Patent US3844266A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3844266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacitor discharge ignition circuit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-10
•
Granted: 1974-10-29
•
Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A capacitor discharge ignition circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor connected in series with the ignition coil. A transistor means is connected across the capacitor and ignition coil for providing a current flow path through the inductor and a capacitor discharge path through the ignition coil. The transistor means is operated by a control means which initiates capacitor discharge and inductor current flow upon point contact opening. The control means includes a sensing means which terminates current flow through the inductor when a predetermined magnitude of electrical energy has been generated in the inductor. The energy of the inductor is then transferred to the capacitor by operation of the transistor means.
Inventors
- 👤 D Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:56
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P3/00; F02P3/06; F02P3/08; F02P3/0876; F02P3/0884; C; C03; C03C; C03C17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
A capacitor discharge ignition circuit for intermittently supplying electrical pulses to a spark plug energization means from a primary electrical source, said circuit being triggerable by periodic operation of a switch means and comprising: an inductor connectable to one side of the primary electrical power source for generating electrical energy in said inductor responsive to current flow therethrough; a capacitor connected in series with said inductor and connectable to the spark plug energization means and to the other side of the primary electrical power source for receiving and storing the electrical energy generated in said inductor; semiconductor means including an output circuit having conductive and non conductive states and a signal responsive input circuit for controlling the duration of the conductive state of the output circuit in accordance with the duration of a conduction signal applied to the input circuit, said output circuit being connected intermediate said inductor and capacitor and in parallel with the series connected capacitor and spark plug energization means for providing a discharge path for the stored electrical energy of the capacitor into the spark plug energization means when in the conductive state, said output circuit permitting the transfer of electrical energy from said inductor to said capacitor when in the non conductive state; an input logic circuit having an input connectable to the switch means for providing an output signal upon the operation of the switch means; and sensing means having an output connected to said semiconductor means input circuit, said sensing means having an input connected to said input logic circuit and being responsive to said output signal for initiating a conduction signal to said semiconductor input circuit, said sensing means input being further coupled to said inductor and being responsive to the magnitude of current flow through the inductor for teRminating the conduction signal to said semiconductor input circuit when the current flow through said inductor reaches a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
A capacitor discharge ignition circuit for intermittently supplying electrical pulses to a spark plug energization means from a primary electrical source, said circuit being triggerable by periodic operation of a switch means and comprising: an inductor connectable to one side of the primary electrical power source for generating electrical energy in said inductor responsive to current flow therethrough; a capacitor connected in series with said inductor and connectable to the spark plug energization means and to the other side of the primary electrical power source for receiving and storing the electrical energy generated in said inductor; semiconductor means including an output circuit having conductive and non conductive states and a signal responsive input circuit for controlling the duration of the conductive state of the output circuit in accordance with the duration of a conduction signal applied to the input circuit, said output circuit being connected intermediate said inductor and capacitor and in parallel with the series connected capacitor and spark plug energization means for providing a discharge path for the stored electrical energy of the capacitor into the spark plug energization means when in the conductive state, said output circuit permitting the transfer of electrical energy from said inductor to said capacitor when in the non conductive state; an input logic circuit having an input connectable to the switch means for providing an output signal upon the operation of the switch means; and sensing means having an output connected to said semiconductor means input circuit, said sensing means having an input connected to said input logic circuit and being responsive to said output signal for initiating a conduction signal to said semiconductor input circuit, said sensing means input being further coupled to said inductor and being responsive to the magnitude of current flow through the inductor for teRminating the conduction signal to said semiconductor input circuit when the current flow through said inductor reaches a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is further defined as including a current sensor coupled to said inductor for providing a signal corresponding to the magnitude of current flow through the inductor and controllable conduction means having a power circuit controlled by a signal responsive control circuit, said power circuit being connected to the input circuit of said semiconductor means, said control circuit being connected to said input logic circuit and responsive to said output signal for causing said power circuit to initiate a conduction signal to said semiconductor means input circuit, said control circuit being further coupled to said current sensor for causing said power circuit to terminate the conduction signal to said semiconductor means input circuit when current flow through the inductor reaches a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 including a feedback signal path from said controllable conduction means power circuit to said input logic circuit for maintaining the output signal from said input logic circuit to said controllable conduction means control circuit during the periodic operation of said controllable conduction means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein said sensing means includes means providing thermal stability to said sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein said input logic circuit is connectable to the primary electrical power source and includes means responsive to the voltage of the power source for preventing operation of the ignition circuit at unusably low voltages of the power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein said input logic circuit is connectable to the primary electrical power source and includes means for stabilizing the operation of the ignition circuit against fluctuations in battery voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein said input logic circuit includes an ignition switch for rendering the ignition circuit operative.