ignition coil.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition system is provided in a self-contained hermetically sealed housing having improved component packaging. The capacitor discharge ignition system includes an ignition coil and an auxiliary coil for charging a capacitor of the capacitor discharge ignition system in response to a rotating magnetic field. The auxiliary coil is fabricated with a coil shape factor having a greater height and lower mean turn diameter than conventional auxiliary coils. The lower mean turn diameter of the auxiliary coil provides space within the housing for circuit components of the capacitor discharge ignition system to be placed between the auxiliary coil and the inner wall of the housing. Thus, the circuit components are removed from the conventional location between the primary and secondary windings of the ignition coil.

Abstract: A speed limiting system particularly suited for use with magneto ignition systems for small internal combustion engines is disclosed. In a first embodiment, shorting transistor (38) is made conductive for a predetermined time after a first trigger pulse from a trigger coil (12) thus preventing subsequent trigger pulses from being effective above a predetermined engine speed. A capacitor (44) is charged by a trigger pulse, and maintains shorting transistor (38) conductive until it is discharged through the shorting transistor (38), subsequent trigger pulses arriving while shorting transistor (38) is conductive recharging the capacitor (44). A diode (42), which also serves to prevent the capacitor (44) from discharging through the trigger coil (12), provides for normal ignition system operation by delaying operating of the shorting transistor (38) until a trigger pulse has become effective upon the gate (34) of a SCR (30).

Abstract: An improved trigger circuit for a magneto-type ignition system is described. The trigger circuit includes a first generating coil for supplying current flow to a primary winding of the ignition coil, a transistor for controlling the current flow through the primary winding, a capacitor, a thyristor for cooperating with the capacitor to render the transistor non-conductive, and a second generating coil for supplying the power required to charge the capacitor and to control the conduction of both the transistor and thyristor, such that the capacitor is charged and the transistor is rendered conductive by one half wave output from the second generating coil and the thyristor is rendered conductive by the other half wave output from the second generating coil.

Abstract: A combined ignition control and injection valve operating circuit has an inductor connected in (series or) parallel with the ignition coil so that it carries current whenever an output transistor of an ignition control circuit is on.A thyristor connects the inductor to an energy storage capacitor and turns on each time the transistor turns off to create an ignition spark. The capacitor is thus charged up and the stored energy is discharged through a triac into an injection valve solenoid to speed up current growth in the latter on each energization thereof.

Abstract: In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, a digital system for computing the timing advance is provided. Constants approximating the curve of timing advance v. engine speed are stored in a microprocessor. The positive half waves of primary current in the magneto generate the ignition energy and also generate a reference signal for controlling the actual ignition time. The sequence of reference signals is also used to generate a digital value indicative of engine speed. The latter is used to address the read only memory in which the constants for approximating the timing advance curve are stored. After each reference signal, the value read out from the read only memory is counted down by a counter. When the counter reaches the value of zero, ignition is started.

Abstract: In a capacitor discharge ignition system, the feed coil and trigger coil (T) are wound on a common former (26), the trigger coil (T) being located at a position along the supporting pole piece (16b) such as to give a desired degree of spark advance or retardation. Locating the trigger coil close to the engine flywheel (10) or to the base pole piece (16d) has surprisingly been found to give a degree of automatic spark advance or retardation respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a capacitor discharge ignition system comprising a charge capacitor, an ignition coil primary winding, an ignition SCR, and an isolation circuit connected in circuit with the charge capacitor, the primary winding and the ignition SCR. The isolation circuit preferably comprises a thyristor having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, and having an anode-cathode path connected in series relationship with the charge capacitor, and a parallel RC network having one end connected to the thyristor anode and having an opposite end connected to the thyristor gate. The isolation circuit is operative for selectively isolating the primary winding and the ignition SCR from the charge capacitor to provide for immediate recharging of the charge capacitor after the charge capacitor has discharged through the primary winding to effect an ignition spark.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contactless ignition circuit for internal combustion engines wherein a primary short-circuiting current flowing through the primary winding of an ignition coil is made to flow through a power transistor controlled to be conducted and interrupted by a programable unijunction transistor and a potential dividing type capacitor is connected to the anode electrode so as to operate this programable unijunction transistor when the wave height value of the primary short-circuiting current flowing through the above mentioned primary winding becomes maximum so that a spark plug connected to the secondary winding will be operated to ignite at a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition system is provided in a self-contained hermetically sealed housing having improved component packaging. The capacitor discharge ignition system includes an ignition coil and an auxiliary coil for charging a capacitor of the capacitor discharge ignition system in response to a rotating magnetic field. The auxiliary coil is fabricated with a coil shape factor having a greater height and lower mean turn diameter than conventional auxiliary coils. The lower mean turn diameter of the auxiliary coil provides space within the housing for circuit components of the capacitor discharge ignition system to be placed between the auxiliary coil and the inner wall of the housing. Thus, the circuit components are removed from the conventional location between the primary and secondary windings of the ignition coil.

