Patent ID: 6213108
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: F02D,F02P

Abstract:
A multicharge ignition system for connection to a spark plug of an internal combustion engine, said multicharge ignition system comprising:an inductive energy storage device having primary and secondary sides inductively coupled to one another; andelectronic ignition circuitry connected to said primary side and provided to receive an EST pulse timing signal indicative of when firing of the spark plug is to commence and responsive to said EST pulse timing signal by initially charging said inductive energy storage device by flowing electrical current through said primary side until a fall in said EST pulse timing signal to store a predetermined amount of energy in said inductive energy storage device, said electronic ignition circuitry being further provided to discharge a portion of said predetermined amount of energy through said secondary side by opening a path of said electrical current through said primary side of said inductive energy storage device dependent upon and substantially coincident with said fall in said EST timing signal, said electronic ignition circuitry being further provided to close said path and reopen said path repetitively to recharge and partially discharge, respectively, said inductive energy storage device such that reopening of said path is triggered based on the amount of energy stored in said inductive energy storage device, said ignition circuitry being further provided to terminate the sequence of recharging and partially discharging the inductive energy storage device solely based on said EST pulse timing signal and without requiring other signals indicative of crank angle.