Spark ignition systems

Claim 1

A SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SPARK PLUG, COMPRISING A D.C. SOURCE, A WINDING, MEANS WHEREBY CURRENT FLOW IN SAID WINDING CONTROLS DISCHARGE ACROSS SAID SPARK PLUG, A SERIES CIRCUIT CONNECTED ACROSS SAID SOURCE AND INCLUDING AN INDUCTOR, A DIODE, A CAPACITOR AND SAID WINDING, A SWITCHABLE RECTIFIER HAVING AN ANODE, A CATHODE AND A GATE, THE ANODE AND CATHODE BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE IN SERIES WITH SAID DIODE AND SAID INDUCTOR, SAID SWITCHABLE RECTIFIER BEING SWITCHED ON BY A POSITIVE PULSE APPLIED BETWEEN ITS GATE AND CATHODE AND BEING SWITCHED OFF BY A NEGATIVE PULSE APPLIED BETWEEN ITS GATE AND CATHODE, A CIRCUIT CONNECTING SAID GATE TO THE D.C. SOURCE. AN ENGINE-CONTROLLED SWITCH IN SAID CIRCUIT, OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH BY THE ENGINE CAUSING SUCCESSIVE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PULSES TO BE APPLIED TO SAID GATES TO SWITCH THE SWITCHABLE RECTIFIER ON AND OFF, SAID INDUCTOR STORING ENERGY AND SAID CAPACITOR DISCHARGING THROUGH SAID WINDING TO PRODUCE SAID DISCHARGE WHEN THE SWITCHABLE RECTIFIER IS ON, AND THE ENERGY STORED IN SAID INDUCTOR SERVING TO CHARGE SAID CAPACITOR WHEN THE SWITCHABLE RECTIFIER IS OFF.