In an ignition control device for an internal-combustion engine, signal separation circuitry receives and separates an ignition control signal that is an integrated signal of a main ignition signal for controlling the main ignition operation, an energy input signal for controlling the energy input operation, and a target secondary current command signal. The ignition control signal is formed of a first signal and a second signal that are pulsed signals. The signal separation circuitry is configured to generate, from the ignition control signal, the main ignition signal based on rising edges of the first signal and the second signal as pulse-waveform information of the first signal and the second signal, generate the energy input signal based on a pulse width of the second signal as pulse-waveform information of the second signal, and generate the target secondary current command signal based on pulse-waveform information of the first signal.

An electrode wear amount predicting system of a spark plug, includes: at least one ignition coil that includes a primary coil and a secondary coil; a spark plug that generates a spark discharge by a discharge current generated by the ignition coil and includes a center electrode and a ground electrode; a sensing portion measuring a current applied to the primary coil; and a controller that determines a wear state of the center electrode and the ground electrode according to an amount of the current applied to the primary coil detected by the sensing portion when an electrode wear amount predicting condition is satisfied.

A multi-ignition coil control system includes a spark plug including first and second center electrodes, and first and second ground electrodes spaced apart from the center electrodes by a predetermined distance, a first ignition coil including a primary coil, and a secondary coil in which a discharge current is generated by electromagnetic induction with the primary coil, and a second ignition coil including a primary coil, and a secondary coil in which a discharge current is generated by electromagnetic induction with the primary coil, wherein one end of the secondary coil of the first ignition coil and one end of the secondary coil of the second ignition coil are electrically connected to one of the center electrodes, and the other end of the secondary coil of the first ignition coil and the other end of the secondary coil of the second ignition coil are electrically connected to the other of the center electrodes.

A multi-ignition coil control system includes a spark plug including first and second center electrodes, and first and second ground electrodes spaced apart from the center electrodes by a predetermined distance, a first ignition coil including a primary coil, and a secondary coil in which a discharge current is generated by electromagnetic induction with the primary coil, and a second ignition coil including a primary coil, and a secondary coil in which a discharge current is generated by electromagnetic induction with the primary coil, wherein one end of the secondary coil of the first ignition coil and one end of the secondary coil of the second ignition coil are electrically connected to one of the center electrodes, and the other end of the secondary coil of the first ignition coil and the other end of the secondary coil of the second ignition coil are electrically connected to the other of the center electrodes.

A multi-charge ignition system including a spark plug control unit (13) adapted to control at least two coil stages so as to successively energise and de-energise said coil stage(s) to provide a current to a spark plug, said two stages comprising a first transformer (T1) including a first primary winding (L1) inductively coupled to a first secondary winding (L2); a second transformer (T2) including a second primary winding (L3) inductively coupled to a second secondary winding (L4); a first switch Q1 electrically connected between the low side of the first primary winding L1 and the low side/earth, a second switch Q2 having a connection to the low side of the second primary winding L3; and including a first diode D1 electrically connected between the low side of said first secondary winding L3 and ground, and a second diode D2 connected to a point between the low side of said second secondary winding L4 and ground and, including means to measure the voltage at a first connection point (203a) between the first switch and the low side of L1 and/or the voltage at a second connection (203b) point between the second switch and the low side of L3; and means to control the operation of the system dependent upon said measured voltages.

A multi-charge ignition system including a spark plug control unit (13) adapted to control at least two coil stages so as to successively energise and de-energise said coil stage(s) to provide a current to a spark plug, said two stages comprising a first transformer (T1) including a first primary winding (L1) inductively coupled to a first secondary winding (L2); a second transformer (T2) including a second primary winding (L3) inductively coupled to a second secondary winding (L4); a first switch Q1 electrically connected between the low side of the first primary winding L1 and the low side/earth, a second switch Q2 having a connection to the low side of the second primary winding L3; and including a first diode D1 electrically connected between the low side of said first secondary winding L3 and ground, and a second diode D2 connected to a point between the low side of said second secondary winding L4 and ground and, including means to measure the voltage at a first connection point (203a) between the first switch and the low side of L1 and/or the voltage at a second connection (203b) point between the second switch and the low side of L3; and means to control the operation of the system dependent upon said measured voltages.

An ignition coil control system may include a first ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a first switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the first ignition coil; a second ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a second switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the second ignition coil; a pair of electrodes generating spark discharge by a discharge current generated in the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil; and an ignition controller that controls spark discharge of the pair of electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil by turning the first switch and the second switch on or off according to a single pulse signal having a constant voltage including different voltages transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU).

An ignition coil control system may include a first ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a first switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the first ignition coil; a second ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a second switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the second ignition coil; a pair of electrodes generating spark discharge by a discharge current generated in the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil; and an ignition controller that controls spark discharge of the pair of electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil by turning the first switch and the second switch on or off according to a single pulse signal having a constant voltage including different voltages transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU).

A method of controlling an ignitor for a spark-ignition engine includes receiving, by a controller, at least one of fuel quality data regarding a fuel for the spark-ignition engine or a characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine. The method additionally includes controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of the ignitor in response to the at least one of the fuel quality data regarding the fuel or the characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine.

A method of controlling an ignitor for a spark-ignition engine includes receiving, by a controller, at least one of fuel quality data regarding a fuel for the spark-ignition engine or a characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine. The method additionally includes controlling, by the controller, an ignition energy characteristic of the ignitor in response to the at least one of the fuel quality data regarding the fuel or the characteristic regarding the ignitor for the spark-ignition engine.