Abstract: On-off oscillations immediately following the initiation of the spark in a magneto ignition system are prevented by a timing circuit the capacitor of which is charged continually even during the spark time and whose discharge time constant exceeds 10 .mu.s. The capacitor is discharged through the emitter-base circuit of a control transistor and keeps the control transistor in a saturated state throughout the desired spark duration. While the control transistor is in the saturated state, it shortcircuits the emitter-base circuit of the ignition transistor, thereby blocking the ignition transistor continuously. Since the capacitor of the timing circuit is continually charged, the actual spark duration greatly exceeds the 10 .mu.s time constant of the timing circuit and may be as high as 1.2 ms.

Abstract: An alternator-powered breakerless capacitor discharge ignition system for an alternate firing two-cylinder outboard motor provides improved timing characteristics at low, as well as high, engine speeds and prevents reverse engine rotation. The alternator rotor and stator assemblies define a first magnetic circuit which provides constant polarity, constant power pulses for charging a single capacitor in the system. The alternator rotor and trigger assemblies define a second magnetic circuit which provides synchronized narrow trigger pulses, successive one's being of opposite polarity, to operate an electronic control circuit to effect timed capacitor discharge to a pair of spark plug ignition coils in the system. The first magnetic circuit includes a pair of relatively narrow ceramic permanent magnets spaced 180.degree. apart on the alternator rotor flywheel for energizing series-connected, oppositely wound, spaced apart low-speed and high speed stationary windings in the stator assembly.

Abstract: A speed limiting system particularly suited for use with magneto ignition systems for small internal combustion engines is disclosed. A shorting transistor (38) is made conductive for a predetermined time after a first trigger pulse from a trigger coil (12), thus preventing subsequent trigger pulses from being effective above a predetermined engine speed. A capacitor (44) is charged by a trigger pulse, and maintains shorting transistor (38) conductive until it is discharged through the shorting transistor (38), subsequent trigger pulses arriving while shorting transistor (38) is conductive recharging the capacitor (44). A diode (42), which also serves to prevent the capacitor (44) from discharging through the trigger coil (12), provides for normal ignition system operation by delaying operating of the shorting transistor (38) until a trigger pulse has become effective upon the gate (34) of a SCR (30).

Abstract: This invention relates to an ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The ignition system comprises an ignition circuit to generate a spark at an ignition plug in synchronism with a rotation of the internal combustion engine. The ignition circuit may be of a capacitor discharging type or of an ignition primary current interrupting type. The ignition system further comprises an ignition preventing circuit to prevent the ignition circuit from being operated when the internal combustion engine is rotated at a speed of revolution higher than a first set value of r.p.m. and when a throttle valve operating member is quickly returned to a position at which the r.p.m. of the engine is lower than the second set value of r.p.m. which is lower than the first set value of r.p.m. The ignition preventing circuit may be adapted to fully prevent the operation of the ignition circuit. Alternatively, the ignition preventing circuit may be adapted to thin the operation of the ignition circuit.

Abstract: Breakerless capacitor discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines in which a charge coil and ignition coil are disposed on ferromagnetic core. A changing flux is established by rotation of permanent magnets past the core. The charge coil is connected to charge a capacitor in circuit with a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) for discharging the capacitor through the primary winding of an ignition transformer. The charge coil and transformer are wound on the core such that voltages of opposite polarity are simultaneously induced therein by the changing magnetic flux. A half way voltage of one polarity charges the capacitor and a voltage of opposite polarity induced in the secondary winding by the changing magnetic flux triggers the SCR to its conductive state discharging voltage stored on said capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition coil.

