In a control apparatus, a discharge control unit controls an igniter unit so that a flow of current from a primary coil towards a ground side is blocked, thereby generating a high voltage in a secondary coil, and controls a spark plug so that the spark plug generates electric discharge. An energy input control unit controls an energy input unit so as to input electrical energy to an ignition coil after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit. A control unit and an abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the igniter unit or the ignition coil based on a first threshold and a first current value that is a value corresponding to a current detected by a current detection circuit at this time, when a first predetermined period elapses after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit.

In a control apparatus, a discharge control unit controls an igniter unit so that a flow of current from a primary coil towards a ground side is blocked, thereby generating a high voltage in a secondary coil, and controls a spark plug so that the spark plug generates electric discharge. An energy input control unit controls an energy input unit so as to input electrical energy to an ignition coil after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit. A control unit and an abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the igniter unit or the ignition coil based on a first threshold and a first current value that is a value corresponding to a current detected by a current detection circuit at this time, when a first predetermined period elapses after the start of control of the spark plug by the discharge control unit.

A method for operating an ignition coil is described, wherein a secondary voltage pulse is generated by feeding a primary voltage pulse into a transformer of the ignition coil, and a primary current, a primary voltage, a secondary current and/or a secondary voltage are measured, wherein the course of the primary current, the primary voltage, the secondary voltage and/or the secondary current are monitored and, when a malfunction is determined during subsequent primary voltage pulse, an error signal is generated which indicates that a malfunction has occurred during the previous primary voltage pulse and classifies the malfunction. In addition, a corresponding ignition coil is described.

Provided is an engine knocking detection apparatus capable of reasonably implementing necessary measures for water and dust proofing and against breaking of a cable, and the like at low cost as well as precisely detecting and effectively suppressing or avoiding knocking while suppressing cost and weight increases as much as possible. The engine knocking detection apparatus is adapted to detect knocking in an engine that adopts a flywheel magneto ignition system with an ignition coil unit securely attached to a cylinder, the ignition coil unit including an iron core, a coil wound around the iron core, and a control circuit board attached to the coil, and has an accelerometer for knocking detection attached to the iron core of the ignition coil unit.

Provided is an engine knocking detection apparatus capable of reasonably implementing necessary measures for water and dust proofing and against breaking of a cable, and the like at low cost as well as precisely detecting and effectively suppressing or avoiding knocking while suppressing cost and weight increases as much as possible. The engine knocking detection apparatus is adapted to detect knocking in an engine that adopts a flywheel magneto ignition system with an ignition coil unit securely attached to a cylinder, the ignition coil unit including an iron core, a coil wound around the iron core, and a control circuit board attached to the coil, and has an accelerometer for knocking detection attached to the iron core of the ignition coil unit.

An ignition timing control device has a knocking detection unit and an ignition timing adjustment unit. In a condition that the operation state of the internal combustion engine is suitable for adjustment of the ignition timing, the ignition timing control device outputs to an igniter an adjusted ignition signal as adjusted (corrected) by an adjusted ignition timing determination process. The ignition timing control device outputs to the igniter a reference ignition signal as it is outputted from an internal combustion engine control unit without adjustment (correction) in a condition that the operation state of the internal combustion engine is not suitable for adjustment of the ignition timing.

A system for detecting spark plug failures in an engine is provided. The system may include one or more sensor devices coupled to the engine and configured to measure engine data, a controller in communication with the sensor devices, and an output device. The controller may be configured to determine at least a misfire count, a secondary transformer voltage, and an exhaust port temperature based on the engine data, identify a fault condition based on one or more of the misfire count, the secondary transformer voltage, and the exhaust port temperature, and perform a corrective action responsive to the fault condition. The output device may be configured to generate a notification corresponding to the fault condition.

A system for detecting spark plug failures in an engine is provided. The system may include one or more sensor devices coupled to the engine and configured to measure engine data, a controller in communication with the sensor devices, and an output device. The controller may be configured to determine at least a misfire count, a secondary transformer voltage, and an exhaust port temperature based on the engine data, identify a fault condition based on one or more of the misfire count, the secondary transformer voltage, and the exhaust port temperature, and perform a corrective action responsive to the fault condition. The output device may be configured to generate a notification corresponding to the fault condition.

A method of preventing a catalyst from being damaged through igniting timing correction may include confirming a number of engine revolutions, determining whether a misfire occurs; confirming a driving condition of a vehicle when the misfire occurs, determining an ignition timing correction efficiency based on the vehicle driving condition, and determining a misfire rate by determining and confirming a misfire effect of a cylinder based on the determined ignition timing correction efficiency

An ignition control system for an internal combustion engine has a coil connector for connecting to an ignition coil, a processor coupled to the coil connector, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory contains instructions for the processor to, in communication with the ignition coil, achieve and maintain a target spark duration by dynamically controlling a coil dwell set-point of the ignition coil. The processor energizes the ignition coil during a first ignition sequence based on the coil dwell set-point, directly measure spark duration of the first ignition sequence by monitoring a voltage reflection on a primary side of the ignition coil, adjust the coil dwell set-point for a second ignition sequence based on the target spark duration and the measured spark duration, and energizes the ignition coil during the second ignition sequence based on the adjusted coil dwell set-point.