An ignition coil includes a coil main body portion, a conductive member, and a protective portion. The coil main body portion generates a high voltage. The conductive member electrically connects the coil main body portion and a terminal metal fitting of a spark plug. The conductive member is arranged inside the protective portion. The protective portion has an electrically insulating property. The conductive member includes an elastic portion that elastically deforms in a longitudinal direction of the conductive member, and a conductive terminal that is arranged on a distal end side of the elastic portion. The conductive terminal has a distal end surface that includes a concave surface or a convex surface that abuts on the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug. A contact portion between the concave surface or the convex surface and the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug has an annular shape.

A spark plug assembly includes a spark plug, where the spark plug includes a high voltage connector, an insulator body, a metallic shell, and an electrical conductor at least partly disposed in the insulator body and the metallic shell. The spark plug assembly includes a detection unit having a transmitter device and a receiver device. The transmitter device is coupled to the spark plug and is electrically disposed between the high voltage connector and the electrical conductor. Further, the transmitter device is configured to draw an excitation current from the electrical conductor. The transmitter device includes an optical signal generator that is configured to generate an optical signal in response to the drawn excitation current. The receiver device is disposed in optical communication with the transmitter device and configured to receive the optical signal from the transmitter device.

A spark plug assembly includes a spark plug, where the spark plug includes a high voltage connector, an insulator body, a metallic shell, and an electrical conductor at least partly disposed in the insulator body and the metallic shell. The spark plug assembly includes a detection unit having a transmitter device and a receiver device. The transmitter device is coupled to the spark plug and is electrically disposed between the high voltage connector and the electrical conductor. Further, the transmitter device is configured to draw an excitation current from the electrical conductor. The transmitter device includes an optical signal generator that is configured to generate an optical signal in response to the drawn excitation current. The receiver device is disposed in optical communication with the transmitter device and configured to receive the optical signal from the transmitter device.

A corona igniter assembly which is designed to reduce the amount of air gaps between insulating components and thus reduce electrical fields concentrated in those air gaps and the associated unwanted corona discharge. The assembly includes a high voltage center electrode surrounded by a ceramic insulator and a high voltage insulator. A dielectric compliant insulator is disposed between the ceramic insulator and the high voltage insulator. A layer of metal is applied to at least one of the insulators, for example the ceramic insulator. A compliant collet formed of a partially resistive material covers a sharp edge of the layer of metal to reduce the electric field and smooth the electric field distribution at the sharp edge of the metal layer.

An ignition coil has a ferromagnetic core with a primary coil surrounding a first portion of the ferromagnetic core and a secondary coil surrounding the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The secondary coil is wrapped around a bobbin. The bobbin has an interior receiving the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. A form is interposed between the secondary coil and the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The form extends longitudinally along the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The form is of a non-ferrous metal material.

An ignition coil has a ferromagnetic core with a primary coil surrounding a first portion of the ferromagnetic core and a secondary coil surrounding the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The secondary coil is wrapped around a bobbin. The bobbin has an interior receiving the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. A form is interposed between the secondary coil and the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The form extends longitudinally along the second portion of the ferromagnetic core. The form is of a non-ferrous metal material.

An ignition coil includes a coil main body portion, a conductive member, and a protective portion. The coil main body portion generates a high voltage. The conductive member electrically connects the coil main body portion and a terminal metal fitting of a spark plug. The conductive member is arranged inside the protective portion. The protective portion has an electrically insulating property. The conductive member includes an elastic portion that elastically deforms in a longitudinal direction of the conductive member, and a conductive terminal that is arranged on a distal end side of the elastic portion. The conductive terminal has a distal end surface that includes a concave surface or a convex surface that abuts on the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug. A contact portion between the concave surface or the convex surface and the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug has an annular shape.

An ignition coil includes a coil main body portion, a conductive member, and a protective portion. The coil main body portion generates a high voltage. The conductive member electrically connects the coil main body portion and a terminal metal fitting of a spark plug. The conductive member is arranged inside the protective portion. The protective portion has an electrically insulating property. The conductive member includes an elastic portion that elastically deforms in a longitudinal direction of the conductive member, and a conductive terminal that is arranged on a distal end side of the elastic portion. The conductive terminal has a distal end surface that includes a concave surface or a convex surface that abuts on the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug. A contact portion between the concave surface or the convex surface and the terminal metal fitting of the spark plug has an annular shape.

An igniter assembly comprising an ignition coil assembly connected to a firing end assembly by an extension, with a valve assembly disposed in a pressure chamber of the extension, is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve stem biased toward the ignition coil assembly by a spring to seal the pressure chamber. The valve assembly is used to evacuate contents from the pressure chamber by pressing the valve stem toward the spring and allowing contents of the pressure chamber to travel through and past the valve stem and out of the pressure chamber. The valve assembly is also used to fill the pressure chamber with an insulating medium by pressing the valve stem toward the spring and allowing the insulating medium to travel through and past the valve stem and into the pressure chamber after evacuating the contents out of the pressure chamber.

An igniter assembly comprising an ignition coil assembly connected to a firing end assembly by an extension, with a valve assembly disposed in a pressure chamber of the extension, is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve stem biased toward the ignition coil assembly by a spring to seal the pressure chamber. The valve assembly is used to evacuate contents from the pressure chamber by pressing the valve stem toward the spring and allowing contents of the pressure chamber to travel through and past the valve stem and out of the pressure chamber. The valve assembly is also used to fill the pressure chamber with an insulating medium by pressing the valve stem toward the spring and allowing the insulating medium to travel through and past the valve stem and into the pressure chamber after evacuating the contents out of the pressure chamber.