Abstract: A system and a method for media streaming from multiple sources are disclosed. A content requesting client device accesses a server to receive a list of available sources that may include multiple Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and independent servers. Based on a pre-set criteria, such as the source delivery performance and cost, the client device partitions the content into parts, allocates a source to each part, and simultaneously receives media streams of the content parts from the allocated sources. The server may be a Video-on-Demand (VOD) server, and the content may be a single file of a video data, such as a movie. The delivery performance of the used sources is measured during the streaming for updating the partition or the allocation. The updated measured performance may be stored locally at the client device, or at a server for use by other clients. The client actions may be implemented as a client-side script.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a communication unit that, if the order and time interval of an operation performed on a first device representing the information processing device, and an operation performed on a second device representing another information processing device match at least one predetermined pattern representing a predetermined order and a predetermined time interval, performs a communication associated with the predetermined pattern between the first device and the second device.

Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for an internal combustion engine capable of estimating a discharge plasma length accurately by easy method. Controller for internal combustion engine is provided with a secondary voltage detector that detects secondary voltage which is voltage generated by secondary coil, a secondary voltage minimum value calculator that calculates minimum value of secondary voltage during discharge period, and a discharge plasma length calculator that calculates length of the discharge plasma based on secondary voltage and minimum value of secondary voltage.

Abstract: A drive control circuit includes: a first protection circuit connected between a signal input line and a ground line and clamps a voltage of AC noise superimposed on the signal input line at one clamp level; a second protection circuit connected between the signal input line and the ground line and clamps the voltage of the AC noise superimposed on the signal input line at an other clamp level; and a drive signal generation circuit generating the drive signal based on a comparison between a voltage in the signal input line and Vt. The input signal has binary levels including an L-level voltage VL and an H-level voltage VH, and a mean voltage of the AC noise is lower than a differential voltage between Vt and VL and higher than a differential voltage between Vt and VH.

Abstract: An ignition coil system is configured for use with a spark ignition internal combustion engine. The system includes a first switching circuit electrically connected to the primary coil that provides electrical power to the primary coil. The system includes a second switching circuit connected to the primary coil that is configured to short the terminals of the primary coil after the secondary current has been induced in the secondary coil, whereby the secondary coil induces a current in the primary coil, thereby reducing the secondary current in the secondary wire coil. A controller in communication with the first and second switching circuits is configured to receive a single electronic spark timing (EST) signal and to control the conductive states and the non-conductive states of the first and second switching circuits based on this single EST signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, which ignition device includes an ignition coil configured as a transformer, a spark plug connected to the secondary winding of the ignition coil, an actuable switching element connected in series to the primary winding of the ignition coil, and a control unit connected to the control input of the switching element, wherein the control unit provides an adjustable supply voltage for the ignition coil and an actuating signal for the switching element as a function of the currents through the primary and the secondary windings of the ignition coil and the voltage between the connecting point of the primary winding of the ignition coil to the switching element and the negative terminal of the supply voltage, as a result of which firstly operation of the spark plug by way of alternating current is possible and secondly regulation of said current is possible, which leads to more reliable ignition with a lower wear of the spark

Abstract: When throttle lever is pulled with the rotation lock member of the engine-powered tool in a state in which rotation of rear handle is permitted, the electrode terminal provided on the rotation lock member and the electrode terminal provided on throttle lever contact each other. As a result of this contact, the two output terminals of the engine generator are short-circuited, the supply of electric power to the ignition device from the engine generator is stopped and the supply of electric power from the ignition device to sparkplug in the engine is stopped. Through this, operation of the blade is prevented when rotating rear handle.

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 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 system, circuit, and method are provided for generating continuous plasma to control combustion including the ignition and maintenance of the combustion process. An electric potential difference is generated across a pair of electrodes in a combustible bulk gas in the form of an oscillating driving potential just below the arcing threshold which alternates in polarity to cause an alternating gap current between the electrodes which generates continuous plasma to contribute to combustion of the bulk gas by providing for more efficient combustion.

