An ignition system including a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least two coil stages to provide a current to a spark plug, including 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; the control unit enabled to simultaneously switch on and off two corresponding switches to maintain a continuous ignition fire, and includes a step-down converter stage with a switch and a diode. The method includes i) switching off the switch; and ii) toggling the two corresponding switches.

An engine ignition coil assembly disclosed herein provides an ignition coil housing that may be mounted on an engine block assembly and that is isolated from engine vibrations. The engine ignition coil assembly comprises an ignition coil housing. The ignition coil housing contains an ignition coil apparatus. An electrical connector for the ignition coil apparatus is mounted to the ignition coil housing. An elastomeric boot supports the ignition coil housing and may be disposed on an engine block assembly such that ignition coil housing is spaced apart from the engine block assembly by the elastomeric boot. A single fastener extends through a fastener opening in the ignition coil housing parallel with the elastomeric boot. An elastomeric isolator is disposed on the ignition coil housing at the fastener opening around the single fastener. A proximal end of the single fastener may be fixed to the engine block assembly.

An engine ignition coil assembly disclosed herein provides an ignition coil housing that may be mounted on an engine block assembly and that is isolated from engine vibrations. The engine ignition coil assembly comprises an ignition coil housing. The ignition coil housing contains an ignition coil apparatus. An electrical connector for the ignition coil apparatus is mounted to the ignition coil housing. An elastomeric boot supports the ignition coil housing and may be disposed on an engine block assembly such that ignition coil housing is spaced apart from the engine block assembly by the elastomeric boot. A single fastener extends through a fastener opening in the ignition coil housing parallel with the elastomeric boot. An elastomeric isolator is disposed on the ignition coil housing at the fastener opening around the single fastener. A proximal end of the single fastener may be fixed to the engine block assembly.

A current control circuit for an ignition system (i.e., igniter current limiter) is disclosed. The current control circuit can reduce a coil current over a soft shut down (SSD) period using an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) that is controlled by a negative feedback loop, which controls the current limit of the IGBT according to a SSD profile. In order to prevent an unwanted current rise during the soft shut down period, the current control circuit compares a gate voltage of the IGBT to a reference signal and based on the comparison can enable the SSD profile to include a fast ramp. The fast ramp quickly lowers the current limit of the IGBT so that the coil current equals the current limit and can be controlled by the negative feedback loop.

A switch control circuit controls a switch element connected to a primary coil of an ignition coil in accordance with an ignition signal. The switch element includes a transistor and a protection element connected between a collector and gate of the transistor. The switch control circuit uses a voltage at a gate terminal controlling the transistor or a voltage corresponding to a collector current of the transistor as a detection voltage and generates a status detection signal corresponding to a change in the detection voltage.

An ignition system for a vehicle includes an ignition coil and a thermoelectric cooler. The ignition coil has primary and secondary coils. The ignition coil is configured to deliver electrical power from a battery to a least one spark plug. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed along an external surface of the ignition coil and is configured to transfer heat generated by the primary and secondary coils to an ambient surrounding.

An ignition system for a vehicle includes an ignition coil and a thermoelectric cooler. The ignition coil has primary and secondary coils. The ignition coil is configured to deliver electrical power from a battery to a least one spark plug. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed along an external surface of the ignition coil and is configured to transfer heat generated by the primary and secondary coils to an ambient surrounding.

An ignition coil includes a primary coil and a secondary coil magnetically coupled from each other; a core cover disposed around the primary coil and the secondary coil; and an outer peripheral core supported by the core cover. The core cover includes a pair of support portions that support the outer peripheral core; and at least one of the pair of support portions includes a flexible portion that elastically presses the outer peripheral core, the flexible portion having flexibility in an arrangement direction separating the pair of support portions.

An ignition coil includes a primary coil and a secondary coil magnetically coupled from each other; a core cover disposed around the primary coil and the secondary coil; and an outer peripheral core supported by the core cover. The core cover includes a pair of support portions that support the outer peripheral core; and at least one of the pair of support portions includes a flexible portion that elastically presses the outer peripheral core, the flexible portion having flexibility in an arrangement direction separating the pair of support portions.

An ignition system includes a controller which controls two stagesto provide current to a spark plug. The stages include a first transformer including a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second transformer including a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. A switch is electrically connected between a supply high side and the high side of the first primary winding. A second switch is electrically connected between the first primary winding and the power supply low side supply. A third switch is connected between the junction of the switch and high side end of the first inductor and a point between the low side of the second primary winding and low side supply. A fourth switch is located between the low side of the second primary winding and the point. A fifth switch is located between the point and low side supply.