Plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine

Patent · Mon Feb 27 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6756051

Ishikawa, Y; Endo, H; Imai, I; Sone, M

A plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a plasma ignition plug within each of the engine cylinders, which comprises: (a) a low DC voltage supply such as a vehicle battery; (b) a high surge voltage generator which generates and distributes a high surge voltage having a negative peak value of about minus 15 kilovolts into one of the plasma ignition plugs according to a predetermined ignition order so as to generate a spark discharge at the plasma ignition plug; (c) a DC-DC converter which boosts the low DC voltage sent from the low DC voltage supply to a high DC voltage; (d) a plurality of plasma ignition energy charging means each of which charges the high DC voltage supplied from the DC-DC converter; (e) a plurality of thyristors each for connecting the plasma ignition energy charging means to the corresponding plasma ignition energy charging means to the corresponding plasma ignition plug in response to a first trigger signal applied thereat; (f) a trigger signal generator which generates and outputs the first trigger signal into the gate terminal of one of the thyristors according to the predetermined ignition order so as to turn on said thyristor and a second trigger signal for halting the high DC voltage from outputting from the DC-DC converter; (g) a plurality of inductors for producing an oscillation on a basis of the high DC voltage outputted from the corresponding plasma ignition energy charging means; and (h) a high DC voltage charging and discharging means for extending the turn-on interval of one of the thyristors which is triggered by the first trigger signal from the trigger signal generator, whereby the plasma ignition always occurs without misfire.

• Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited (Japan)
• Patent Number(s): US 4433669
• OSTI ID: 6756051
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330101* -- Internal Combustion Engines-- Spark-Ignition
CURRENTS
DC SYSTEMS
DC TO DC CONVERTERS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
HEAT ENGINES
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LOGIC CIRCUITS
PLASMA JETS
POWER SYSTEMS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
THYRISTORS