Patent ID: 8179657

Claim:
An emission analyzer having a discharge electrode to be positioned leaving a predetermined gap to a sample, an igniter circuit connected to the discharge electrode, a capacitor for storing electrical energy to be used for discharging, and a capacitor-charging circuit for charging the capacitor, which is characterized by comprising: a) a direct-current power source; b) a flyback transformer with a primary winding connected to the direct-current power source and a secondary winding for supplying electrical energy to the capacitor; c) a switching device for controlling an on/off state of an excitation current supplied from the direct-current power source to the primary winding of the flyback transformer; d) a current detector for detecting a current value of the excitation current; and e) a controller for controlling the operation of the switching device to repeat an on/off operation a predetermined number of times at predetermined intervals of time, the on/off operation including steps of turning on the switching device and then turning off the switching device when the current value detected by the current detector has reached a predetermined level, and for producing a spark discharge between the discharge electrode and the metallic sample of the emission stand after completing the on/off operation.