Ignition-control system for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, wherein said system employs controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency spark energy, said spark energy being generated by an oscillator having a control winding for starting and stopping oscillation thereof at the beginning and end of each spark interval, the combination comprising a transistor connected in series with said control winding for making and breaking a loading circuit which includes said control winding, said transistor having a control circuit therefor, engine-timed means associated with said control winding for determining said spark intervals, said engine-timed means comprising an infrared-light-emitting diode, a phototransistor, and a shutter driven by said engine, circuit means for connecting said engine-timed means to said transistor control circuit, said circuit means comprising a regenerative trigger, time-delay means comprising a retriggerable monostable multivibrator for actuating said control circuit after a predetermined interval if said engine-timed means has stopped between said beginning and end of a spark interval, said circuit means also comprising a first amplifier between said engine-timed means and said regenerative trigger, a NAND gate having at least two inputs, one from said multivibrator and one from said trigger, and a second amplifier between said regenerative trigger and said transistor.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1, wherein said combination also comprises an ignition switch for controlling energization of said ignition system, a relay having a relay-control winding thereon in circuit with said ignition switch, and switch contacts on said relay being connected in an auxiliary loading circuit for stopping oscillation of said oscillator whenever said ignition switch is turned off, said auxiliary loading circuit being in parallel with said first-named loading circuit.

Claim 4

In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine wherein said system employs controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency spark energy, said spark energy being generated by an oscillator having a control winding for starting and stopping oscillation thereof at the beginning and end of each spark interval, the combination comprising electronic switching means for instantaneously opening and closing a loading circuit for said control winding at the beginning and end of each spark interval, said switch means comprising a first transistor for controlling said loading circuit, a Schmitt trigger for controlling said first transistor, a retriggerable monostable multivibrator having an input and an ouput, a NAND gate having an output connected to said first transistor and one input connected to the output from said multivibrator and another input connected to said Schmitt trigger, a second transistor for applying an input signal to said Schmitt trigger, engine-timed means for applying an input signal to said second transistor for switching said Schmitt trigger at the beginning and returning it at the end of each said spark interval, and said combination also comprising an ignition switch for controlling energization of said ignition system, a relay having a relay-control winding thereon in circuit with said ignition switch, and switch contacts on said relay being connected in an auxiliary loading circuit for stopping oscillation of said oscillator whenever said ignition switch is turned off, said auxiliary loading circuit being in parallel with said first named loading circuit.

Claim 5

In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine wherein said system employs controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency spark energy, said spark energy being generated by an oscillator having a control winding for starting and stopping oscillation thereof at the beginning and end of each spark interval, the combination comprising electronic switching means for instantaneously opening and closing a loading circuit for said control winding at the beginning and end of each spark interval, said switch means comprising a first transistor for controlling said loading circuit, a Schmitt trigger for controlling said first transistor, a retriggerable monostable multivibrator having an input and an ouput, a NAND gate having an output connected to said first transistor and one input connected to the output from said multivibrator and another input connected to said Schmitt trigger, a second transistor for applying an input signal to said Schmitt trigger, engine-timed means for applying an input signal to said second transistor for switching said Schmitt trigger at the beginning and returning it at the end of each said spark interval, and said combination also comprising an ignition switch for controlling energization of said ignition system, a relay having a relay-control winding thereon in circuit with said ignition switch, and switch contacts on said relay being connected in an auxiliary loading circuit for stopping oscillation of said oscillator whenever said ignition switch is turned off, said auxiliary loading circuit being in parallel with said first named loading circuit.

Claim 6

In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, wherein said system employs controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency spark energy, said spark energy being generated by an oscillator having a control winding for starting and stopping oscillation thereof at the beginning and end of each spark interval, the combination comprising electronic switcing means for instantaneously opening and closing a loading circuit for said control winding at the beginning and end of each spark interval, engine-timed means for actuating said switching means in predetermined relationship to said engine operation, an ignition switch for controlling energization of said ignition system, a relay having a relay-control winding thereon in circuit with said ignition switch, and switch contacts on said relay being connected in an auxiliary loading circuit for stopping oscillation of said oscillator whenever said ignition switch is turned off, said auxiliary loading circuit being in parallel with said first-named loading circuit.

Claim 7

In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, wherein said system employs controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency spark energy, said spark energy being generated by an oscillator having a control winding for starting and stopping oscillation thereof at the beginning and end of each spark interval, the combination comprising electronic switcing means for instantaneously opening and closing a loading circuit for said control winding at the beginning and end of each spark interval, engine-timed means for actuating said switching means in predetermined relationship to said engine operation, an ignition switch for controlling energization of said ignition system, a relay having a relay-control winding thereon in circuit with said ignition switch, and switch contacts on said relay being connected in an auxiliary loading circuit for stopping oscillation of said oscillator whenever said ignition switch is turned off, said auxiliary loading circuit being in parallel with said first-named loading circuit.