Abstract: An ignition control module for an internal combustion engine is incorporated directly into an existing ignition module package design and thereby preserves stock appearance, and is cooperative with stock magnetos, distributors and coils. The module incorporates both ignition pulse generation and adjustable rev limiting. A pushbutton switch allows manual selection of a preferred RPM to rev limit to, and the selection may be carried out under the hood while the engine is running. A plurality of light emitting diodes display the selected rev limit RPM by flashing a corresponding LED, and when not being used to select rev limit RPM, display the engine RPM in bar graph format. A digital flywheel is provided to reduce adverse affect of mechanical jitter in distributor mechanical parts, to improve timing of individual sparks. Dwell and timing curves are programmed into a microprocessor, and may be changed through external input.

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 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: 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: When a rectangular wave voltage control mode is selected, a control apparatus estimates the output torque of an alternating-current motor based on the outputs of a current sensor and a rotation angle sensor, and executes torque feedback control by adjusting the phase of rectangular wave voltage based on the difference between the torque estimated value and a torque command value. The control apparatus executes a switching interruption that outputs a control command to a switching element of an inverter every 60 degrees of electrical angle, and executes an angle interruption that samples the phase currents of the alternating-current motor based on the output of the current sensor and converts those phase currents into a d-axis current and a q-axis current every predetermined electrical angle that is set beforehand.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for switching current flow through an ignition coil, in which the switching process is able to be executed by at least one first transistor that is controllable by a control signal which is able to be supplied via a control signal input of the circuit configuration, and the control signal input is connected to at least one variable resistor.

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: An embodiment of a control circuit is proposed for turning on a power switching device, the switching device turning on in response to a control signal exceeding a threshold value. The control circuit includes pre-charging means for providing the control signal at a pre-charging value not reaching the threshold value, and soft turn-on means for gradually increasing the control signal from the pre-charging value to a turn-on value exceeding the threshold value; the pre-charging means includes means for sensing an indication of the threshold value, and means for setting the pre-charging value according to the sensed threshold value.

Abstract: An ignition device for a plasma jet ignition plug is provided. A resistance for decreasing electric noises is not incorporated in a plasma jet ignition plug. A resistance of not less than 1K? and not more than 20K? is provided to a path from a spark discharge circuit to a center electrode, thus reducing the generation of electric noises at the time of trigger discharge. Along with the reduction of the generation of electric noises, a loss of energy at the time of plasma discharge can be reduced by setting an inner resistance provided to a line extending to the center electrode from a plasma discharge circuit to 1? or less. Accordingly, the plasma jet ignition plug can jet flame-shaped plasma sufficiently large for igniting an air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: An ignition device (ECU and a drive circuit) for a spark ignition type internal combustion engine that directs an ignition with generation of a predetermined start signal (i.e., falling of an ignition signal) has a circuit for monitoring generation timing of the start signal and for prohibiting the ignition based on the start signal when the start signal is generated at abnormal timing. In particular, the ignition device has a circuit for determining whether the start signal is generated at predetermined start timing and a circuit for prohibiting the ignition based on the start signal when the above circuit determines that the start signal is not generated at the start timing. Thus, damages to the engine and peripheral devices due to the ignition at the abnormal timing can be reduced.

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: 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 capacitor discharge ignition device for an engine including: an exciter coil provided in a magneto generator driven by the engine; a voltage increasing circuit that increases an induced voltage of the exciter coil; a capacitor charged by an output voltage of the voltage increasing circuit; and a discharge switch that is turned on at ignition timing of the engine and discharges charges in the capacitor through a primary coil of the ignition coil, wherein the ignition device further includes a voltage increasing control portion that controls the voltage increasing circuit so as to increase an output voltage of the voltage increasing circuit when a rotational speed of the engine is a set value or less, and limit the output voltage of the voltage increasing circuit when the rotational speed of the engine exceeds the set value.

Abstract: A first series circuit having an energy storage coil 21, a first diode 3, and a capacitor 6 connected between a direct current power supply E and a ground terminal GND is arranged. A second series circuit of a switching element 5 and an ignition coil 4 is connected to both ends of the capacitor 6. The switching element 5 of the ignition device configured as above is controlled so as to perform a plurality of ON/OFF operations in time of the ignition operation of the ignition plug 8 connected to the secondary side of the ignition coil 4. As a result, the capacitive discharge and the inductive discharge are alternately repeated at the ignition plug 8. According to the present invention, a multiple discharge type ignition device in which the number of components is reduced, and the power consumption is suppressed is realized.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition device for an internal combustion engine including: idling time advance angle control permission condition determination means for determining whether an idling time advance angle control permission condition is met that is a condition for permitting control to advance an ignition position during idling immediately after completion of the start of the engine in order to stabilize idling immediately after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine; and idling time advance angle control means for advancing the ignition position during idling immediately after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine when it is determined that the idling time advance angle control permission condition is met.

