An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder, a crankshaft configured to be driven by the piston, a fuel supply system for supplying an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder, an ignition system, an electric starting system including a starter motor, and an ultracapacitor mounted on the engine, the ultracapacitor configured to power the starter motor to start the engine. A related garden tool is also disclosed.

A control methodology and apparatus for an engine suitable for use in capacitor discharge ignition systems for internal combustion engines or brushless DC motors is provided, which make use of a simple logic block to determine for instance an ignition timing advance angle or duty cycle signal based on actual engine speed versus engine control parameter data stored in a table, which is a read-only memory, preferably configurable. To minimize memory space, a small number of values of engine control parameter versus engine speed are stored in the table and the logic block determines the required engine control signal for a measured value of engine speed by an interpolation process, preferably linear interpolation.

A control methodology and apparatus for an engine suitable for use in capacitor discharge ignition systems for internal combustion engines or brushless DC motors is provided, which make use of a simple logic block to determine for instance an ignition timing advance angle or duty cycle signal based on actual engine speed versus engine control parameter data stored in a table, which is a read-only memory, preferably configurable. To minimize memory space, a small number of values of engine control parameter versus engine speed are stored in the table and the logic block determines the required engine control signal for a measured value of engine speed by an interpolation process, preferably linear interpolation.

Disclosed is an inventive method for controlling a corona ignition device of an internal combustion engine. A corona discharge, which ignites fuel in a combustion chamber of the engine, is generated by applying a voltage to the corona ignition device. An actual value that is characteristic of the nitrogen oxide concentration of the exhaust gas is compared with a setpoint value, and, if the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by more than a specified threshold value and the actual value is greater than the setpoint value, the voltage is reduced after the comparison.

Disclosed is an inventive method for controlling a corona ignition device of an internal combustion engine. A corona discharge, which ignites fuel in a combustion chamber of the engine, is generated by applying a voltage to the corona ignition device. An actual value that is characteristic of the nitrogen oxide concentration of the exhaust gas is compared with a setpoint value, and, if the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by more than a specified threshold value and the actual value is greater than the setpoint value, the voltage is reduced after the comparison.

An internal combustion engine according to the present invention has an ignition control device. When a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases beyond a predetermined rotational over speed, the ignition control device advances an ignition timing of the ignition plug to a first BTDC angle where proper combustion is performed. Further, the ignition control device performs a misfire stroke or strokes of the ignition plug in one rotation or rotations of the crankshaft after the proper combustion is performed by activating the ignition plug at the first BTDC angle.

An internal combustion engine according to the present invention has an ignition control device. When a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases beyond a predetermined rotational over speed, the ignition control device advances an ignition timing of the ignition plug to a first BTDC angle where proper combustion is performed. Further, the ignition control device performs a misfire stroke or strokes of the ignition plug in one rotation or rotations of the crankshaft after the proper combustion is performed by activating the ignition plug at the first BTDC angle.

A delayed ignition control device comprises a charging circuit and a delayed ignition control circuit. In the delayed ignition control circuit, the resistor R6 is connected between the positive electrode of the input end of the photo coupling IC and the initial end of the power coil N3; the shut-off switch S1 is connected between the negative electrode of the input terminal of the photo coupling IC and the ground; the collector electrode of the photo coupling IC is connected with the initial end of the power coil N3; the output end of the photo coupling IC is connected with the anode of the diode D5; the voltage holding capacitor C2 is connected between the negative electrode of the diode D5 and the ground; and the resistor R8 is connected with the negative electrode of the diode D5 and the controller electrode of the silicon controlled SCR2.

A delayed ignition control device comprises a charging circuit and a delayed ignition control circuit. In the delayed ignition control circuit, the resistor R6 is connected between the positive electrode of the input end of the photo coupling IC and the initial end of the power coil N3; the shut-off switch S1 is connected between the negative electrode of the input terminal of the photo coupling IC and the ground; the collector electrode of the photo coupling IC is connected with the initial end of the power coil N3; the output end of the photo coupling IC is connected with the anode of the diode D5; the voltage holding capacitor C2 is connected between the negative electrode of the diode D5 and the ground; and the resistor R8 is connected with the negative electrode of the diode D5 and the controller electrode of the silicon controlled SCR2.

Disclosed is an inventive method for controlling a corona ignition device of an internal combustion engine. A corona discharge, which ignites fuel in a combustion chamber of the engine, is generated by applying a voltage to the corona ignition device. An actual value that is characteristic of the nitrogen oxide concentration of the exhaust gas is compared with a setpoint value, and, if the actual value deviates from the setpoint value by more than a specified threshold value and the actual value is greater than the setpoint value, the voltage is reduced after the comparison.