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.

An ignition control system performs discharge generation control, in which a discharge spark is generated, once or a plurality of times during a single combustion cycle. The ignition control system successively calculates an approximate energy density based on a secondary current and a discharge path length. During a predetermined period after blocking of a primary current is performed during a single combustion cycle, the ignition control system calculates an integrated value by integrating the discharge path length at this time, based on the approximate energy density being greater than a predetermined value. The ignition control system performs the discharge generation control again based on the calculated integrated value being less than a first threshold.

A glow discharge tube comprising a gas-sealed envelope, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The gas-sealed envelope defining an interior with an interior surface defining a first interior portion with a first interior surface and a second interior portion with a second interior surface. The first electrode being located within the first interior portion, and the second electrode being located within and in contact with the second interior portion.

A glow discharge tube comprising a gas-sealed envelope, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The gas-sealed envelope defining an interior with an interior surface defining a first interior portion with a first interior surface and a second interior portion with a second interior surface. The first electrode being located within the first interior portion, and the second electrode being located within and in contact with the second interior portion.

The present invention concerns a device for pulsed electric discharge in a liquid comprising a control module configured to control a voltage generator such that the voltage generator applies a predetermined heating voltage setpoint between electrodes during a heating period until a pulsed electric discharge is obtained between the electrodes, in order to measure the breakdown voltage during the pulsed electric discharge, in order to estimate the quantity of energy supplied to the liquid during the heating period, referred to as the “quantity of heating energy”, from the predetermined heating voltage setpoint and the measured breakdown voltage, and in order to determine a new heating voltage setpoint to apply between the electrodes of the at least one pair of electrodes at the next pulsed electric discharge based on the estimated quantity of heating energy and a predefined breakdown voltage setpoint.

The present invention concerns a device for pulsed electric discharge in a liquid comprising a control module configured to control a voltage generator such that the voltage generator applies a predetermined heating voltage setpoint between electrodes during a heating period until a pulsed electric discharge is obtained between the electrodes, in order to measure the breakdown voltage during the pulsed electric discharge, in order to estimate the quantity of energy supplied to the liquid during the heating period, referred to as the “quantity of heating energy”, from the predetermined heating voltage setpoint and the measured breakdown voltage, and in order to determine a new heating voltage setpoint to apply between the electrodes of the at least one pair of electrodes at the next pulsed electric discharge based on the estimated quantity of heating energy and a predefined breakdown voltage setpoint.

In an ignition apparatus, an ignition plug is provided. In the ignition plug, a tubular outer conductor surrounds an inner conductor, and a dielectric member is disposed in the tubular outer conductor to define a plasma formation region between the inner conductor and the dielectric member. The plasma formation region has opposing first and second ends in the axial direction of the tubular outer conductor, and the first end of the plasma formation region communicates with the combustion chamber. A power source is connected between the inner and tubular outer conductors. A controller causes a power source to apply electromagnetic power pulses with intervals therebetween across the inner and tubular outer conductors during an ignition cycle of an engine. Each of the electromagnetic power pulses forms at least a corresponding plasma in the plasma formation region.

In an ignition apparatus, an ignition plug is provided. In the ignition plug, a tubular outer conductor surrounds an inner conductor, and a dielectric member is disposed in the tubular outer conductor to define a plasma formation region between the inner conductor and the dielectric member. The plasma formation region has opposing first and second ends in the axial direction of the tubular outer conductor, and the first end of the plasma formation region communicates with the combustion chamber. A power source is connected between the inner and tubular outer conductors. A controller causes a power source to apply electromagnetic power pulses with intervals therebetween across the inner and tubular outer conductors during an ignition cycle of an engine. Each of the electromagnetic power pulses forms at least a corresponding plasma in the plasma formation region.

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.

A system and method for differentiating between different modes of pulsed electrical discharges via of an amplitude to time (ATC) conversion circuit is described. A bipolar ATC circuit is used to add together the positive and negative portions of an attenuated and filtered signal derived either from the voltage or current of a pulse. Alternatively, a unipolar ATC circuit may be employed. The resulting processed signal is compared against a reference voltage to generate an output signal that is active for the amount of time that the processed signal exceeds the reference voltage. Discharge mode is determined based on three factors: did a pulse occur, if a pulse occurred when did the pulse start relative to the original pulse event, and what is the duty cycle of the pulse. Subsequent pulse generated may be controlled accordingly.