Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition device includes an ignition coil, an ignition plug, a main ignition circuit, and an energy input circuit. A first switching element of the main ignition circuit performs energization and interruption of energization to a first coil part of a primary coil to generate an induced electromotive force using a DC voltage. A second switching element of the energy input circuit performs energization and interruption of energization to a second coil part of the primary coil to keep a discharge current in a secondary coil within an intended range directly using the DC voltage, after the induced electromotive force has been generated. A soft-off circuit of the energy input circuit slows a turn-off speed of the second switching element.

Abstract: In an implementation, a method of operating an ignition circuit can include enabling a charge path control circuit and a switch circuit to charge a primary winding of an ignition coil of the ignition circuit until a threshold current is reached in the primary winding. After reaching the threshold current in the primary winding, the method can include maintaining a current in the primary winding of the ignition coil in correspondence with a current limit by alternatively activating and deactivating the charge path control circuit complementary to alternative activation and deactivation of a circulating-current path control circuit. During the maintaining the current in the primary winding, the method can include initiating a spark in a spark plug included in the ignition circuit, the initiating the spark including controlling an amount of energy delivered from the primary winding to a secondary winding of the ignition coil.

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 igniter includes a switch element and a switch control apparatus. An ignition signal IGT is input to an input line of the switch control apparatus. A high-frequency filter removes high-frequency noise from the input line. A voltage comparator compares an output voltage VFIL of the high-frequency filter with a reference voltage VREF, so as to generate a judgment signal SDET. A driving stage controls an on/off switching operation of the switch element according to the judgment signal SDET. An off-state dead-time circuit prohibits the switch element from turning off during a predetermined dead time after the judgment signal SDET transits to a negated level that corresponds to the off state of the switch element.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a cylinder head mounted to the block. The cylinder head supplies air and fuel to the cylinder for combustion therein. The engine also includes an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder head and having first and second outlets configured to exhaust post-combustion gasses from the cylinder. The engine also includes a turbocharging system including a low-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the first outlet to pressurize the airflow and a high-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the second outlet. The turbocharging system also includes a flow control device for selectively directing the post-combustion gasses to the low-flow and high-flow turbochargers.

Abstract: Provided is a switch apparatus including a conductor; a switching device that contacts the conductor on a first surface and switches between a first terminal on the first surface side and a second terminal on a second surface side that is opposite to the first surface; and a control device that contacts the conductor on a third surface and includes a control circuit of the switching device provided on a fourth surface side opposite to the third surface and a first withstand voltage structure that protects the control circuit from excessive voltage added to the conductor. By providing the withstand voltage structure in the control device, it is possible to protect the control circuit.

Abstract: An embodiment of an ignition device comprises an ignition coil including a first winding and a second winding electromagnetically coupled to each other, a first switch electrically connected to a first end of the first winding, a battery electrically connected to a second end of the first winding, a booster with a first end electrically connected to the battery, a second switch electrically connected to a second end of the booster and to the second end of the first winding, and a drive device electrically connected to the first switch, that turns the first switch and the second switch on and off. The drive device feeds a secondary current to the second winding by changing the first switch from an on-state to an off-state, and supplies an output from the booster to the first winding by changing the second switch from an off-state to an on-state.

