In an engine ignition method according to the present invention, an ignition coil and an exciter coil are provided in a magneto generator driven by an engine. After charging an ignition capacitor using an output voltage of the exciter coil, the ignition capacitor is discharged through a primary coil of the ignition coil at an ignition timing of the engine, whereby a high voltage induced in a secondary coil of the ignition coil is applied to an ignition plug and a first spark discharge is generated in the ignition plug, and a voltage induced in the secondary coil of the ignition coil accompanied with rotation of the magneto rotor is applied to the ignition plug in a state that insulation across discharge gaps of the ignition plug is broken down due to the first spark discharge, whereby a second spark discharge is produced in the ignition plug.

An ignition circuit and a method of operating an igniter (preferably a traveling spark igniter) in an internal combustion engine, including a high pressure engine. A high voltage is applied to electrodes of the igniter, sufficient to cause breakdown to occur between the electrodes, resulting in a high current electrical discharge in the igniter, over a surface of an isolator between the electrodes, and formation of a plasma kernel in a fuel-air mixture adjacent said surface. Following breakdown, a sequence of one or more lower voltage and lower current pulses is applied to said electrodes, with a low simmer current being sustained through the plasma between pulses, preventing total plasma recombination and allowing the plasma kernel to move toward a free end of the electrodes with each pulse.

An ignition circuit and a method of operating an igniter (preferably a traveling spark igniter) in an internal combustion engine, including a high pressure engine. A high voltage is applied to electrodes of the igniter, sufficient to cause breakdown to occur between the electrodes, resulting in a high current electrical discharge in the igniter, over a surface of an isolator between the electrodes, and formation of a plasma kernel in a fuel-air mixture adjacent said surface. Following breakdown, a sequence of one or more lower voltage and lower current pulses is applied to said electrodes, with a low simmer current being sustained through the plasma between pulses, preventing total plasma recombination and allowing the plasma kernel to move toward a free end of the electrodes with each pulse.

To provide an ignition apparatus which can turn on and off the sub primary coil according to extension degree of the discharge path of the spark discharge. An ignition apparatus is provided with an ignition coil that is provided with a main primary coil, a sub primary coil which generates energization magnetic flux of a direction opposite to the energization magnetic flux of the main primary coil, and a secondary coil which is magnetically coupled with the main primary coil and the sub primary coil and supplies spark discharge energy to a spark plug; and after turning off energization to the main primary coil, based on a detection value of terminal voltage of the main primary coil, turns on and off the sub switch circuit to turn on and off energization to the sub primary coil and additionally supply spark discharge energy to the secondary coil.

Disclosed is a complementary analog and digital method for controlling ignition of a gasoline engine. First, analog ignition is performed by means of an analog trigger circuit. After power has been steadily supplied to a microcontroller, the microcontroller disconnects the analog trigger circuit, starts to collect a digital trigger reference signal and turn on a digital trigger circuit, and switches to a digital signal to trigger ignition. Also disclosed is a complementary analog and digital system for controlling ignition of a gasoline engine.

Disclosed is a complementary analog and digital method for controlling ignition of a gasoline engine. First, analog ignition is performed by means of an analog trigger circuit. After power has been steadily supplied to a microcontroller, the microcontroller disconnects the analog trigger circuit, starts to collect a digital trigger reference signal and turn on a digital trigger circuit, and switches to a digital signal to trigger ignition. Also disclosed is a complementary analog and digital system for controlling ignition of a gasoline engine.

The present invention relates to a gas heat pump and a control method therefor and, according to the present invention, the method for controlling a gas heat pump, which comprises an ignition plug and a gas engine having an engine combustion unit including a plurality of combustion spaces, may include: a target setting step of setting a target ignition energy amount on the basis of a refrigerant load amount determined according to a driving condition of the gas heat pump; an ignition step of igniting fuel injected into the combustion spaces; a comparison step of comparing an output energy amount emitted in the ignition step with a target ignition energy amount set in the target setting step; and a step of changing an energy amount required to ignite the fuel when the output energy amount and the target ignition energy amount do not coincide in the comparison step.

The present invention relates to a gas heat pump and a control method therefor and, according to the present invention, the method for controlling a gas heat pump, which comprises an ignition plug and a gas engine having an engine combustion unit including a plurality of combustion spaces, may include: a target setting step of setting a target ignition energy amount on the basis of a refrigerant load amount determined according to a driving condition of the gas heat pump; an ignition step of igniting fuel injected into the combustion spaces; a comparison step of comparing an output energy amount emitted in the ignition step with a target ignition energy amount set in the target setting step; and a step of changing an energy amount required to ignite the fuel when the output energy amount and the target ignition energy amount do not coincide in the comparison step.

A capacitive ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a voltage converter which has two primary terminals and two secondary terminals a primary voltage source has two voltage source terminals (A+, A) which are connected in each instance to one of the primary terminals so that a primary circuit is formed; a switch which is incorporated within the primary circuit and a controller so that the switch can be closed and opened; a first control device constructed to actuate the controller in accordance with an ignition pattern for closing and/or opening; an electrical capacitance (C1, C2) within the primary circuit; and a second control device (25) constructed to maintain constant a voltage rise at the secondary terminals, which occurs in order to reach the ignition voltage, as the ignition energy requirement of an ignition device connected to the secondary terminals changes.

A capacitive ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a voltage converter which has two primary terminals and two secondary terminals a primary voltage source has two voltage source terminals (A+, A) which are connected in each instance to one of the primary terminals so that a primary circuit is formed; a switch which is incorporated within the primary circuit and a controller so that the switch can be closed and opened; a first control device constructed to actuate the controller in accordance with an ignition pattern for closing and/or opening; an electrical capacitance (C1, C2) within the primary circuit; and a second control device (25) constructed to maintain constant a voltage rise at the secondary terminals, which occurs in order to reach the ignition voltage, as the ignition energy requirement of an ignition device connected to the secondary terminals changes.