A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

An ignition control device includes a control unit to control first to third switching elements so that during ignition discharge, which is started by turning off the first switching element, energy stored on a capacitor is discharged by turning off the third switching element and turning on the second switching element for supplying a primary current to an end of a primary winding opposite to an end thereof connected to a direct-current power supply. During inductive discharge of a spark plug, the control unit non-intermittently turns on the second switching element so that the second switching element is turned on over a successive energy input time period, according to the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine.

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a spark plug; a first ignition coil and a second ignition coil; a battery; a booster circuit that boosts a voltage supplied from the battery; a power transistor that conducts and interrupts a primary current flowing to a primary coil included in the first ignition coil; a MOSFET that applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit to a primary coil included in the second ignition coil; and an ECU that starts electric discharge by the spark plug by controlling the power transistor, and repeatedly applies and interrupts the voltage boosted by the booster circuit by the MOSFET so that the electric discharge that is started is maintained.

A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

In at least some implementations, a method of operating an ignition system for a combustion engine includes charging an energy storage device during at least a portion of the time when the engine is operating, permitting the level of energy stored on the charge storage device to decrease over time after the engine ceases to operate, determining the energy level on the energy storage device when the engine is restarted after having ceased operating, and setting at least one engine operational parameter as a function of the determined energy level. In at least some implementations, the at least one engine operational parameter may include one or more of: richness of a fuel and air mixture to be delivered to the engine, ignition timing, desired engine idle speed.

In at least some implementations, a method of operating an ignition system for a combustion engine includes charging an energy storage device during at least a portion of the time when the engine is operating, permitting the level of energy stored on the charge storage device to decrease over time after the engine ceases to operate, determining the energy level on the energy storage device when the engine is restarted after having ceased operating, and setting at least one engine operational parameter as a function of the determined energy level. In at least some implementations, the at least one engine operational parameter may include one or more of: richness of a fuel and air mixture to be delivered to the engine, ignition timing, desired engine idle speed.

The invention relates to an improved ignition system for spark ignited combustion engines. According to the invention the voltage over a coil winding 6P on the primary side of the ignition coil is regulated to a sufficiently low voltage level during timed periods of the ignition cycle, such that at least one function out of three in total, i.e. prevention of premature spark-on-make, or spark suppression after onset of ignition, or improved frequency response between primary and secondary side of the ignition coil after end of ignition, is obtained. When applied in an inductive ignition system a differential amplifier (8) may be connected over the primary winding 6P regulating a control switch 2CS via a drive unit (9). The invention is preferably implemented in ignition systems with ion sense circuitry 5C,5R on the secondary side of the ignition coil, and implementing all three functions.

In at least some implementations, a control and communication system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a circuit card, an ignition circuit carried by the circuit card and configured to control an ignition timing of the engine, and a short range wireless communication circuit carried by the circuit card. The communication circuit may include a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna. The ignition circuit may include an ignition capacitor that when drained induces an ignition pulse adapted to fire a spark plug. The system may further include a microprocessor that is coupled to and controls the ignition and communication circuits, and/or a clocking circuit adapted to provide a clocking frequency associated with the timing of the ignition circuit and associated with the communication circuit via a short range wireless communication protocol. The clocking circuit may include a crystal oscillator.

A gas turbine engine comprises an electronic control unit adapted to control functions of the gas turbine engine and having a DC power input unit coupled to receive DC supply power and an ignition igniter coupled thereto. The ignition exciter includes an AC power input unit adapted to receive AC power from an AC power source within the gas turbine engine, a power rectification unit coupled to receive the AC power from the AC power source and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rectify the AC power into DC power, and a DC power output unit coupled to receive the DC power from the power rectification unit and configured to supply the DC power to the DC power input unit of the electronic control unit as DC supply power and/or the ignition igniter.

An ignition system for automobile industry is disclosed. The system includes a high voltage source to initiate the spark and a low voltage source to add additional energy to the spark and the initiation of the spark and adding of the additional energy to the spark is carried out while the primary winding of the transformer is conducting. This high energy ignition system is carried out using the transformer with a secondary high voltage winding. The spark generation and adding additional energy is carried out using both capacitive and inductive transfer system using the transformer. Different ways of generating high voltage are also disclosed. Both single switch method and two switch method and multiple switch methods are also disclosed. Current controlled spark generation and multiple pulse method are also disclosed. The system delivers more energy efficiently while the primary is on and with smaller transformer and faster current rise.