Abstract: A breakerless distributor for an internal combustion engine ignition system in which a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (73, 75, 77, 79) equal to the number of engine cylinders are connected in series for simultaneous energization by the timing pulses. A phototransistor (83, 85, 87, 89) arranged in spaced, confronting relationship to each LED is connected to a silicon controlled rectifier (95) which triggers the energizing circuit (7, 9, 11, 13) for an individual spark plug (103) each time the phototransistor is turned on by emissions from its associated LED.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for providing capacitor charging and triggering in so-called electronic ignition systems comprising flywheel magnetos with a plurality of poles. The triggering pulses are arranged phase-shifted in time in relation to the charging pulses, whereby charging the capacitor in question is prevented after triggering initiating ignition. By arranging three windings, for example, connected in series on three adjacent magnetic core legs as capacitor charging pulse generating windings, and bridging over three adjacent ones with a rectifier with a polarity for passing through negative half pulses, a rather constant charging voltage is obtained for a wide range of the engine rpm.

Abstract: In a capacitor-discharge breakerless ignition system for an internal combustion engine, a safety interlock comprising a rectifier and a switch responsive to a preselected unsafe vehicle condition is connected in the charge circuit of the ignition capacitor. The rectifier is poled in the forward capacitor charge-voltage direction and is connected with respect to the switch such that the capacitor is not charged or, once charged, is discharged prior to engine ignition in response to an unsafe condition indicated by the switch, or in response to intentional or accidental breakage and/or short-circuiting of interlock/ignition interconnection leads. The rectifier and the switch are packaged in such a manner, preferably separate from the rest of the ignition, to deter tampering with the switch alone, and to permit locating the switch and rectifier remote from the ignition circuit. In one preferred application the rectifier-switch package is mounted on the handle of a rotary lawn mower to serve as a deadman switch.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a voltage regulated magneto powered capacitive discharge ignition system including a charge capacitor having opposite plates, a magneto including a charge coil having opposite end terminals, and a circuit including a full-wave bridge rectifier having input terminals respectively connected to the end terminals of the charge coil, and having output terminals respectively connected to the plates of the charge capacitor for insuring unidirectional current flow from the charge coil to the charge capacitor. The system also includes a voltage regulator including a triac having a gate, and having first and second anodes respectively connected to the end terminals of the charge coil, and also including a varistor having one terminal connected to one of the end terminals of the charge coil, and having another terminal connected to the triac gate.

Abstract: A pole-shoe magnet group assembly for a magnetomotive device such as a magneto for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine. The group carried by the rotor includes a permanent magnet and a pair of pole-shoes extending generally circumferentially from the magnet in opposite directions. A coil/core group for electromagnetic cooperation with the pole-shoe magnet group is disposed on the stator. The inner surface of each pole-shoe is defined by a circular arc having a center eccentric to the center of rotation of the rotor. The inner surfaces of the pole-shoes and the core of the trigger coil define an air gap or spacing which varies during rotation of each shoe relative to the core. The signal induced in the trigger coil by this construction inhibits unwanted firing of a solid state switching component and in a breakerless ignition in response to reverse rotation of the magnet pole-shoe group.

Abstract: In a combined capacitor discharge ignition and alternator auxiliary power system for an internal combustion engine, voltage pulses for charging a capacitor, other voltage pulses for triggering an SCR, and still other voltage pulses for producing an alternating auxiliary power output are provided by a single generator having an engine driven rotor providing an array of magnetic pole faces regularly spaced and of alternating magnetic polarity along a circular path of movement. A stator carries a charge coil, a trigger coil, and at least one auxiliary power coil adjacent the circular path so that a repetitive series of charge pulses, a repetitive series of trigger pulses, and a repetitive series of auxiliary power pulses are induced respectively in the charge coil, the trigger coil, and the auxiliary power coil each time the array passes said coils. The rotor also includes a space, along the circular path, within which no magnetic pole face appears.