Patent Abstract:
A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises a converter transformer, an ignition transformer, a first triggerable switch S 1 , the primary winding of the ignition transformer and the storage capacitor being connected in series through the triggerable switch, a spark plug connected in series with the secondary winding of the ignition transformer, a source of direct current and a second triggerable switch S 2  connected in series the primary of the converter transformer, and a circuit to control the first and second triggerable switches in synchronism with the engine.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/291,808, filed May 17, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object, according to the present invention, to provide a capacitive discharge ignition system capable of generating an arc discharge between the spark plug electrodes with a duration three to six times longer than typical for the type of ignition coil in use. 
     It is a further object, according to the present invention, to be able to adjustably and selectively modify or disable the extended duration spark to obtain the best possible spark plug life. 
     When engine operation conditions require spark durations previously unavailable from capacitive discharge ignitions, the extended spark can be enabled. This allows the use of a capacitive spark ignition system where inductive-type ignition systems were the only practical choice. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, according to the present invention, there is provided a capacitive discharge (CD) ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The ignition system comprises a storage capacitor and diode in series therewith, a converter transformer having primary and secondary windings, the secondary winding thereof connected in series with the storage capacitor and diode, an ignition transformer having primary and secondary windings, a first triggerable switch, the primary winding of the ignition transformer and the storage capacitor being connected in series through the first triggerable switch, a spark plug connected in series with the secondary winding of the ignition transformer, a source of direct current, and a second triggerable switch connected in series with the primary of the converter transformer. A circuit is provided to control the first and second triggerable switches in synchronism with the engine such that while the first switch is open, the second switch is closed for a period to store energy in the converter transformer and then opened to transfer energy to the storage capacitor followed by again closing of the second switch. The first switch is closed to discharge the storage capacitor to the primary of the ignition coil. The second switch is reopened to transfer energy stored in the converter transformer to the primary of the ignition transformer to prolong the current in the secondary of the ignition transformer. The number of times N the second switch is reopened and closed and the time period T for which the second switch remains closed is controlled to control the duration and amplitude of the extended arc current. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and other objects and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description made with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic of the circuit configuration according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows standard capacitive discharge circuit waveforms at 4 kV breakdown voltage providing a 500 microsecond spark; 
     FIG. 3 shows standard capacitive discharge circuit waveforms at 19 kV breakdown voltage providing a 380 microsecond spark; 
     FIG. 4 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, at 5 kV breakdown voltage providing a 1,920 microsecond spark; 
     FIG. 5 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, at 19 kV breakdown voltage providing a 1,920 microsecond spark; 
     FIG. 6 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, with eight extension pulses; 
     FIG. 7 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, with twelve extension pulses; 
     FIG. 8 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, with short duration extension pulses and with low arc current; and 
     FIG. 9 shows extended capacitive discharge circuit waveforms, according to the present invention, with long duration extension pulses and with higher arc current. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a transformer TR 1  has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding of the first transformer TR 1  is connected to a source of DC voltage, e.g., a battery, via a switch S 2 . A storage capacitor C 1  is positioned in parallel with the secondary winding of transformer TR 1 . A diode D 1  is positioned between the secondary winding of the transformer TR 1  and the storage capacitor C 1 . The diode D 1  is oriented to block charging of capacitor C 1  with charging current −I TRSEC  from the secondary winding when the switch S 2  is closed and primary current I TRPRI  flows from the battery through the primary winding of the transformer TR 1 . A plurality of series connected diodes D 2  is connected in parallel with storage capacitor C 1 . The diodes D 2  are oriented to block a current I CAP  from storage capacitor C 1  from flowing therethrough. Connected in parallel with diodes D 2  is a primary side of an ignition coil. Connected between the primary side of the ignition coil and the diodes D 2  is a switch S 1 . The ignition coil has a secondary side connected to a spark gap, preferably the gap of a spark plug. 
     When switch S 1  opens, i.e., prior to an ignition event, the switch S 2  is closed and primary current I TRPRI  is allowed to flow into the primary winding of the transformer TR 1 . The phasing of the windings of the transformer TR 1  is selected so that diode D 1  blocks secondary current −I TRSEC  from flowing through the secondary winding of the first transformer TR 1 . When sufficient energy is stored in the primary of the first transformer TR 1 , switch S 2  is opened and energy from the collapsing magnetic field across the secondary winding of the first transformer TR 1  causes secondary current I TRSEC  to flow through diode D 1  and charge storage capacitor C 1 . 
     When it is time to provide a spark, switch S 1  is closed and the voltage across storage capacitor C 1  is impressed across the primary side of the ignition coil. After a delay due to coil inductance, current I CAP  begins to flow through the primary side of the ignition coil. The voltage impressed across the primary side of the ignition coil causes a voltage to develop on the secondary side of the ignition coil proportional to the turns ratio of the ignition coil. When the secondary voltage increases to a value sufficient to cause a spark discharge across the spark gap, coil secondary current I COILSEC  begins to flow. While the ignition coil secondary current is flowing, the switch S 2  is closed and current I TRPRI  flows through the primary of the first transformer TR 1 . The ignition coil secondary current I COILSEC  decreases with decreasing current I CAP  from storage capacitor C 1 . 