Abstract: An ignition system and a method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine are provided, including a primary voltage generator and a boost converter for generating an ignition spark. An ascertainment of a voltage requirement for the ignition spark is followed by a modification of a switch-on time of the boost converter relative to a switch-off time of the primary voltage generator.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing collector-emitter voltage (VCE) overshoot in an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is provided. The circuit includes circuitry operable to generate a pulse which has a rising edge synchronized to the moment when collector or emitter current of the IGBT begins to fall during turn-off of the IGBT and a width which is a fraction of a duration of the VCE overshoot. The circuitry is further operable to combine the pulse with a control signal applied to a gate of the IGBT so as to momentarily raise the gate voltage of the IGBT during turn-off of the IGBT to above a threshold voltage of the IGBT for the duration of the pulse. A corresponding method of reducing VCE overshoot in an IGBT also is provided.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a spark plug having a high voltage electrode and an external electrode facing each other across a gap and being configured to generate a spark discharge in the gap to ignite a combustible fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an ignition coil device configured to generate a predetermined high voltage and supply the high voltage to the high voltage electrode to form a path for the spark discharge in the gap, a high frequency power supply having a band-pass filter and being configured to supply an alternating current to the spark discharge path, and a control device configured to control operation timing of the high frequency power supply. The band-pass filter passes a frequency of from 1 MHz to 4 MHz.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple commands to an ignition coil driver circuit to provide spark, ion signal integration, and ignition coil shunting during a cycle of a cylinder is presented. In one example, multiple voltage pulses are provided over a single conductor communication link. The voltage pulses provide encoded instructions for ignition timing, ignition coil shunting, and ion signal integration.

Abstract: An igniter includes a switch element and a switch control apparatus. An ignition signal IGT is input to an input line of the switch control apparatus. A high-frequency filter removes high-frequency noise from the input line. A voltage comparator compares an output voltage VFIL of the high-frequency filter with a reference voltage VREF, so as to generate a judgment signal SDET. A driving stage controls an on/off switching operation of the switch element according to the judgment signal SDET. An off-state dead-time circuit prohibits the switch element from turning off during a predetermined dead time after the judgment signal SDET transits to a negated level that corresponds to the off state of the switch element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor element, a gate pull-down circuit which is connected to a gate terminal of the power semiconductor element, and a gate resistor which is connected between an input terminal of the semiconductor device and the gate terminal of the power semiconductor element. The gate pull-down circuit has a constant current circuit by which electric charges can be extracted from a gate capacitance of the power semiconductor element when a signal inputted to the input terminal has a low level. As a result, the semiconductor device has an improved switching speed and an improved noise resistance.

Abstract: An ignition device includes an ignition coil with a primary coil and a secondary coil, a spark plug with center and ground electrodes for discharge therebetween, and a voltage limiting circuit. The voltage limiting circuit limits voltage applied between the electrodes of the spark plug such that the voltage has an absolute value limited within a predetermined voltage limiting value. The voltage limiting value is differentiated from each other in first and second stages. The first stage is defined as a period in which an initial discharge peak ends, the initial discharge peak being initially generated by electric energy. The second stage is defined as a period after the end of the initial discharge peak. The voltage limiting value in the first stage is lower than the voltage limiting value in the second stage.

Abstract: A multiplexing drive circuit for an AC ignition system having a common leg that includes two switches coupled in series, and one or more dedicated legs, wherein each leg includes two switches coupled in series. The multiplexing drive circuit also includes a transformer for each of the one or more dedicated legs, each transformer having a primary winding coupled between one of the one or more dedicated legs and the common leg, and wherein each transformer has a secondary winding coupled in parallel to a spark plug, and a pulse-width modulated (PWM) switch controller configured to operate the common leg and dedicated leg switches to control characteristics of the spark discharge for the spark plug. Wherein the switch controller is capable of real time diagnostic checks by monitoring the time at which a spark discharge event takes place.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an IGBT, a constant voltage circuit, and protection Zener diodes. The IGBT makes/breaks a low-voltage current flowing in a primary coil. The constant voltage circuit and the protection Zener diodes are provided between an external gate terminal and an external collector terminal. The constant voltage circuit supplies a constant gate voltage to the IGBT to thereby set a saturation current value of the IGBT to a predetermined limiting current value. The IGBT has the saturation current value in a limiting current value range of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: When the first switch is on, the ignition capacitor is charged up to a voltage value whose absolute value is larger than an output voltage value of a DC power source, through resonance caused by a resonance coil and the ignition capacitor; when the second switch is on, the ignition capacitor supplies energy to the ignition coil device, and when the second switch is off, the energy is released and a high voltage is applied across electrodes of an ignition plug.