Abstract: The electric supercharger includes a vehicle connector, an impulse signal generator empowered by a power source, and a signal amplifier. The vehicle connector has a positive terminal and a negative terminal for electrically connecting to an electrical source of said vehicle. The impulse signal generator, which is electrically linked to the vehicle connector for receiving an impulse signal from the electrical source of the vehicle, includes a signal integral circuit stably generating a rectangular impulse signal. The signal amplifier electrically connects to the impulse signal generator to amplify the rectangular impulse signal and to send the amplified rectangular impulse signal back to sparkplugs and injectors of the vehicle through the vehicle connector for enhancing a combustion-efficiency of an engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: The absolute crankshaft angle of an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool is to be determined. The engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber delimited by a piston that drives a crankshaft in a crankcase. The crankcase is connected by a transfer passage to the combustion chamber and the transfer port of the transfer passage is piston-controlled. Ignition takes place at an adjusted crankshaft angle. The energy supply unit of the engine is driven by the crankshaft and provides electric energy for ignition. The crankshaft angle is determined in that a signal generator is provided as an energy supply unit and generates an alternating voltage signal caused by a crankshaft revolution. An operating pressure signal of the engine is detected by a pressure sensor. The output signals of the pressure sensor and of the signal generator are linked with one another for determining the absolute crankshaft angle.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition device for an internal combustion engine including: idling time advance angle control permission condition determination means for determining whether an idling time advance angle control permission condition is met that is a condition for permitting control to advance an ignition position during idling immediately after completion of the start of the engine in order to stabilize idling immediately after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine; and idling time advance angle control means for advancing the ignition position during idling immediately after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine when it is determined that the idling time advance angle control permission condition is met.

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 device to control the charging rate of an ignition coil for an internal combustion spark ignition engine. The device controls the turn-on rate of the primary coil by slew-rate limiting using switching devices and a Miller-effect capacitor in order to reduce secondary oscillation magnitudes originated by a sharp transition of the controlling switch.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a switch circuit connected to an ignition coil to switch on or off current supplied to the ignition coil, a control circuit for providing a control signal for controlling the switch circuit based on the ignition signal and a protection circuit including an input terminal that receives the ignition signal, an NPN transistor having a collector connected to the input terminal, an emitter connected to a ground, a base and the collector and a parasitic diode between the collector and the emitter of the NPN transistor, in which a prescribed capacitance is formed between the base and the collector of the NPN transistor. If an electric surge that has an ascending slope comes into the input terminal, the NPN transistor to turn on to discharge the electric surge to a ground. If an electric surge that has an descending slope comes into the input terminal, it passes through the parasitic diode toward the input terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for controllably generating sparks is provided. The apparatus includes a spark generating device; at least two output stages connected to the spark generating device; means for charging energy storage devices in the output stages and at least partially isolating each of the energy storage devices from the energy storage devices of the other output stages; and, a logic circuit for selectively triggering the output stages to generate a spark. Each of the output stages preferably includes: (1) an energy storage device to store the energy; (2) a controlled switch for selectively discharging the energy storage device; and (3) a network for transferring the energy discharged by the energy storage device to the spark generating device.

Abstract: A control circuit is connected to a plurality of driving stages. Each driving stage includes a high-voltage terminal for driving an inductive load. The control circuit is provided with a corresponding plurality of control stages. These control stages are integrated in a single semiconductor body and connected each to the high-voltage terminal of a respective driving stage.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition apparatus includes a switching circuit having no power supply terminal connected to a power supply such as a battery is constructed, and including an output terminal connected to an ignition coil, an input terminal for receiving an ignition signal voltage and a reference potential terminal connected to a reference potential. In the switching circuit, the terminal structure is simplified, and energization timing and ignition timing can be set more accurately. A current supply circuit is connected between the input terminal and the reference potential terminal, and a current is supplied from the current supply circuit to a drive resistor of the switching element. In this current supply circuit, an energization timing when supply of the driving current is started is controlled by a waveform shaping circuit operating by the ignition signal voltage, and an ignition timing when the driving current is interrupted is controlled.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system includes a trigger circuit that generates a trigger signal in synchronism with operation of an engine for discharging an ignition capacitor. A timing circuit is connected to the trigger circuit for controlling the timing of the trigger signal and includes a timing coil for generating a timing signal in synchronism with operation of the engine. The timing circuit further includes a switch that has primary electrodes connected to the trigger circuit and a control electrode coupled to the timing coil for shorting the trigger circuit as a function of engine speed. The CDI system is thus capable of advancing engine timing to enable low-speed startup. The timing circuit is further adaptable to provide skip-spark speed-governing, timing retard speed-governing, and anti-reverse rotation of the engine.

