Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil, electric power supply circuit, a switching transistor, engine condition detecting element or unit that detects a signal relating to flow speed of air-fuel-mixture gas in the engine, and ignition control unit that controls the switching transistor to provide multiple ignition sparks in a predetermined ignition period. The ignition control unit controls the switching transistor to maintain each of the ignition sparks according to the signal relating to the flow speed of air-fuel-mixture gas in the engine to maintain sufficient spark energy for igniting the air-fuel mixture gas.

Abstract: A gate discharge resistor part is connected to the gate of an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). A timer circuit has its output connected to the input of the gate discharge resistor part and the input of a gate driving circuit. When an ON signal for driving the IGBT into an ON state stays input over a predetermined time period, the timer circuit outputs an H-level signal to the gate discharge resistor part and gate driving circuit. The gate driving circuit drives the IGBT into the OFF state based on the signal from the timer circuit. The gate discharge resistor part changes its resistance from a value given by a first resistor to a value given by a composite resistance of the first and second resistors.

Abstract: Drive current stabilization is achieved through the management of a drive current. The drive current may include a control current that is provided to a control terminal of a switch, a current limit input current that is provided to a current limit circuit associated with the switch and a stabilization current. The switch carries a load current responsive to a control signal on the control terminal. The magnitude of the control current is monitored and a magnitude of the stabilization current is increased responsive to a decrease in the magnitude of the control current to substantially maintain a magnitude of the drive current.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a power transistor connected to a primary coil of an ignition coil, a current sensing resistor connected in series with the power transistor, a constant current circuit and an abnormal oscillation control circuit that connects the gate resistor with the feedback circuit when the constant current circuit controls the primary current to be constant. The constant current circuit has a gate resistor connected in series to the control gate of the power transistor and a feedback circuit connected between the gate resistor and the current sensing resistor and controls current supplied to a control gate of the power transistor so as to control the primary current to be constant.

Abstract: An inductive load powering arrangement (20) utilizes current monitoring on only one side of the load (22) which in one example is a fuel injector coil. In disclosed examples, a high side driver (28) is on a first side of the coil (22) and the current monitoring occurs on only the first side of the coil (22). The low side driver (30) on an opposite side of the coil (22) is used for chopping to control the level of current in the operating coil (22).

Abstract: An igniter of the present invention has an insulated gate semiconductor device having a collector terminal, an emitter terminal and a gate terminal, a current control circuit which limits current by controlling voltage at the gate terminal when current for flowing through the insulated gate semiconductor device exceeds a fixed value, a voltage monitor circuit for detecting a potential of the collector, and a control current adjusting circuit for controlling current which flows through the gate terminal by receiving output from the voltage monitor circuit.

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: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is capable of avoiding mis-ignition even if subject to external disturbances when a fail signal is transmitted through a common signal line on which an ignition signal can also be transmitted. An igniter is connected to receive the ignition signal from an ECU, and includes a waveform shaper connected with the signal line and having an input connected in parallel to an input resistance so as to make a voltage at the input higher than a prescribed voltage when the ignition signal flows into the input resistance, and a pulse output circuit connected to the input and having an output for generating the fail signal into which a secondary coil current is converted. The pulse output circuit adjusts a fail signal current such that the voltage at the input when the fail signal flows into the input resistance becomes less than the prescribed voltage.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the phase of a four-stroke gasoline engine, a gasoline direct injection engine in particular. For reliable phase detection involving relatively little expense during a starting phase, a crankshaft is turned together with at least one piston; ignition is triggered via an ignition coil in at least two successive top dead centers of the piston without a supply of fuel. A primary current or a secondary current, or a primary voltage or a secondary voltage are measured in a measuring period which extends at least over a spark duration after the ignition. From the comparison of the measuring signals of successive ignitions, a conclusion is drawn as to which of the successive top dead centers is an ignition top dead center and which is a charge cycle top dead center.

Abstract: An interface for providing thermal overload protection includes a switching device, a temperature indicating device, a drive circuit and a thermal monitoring circuit. The thermal monitoring circuit is coupled across the temperature indicating device and provides a shutdown signal to the drive circuit when the temperature of the switching device is above a predetermined temperature level as indicated by a temperature signal provided by the temperature indicating device. The drive circuit responds to the shutdown signal by removing current sources and current sinks from a control terminal of the switching device at which point leakage currents cause the switching device to reduce a drive current to an inductive load.