Abstract: The plasma ignition device includes an ignition plug, a breakdown discharge circuit configured to apply a high voltage to the ignition plug to cause a breakdown discharge in a discharge space in the ignition plug, and a plasma discharge circuit configured to accumulate electric energy supplied from a power supply and applies the accumulated electric energy to the ignition plug as a current to bring a gas in the discharge space into a plasma state so that the gas in the plasma state is injected to a combustion chamber of an combustion engine during the breakdown discharge in order to cause ignition. The plasma discharge circuit includes an energy accumulating section, and an energy supplying section configured to supply the electric energy to the energy accumulating section during a short time period immediately before the breakdown discharge circuit applies the first voltage to the ignition plug.

Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine includes a magnetically-permeable core a primary winding disposed outward of the core, and a secondary winding disposed outward of the primary winding and inductively coupled to the primary winding. The secondary winding has a left secondary winding section and right secondary winding section. A first end of the left secondary winding section is in electrical contact with a first terminal for delivering a first spark-generating current to a first spark plug. A first end of the right secondary winding section is in electrical contact with a second terminal for delivering a second spark-generating current to a second spark plug. A second end of the first secondary winding and a second end of a the second secondary winding is connected to a third terminal for delivering a third spark-generating current to a third spark plug.

Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.

Abstract: A plasma generating device including: a supply circuit including a switch controlled by a control signal for applying an intermediate voltage on an output of the control circuit at a frequency defined by the control signal; a plurality of plasma-generating plug coils arranged in parallel on the output via connectors, each connector being adapted to be removably connected to a corresponding plug coil and including a mechanism adapted to offset the resonance frequency of the plug coil so that each plug coil has a distinct resonance frequency; a control device of the supply circuit, that determines the control frequency from the resonance frequencies of the plug coils to selectively control the plug coils according to the control frequency used.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil which is feedable on its primary side by a voltage supply unit, a secondary current measuring device for measuring the course of the secondary side current, a control device for at least temporary controlling of the primary side voltage or the primary side current in dependence on the measured course of the secondary side current. Subsequent to an interruption of the primary side voltage or current supply of the ignition coil during an ignition process or subsequent to the drop of the primary side voltage or the primary side current in the ignition coil below a predeterminable threshold during the ignition process, the control device energizes or regulates the primary side voltage or current supply of the ignition coil above the predeterminable threshold only when the secondary side current induced thereby acts in the direction of the predetermined course of the secondary side current.

Abstract: A plasma ignition system is described herein that can produce plasma ionization around a spark plug gap using a single power circuit for the spark and plasma ionization. The system results in fewer components and higher reliability, allowing the system to be more easily integrated with existing ignition circuitry or in new ignition system designs. The plasma ignition system adds a one-way current path between the primary and secondary windings of the high voltage transformer. This allows energy stored within the capacitor after the creation of the spark to flow out of the capacitor, across the one-way current path, and through the spark plug gap. Thus, the plasma ignition system provides a dramatically better ignition spark with relatively little increase in components. The system does so without requiring a secondary power supply circuit to generate the current for producing plasma ionization.

Abstract: There is provided an internal-combustion engine that allows plasma to be used safely, efficiently, and in a manner conducive to resource conservation. An internal-combustion engine having an intake valve for opening and closing a combustion chamber, the internal-combustion engine comprising a valve-driving mechanism for driving the intake valve; and a plasma-generating device positioned within a region containing gas used for combustion during a combustion stroke, the plasma-generating device being composed of an antenna and a microwave-generating device, wherein the plasma-generating device composed of the antenna and the microwave-generating device generates plasma at a timing intimately associated with a state of openness of the intake valve in response to the driving of the valve by the valve-driving mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for generating energy/power in a capacitive discharge ignition system, said system comprising at least one charge winding (L) which by means of a fly wheel and via a first rectifier device (D1) charges a charge capacitor (C1) connected to a primary winding (P) of an ignition voltage transformer (30) in order to provide said primary winding (P) with energy for generation of a spark via a secondary winding (S) of said transformer (30), wherein a voltage control/switching unit (10) is arranged to enable output of energy (Out21) from said primary winding (P).