Abstract: An ignition system (1, 2, 41) for an internal combustion engine is provided with an outlet for electric activation of an ignition element (9) for a combustion element in an internal combustion engine, an energy accumulator (3) for accumulating the electric energy, a control element (4) which is connected to the energy accumulator (3) and which is used to charge the energy accumulator (3) during a predefined charging time, in addition to a measuring unit for detecting the charge state of the energy accumulator (3). In order to set the charge time for the energy accumulator, a timer is provided, said timer being connected to the control element (4) on the outlet side, and the measuring unit (6, 10-12) is connected to said timer in a feedback loop, whereby the timer adjusts the charge time according to the charge state of the measured charge state of the energy accumulator.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine and a corresponding device are described, in which reference pulses are generated synchronously with respect to the cyclical movement of at least one part of the internal combustion engine. At least one event moment for the occurrence of at least one event is calculated by an output unit at specific, definitively preset time intervals of the cyclical movement. Moreover, an independent clock-pulse generator is provided which generates clock pulses, the interval of the clock pulses being independent of the movement, and the interval of the clock pulses being smaller than the interval of the reference pulses. The at least one event moment is expressed as the number of clock pulses of the independent clock-pulse generator, and the at least one event is triggered upon reaching the number of clock pulses.

Abstract: In an engine igniter 1, when a spark-discharge duration time Tc calculated on the basis of operation conditions of an internal combustion engine has elapsed after generation of spark discharge by an ignition coil 13, an electricity-supply resumption circuit 51 is operated in order to resume supply of primary current i1 to a primary winding L1, to thereby interrupt the spark discharge. Further, a signal processing control circuit 23 performs electricity-supply-start timing delay control processing in order to delay the timing of supplying electricity to the primary winding L1 in accordance with the power source voltage, to thereby maintain the magnetic flux energy accumulated in the ignition coil 13 at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A supplementary ignition system in an internal combustion engine having an induction coil ignition systems of the type in which a first spark signal is generated to provide a single second spark signal a predetermined time after the start of the first spark signal. The invention supplements and does not alter or affect the first spark signal the first spark signal provided by the primary ignition system for the internal combustion engine. Augmentation with the second strike ignition system results in a longer duration and higher quality double strike spark at the spark plug of the engine during the compression stroke of the engine to provide more complete combustion of the fuel/air mixture in each cylinder of the engine. Being a supplemental ignition system, it can be removed at any time with immediate reversal back to the original equipment and its performance.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge ignition apparatus provides spark advance with engine speed. The ignition apparatus includes triggering circuitry connected to the primary coil of the high voltage transformer. The triggering circuitry produces a triggering signal based on voltage induced in the primary coil by revolution of a permanent magnet. The triggering circuitry is adapted to provide the triggering signal at low RPMs on the trailing edge of a predetermined half cycle. At higher RPMs, the triggering signal shifts to the leading edge of the half-cycle so as to advance the spark.

Abstract: A solid-state Hall effect ignition system which requires connection to only a single ignition coil lead wire. The lead wire connects to both an output transistor and to power supply circuitry arranged to provide an internal bias or supply voltage for the solid-state ignition circuitry. Current limiting and automatic shut-off features dwell control, and polarity protection are also provided.

Abstract: A contactless ignition system is provided with an ignition charge discharge condenser for charging an induced voltage of a generating coil, a first switching element, triggered to conduct when an induced voltage of a trigger coil reaches an initial trigger level, for supplying a voltage charged into the ignition charge discharge condenser into an ignition coil, and a trigger control condenser for charging induced voltages of the generating coil and the trigger coil, and triggering of the first switching element caused by an induced voltage of the trigger coil is inhibited by a second switching element during a specified discharge time following charging of the trigger control condenser.