Abstract: There is proposed an internal combustion engine ignition apparatus in which a switching circuit having no power supply terminal connected to a power supply such as a battery, and includes an output terminal connected to an ignition coil, an input terminal for receiving supply of an ignition signal voltage, and a reference potential terminal connected to a reference potential. 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. This current supply circuit is controlled by a constant current circuit, and supplies a driving current, which is made a constant current, to the drive resistor between a rising portion of the ignition signal voltage and a falling portion thereof. The driving current, which is made the constant current, keeps the gate voltage of the switching element being constant in the on period.

Abstract: Driver circuit (1) for actuating an electrical device via a control line (3) and for diagnosing the state of the control line (3) and/or of the actuated device, having a test circuit (Q1-Q6, R1-R6), connected to the control line (3), for measuring the electrical output current flowing via the control line (3), and an evaluation unit (5-8), connected to the test circuit, for generating a diagnostic signal (DIAG) on the basis of the measured output current, the test circuit having at least one current mirror circuit (Q1, Q2; Q4-Q5).

Abstract: Method for controlling a primary current in an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine with controlled ignition, the current is established in an inductive primary circuit over a given conduction time. The conduction time is calculated by: predetermining the predetermined conduction time, carrying out at least one measurement of the current in the primary circuit at an instant lying in the last tenth of the predetermined conduction time; estimating the current at the end of the predetermined conduction time, as a function of the measurement(s) carried out; optionally correcting the conduction time for the ignition cycle during which the last current measurement was carried out, as a function of the previous estimate and the current desired at the end of the conduction time.

Abstract: The ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes, a control unit (1) for outputting an ignition signal used to determine a time when an ignition plug (8) should be ignited, a switching unit (5) connected to the other terminal of a primary coil for cutting off the flow of a primary current, and a drive unit (4) for turning ON or OFF the switching unit (5) in response to the ignition signal to adjust a voltage to be applied to a gate of the switching unit (5).

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a control circuit that generates an ignition signal for allowing or interrupting the supply of a primary current of an ignition coil under control, a waveform shaping circuit that waveform-shapes the ignition signal, a switching element that allows and interrupts the supply of the primary current on the basis of the ignition signal that is waveform-shaped to generate a high voltage on a secondary side of the ignition coil, and an over-current protection circuit that forcedly interrupts the supply of the primary current and holds an interrupt state until the ignition signal turns off when the primary current of the ignition coil exceeds a given value.

Abstract: A method is presented for positioning a measurement window in time for analysis of ionic current signals, detected at internal combustion engines via the electrodes of a spark plug, for an ignition system having an ignition transformer, e.g., a.c. ignition or in a capacitor ignition system or inductive transistor ignition or inductive coil ignition or inductive coil ignition having a limited spark duration, the ignition systems being combined with a measurement device for an ionic current at the secondary winding on the ground side, each spark plug being allocated one ignition transformer, and the detection of the end of a spark and the opening of the measurement window for the ionic current signal taking place as a function of the end of the spark.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition device able to suppress misfires etc. at abnormal times and achieving smaller size and lower cost, provided with an IGBT (switching device SW), a current limiting circuit for limiting a primary current running through the IGBT to within a predetermined value, a fast gate voltage drop circuit for making the gate voltage of the IGBT fast drop to an extent where spark discharge occurs at the spark plug, an abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormal state of an igniter or electronic control unit and outputting an abnormality detection signal, and a slow gate voltage drop circuit having a gate voltage feed cutoff circuit for cutting off the feed of the gate voltage at an abnormal time and a discharge circuit for discharging the gate capacitor charge of the IGBT to make the gate voltage slowly drop to an extent where no spark discharge will occur at the spark plug.

Abstract: An igniter of the present invention has an insulated gate semiconductor device having a collector terminal, an emitter terminal and a gate terminal, a current control circuit which limits current by controlling voltage at the gate terminal when current for flowing through the insulated gate semiconductor device exceeds a fixed value, a voltage monitor circuit for detecting a potential of the collector, and a control current adjusting circuit for controlling current which flows through the gate terminal by receiving output from the voltage monitor circuit.

Abstract: An ignition device (2) for an internal combustion engine, a controller (1) for said ignition device (2) and an ignition unit comprising the ignition device (2) and controller (1) are disclosed, whereby the controller (1) is linked to the ignition device (2) by means of a bi-directional control line (5).

Abstract: A device for ignition of an internal combustion engine is described, having a computer and an ignition output stage. A current flow through the primary side of an ignition coil is controllable by the ignition output stage. Furthermore, an arrangement is provided for measuring current flow through the primary side. A charge starting point is calculated by the computer, at which the ignition output stage begins to control a current flow through the primary side. The ignition is triggered at a preselected current through the primary side. The instant of triggering is acknowledged to the computer, which takes this instant into consideration in a further, subsequent calculation of a charge starting point.