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable hand-guided work apparatus having an internal combustion engine (10) for driving a work tool (5). A combustion chamber (12) is formed in a cylinder (11) of the engine (10) and is delimited by a piston (13) which drives a crankshaft (14) in rotation. A spark plug (16) is held in the cylinder (11) and is driven by an ignition module (20) to ignite a compressed air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (12) to drive the piston (13). A short circuit line (21) is provided on the ignition module (20) for switching off the ignition. The short circuit line (21) is configured as a bus line (30) in order to make available, in a simple manner, a plurality of further operating parameters to the ignition module. An external control apparatus (23, 24) and/or sensors (25, 26) are connected to the bus line (30).

Abstract: A control circuit for use with an ignition system of a light-duty combustion engine. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a charging circuit, a timing circuit and a shut down circuit that includes a manual stop switch. Activation of the manual stop switch causes the control circuit to shut down the engine, and can do so even if the manual stop switch is only momentarily engaged by the operator.

Abstract: A plasma ignition device comprising: an ignition plug; an ignition circuit applying a high voltage to the plug to start discharge; a power supply circuit including a battery section for supplying an electric energy to a discharge space of the plug having impedance reduced by discharge start, and a charging section charging the battery section with a boosted voltage by a booster circuit, wherein the power supply circuit including: a first means 610 for stopping a boosting operation of the booster circuit when the charging section voltage is equal or higher than a first reference for high-voltage abnormality; a second means 630 for detecting the charging section abnormal voltage by comparison with a second reference for low-voltage abnormality for detecting ground to conduct a given control on the power supply circuit; a third means 600 for invalidating the control of the second means until the charging section is sufficiently charged.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for detecting an open secondary condition in a secondary coil of an ignition coil using a control signal received from a control input of a switch configured to control the flow of current to a primary coil of the ignition coil. In an example, the flow of current in the primary coil of the ignition coil can be controlled using an insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT), and the open secondary condition in the secondary coil of the ignition coil can be detected using a received gate voltage of the IGBT.

Abstract: A high-voltage generator device, including an inductive-capacitive resonator capable of producing a high voltage, a mechanism generating a high-frequency control pulse train, a voltage source, a capacitor, and a voltage generator including a switching transistor, the control electrode of which is connected to the output of the mechanism generating the high-frequency control pulse train, the source of the switching transistor being connect to ground, and the drain of the switching transistor being capable of delivering a voltage pulse train to the inductive-capacitive resonator in response to the control pulse train received on the control electrode of the switching transistor. The drain of the switching transistor is connected to the inductive-capacitive resonator via an isolating transformer, the isolating transformer being connected in parallel with a capacitor, the isolating transformer also being connected to the voltage source.

Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a combustion-based system having a combustion chamber. The system also includes an ignition control system. The ignition control system includes an ignition device coupled to the combustion chamber, control circuitry having an energy storage device configured to supply energy to the ignition device to produce an ignition event having a desired energy level, and a controller configured to obtain a target voltage across the energy storage device and to discharge an ignition energy from the energy storage device after obtaining the target voltage, wherein the ignition control system is configured to supply the ignition energy to the ignition device to produce the ignition event.

Abstract: Applicant has disclosed an improved dual cycle ignition system for automobiles. In the preferred embodiment, the improved ignition system comprises at least two secondary ignition coils wired in a high voltage “OR” configuration using a single high voltage circuit through a distributor, or alternatively a single plug operated directly from diodes connected respectively to associated secondary coils. The ignition coils are set up to alternate sparks, so that even at 8000 engine RPM, each coil is firing as if operating at 4000 RPM, a speed where conventional highly optimized and inexpensive coils are very effective and can reach their full output.

