Patent ID: 8316823
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: F02P,H01T

Abstract:
1. A control system for controlling ignition of a plasma jet spark plug provided in an internal combustion engine, the control system comprising: a sensing section to sense an operating condition of the internal combustion engine; a determining section to determine an ignition mode of the plasma-jet spark plug in accordance with the sensed operating condition; and an igniting section to perform an ignition control of causing a dielectric breakdown across a spark discharge gap of the plasma-jet spark plug by applying a first electric power to the plasma-jet spark plug, and thereafter producing a plasma in the vicinity of the spark discharge gap by applying a second electric power to the spark discharge gap where the dielectric breakdown is caused, in accordance with the determined ignition mode; wherein the igniting section includes a first power supplying section connected with the plasma-jet spark plug and configured to supply the first electric power, and a second power supplying section connected with the plasma-jet spark plug and configured to supply the second electric power in a power quantity, and the igniting section performs the ignition control in the determined ignition mode by varying the second electric power supplied from the second power supplying section; and wherein the second power supplying section of the igniting section includes a power source section connected with the plasma-jet spark plug and configured to supply the second electric power to the plasma-jet spark plug, and a switch to change a conducting state between the power source section and the plasma-jet spark plug, and the igniting section performs the ignition control in the determined ignition mode by controlling a switchover of the switch.