Patent ID: 7506641
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: F02D,F02P

Abstract:
1. An ignition device configured to ignite an ignition plug, comprising: a direct current power supply connection; a ground terminal connection; a damper element; a first circuit connected between the direct current power supply connection and the ground terminal connection, the first circuit including a backflow prevention element, an energy storage coil, and a capacitor connected in series, the capacitor connected in parallel to the damper element; a second circuit connected at both ends of the capacitor, the second circuit including a switching element and an ignition coil connected in series, the ignition coil having a primary and secondary side, the secondary side connected to the ignition plug; and a current detector configured to detect a value of a current of the energy storage coil or the switching element, wherein the switching element is configured to controllably perform a plurality of ON and OFF operations of the ignition device during an ignition operation of the ignition plug, the plurality of ON and OFF operations including a plurality of discharging operations in which a discharge direction through the secondary side repeatedly reverses, including an ON operation where current simultaneously flows from the energy storage coil and the capacitor to the primary side, and the current detector is configured to turn off the ignition device if the value of the current detected reaches a predetermined upper limit value.