Abstract: A device including two plasma generation electrodes, a series resonator having a resonant frequency above 1 MHz and including a capacitor with two terminals, and an induction coil surrounded by a screen, the capacitor and the coil being placed in series, the electrodes being connected to the respective terminals of the capacitor. The ratio of the spark plug to the radius of the screen is equal to 0.56. The device can optimize the Q-factor of such a device by adjusting the radius of the coil to that of the screen.

Abstract: A multiplexing drive circuit for an AC ignition system having a common leg that includes two switches coupled in series, and one or more dedicated legs, wherein each leg includes two switches coupled in series. The multiplexing drive circuit also includes a transformer for each of the one or more dedicated legs, each transformer having a primary winding coupled between one of the one or more dedicated legs and the common leg, and wherein each transformer has a secondary winding coupled in parallel to a spark plug, and a pulse-width modulated (PWM) switch controller configured to operate the common leg and dedicated leg switches to control characteristics of the spark discharge for the spark plug.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element in a motor vehicle by pulse width modulation, wherein fluctuations in the supply voltage are compensated for by adapting the duty cycle so as to achieve a desired heating output. According to the invention, during a voltage pulse the voltage that is present at the heating element and/or the current flowing through the heating element are measured at specified intervals, and the measured values or values determined therefrom are added to calculate a sum value, which rises with the energy that is fed into the heating element by the voltage pulse, and the voltage pulse is ended at the latest when the sum value has reached a target value. The invention furthermore relates to a glow plug controller for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A plasma power supply circuit includes a DC/DC converter connected to a DC power supply and outputting a DC voltage, a voltage limit circuit limiting an output voltage from the DC/DC converter to a predetermined value, a PJ capacitor connected to an output end of the DC/DC converter and charged with electric energy used to generate a plasma in a discharge space of the spark plug, and a high-voltage switch connected between the PJ capacitor and the DC/DC converter and controlled to switch ON and OFF so that a charge period of the PJ capacitor is controlled according to running conditions of the internal combustion engine. Hence, the plasma ignition device can prevent damage on an electronic component incorporated therein even at the occurrence of a short and lessen damage on the internal combustion engine caused by an erroneous plasma jet ejection, wearing of the spark plug, and power consumption.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine including: an exciter coil that generates an AC voltage having a positive half wave and first and second negative half waves generated before and after the positive half wave with rotation of the internal combustion engine; and an ignition control portion that controls an ignition position of the engine using a microprocessor to which a power supply voltage is supplied from a power supply circuit that converts the voltage having the negative half waves generated by the exciter coil to a DC voltage, wherein the ignition control portion is comprised so as to cause a timer to start a counting operation at the start of the operation of the microprocessor, regard a measurement value of the timer as time between generation of the first negative half wave and generation of the second negative half wave to arithmetically operate counting data for measuring the ignition position based on rotational speed information of the engine obtained from the time, and immediat

Abstract: An ignition procedure for internal combustion engines using multiple coils of a generator coupled to and turning synchronously with the engine. A magnetic field flows through the coils and generates a sequence of alternating current half waves induced in the coils. The half waves are used for: (1) charging an energy storage element that is discharged by an ignition switch via the primary coil winding for triggering an ignition spark; (2) processing via a control device for activating the ignition switch at an ignition time in dependence on the processed alternating current half waves and/or on the state of the internal combustion engine; and (3) the power supply for the control device (U8), and an operating mode for switching combustion off for the engine, whereby by means of the control device, the ignition switch is guided over less than the time span that is needed for a complete revolution of the magnetic generator.

Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the auxiliary battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.

Abstract: A control circuit for use with an ignition system of a light-duty combustion engine. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a charging circuit, a timing circuit and a shut down circuit that includes a manual stop switch. Activation of the manual stop switch causes the control circuit to shut down the engine, and can do so even if the manual stop switch is only momentarily engaged by the operator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combustion state detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of detecting abnormal combustion with high accuracy. The combustion state detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a variety of sensors; an ignition coil; an ignition plug; a transistor; a switching control unit; an ion current detection unit; and abnormal combustion detection units for determining that abnormal combustion has occurred in a case where a crank angle at a point of time when the ion current exceeds a predetermined current value or when the ion current that exceeds the predetermined current value reaches a peak value thereof is on a spark-advance side compared with a crank angle for determining abnormal combustion. The switching control unit ends the spark discharge at a predetermined timing while the spark discharge is in progress after the primary current is shut off and the spark discharge is generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a low-voltage-powered plug (2) for preheating a diesel engine (1) air/fuel mixture. The plug (2) is powered by pulses having a predetermined amplitude and duration, said amplitude being less than a maximum amplitude (PWM_MAX). The amplitude and duration of the voltage pulses powering the plug (2) are controlled as a function of first parameters including the duration of the preceding pulses and the duration between successive preceding pulses.

Abstract: In a capacitor-discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a power generation coil, a capacitor connected to the power generation coil, an ignition coil having a primary winding connected to the capacitor through a thyristor and a secondary winding connected to a spark plug, and a microprocessor which turns on the thyristor at a predetermined crank angular position to produce ignition in the spark plug, an engine stop switch is installed to input an engine-stop command signal to the microprocessor when being turned off by the operator. With this, it becomes possible to surely stop the engine at any time if desired.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder include selectively isolating all but one spark plug associated with the cylinder at least during an ionization current sensing period to reduce or eliminate interference among ionization current signals flowing through more than one spark plug.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine and for use with a generator powered current source comprises a storage capacitor, at least one power thyristor for discharging the storage capacitor to transfer energy to at least one coil triggered in synchronism with an internal combustion engine with which the ignition system may be associated. A triggering circuit biases the power thyristor to discharge the storage capacitor. A shut-off circuit comprises a solid state device for switching the output of the generator to ground interrupting the flow of current to the power thyristor. A circuit sensing current flow in the triggering circuit generates a control and gates the solid state device into conduction in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition device in which a coil unit including an ignition coil and an exciter coil wound around a common core, and an ignition unit including a circuit board and components of an ignition circuit mounted to the circuit board are housed in a case and molded with resin poured into the case, wherein the ignition coil and the exciter coil are placed axially with a spacing therebetween and a space is formed between the coils, the circuit board of the ignition unit is placed on a lateral side of the coil unit, and terminals for connecting the ignition coil and the exciter coil to the circuit board are all connected to the circuit board through the space between the ignition coil and the exciter coil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transistor type ignition apparatus suitable for a gas engine in which high voltage output can be obtained with low input electricity. The ignition apparatus includes an ignition coil 2 having a primary coil 21 connected to a battery 6 and a secondary coil 22 connected to a spark plug 4, and a control circuit 3 having a transistor 32 which controls on and off of current flowing through the primary coil 21. The ignition apparatus also includes a surge absorbing capacitor 5 which is connected in parallel to the primary coil 21 and in which electric charge is accumulated by induced voltage of the primary coil 21. Electric charge is accumulated in the surge absorbing capacitor 5 by induced voltage of the primary coil 21. High secondary voltage is induced in the secondary coil 22 by discharge of the electric charge.

Abstract: A multi-spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes ignition coils each of which is mounted on one of spark plugs of an engine, an energy storing circuit, switching elements that repeatedly discharge electric energy stored by the energy storing circuit into the primary coil of the ignition coils; and a control circuit that controls the energy storing circuit and the switching elements according to consolidated signals each of which includes an energy storing command signal for storing electric energy into the energy storing circuit and a joint energy discharging period command signal for discharging the electric energy by the one of the spark plugs.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) system that can be used with a variety of light-duty internal combustion engines, including those typically employed by lawn, garden, and other outdoor equipment. According to one embodiment, the CDI system includes an ignition module having a first switching device that shorts a charge coil during an initial portion of a charge cycle. Subsequently, the first switching device is turned ‘off’ so that a flyback charging technique charges an ignition capacitor. A second switching device is then used to discharge the ignition capacitor and initiate the combustion process.