An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber with a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston. The internal combustion engine also includes at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve that are connected to the combustion chamber, a fuel injector that injects fuel into the combustion chamber, at least two ignition devices arranged in the combustion chamber, and control means that control the valves, the injector, and the ignition means. The control means operate the engine according to different combustion modes including a controlled ignition combustion mode, a compression ignition combustion mode, and an assisted compression ignition combustion mode. The control means activate the ignition means in the assisted compression ignition combustion mode.

An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber with a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston. The internal combustion engine also includes at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve that are connected to the combustion chamber, a fuel injector that injects fuel into the combustion chamber, at least two ignition devices arranged in the combustion chamber, and control means that control the valves, the injector, and the ignition means. The control means operate the engine according to different combustion modes including a controlled ignition combustion mode, a compression ignition combustion mode, and an assisted compression ignition combustion mode. The control means activate the ignition means in the assisted compression ignition combustion mode.

An ignition coil control system may include a first ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a first switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the first ignition coil; a second ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a second switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the second ignition coil; a pair of electrodes generating spark discharge by a discharge current generated in the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil; and an ignition controller that controls spark discharge of the pair of electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil by turning the first switch and the second switch on or off according to a single pulse signal having a constant voltage including different voltages transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU).

An ignition coil control system may include a first ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a first switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the first ignition coil; a second ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a second switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the second ignition coil; a pair of electrodes generating spark discharge by a discharge current generated in the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil; and an ignition controller that controls spark discharge of the pair of electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil by turning the first switch and the second switch on or off according to a single pulse signal having a constant voltage including different voltages transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU).

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for igniting fuel for an internal combustion engine, an ignition system include a first ignition device associated with a pre-combustion chamber of a cylinder and a second ignition device associated with a main combustion chamber of the cylinder. An engine control unit is operably connected to both the engine and the ignition system to ignite fuel for the cylinder with the first ignition device independently of igniting fuel with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines an occurrence of a combustion condition and in response thereto (i) ignites fuel for combustion with both the first and the second ignition devices or (ii) ignites fuel for combustion only with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines a second combustion condition and in response thereto ignites fuel only with the first ignition device.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for igniting fuel for an internal combustion engine, an ignition system include a first ignition device associated with a pre-combustion chamber of a cylinder and a second ignition device associated with a main combustion chamber of the cylinder. An engine control unit is operably connected to both the engine and the ignition system to ignite fuel for the cylinder with the first ignition device independently of igniting fuel with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines an occurrence of a combustion condition and in response thereto (i) ignites fuel for combustion with both the first and the second ignition devices or (ii) ignites fuel for combustion only with the second ignition device. The engine control unit determines a second combustion condition and in response thereto ignites fuel only with the first ignition device.

Described is an ignition coil comprising a housing, in which a transformer is arranged, and a plug connector, wherein the plug connector has a high voltage contact, which is connected to the secondary side of the transformer by means of a wire, which resiliently presses against an electrical contact surface. The contact surface is concavely shaped.

A system and method for delivering spark to an engine is disclosed. In one example, a single conductor carries a spark signal that is indicative of a desired spark advance for a plurality of ignition coils. The system and method may reduce wiring complexity for spark plugs that are supplied energy via two ignition coils.

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is capable of having a high-degree of ignition performance and being reduced in size is provided. The ignition apparatus includes the spark plug mounted in an end of the plug hole formed in the internal combustion engine, the first ignition coil, the second ignition coil, and the control portion. The first ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and has a secondary side electrically connected to the spark plug. The second ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and is connected to the spark plug in parallel to the first ignition coil. The control portion controls energization of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil. The secondary voltage developed at the second ignition coil is lower in level than that developed at the first ignition coil. The control portion works to create the secondary voltage at the first ignition coil and then create the secondary voltage at the second ignition coil to have the spark plug continue to discharge.

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is capable of having a high-degree of ignition performance and being reduced in size is provided. The ignition apparatus includes the spark plug mounted in an end of the plug hole formed in the internal combustion engine, the first ignition coil, the second ignition coil, and the control portion. The first ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and has a secondary side electrically connected to the spark plug. The second ignition coil includes the primary coil and the secondary coil and is connected to the spark plug in parallel to the first ignition coil. The control portion controls energization of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil. The secondary voltage developed at the second ignition coil is lower in level than that developed at the first ignition coil. The control portion works to create the secondary voltage at the first ignition coil and then create the secondary voltage at the second ignition coil to have the spark plug continue to discharge.