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein said input logic circuit is responsive to input signals of one polarity and the operation of switch means provides signals of the opposite polarity and wherein the ignition circuit includes means interposed between the switch means and said input logic circuit for converting the opposite polarity signals into signals of the desired polarity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The capacitor discharge ignition system of claim 2 wherein the operation of the switch means produces a varying voltage timing signal wave form and wherein the ignition circuit includes wave shaping circuitry interposed between the switch means and said input logic circuit means for providing a periodic signal suitable for application to said input logic circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 2 wherein the operation of the switch means produces a bi-polarity voltage timing signal and wherein the ignition circuit includes polarity responsive circuitry interposed between the switch means and said input logic circuit for providing a periodic signal for application to said input logic circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 10 wherein said polarity responsive circuitry comprises means for obtaining the bi-polarity voltage timing signal and control means including an output circuit connected to said input logic circuit and having conductive and non conductive states for operating the input logic circuit, said control means further including an input circuit connected to said obtaining means and responsive to the polarity of the timing signal for controlling the conduction state of the output circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 11 wherein said controL means comprises a transistor having the emitter-collector output circuit connected to said input logic circuit and the base-emitter input circuit connected to said means for obtaining the bi-polarity voltage timing signal, said base-emitter circuit includes a diode for providing voltage polarity responsiveness to said input circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 12 wherein said base-emitter input circuit of said control means is connectable to the primary electrical power source and includes a current regulating means for providing a fixed bias to said input circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
The capacitor discharge circuit of claim 2 wherein said sensing means includes a voltage responsive conduction means having a power circuit of alterable conductance connected to said semiconductor means input circuit and a voltage responsive control circuit for controlling the condition of the power circuit, said sensing means including bias means for providing a fixed bias voltage to said control circuit responsive to the input logic circuit means output signal for providing a conduction signal to said semiconductor means input circuit for placing said semiconductor means output circuit in the conductive state, said current sensor comprising a resistor connected in series with said inductor for providing a voltage proportional to inductor current to said control circuit for removing said conduction signal to said semiconductor means input circuit when the voltage signal proportional to current obtains a predetermined value relative to the bias voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 14 wherein said input logic circuit includes an input means connected to said power circuit of said voltage responsive conduction means and responsive to the conductance condition thereof and an output connected to said bias means for providing said fixed bias voltage to said control circuit of said voltage responsive conduction means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 14 wherein said voltage responsive control circuit and said bias means have complementary thermal characteristics for providing thermal stability to said sensing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 1 including a diode interposed between said inductor and said capacitor for permitting energy to flow only from said inductor to said capacitor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 1 wherein said spark plug energization means includes an ignition coil having a primary winding connectable in series with said inductor and capacitor, said ignition circuit including a diode connectable in parallel with the primary winding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 1 wherein said semiconductor means includes transistor means having input circuit connected to said sensing means output and an output circuit having conductive and non-conductive states.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 19 wherein said transistor means includes a pair of transistors connected in a Darlington pair.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 19 wherein said semiconductor means includes transistor means having input circuit connected to said sensing means output and an output circuit having conductive and non conductive states, said transistor means having the characteristics of a Darlington pair.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 1 wherein said sensing means output is further coupled to said input logic circuit for retaining said output signal to said sensing means input during the operative period of said sensing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 22 wherein control of the degree of conduction during the conductive state of said semiconductor means is in accordance with the magnitude of the conduction signal applied to said semiconductor means input circuit and wherein said sensing means is further defined as including amplification means for amplifying said inpuT logic circuit output signal to provide a conduction signal to said semiconductor means input circuit sufficient in magnitude to provide the desired degree of conduction in said semiconductor means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 18 wherein said input logic circuit includes input means connected to said sensing means and responsive to the operational state thereof for rendering said input logic circuit means unresponsive to said switch means when said sensing means is in the operative state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 24 wherein the periodic operation of the switch means comprises an opening and closing of the switch means and wherein the input means of said input logic circuit is further defined as a resettable means responsive to the opening of said switch means and reset by the closure of said switch means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 25 wherein the input means includes a controlled rectifier connectable across the switch means, said controlled rectifier having a control terminal connected to said sensing means for rendering said controlled rectifier conductive when said sensing means becomes operative.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The capacitor discharge ignition circuit of claim 24 wherein the inductance of said inductor is selected in accordance with the voltage of primary electrical power source to provide a predetermined period of cyclical operation to the ignition circuit, thereby to provide engine overspeed protection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3308801A
Cited
US3308800A
Cited
US3377998A
Cited
US3406672A
Cited
US3291110A
Cited
US3575154A
Cited
US3645246A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |