The present disclosure relates to gas turbine engine operation in which an igniter assembly is provided with an electrical energy input (e.g., an electrical waveform) that is configured to increase a likelihood of igniting a fuel-air mixture surrounding the igniter assembly. In certain embodiments, the igniter assembly is supplied with an augmented electrical waveform that may reduce a quantity of sparks generated by the igniter assembly before successful light-off (e.g., ignition) of the fuel-air mixture is achieved (e.g., as compared to a quantity of sparks generated to achieve ignition by an igniter assembly that receives an electrical energy input in the form of a conventional electrical waveform). Accordingly, the augmented electrical waveform may reduce wear (e.g., via oxidation) on electrodes of the igniter assembly, such as a primary electrode (e.g., a center electrode) and a secondary electrode (e.g., an outer shell electrode) disposed about the primary electrode.

Circuits and methods to control a current in a coil are disclosed. The circuit and methods provide over-dwell protection and soft shut-down functionality to safely discharge the coil. The safe discharge of the coil is facilitated by a soft-start ramp signal that reduces the coil current gradually by controlling a switching device according. A profile of the soft-start ramp signal over time determines the gradual reduction. The profile of the soft-start ramp signal can be adjusted to set (i) an over-dwell period of the coil current, after which the coil current is shut down, and (ii) a soft shut-down period, over which the coil current is gradually reduced.

Circuits and methods to control a current in a coil are disclosed. The circuit and methods provide over-dwell protection and soft shut-down functionality to safely discharge the coil. The safe discharge of the coil is facilitated by a soft-start ramp signal that reduces the coil current gradually by controlling a switching device according. A profile of the soft-start ramp signal over time determines the gradual reduction. The profile of the soft-start ramp signal can be adjusted to set (i) an over-dwell period of the coil current, after which the coil current is shut down, and (ii) a soft shut-down period, over which the coil current is gradually reduced.

To provide an ignition apparatus which can turn on and off the sub primary coil according to extension degree of the discharge path of the spark discharge. An ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil that is provided with a main primary coil, a sub primary coil which generates energization magnetic flux of a direction opposite to the energization magnetic flux of the main primary coil, and a secondary coil which is magnetically coupled with the main primary coil and the sub primary coil and supplies spark discharge energy to a spark plug; and after turning off energization to the main primary coil, based on a detection value of terminal voltage of the main primary coil, turns on and off the sub switch circuit to turn on and off energization to the sub primary coil and additionally supply spark discharge energy to the secondary coil.

To provide an ignition apparatus which can turn on and off the sub primary coil according to extension degree of the discharge path of the spark discharge. An ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil that is provided with a main primary coil, a sub primary coil which generates energization magnetic flux of a direction opposite to the energization magnetic flux of the main primary coil, and a secondary coil which is magnetically coupled with the main primary coil and the sub primary coil and supplies spark discharge energy to a spark plug; and after turning off energization to the main primary coil, based on a detection value of terminal voltage of the main primary coil, turns on and off the sub switch circuit to turn on and off energization to the sub primary coil and additionally supply spark discharge energy to the secondary coil.

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.

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.

The present application provides an internal combustion engine ignition device such that irregular winding of a primary coil and a tertiary coil and an increase in a number of components can be restricted.

A recessed portion that forms a tertiary coil winding portion is provided in a portion of a surface portion of a trunk portion of a primary bobbin, a tertiary coil is formed winding a copper wire around the recessed portion with no gap, and a primary coil is formed by winding a copper wire around a surface portion of the tertiary coil and a trunk portion surface portion of the primary bobbin in which the recessed portion is not formed, that is, a whole region of the trunk portion positioned between flanges after the tertiary coil is formed.

The present application provides an internal combustion engine ignition device such that irregular winding of a primary coil and a tertiary coil and an increase in a number of components can be restricted.

A recessed portion that forms a tertiary coil winding portion is provided in a portion of a surface portion of a trunk portion of a primary bobbin, a tertiary coil is formed winding a copper wire around the recessed portion with no gap, and a primary coil is formed by winding a copper wire around a surface portion of the tertiary coil and a trunk portion surface portion of the primary bobbin in which the recessed portion is not formed, that is, a whole region of the trunk portion positioned between flanges after the tertiary coil is formed.

Provided is a gas switch triggered by an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber, which solves the problem of the existing electrically-triggered gas switch and laser-triggered gas having a complicated trigger system, being insufficiently reliable and having a higher cost due to the pulse amplitude/laser beam energy having higher requirements. The gas switch triggered by an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber includes at least one trigger gap and one self-breakdown gap; each trigger gap is connected in parallel to a photoconductive switch, and an optical fiber is correspondingly provided for introducing an optical pulse for triggering. In the present disclosure, the advantages of a low trigger requirement of a photoconductive switch and a high voltage and large conduction current of a gas switch are fully utilized, and an optical pulse introduced by an optical fiber is used to trigger the photoconductive switch, so that the gas switch can be controlled and triggered under the action of a low-energy optical pulse (which can be less than 200 J) transmitted by optical fiber, thereby greatly simplifying the scale and complexity of the trigger system and promoting the development and application of the pulse power supply technology.