A high-frequency discharge ignition device includes a current supply device which supplies an AC current to a spark discharge path formed in a gap of an ignition plug, a control device which controls the operation of the current supply device, and a voltage detection device which outputs a signal of a section where a magnetic induction voltage of a primary coil generated after a switch element of an ignition coil device is placed in a shutoff state exceeds a predetermined voltage, and the control device determines the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug according to an output signal of the voltage detection device and operates the current supply device based on the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug to supply the AC current to the spark discharge path.

A high-frequency discharge ignition device includes a current supply device which supplies an AC current to a spark discharge path formed in a gap of an ignition plug, a control device which controls the operation of the current supply device, and a voltage detection device which outputs a signal of a section where a magnetic induction voltage of a primary coil generated after a switch element of an ignition coil device is placed in a shutoff state exceeds a predetermined voltage, and the control device determines the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug according to an output signal of the voltage detection device and operates the current supply device based on the timing when the spark discharge path has been formed in the gap of the ignition plug to supply the AC current to the spark discharge path.

An ignition device includes a spark plug, a measurement value detector, an electrical breakdown determiner, an AC voltage applying section, and a first changing section. The measurement value detector includes primary and secondary coils, and detects at least one measurement value among an ignition coil, a primary current, a primary voltage, a secondary current, and a secondary voltage. The electrical breakdown determiner determines whether a discharge has become an electrical breakdown state based on the measurement value. The AC voltage applying section applies an AC voltage of a first predetermined frequency that causes voltage resonance to the primary coil. The first changing section changes the frequency of the AC voltage to a second predetermined frequency that can maintain the electrical breakdown state and is lower in frequency than the first predetermined frequency when it is determined that the discharge has become the electrical breakdown state.

A small-size injector having a built-in ignition device which can surely inject fuel and ignite the fuel with low electric power by the ignition device with a simple configuration is provided. The injector comprises a fuel injecting device 2 provided with a fuel injecting port 20 configured to inject the fuel, an ignition device 3 configured to ignite the injected fuel, and a casing 10 inside housing therein the fuel injecting device 2 and the ignition device 3 together. The ignition device 3 is constituted of a plasma generator 3 which integrally comprises a booster 5 having a resonation structure capacity-coupled with an electromagnetic wave oscillator MW configured to oscillate an electromagnetic wave, and a discharger 6 configured to cause a discharge of a high voltage generated by the booster 5.

A small-size injector having a built-in ignition device which can surely inject fuel and ignite the fuel with low electric power by the ignition device with a simple configuration is provided. The injector comprises a fuel injecting device 2 provided with a fuel injecting port 20 configured to inject the fuel, an ignition device 3 configured to ignite the injected fuel, and a casing 10 inside housing therein the fuel injecting device 2 and the ignition device 3 together. The ignition device 3 is constituted of a plasma generator 3 which integrally comprises a booster 5 having a resonation structure capacity-coupled with an electromagnetic wave oscillator MW configured to oscillate an electromagnetic wave, and a discharger 6 configured to cause a discharge of a high voltage generated by the booster 5.

An ignition device is provided, which can boost an electromagnetic wave supplied by a resonance structure, and cause a discharge by enhancing a potential difference between a discharge electrode and a ground electrode, and even though such a structure of the ignition device, a downsize and a thickness reduction, specifically, the thickness reduction can be achieved. On a main surface of a rectangular insulting substrate (2), an input electrode (3), a coupling electrode (4), a discharge electrode (6), and a ground electrode (7), are provided. The input electrode (3) is connected to an outside terminal on one shorter side. The coupling electrode (4) is capacity-coupled with the input electrode (3). The discharge electrode (6) is connected to the coupling electrode (4) on the other shorter side through a coupling line (5). The ground electrode (7) is, on both longer sides of the main surface of the rectangular insulating substrate (2), capacity-coupled with the coupling electrode (4) and capacity-coupled with the coupling line (5), and extended to the other shorter side. A resonance circuit includes a capacitor constituted by the capacity coupling and an inductor constituted by the coupling line (5). Thereby, the electromagnetic wave supplied from the outside terminal into the input electrode is resonated, a potential difference between the discharge electrode (6) and the ground electrode (7) is enhanced, and then, a discharge is caused.

An ignition device is provided, which can boost an electromagnetic wave supplied by a resonance structure, and cause a discharge by enhancing a potential difference between a discharge electrode and a ground electrode, and even though such a structure of the ignition device, a downsize and a thickness reduction, specifically, the thickness reduction can be achieved. On a main surface of a rectangular insulting substrate (2), an input electrode (3), a coupling electrode (4), a discharge electrode (6), and a ground electrode (7), are provided. The input electrode (3) is connected to an outside terminal on one shorter side. The coupling electrode (4) is capacity-coupled with the input electrode (3). The discharge electrode (6) is connected to the coupling electrode (4) on the other shorter side through a coupling line (5). The ground electrode (7) is, on both longer sides of the main surface of the rectangular insulating substrate (2), capacity-coupled with the coupling electrode (4) and capacity-coupled with the coupling line (5), and extended to the other shorter side. A resonance circuit includes a capacitor constituted by the capacity coupling and an inductor constituted by the coupling line (5). Thereby, the electromagnetic wave supplied from the outside terminal into the input electrode is resonated, a potential difference between the discharge electrode (6) and the ground electrode (7) is enhanced, and then, a discharge is caused.

A plasma generating device that improves plasma generating efficiency can further accommodate changes in plasma generating state because of changes in conditions of surroundings and the like. The plasma generating device is provided with an electromagnetic wave radiating device, which has an electromagnetic wave generating device that oscillates electromagnetic waves and a radiating antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves oscillated by the electromagnetic wave generating device, and a control device that controls the electromagnetic wave radiating device. The electromagnetic wave radiating device is provided with a power detector that detects traveling wave power output by the electromagnetic wave generating device and reflected wave power reflected from the radiating antenna, and the control device automatically controls the oscillation pattern for the electromagnetic waves on the basis of the proportion of the value for the reflected wave power to the value for the traveling wave power detected by the power detector.

A plasma generating device that improves plasma generating efficiency can further accommodate changes in plasma generating state because of changes in conditions of surroundings and the like. The plasma generating device is provided with an electromagnetic wave radiating device, which has an electromagnetic wave generating device that oscillates electromagnetic waves and a radiating antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves oscillated by the electromagnetic wave generating device, and a control device that controls the electromagnetic wave radiating device. The electromagnetic wave radiating device is provided with a power detector that detects traveling wave power output by the electromagnetic wave generating device and reflected wave power reflected from the radiating antenna, and the control device automatically controls the oscillation pattern for the electromagnetic waves on the basis of the proportion of the value for the reflected wave power to the value for the traveling wave power detected by the power detector.

A switching device includes a first electrode at least partially disposed within a sealed chamber. The sealed chamber encloses a plasma phase change material. The switching device includes a second electrode at least partially disposed within the sealed chamber. The second electrode is physically separated from the first electrode. When subjected to a signal that satisfies a threshold, the plasma phase change material forms a plasma within the sealed chamber. The first electrode is electrically coupled to the second electrode via the plasma when the plasma is formed. The first electrode is electrically isolated from the second electrode when the plasma is not formed. The switching device includes a first connector electrically coupled to the first electrode and a second connector electrically coupled to the second electrode. The first connector, the second connector, or both, are configured to receive the signal.