Capacitor discharge ignition system including spark duration extender means

Claim 2

In a capacitive discharge ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine, including a main storage capacitor, an ignition coil coupled electrically to said storage capacitor for providing ignition output voltage for operating the engine, means coupled electrically to said storage capacitor for charging said capacitor, means for producing trigger pulses in accordance with the operation of the engine and controlled switch means coupled electrically to said pulse trigger means and said storage capacitor for operation in accordance with the receipt of a pulse from said trigger means to discharge said storage capacitor into said ignition coil, spark duration extending circuit means including in combination: an auxiliary capacitor coupled electrically to said ignition coil and to said charging means and being charged by said last-mentioned means, a second controlled switch means connected electrically to said aUxiliary capacitor for discharging the last-mentioned capacitor in accordance with the operation of said second controlled switch means, oscillator circuit means inductive means coupling said oscillator circuit means to said main and auxiliary capacitors and timer circuit means coupled electrically to said oscillator circuit means and to said second controlled switch means, said oscillator circuit means being operated in response to the receipt of a voltage inductively provided upon the discharge of said main capacitor, said oscillator means thereby providing a signal to said timer circuit means, said timer circuit means being operable in response to the receipt of said signal from said oscillator circuit to operate said second controlled switch means for discharging said auxiliary capacitor into said ignition coil, said timer circuit means including delay means having a predetermined delay period for delaying the discharge of said auxiliary capacitor a predetermined time after the initiation of the discharge of said main storage capacitor thereby to extend the duration of the ignition output voltage of said ignition coil.

Claim 3

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oscillator circuit means comprises said charging means and wherein said oscillator circuit means is operable between an on and off condition, said oscillator circuit means being operable between said on and off condition firstly for inductively charging said main and auxiliary capacitors and secondly, upon discharge of said main capacitor, for operating said timer circuit means and for recharging said capacitors.

Claim 4

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 1 further including ignition switch means operable between actuated and unactuated positions, and connected electrically to a source of power, and wherein said capacitor charging means includes solid state switch means coupled to said ignition switch means and operable in accordance with the actuation of the latter to an on condition and transformer means coupled electrically to said solid state switch means and to said main storage and auxiliary capacitors, said solid state switch means remaining in the on condition for a predetermined time period after actuation of said ignition switch means and thereafter being operated to an off condition, to induce a high voltage in said transformer means for charging said capacitors.

Claim 5

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said timer circuit means is coupled electrically to said transformer means and wherein upon discharge of said main storage capacitor, a voltage is induced in said transformer means to operate said solid state switch means to provide current to said timer circuit means for operation thereof.

Claim 6

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said timer circuit means of said spark duration extender circuit includes solid state switch means and capacitor means coupled thereto, said capacitor means being charged in response to current from said charging means upon discharge of said main storage capacitor, said capacitor means having a predetermined charging time, said solid state switch means being operable to an on condition in response to the charging of said capacitor means, thereby to discharge said capacitor means for operation of said second controlled switch means.

Claim 7

A capacitive discharge ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine, including in combination; a main storage capacitor, an auxiliary storage capacitor, an ignition coil coupled electrically to said main and auxiliary capacitors for providing a high voltage output for operation of said engine, charging means coupled electrically to said main and auxiliary capacitors, said charging means being operable to charge said capacitors, trigger pulse means operable to provide periodic trigger pulses in accordance with the operation of said engine, first switch means connected to said main storage capacitor and to sAid trigger pulse means and operable in response to the receipt of a pulse from said trigger pulse means to discharge said main storage capacitor into said ignition coil, second switch means connected to said auxiliary capacitor and to said ignition coil, and timer circuit means coupled electrically to said system and to said second switch means, said timer circuit means being operable in response to the discharge of said main storage capacitor to operate said second switch means for discharging said auxiliary capacitor into said ignition coil, said timer circuit means having a delay period for delaying the operation of said second switch means for a predetermined time whereby said auxiliary capacitor is discharged in succession with said main storage capacitor to extend the duration of output voltage from said ignition coil, wherein said charging means includes oscillator circuit means having first winding means, and second winding means connected to said main and auxiliary capacitors, said oscillator circuit means being inductively coupled by means of said first winding means and said second winding means to said main and auxiliary capacitors, and wherein said timer circuit means is connected electrically to said oscillator circuit means, whereby upon operation of said last-mentioned circuit means between an on and off condition, charging voltage is provided inductively via said first and second winding means, respectively, for charging said capacitors and upon discharge of said main storage capacitor, a return voltage is inductively provided through said second winding means and first winding means of said oscillator circuit means, respectively, to operate said oscillator circuit means between an on and off condition, said oscillator circuit means in response thereto providing a signal to said timer circuit for the operation thereof.

Claim 8

A capacitive discharge ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine, including in combination; a main storage capacitor, an auxiliary storage capacitor, an ignition coil coupled electrically to said main and auxiliary capacitors for providing a high voltage output for operation of said engine, charging means coupled electrically to said main and auxiliary capacitors, said charging means being operable to charge said capacitors, trigger pulse means operable to provide periodic trigger pulses in accordance with the operation of said engine, first switch means connected to said main storage capacitor and to sAid trigger pulse means and operable in response to the receipt of a pulse from said trigger pulse means to discharge said main storage capacitor into said ignition coil, second switch means connected to said auxiliary capacitor and to said ignition coil, and timer circuit means coupled electrically to said system and to said second switch means, said timer circuit means being operable in response to the discharge of said main storage capacitor to operate said second switch means for discharging said auxiliary capacitor into said ignition coil, said timer circuit means having a delay period for delaying the operation of said second switch means for a predetermined time whereby said auxiliary capacitor is discharged in succession with said main storage capacitor to extend the duration of output voltage from said ignition coil, wherein said charging means includes oscillator circuit means having first winding means, and second winding means connected to said main and auxiliary capacitors, said oscillator circuit means being inductively coupled by means of said first winding means and said second winding means to said main and auxiliary capacitors, and wherein said timer circuit means is connected electrically to said oscillator circuit means, whereby upon operation of said last-mentioned circuit means between an on and off condition, charging voltage is provided inductively via said first and second winding means, respectively, for charging said capacitors and upon discharge of said main storage capacitor, a return voltage is inductively provided through said second winding means and first winding means of said oscillator circuit means, respectively, to operate said oscillator circuit means between an on and off condition, said oscillator circuit means in response thereto providing a signal to said timer circuit for the operation thereof.

Claim 9

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said timer circuit means includes a controlled switch means and a capacitor coupled electrically to said lastmentioned switch means, said capacitor being charged in response to the signal received from said oscillator circuit means, said controlled switch means being operated to an on condition upon the charging of said capacitor to a predetermined level thereby to operate said second switch means.

Claim 10

A capacitive discharge ignition system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first and second switch means each comprise a silicon controlled rectifier and wherein said controlled switch means of said timer circuit means include a programmable unijunction transistor.