Abstract:
An ignition circuit and a method of operating an igniter (preferably a traveling spark igniter) in an internal combustion engine, including a high pressure engine. A high voltage is applied to electrodes of the igniter, sufficient to cause breakdown to occur between the electrodes, resulting in a high current electrical discharge in the igniter, over a surface of an isolator between the electrodes, and formation of a plasma kernel in a fuel-air mixture adjacent said surface. Following breakdown, a sequence of one or more lower voltage and lower current pulses is applied to said electrodes, with a low “simmer” current being sustained through the plasma between pulses, preventing total plasma recombination and allowing the plasma kernel to move toward a free end of the electrodes with each pulse.
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:
A method and system for powering an electronic circuit in a vehicle provided with an AC-CDI starting system is described herein. A power converter is connected to the magneto to tap some of the high voltage electricity produced thereby. The power converter converts this voltage to a voltage suitable to be used by an electronic circuit. Another aspect of the present invention consists in powering the interrogator circuit of a transponder system to prevent unwanted starting of the engine of the vehicle.
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. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the logic circuit, which is connected to the controlled switches of the output stages, can be configured to fire the stages at different times, in different orders, and/or in different combinations to provide the spark generating device with output pulses having substantially any desired waveshape and energy level to thereby produce a spark having substantially any desired energy level and plume shape at the spark generating device to suit any application.
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. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the logic circuit, which is connected to the controlled switches of the output stages, can be configured to fire the stages at different times, in different orders, and/or in different combinations to provide the spark generating device with output pulses having substantially any desired waveshape and energy level to thereby produce a spark having substantially any desired energy level and plume shape at the spark generating device to suit any application.
Abstract:
An ignition control device having an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) mode and a Capacitive Discharge ignition (CDI) mode is described. The ignition control device comprises: an output for providing an output voltage (V0UT), connected or connectable to a load, the load being a fuel injection actuator of an EFI system or an ignition capacitor of a CDI system; and a driver unit connected to the output, for driving the output voltage from a low level (V0UTI) to a high level (VOUTO) and from the high level to the low level in dependence on an input signal (On/Off), each transition of the output voltage from the low level to the high level having a low-to-high transition time which is longer for the CDI mode than for the EFI mode.