Distributorless ignition system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with misfire suppression

Claim 1

In combination with a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (ICE), an ignition system having an ignition coil (10) including a primary winding (6, 7) and a secondary winding (9); means (12,14) connected to the primary winding and selectively energizing the ignition coil and, upon interruption of energization, providing spark pulse outputs at secondary terminals (17, 24) of a secondary winding of a polarity which depends on energization of a respective one of the primary windings (6,7); at least two spark plugs (20, 21, 27, 28) connected to the respective secondary terminals (17, 24) of the secondary winding; and reversely polarized diodes (18, 19; 25, 26) connected in series between the spark plugs and the respective secondary terminals of the secondary winding, and comprising, in accordance with the invention, means for preventing misfire of the engine by suppression of undesired firing or spark discharge of a spark plug upon malfunction of at least one of said serially connected diodes (18, 19; 25, 26) by passage of energy by a malfunctioning serially connected diode including an additional diode (22, 23; 29, 30) connected in parallel across each of the spark plugs (20, 21; 27, 28) to thereby short-circuit current through the additional diode upon passage of energy by the malfunctioning serially connected diode in reverse direction of its normal current flow due to malfunction, and thereby prevent misfire of the engine.