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 device for regulating the energy supply for the ignition of an internal combustion engine including an ignition coil and a central control unit, the ignition coil including a primary winding and an ignition power module connected to the primary winding. The central control unit ascertains a time difference between the beginning of current flow through the primary winding and the reaching of a first threshold value of the primary current, and in the light of the time difference, the central control unit determines an additional power loss of the ignition power module and/or active energy reduction, caused by interturn short circuits in the primary winding. When the additional power loss of the ignition power module exceeds a power loss threshold value, the ignition power module is switched off.

Abstract: An ignition coil assembly for providing ignition energy to a spark plug in accordance with a dwell pulse and transmitting diagnostic data related to an ignition event occurring after the dwell pulse. The assembly has an ignition coil with a spark plug terminal adapted to mate with the spark plug, and a transistor for conducting current flow through the primary winding of the ignition coil. The current flow is in accordance with the dwell pulse, which arrives over a signal line. A diagnostic block receives at least one electrical signal from the ignition coil and derives diagnostic data therefrom for transmitting over the same signal line in the absence of the dwell pulse.

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: An ignition device (2) for an internal combustion engine, a controller (1) for said ignition device (2) and an ignition unit comprising the ignition device (2) and controller (1) are disclosed, whereby the controller (1) is linked to the ignition device (2) by means of a bidirectional control line (5).

Abstract: An ignition system is disclosed that is capable of configuring the development or pattern of the ignition spark in a freely pre-selectable manner. The system has an ignition coil that is supplied on the primary side by a high frequency source (HF Source) that is pulse width modulated. The pulse width is regulated based upon the measured actual value of the current on the secondary side of the ignition coil and upon a pre-selected reference value development of the current amplitude during an ignition spark.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an arrangement comprising a power part and a control part which are accumulated in a one-chip in an IGBT monolithic silicon substrate. The control circuit part has current limiting function of prevent the flowing of any current which is above a predetermined value as well as function of detecting malfunction heat generation by which a primary electric current is blocked compulsorily. The secondary voltage of an ignition coil is generated repeatedly below a plug discharge voltage so as not to generate spark discharge in the sparking plug when the electric current compulsory blocking is carried out, and energy charged in the ignition coil is emitted or discharged. With this arrangement, the one-chip ignition apparatus with high reliability can be achieved.

Abstract: A system 10 for increasing electrical spark current to the spark plugs of an electronic ignition system for internal combustion engines includes a capacitor 12 parallel with a switch 14; a primary winding 16; a secondary winding 18 in series with a spark plug 20, the capacitor 12 and switch 14 being in series with the primary winding 16; and a battery 22 having a positive terminal connected to the primary winding 16, and a negative terminal connected to the capacitor 12, switch 14 and spark plug 20. The components cooperating to direct positive and negative electrical currents through the primary winding 16 whereby a peak to peak primary winding current occurs that induces a corresponding secondary winding current through said secondary winding 18.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a control circuit that generates an ignition signal for allowing or interrupting the supply of a primary current of an ignition coil under control, a waveform shaping circuit that waveform-shapes the ignition signal, a switching element that allows and interrupts the supply of the primary current on the basis of the ignition signal that is waveform-shaped to generate a high voltage on a secondary side of the ignition coil, and an over-current protection circuit that forcedly interrupts the supply of the primary current and holds an interrupt state until the ignition signal turns off when the primary current of the ignition coil exceeds a given value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to prevent abnormal increase in temperature of an IGBT of an ignition device or the like caused by rise in a low-level signal, while maintaining small size and formation of the IGBT, a thermal shutoff circuit, a current limiting circuit, and the like on one chip. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a shutoff circuit for forcedly shutting off passage of a current to an ignition switching element (IGBT) when abnormal increase in temperature of the IGBT is detected or the high level of an ignition signal continues for predetermined time or longer. As a power source of the shutoff circuit, a high-level voltage of the ignition signal is used. Until the voltage of the ignition signal becomes the level at which the shutoff circuit operates, agate of the IGBT is short-circuited to the ground by an operation level setting circuit. Thus, the IGBT has a dead zone of the ignition signal.

Abstract: The electronics partitioning for an ignition system with complex control circuits configures a first ignition coil out of a plurality of ignitions coils for an internal combustion engine to include an electronic circuit, such as a complex integrated circuit, that can be shared with the remainder of the plurality of ignition coils. An appropriate wiring harness is configured so that the remainder of the plurality of ignition coils can use the common, shared integrated circuit in the first ignition coil in response to the operation thereof. The inventive arrangement substantially reduces cost of electronics by a factor that is the reciprocal of the number of ignition coils, as well as increases reliability by reducing the absolute total number of complex integrated circuits.

