Abstract A solid state circuit provides a series of short duration short voltage rise time sparks for automotive engine ignition purposes. It is well known in the ignition art that short duration sparks concentrate the energy and promote ignition, and that ''''short voltage rise time'''' characteristics in an ignition system promote good firing even though the spark plugs are covered with deposits. A ''''Capacitor Ignition System'''' such as is described here has these characteristics and is used as the basis of a new system which will give a continuing series of sparks after the first one. The circuit includes two Zener diodes in series with the collector of a transistor switch, the collector of which is connected to the gating terminal of a silicon controlled rectifier. The SCR, when gated, connects the ignition system capacitor to the primary of the ignition coil and thus enables the capacitor to discharge across the coil. The SCR receives the gating signal when the Zener diodes and the transistor conduct, which occurs each time the charge on the capacitor reaches the avalanche level of the diodes and the points are open. In order to do this, the base of the transistor switch is connected to the ignition system breaker points so that the circuits become operative only when the breaker points open. The present circuit serves to replace the single spark per ignition of conventional automotive ignition circuits with a series of sparks generated at a predetermined frequency.
Inventors
👤 Glenn B Warren
👤 John Randolph Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-27 21:16
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P15/00; F02P15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A solid state automotive ignition system adapted to provide a series of relatively short duration short voltage rise time sparks for ignition purposes during each successive ignition period comprising: a voltage source having a power terminal and a ground terminal; engine timer means including a pair of breaker-points the separation of which defines the beginning of said ignition period, said breaker-points having one grounded contact and one nongrounded contact; a capacitor connected in series with said voltage source power terminal and one end of the primary winding of an ignition coil, the other end of said primary winding being grounded; a secondary winding of said ignition coil coupled to said primary winding for producing a spark upon the discharge of said capacitor across said primary winding; a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, said anode being connected to the junction of said voltage source and said capacitor, said cathode being grounded and said gate being connected to a gate signal source through a switch; zener diode means having a cathode connected to said voltage source-capacitor junction and an anode connected to said switch, and adapted to break down when the charge on said capacitor attains a predetermined level; and switch means adapted to turn ON when said breaker-points separate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A solid state automotive ignition system adapted to provide a series of relatively short duration short voltage rise time sparks for ignition purposes during each successive ignition period comprising: a voltage source having a power terminal and a ground terminal; engine timer means including a pair of breaker-points the separation of which defines the beginning of said ignition period, said breaker-points having one grounded contact and one nongrounded contact; a capacitor connected in series with said voltage source power terminal and one end of the primary winding of an ignition coil, the other end of said primary winding being grounded; a secondary winding of said ignition coil coupled to said primary winding for producing a spark upon the discharge of said capacitor across said primary winding; a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, said anode being connected to the junction of said voltage source and said capacitor, said cathode being grounded and said gate being connected to a gate signal source through a switch; zener diode means having a cathode connected to said voltage source-capacitor junction and an anode connected to said switch, and adapted to break down when the charge on said capacitor attains a predetermined level; and switch means adapted to turn ON when said breaker-points separate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a transistor having a base connected to the nongrounded breaker-point contact, a collector connected to said zener anode, and an emitter connected to said SCR gate.