Abstract: For minimizing spark energy and improving durability of a spark plug (13) without controlling a time for energizing a primary wiring (L1); the ignition unit (1,2 and 3) for an internal combustion engine is arranged in that actions of a transistor (17) are controlled by an ECU (19) to abruptly interrupt a primary current (i1) such that high voltage for ignition induced to a secondary wiring (L2) is applied on the spark plug (13) for generating spark discharge. For forcibly interrupting spark discharge at a spark discharge duration, the ECU (19) switches the thyristor (21 and 210) ON to supply current to the primary wiring (L1) for forcibly interrupting the spark discharge. By controlling the spark discharge duration to be optimum on a basis of an operating condition of the internal combustion engine, it is possible to restrict generation of multiple discharge and to restrict exhaustion of electrodes of the spark plug (13).

Abstract: In an engine igniter 1, when a spark-discharge duration time Tc calculated on the basis of operation conditions of an internal combustion engine has elapsed after generation of spark discharge by an ignition coil 13, an electricity-supply resumption circuit 51 is operated in order to resume supply of primary current i1 to a primary winding L1, to thereby interrupt the spark discharge. Further, a signal processing control circuit 23 performs electricity-supply-start timing delay control processing in order to delay the timing of supplying electricity to the primary winding L1 in accordance with the power source voltage, to thereby maintain the magnetic flux energy accumulated in the ignition coil 13 at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: An ignition system including an improved power circuit and a timing circuit. The timing circuit includes a microprocessor or microcontroller to provide for engine control. The microcontroller supervises, for example, multispark, revlimit and retard controls. The power circuit includes a variety of overvoltage protection circuitry and employs a reduced size toroid flyback transformer and employs an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) ignition coil switch.

Abstract: A system for controlling ignition energy of an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil coupled to first and second electrodes of an ignition plug defining a spark gap therebetween, wherein the primary coil is operable to induce a spark voltage across the secondary coil and across the spark gap. The secondary coil is responsive to the spark voltage to produce a discharge current across the spark gap of the ignition plug. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, means are provided for controllably shunting the primary coil to thereby control the duration of discharge current across the spark gap of the ignition plug. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, means are further provided for drawing discharge current away from the ignition plug to thereby limit the magnitude of the discharge current within some time period after the transfer of energy from the primary coil to the secondary coil begins.

Abstract: A controlled energy ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil coupled to first and second electrodes of an ignition plug defining a spark gap therebetween, wherein the primary coil is responsive to activation of a control signal to produce a spark voltage across the secondary coil and across the spark gap. The secondary coil is responsive to the spark voltage to produce a discharge current across the spark gap of the ignition plug. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, means are provided to draw discharge current away from the ignition plug to thereby limit the discharge current to below a threshold current value within some predefined time period after activation of the control signal.

Abstract: An ignition system for multi-firing a spark plug of a spark ignition internal combustion engine and for detecting auto-ignition utilizing the spark plug as a feedback element. The ignition system includes a pulse transformer connected to a spark plug, a distribution element coupled to the transformer, a timing element connected to the distribution element, a controller, an engine position sensor and a spark discharge detection circuit. Based on engine parameters, the controller loads the timing element with the appropriate signals and triggers one of three timers. The triggered timer begins to count down and times-out at the appropriate engine position either ignition or simply for auto-ignition. This triggers a second timer which enables yet another timer that provides control signals to the distribution element to produce a series of voltage signals of a predetermined magnitude applied by the transformer at the spark plug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for processing internal combustion engine crank angle sensor signals. The construction is such that an output side circuit of a crank angle sensor outputs a crank angle signal with a high level pulse generated in response to the switching on and off of a switch element connected in series to a power source. Moreover, an input side circuit of a signal processing circuit includes a voltage reducing circuit which pulls down a power source voltage applied at the time of pulse generation, to a predetermined voltage and supplies this to an arithmetic processing section. Consequently, the output signal at the time of no pulse generation becomes a low level so that influence from noise is minimized. Also, since the input signal at the time of momentary disconnection of terminals connecting between the crank angle sensor and the processing circuit is a low level, then erroneous recognition of pulse generation is prevented.