Continuing high frequency energy ignition system with improvements

Claim 1

In an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having breaker points associated therewith for mechanically determining the timing of initiation of an ignition spark for a cylinder of said engine, and having: 1. an oscillator employing transistors and electromagnetic feedback coupling and providing relatively high frequency electrical energy having continuing duration during oscillation thereof, 2. means for saturating said feedback coupling with steady state magnetic flux to stop said oscillator, 3. means under control of said breaker points for cutting off said steady state magnetic flux in order to cause rapid starting of said high frequency energy, and 4. a DC power supply voltage subject to relatively large variation, the improvement comprising first resistor means for limiting the power dissipated in said transistors of (1), second resistor means in said feedback coupling of (1) for determining the frequency of said oscillation when said voltage (4) is low, and means for switching out said first resistor means and switching in said second resistor means when said voltage (4) is low in order to increase the circuit gain without increasing the frequency of the oscillation.