An ignition exciter high frequency switching converter, ignition assembly, and method of operating the same, include a high frequency switching converter operably by way of a control circuit having a timing mechanism, to operate the high frequency switching converter in discontinuous conduction mode to charge a tank capacitor for igniting an igniter.

An engine operation detection system includes an engine including a spark plug and a spark plug wire, and an engine run sensor including a signal wire including an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a spark plug signal from the spark plug wire, a data acquisition output wire outputting an engine on/off condition signal, a power supply providing power to the engine run sensing circuit, and an engine run sensing circuit configured to transform the spark plug signal into the engine on/off condition signal output via the data acquisition output wire.

An engine operation detection system includes an engine including a spark plug and a spark plug wire, and an engine run sensor including a signal wire including an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a spark plug signal from the spark plug wire, a data acquisition output wire outputting an engine on/off condition signal, a power supply providing power to the engine run sensing circuit, and an engine run sensing circuit configured to transform the spark plug signal into the engine on/off condition signal output via the data acquisition output wire.

An electronic fuse module for an electrical system of a vehicle includes a housing, an electronic fuse disposed at the housing, a local controller disposed at the housing, and a transceiver disposed at the housing. The electronic fuse module, when the electronic fuse module is in communication with an electronic control unit and a controlled device of the electrical system, communicates with the electronic control unit of the electrical system. The local controller is configured to locally control load limits and a reset policy of the electronic fuse. The local controller is configured to communicate with the electronic control unit via the transceiver to cooperate with a central rule for electrical loads within the electrical system. The local controller is configured to locally control (i) electrical load limits of the electronic fuse and (ii) a reset policy of the electronic fuse.

An electronic fuse module for an electrical system of a vehicle includes a housing, an electronic fuse disposed at the housing, a local controller disposed at the housing, and a transceiver disposed at the housing. The electronic fuse module, when the electronic fuse module is in communication with an electronic control unit and a controlled device of the electrical system, communicates with the electronic control unit of the electrical system. The local controller is configured to locally control load limits and a reset policy of the electronic fuse. The local controller is configured to communicate with the electronic control unit via the transceiver to cooperate with a central rule for electrical loads within the electrical system. The local controller is configured to locally control (i) electrical load limits of the electronic fuse and (ii) a reset policy of the electronic fuse.

A circuit and method for gradually reducing a coil current during a shutdown period is disclosed. The circuit and method include a controller that is configured in a control loop with a current sensor that measures the current in the coil and a transistor that can be controller to limit the current in the coil. The open-loop gain of the controller is determined by a resistance of a variable feedback resistor, and the resistance of the variable feedback resistor is reduced during the shutdown period as the coil current becomes small. The reduction of the resistance maintains a suitable phase margin by lowering the open loop gain of the circuit for low coil currents. Thus, during shutdown, the circuit provides control accuracy for high coil currents and control stability for low coil currents.

A circuit and method for gradually reducing a coil current during a shutdown period is disclosed. The circuit and method include a controller that is configured in a control loop with a current sensor that measures the current in the coil and a transistor that can be controller to limit the current in the coil. The open-loop gain of the controller is determined by a resistance of a variable feedback resistor, and the resistance of the variable feedback resistor is reduced during the shutdown period as the coil current becomes small. The reduction of the resistance maintains a suitable phase margin by lowering the open loop gain of the circuit for low coil currents. Thus, during shutdown, the circuit provides control accuracy for high coil currents and control stability for low coil currents.

A circuit and method for gradually reducing a coil current during a shutdown period is disclosed. The circuit and method include a controller that is configured in a control loop with a current sensor that measures the current in the coil and a transistor that can be controller to limit the current in the coil. The open-loop gain of the controller is determined by a resistance of a variable feedback resistor, and the resistance of the variable feedback resistor is reduced during the shutdown period as the coil current becomes small. The reduction of the resistance maintains a suitable phase margin by lowering the open loop gain of the circuit for low coil currents. Thus during shutdown, the circuit provides control accuracy for high coil currents and control stability for low coil currents.

A circuit and method for gradually reducing a coil current during a shutdown period is disclosed. The circuit and method include a controller that is configured in a control loop with a current sensor that measures the current in the coil and a transistor that can be controller to limit the current in the coil. The open-loop gain of the controller is determined by a resistance of a variable feedback resistor, and the resistance of the variable feedback resistor is reduced during the shutdown period as the coil current becomes small. The reduction of the resistance maintains a suitable phase margin by lowering the open loop gain of the circuit for low coil currents. Thus during shutdown, the circuit provides control accuracy for high coil currents and control stability for low coil currents.

A multi-charge ignition system including a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least two coil stages so as to successively energise and de-energise the coil stages to provide a current to a spark plug, the two stages including a first transformer including a first primary winding inductively coupled to a first secondary winding a second transformer including a second primary winding inductively coupled to a second secondary winding. A first switch is located between the high end side of the first primary winding and the high end side of the second primary winding, and a second switch is located between the low side of the first primary winding and high side of the second primary winding.