Abstract: A circuit for supplying an oscillation suppress current is provided between a collector terminal and gate electrode of a main IGBT. The current supply circuit comprises a resistor and a diode which are connected in series. A bypass MOSFET is connected between the series connection and the emitter terminal. No semiconductor element having different temperature characteristics is provided in the current supply circuit.

Abstract: The ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes, a control unit (1) for outputting an ignition signal used to determine a time when an ignition plug (8) should be ignited, a switching unit (5) connected to the other terminal of a primary coil for cutting off the flow of a primary current, and a drive unit (4) for turning ON or OFF the switching unit (5) in response to the ignition signal to adjust a voltage to be applied to a gate of the switching unit (5).

Abstract: An automotive ignition system (50) includes a control circuit (52) operable to drive a coil current switching device (24) connected between an ignition coil (30) referenced at battery voltage (VBATT) and a sense resistor (RS) referenced at ground potential. The control circuit (52) includes a drive circuit (20) and voltage trip circuit (54) defining a reference voltage (VTH) for comparison with a sense voltage (VS) developed across the sense resistor (RS) due to increasing coil current (IC) through the ignition coil (30). As the sense voltage (VS) increases to the reference voltage (VTH), the voltage trip circuit (54) produces a trip voltage signal (VTRIP) to which the drive circuit (20) is responsive to deactivate the coil current switching device (24). The voltage trip circuit (54) is configured such that the reference voltage (VTH) is temperature and battery voltage, and optionally engine speed, dependent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ignition system for an internal combustion engine having an ignition device that requires a high voltage (ignition voltage) for igniting the ignition spark.

Abstract: A main IGBT conducts or blocks a primary current flowing through the ignition coil in response to an input ignition control signal to generate a high voltage on the secondary side of the ignition coil. The main IGBT and a current limiter circuit are integrated in a monolithic silicon substrate of an insulating gate bipolar power transistor. The main IGBT has a collector and agate connected through a depletion IGBT forming part of a constant current circuit, and a resistor. When a voltage generated across the resistor becomes equal to or higher than a zener voltage, a zener diode leads this current to an emitter of the main IGBT.

Abstract: A circuit for supplying an oscillation suppress current is provided between a collector terminal and gate electrode of a main IGBT. The current supply circuit comprises a resistor and a diode which are connected in series. A bypass MOSFET is connected between the series connection and the emitter terminal. No semiconductor element having different temperature characteristics is provided in the current supply circuit.

Abstract: In the ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine according to the invention, during a period when spark discharge voltage is detected by a waveform detecting unit 20 and an ignition coil 12 supplies the spark discharge voltage by use of ignition detection 22, ignition in each of cylinders is detected in accordance with discharged voltage by the waveform detecting unit 20. When the ignition detection 22 detects the ignition by use of, for example, an ignition control unit 24, during a discharging period of supplying the spark discharge voltage having detected the ignition, the supply of the spark discharge voltage is stopped. Thereby, since the supply of the spark discharge voltage is stopped after having detected the ignition, it is possible to avoid the surplus supply of spark energy to the spark plug 10 after having fired.

Abstract: A device for ignition of an internal combustion engine is described, having a computer and an ignition output stage. A current flow through the primary side of an ignition coil is controllable by the ignition output stage. Furthermore, an arrangement is provided for measuring current flow through the primary side. A charge starting point is calculated by the computer, at which the ignition output stage begins to control a current flow through the primary side. The ignition is triggered at a preselected current through the primary side. The instant of triggering is acknowledged to the computer, which takes this instant into consideration in a further, subsequent calculation of a charge starting point.

Abstract: A device for regulating the energy supply for the ignition of an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil and a central control unit (16) is proposed, the ignition coil having a primary winding (4) and an ignition power module (13) connected to the primary winding (4). The central control unit ascertains a time difference between the beginning of current flow through the primary winding (4) and the reaching of a first threshold value of the primary current, and in the light of the time difference, the central control unit (16) determines an additional power loss of the ignition power module (13) and/or active energy reduction, caused by interturn short circuits in the primary winding (4). When the additional power loss of the ignition power module (13) exceeds a power loss threshold value, the ignition power module is switched off.