     At an appropriate time before the secondary current has decreased sufficiently to extinguish the spark discharge across the spark gap, the switch S 2  is opened and transformer TR 1  secondary current I TRSEC  is developed which flows through the ignition coil primary. Hence, at this time, the current through the ignition coil primary I COILPRI  is the sum of the transformer TR 1  secondary current I TRSEC  and the current I CAP  from the storage capacitor C 1 . The addition at the appropriate time of the secondary current I TRSEC  from the secondary coil of the transformer TR 1  enables the duration of the spark discharge across the spark gap to be extended. Moreover, the inductance of the secondary coil of the transformer TR 1  is connected in series with the inductance of the primary coil of the ignition coil. Hence, the inductance of the circuit supplying the current I COILPRI  in the primary side of the ignition coil increases with the addition of current I TRSEC  from the secondary winding of the first transformer TR 1 . This increase in inductance in combination with the secondary current I TRSEC  provided by the transformer TR 1  increases the arc duration in excess of the sum of the capacitor current I CAP  or the secondary current I TRSEC  of the transformer TR 1  alone. 
     The switch S 2  can be opened and closed a number of times N to prolong the spark current as shown in FIGS. 4-9. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the circuit according to the prior art. Assume the capacitor C 1  has been charged, switches S 1  and S 2  are both open (non-conducting). In response to a trigger pulse, switch S 1  is closed (conducting). This results in a rush of current from the capacitor C 1  to the primary of the ignition transformer. The spike in voltage across the primary of about 180 volts is illustrated by the middle trace of FIG.  2 . This is reflected in the voltage spike to cause breakdown in the spark gap illustrated in the top trace of FIG.  2 . The breakdown voltage in the coil secondary in this instance is approximately 4 kV. The spark duration is approximately 500 microseconds. The bottom trace illustrates the control signal applied to the switch S 2  to close the switch to permit recharging of capacitor C 1 . It should be understood that switch S 1  had previously been opened. 
     FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except for a different spark gap condition, wherein the breakdown voltage across the secondary of the ignition coil is approximately 19 kV. This results in a spark of reduced duration of 380 microseconds. Hence, according to the prior art, the spark duration is related to the breakdown voltage which is a characteristic of the spark gap condition. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of a circuit according to the present invention. After the initial closing of switch S 1  and following breakdown in the spark gap, the switch S 2  is repeatedly opened and closed as illustrated in the bottom trace of FIG.  4 . In this instance, the switch is opened and closed twelve (12) times over a period of 1,520 microseconds. This causes the primary of the ignition coil to be reenergized as many times and the duration of the spark to be extended to 1,920 microseconds. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of a circuit according to the present invention much the same as FIG.  4 . However, the spark gap conditions were adjusted to increase the breakdown voltage in the primary of the ignition coil to 19 kV. The duration of the spark, however, remains the same at 1,920 microseconds. Unlike the circuit operating according to the prior art procedures, the spark duration is not tied to the spark gap conditions. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates that the spark duration can be controlled by controlling the number of reenergizing pulses supplied to the capacitor C 1 . In this case, the switch S 2  is closed and opened eight (8) times over a period of 1,040 microseconds and the spark duration was extended to 1,440 microseconds. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the voltage across capacitor C 1  during operation according to the present invention, wherein after breakdown, the switch S 2  is closed and opened twelve (12) times over 1,440 microseconds. Note that the charge on the capacitor C 1  is approximately 170 volts prior to close of the switch S 1 . With each opening and closing, the capacitor is recharged to about 30 volts. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the current in the ignition secondary (middle trace) as recorded. The difference between the conditions during which FIGS. 8 and 9 were recorded is the width of the time the switch S 2  was closed prior to reopening during the recharging period. The middle trace reflects ignition coil secondary current. Due to a serious baseline drift, the trace requires some interpretation. In theory, the current never goes negative. In the test illustrated in both FIGS. 8 and 9, twelve equally spaced reenergizing pulses are used to extend the spark duration. The pulses permitting current to flow in the primary of the converter transformer are wider for the test illustrated in FIG. 9 than in FIG.  8 . The current peaks with the narrower energizing pulses are about 8 milliamps whereas with the wider energizing pulse, the current peaks are at about 40 milliamps. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate that with applicant&#39;s invention, the spark duration is not dependent on the conditions of the spark gap. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that the duration of the spark may be controlled by controlling the number of reenergizing pulses. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate that the current during the extended spark duration can be controlled by controlling the width of the reenergizing pulses. 
     Having thus described my invention in the detail and particularity required by the Patent Laws, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5