In an implementation, a circuit can include a switch circuit configured to be electrically connected to an ignition circuit, a high-side path control circuit electrically connected between the switch circuit and a battery terminal, and a low-side path control circuit electrically connected between the switch circuit and a ground terminal. The circuit can include a control circuit configured to detect an abnormal condition associated with the ignition circuit where the control circuit can be configured to activate the high-side path control circuit in response to the detected abnormal condition.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a power source, a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding and a secondary winding, a connector extending from the secondary winding so as to connect with a terminal of a spark plug, and a multi-strike circuit cooperative with the electronic spark timing circuit so as to fire the transformer with multiple strikes between the falling edge and the rising edge. A booster circuit is cooperative at the electronic spark timing circuit so as to collect and store energy from the power source while the electronic spark timing circuit fires the transformer. A delay circuit fires the transformer at a time subsequent to the falling edge and before the rising edge.

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a power source, a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding and a secondary winding, a connector extending from the secondary winding so as to connect with a terminal of a spark plug, and a multi-strike circuit cooperative with the electronic spark timing circuit so as to fire the transformer with multiple strikes between the falling edge and the rising edge. A booster circuit is cooperative at the electronic spark timing circuit so as to collect and store energy from the power source while the electronic spark timing circuit fires the transformer. A delay circuit fires the transformer at a time subsequent to the falling edge and before the rising edge.

In a discharge generator, a control unit switchably performs a continuous mode and a burst mode based on determination of whether target output power is higher than discharge start power. The burst mode alternately performs a discharge mode and a non-discharge mode. The control unit causes a burst ratio to be set to a value expressed by the following equation b=Po*/P.sub.fs0 where b represents the burst ratio, Po* represents the target output power, and P.sub.fs0 represents the discharge start power. The burst ratio is defined as a ratio of the discharge period to a burst period. The burst period is the sum of the discharge period and the stop period. The control unit causes, in the burst mode, the switch circuit to output, as the output power, the discharge start power during the discharge period.

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for a current circuit. According to various embodiments, the current circuit may be utilized for current detection or current limiting. The current circuit may be configured to compensate for a base current, making detection of an input current more accurate.

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for a current circuit. According to various embodiments, the current circuit may be utilized for current detection or current limiting. The current circuit may be configured to compensate for a base current, making detection of an input current more accurate.

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for an ignition system. In various embodiments, the ignition system activates a soft shutdown of an ignition coil in the event of an over dwell condition. The apparatus comprises a first counter and a second counter that are selectively activated at predetermined events. An output of the second counter controls the value of a reference current that decreases linearly over time and wherein a rate of change of the reference current may be adjusted according to a frequency of a clock signal. In various embodiments, the soft shutdown operates independent of the supply voltage and temperature.

Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for an ignition system. In various embodiments, the ignition system activates a soft shutdown of an ignition coil in the event of an over dwell condition. The apparatus comprises a first counter and a second counter that are selectively activated at predetermined events. An output of the second counter controls the value of a reference current that decreases linearly over time and wherein a rate of change of the reference current may be adjusted according to a frequency of a clock signal. In various embodiments, the soft shutdown operates independent of the supply voltage and temperature.

In a discharge generator, a control unit switchably performs a continuous mode and a burst mode based on determination of whether target output power is higher than discharge start power. The burst mode alternately performs a discharge mode and a non-discharge mode. The control unit causes a burst ratio to be set to a value expressed by the following equation b=P.sub.O*/P.sub.fs0 where b represents the burst ratio, P.sub.O* represents the target output power, and P.sub.fs0represents the discharge start power. The burst ratio is defined as a ratio of the discharge period to a burst period. The burst period is the sum of the discharge period and the stop period. The control unit causes, in the burst mode, the switch circuit to output, as the output power, the discharge start power during the discharge period.

The invention relates to an arrangement for firing spark gaps with a trigger electrode which is located at or in one of the main electrodes and which is insulated from this main electrode, wherein the trigger electrode can be electrically connected to a further main electrode via at least one voltage-switching or voltage-monitoring element and there is an air gap between the trigger electrode and the further main electrode, wherein the trigger electrode forms a sandwich structure with an insulating layer and a layer made of a material with lower conductivity than the material of one of the main electrodes. Moreover, the insulating layer is designed as a thin foil or lacquer layer and the layer made of the material of lower conductivity is in contact with one of the main electrodes or rests on it. According to the invention, for discharging energetically weak overvoltage events without response of the spark gap formed between the main electrodes, the insulating layer of the sandwich structure is interrupted outside the firing area and/or an electrical component which influences the response behavior is connected between the trigger electrode and the associated main electrode.