Abstract: The electronic ignition device includes an ignition coil with a primary winding terminal and a secondary winding terminal generating a spark, a power element arranged between the primary winding terminal and ground, a protection circuit issuing a disable signal to the control terminal of the power element in preset conditions, and a voltage limiting circuit having inputs connected to the primary winding terminal and to the battery voltage, and an output connected to the control terminal of the power element. The voltage limiting circuit detects a potential difference between its own inputs and supplies to the control terminal an activation signal for the power element, in presence of the deactivation signal and when the potential difference exceeds the supply voltage by a preset value. Thereby, the voltage limiting circuit limits the voltage on the primary winding terminal to a preset value which depends upon the value of the battery voltage.

Abstract: A one-chip integration circuit including a power part and a control part integrated within an IGBT monolithic silicon substrate is disclosed. The control circuit part comprises a current limiting circuit for limiting a current so that it does not flow over a set-up value, a reference pulse generating circuit for detecting that an ignition control signal is inputted over a predetermined period of time, a digital timer made up by a digital counter, a latch circuit for dropping the gate voltage of the IGBT by latching due to the digital timer output signal and carrying out resetting when the ignition control signal is off, an input circuit having a potential comparison circuit in its input stage, in which the operation voltage for ignition control signal has a threshold value and a hysterisis, and an input protection circuit having a Zener diode and a resistor connected in parallel therewith for protecting the element from disturbance surges.

Abstract: An improved method of identifying the cylinder combustion sequence of a four-stroke internal combustion engine accepts of rejects an assumed combustion sequence based on measured ion current combustion quality (CQ) indications. Individual CQ indications for the various engine cylinders are algebraically combined as a function of the assumed combustion sequence so that the combined CQ indication increases in a first polarity if the assumed combustion sequence is correct, and in a second polarity if the assumed combustion sequence is incorrect. When the absolute value of the combined CQ indication exceeds a threshold, the polarity of the combined CQ indication is used to either accept or reject the assumed combustion sequence.

Abstract: Ignition system with an ignition coil that is supplied on the primary side by a high frequency source (HF source), wherein the voltage output by the HF source is pulse width modulated and a means (6) for picking up the secondary side current (actual value) is provided, wherein a regulating means (8) is provided that regulates the pulse width dependent upon the measured actual value of the current on the secondary side of the ignition coil and upon a pre-selected reference value development of the current amplitude during an ignition spark.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil coupled to a spark plug in a combustion chamber of the engine, and a switch responsive to an ignition control signal for causing a primary current to flow through a primary winding (16) of the ignition coil. A control circuit is configured to generate the ignition control signal so as to produce a plurality of sparks at the spark plug during a combustion event in the cylinder. A secondary current trip circuit in sensing relation to the secondary winding is configured to generate secondary current trip signal when the secondary current decays down past a secondary current trip threshold. The control circuit is further configured to trigger a recharge event of the multicharge operation in response to the secondary current trip signal, thereby minimizing variability in terms of the amount of energy delivered to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In the ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine according to the invention, during a period when spark discharge voltage is detected by a waveform detecting unit 20 and an ignition coil 12 supplies the spark discharge voltage by use of ignition detection 22, ignition in each of cylinders is detected in accordance with discharged voltage by the waveform detecting unit 20. When the ignition detection 22 detects the ignition by use of, for example, an ignition control unit 24, during a discharging period of supplying the spark discharge voltage having detected the ignition, the supply of the spark discharge voltage is stopped. Thereby, since the supply of the spark discharge voltage is stopped after having detected the ignition, it is possible to avoid the surplus supply of spark energy to the spark plug 10 after having fired.

Abstract: A temperature dependent current generating circuit includes a circuitry for producing a first voltage that is substantially constant over temperature, circuitry for producing a second voltage that increases with increasing temperature, wherein the second voltage intersects the first voltage at a predefined temperature, and a comparator circuit receiving the first and second voltages. The comparator circuit is responsive to the first and second voltages to source a compensation current below the predefined temperature; i.e., when the second voltage is below the first voltage, and to sink the compensation current above the predefined temperature; i.e., when the second voltage is above the first voltage.

Abstract: A compression sense ignition system includes a sensing capacitor having a conductive sensing element disposed in proximity to the secondary winding leads of a first and a second ignition coil for developing a compression sense ignition signal. Epoxy potting material encapsulates the leads and the sensing element to reduce variation of the effective capacitance of the sensing capacitor. The compression sense ignition signal is processed to generate a cylinder identification signal which is used to determine absolute engine position. A fault mode detection and correction scheme is implemented wherein a controller responsive to the cylinder identification signal can determine correct absolute engine position notwithstanding the occurrence of one or more engine or ignition system faults which may impair the cylinder identification signal.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for determining the breakdown voltage in the case of an ignition of a vehicle is provided. The breakdown point in time is detected and the breakdown voltage is determined based on the breakdown point in time.