Patent ID: 7100589

Claim:
A multi-spark type ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: an electric power source; a energy storage coil connected to said electric power source for storing electric energy supplied by said electric power source; an energy storage capacitor, connected to said energy storage coil, for storing electric energy discharged from said energy storage coil; a first switching element, connected to said energy storage coil and said electric power source, for switching on or off supply of the electric energy from said electric power source and from said energy storage coil to said energy storage capacitor; an ignition coil connected to said energy storage capacitor; a second switching element, connected between said energy storage capacitor and said ignition coil, for switching on or off supply of the electric energy from said energy storage capacitor; and an external resistor, connected between said energy storage coil and said first transistor so as to bypass said energy storage capacitor, for limiting current flowing through said first transistor.