Patent ID: 7063079

Claim:
A discrete ignition control and ionization detection circuit comprising: an ignition coil comprising a primary winding with a first and a second end and a secondary winding with a first and a second end; coil driver circuit having a first end operably connected to said second end of said primary winding; an ionization detection circuit having at least two inputs and an output, wherein a first input is operably connected to said second end of said primary winding, and a second input is operably connected to said first end of said secondary winding; an ignition plug operably connected between said second end of said secondary winding and ground; a current sink, wherein said current sink comprises a discrete bipolar junction transistor operably connected between said command input of said coil driver circuit and ground; and a switch having at least two inputs and an output, wherein a first input is operably connected to said output of said ionization detection circuit, a second input is operably connected to a second end of said coil driver circuit, whereby said output of said switch is multiplexed between an ionization signal and a charge current feedback signal; and an amplifier having an input and an output, wherein said input is operably connected to said output of said switch.