Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
  • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
  • F02P3/00—Other installations
  • F02P3/02—Other installations having inductive energy storage, e.g. arrangements of induction coils
  • F02P3/04—Layout of circuits
  • F02P3/0407—Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with electronic switching means
  • F02P3/0435—Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with electronic switching means with semiconductor devices

Definitions

• This invention is in the field of electronic ignition systems utilizing magnetic pulse timers or breaker point timers.
• a magnetic pulse timer coupled to a semiconductor is utilized to activate a power transistor that is connected to an ignition transformer primary winding.
• Such prior art circuitry is usually dependent upon variations in voltage levels of a DC power source and contains excessive components.
• An ignition circuit with an improved bipolar activated timer is shown in U.S. Patent 4,377,151 to same applicant. The circuit therein likewise makes use of a timer and its bipolar semiconductor circuit to drive a power transistor connected to the ignition transformer primary winding so as to activate and deactivate such power transistor.
• the invention utilizes a pair of transistors of opposite conductivities with their output circuits serially connected.
• One transistor collector has DC power applied thereto while the other transistor collector is connected to the primary winding of the ignition transformer.
• the bases of these transistors are directly coupled to the terminals of the output winding of the timer's coil, providing a bipolar pulse output to these transistors to activate and deactivate such transistors directly and without any intermediate semiconductor stages between such transistors and timer output winding.
• Such circuit enjoys the benefit of developing appoximately double the voltage induced into the primary winding of the ignition transormer as compared to a single power transistor controlling primary winding current flow.
• the increased induced primary voltage also approximately doubles the secondary voltage and ignition energy.
• ignition circuitry some of the Darlington connected configurations and others of directly coupled transistors of opposite conductivities to operate with either a magnetic pulse timer or a breaker point timer. Also included is an ignition system analogous to the one disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,377,151 but operating on a different principle, namely, all transistors are either ON or OFF at the same time.
• a variation of the circuitry having transistors of opposite conductivities and utilizing a transient current feedback path provide ignition voltages and currents of lengthened duty cycles, such circuitry using very few components and being dimensionally very small.
• FIG. 1 is an electrical schematic of a circuit utilizing a Darlington transistor pair in accordance with the invention.
• FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic of the circuit of FIG. 1 including means for biasing the transistors to reduce the voltage output from the secondary winding of the ignition transformer.
• FIG. 3 is a circuit similar to that of FIG. 1 except that the primary winding of the ignition transformer is located in a different collector circuit from that illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic showing the circuit of FIG. 1 activating an AC generator.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are waveforms of voltages present between the bases of the transistors of FIG. 1 and between the base and emitter of each transistor.
• FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are representative P-N and N-P unijunction type Darlington transistors utilized in the circuit of FIG. 11, which is analogous to FIG. 1 circuit.
• FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are representative N-channel and P-channel field effect Darlington transistors utilized in the circuit of FIG. 18, which is the analog of FIG. 1 circuit.
• FIGS. 16 and 17 are representative of N-channel and P-channel field effect non-Darlington type transistors utilized in the circuit of FIG. 19, and performing in manner similar to that of FIG. 18 circuit.
• FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 are schematics of simplified ignition circuits for operation with magnetic pulse or breaker point timers.
• FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 are schematics of simple high energy ignition circuitry, eachconnected in Darlington configuration.
• FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 are schematics of ignition circuits having transistors of opposite conductivites connected in tandem.
• FIGS. 29 and 30 are schematics of high energy ignition systems utilizing a bipolar input to a high power stage, wherein all transistors are ON and OFF at substantially the same time.
• FIGS. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 are schematics of very high energy ignition circuits with extended duty cycle duration.
• FIGS. 41 and 42 are schematics of ignition circuits utilizing a bipolar input to a high power stage and with extended duty cycle duration.
• FIG. 43 represents a drawing of an oscilloscopic trace of a voltage waveform generated by the circuits with extended duty cycles.
• FIG. 44 represents a drawing of an optical illustration of the base of an igniter firing when energized by the waveform of FIG. 43.
• BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, an ignition system is illustrated utilizing a conventional magnetic pulse timer 20, operating in conjunction with a pair of Darlington type transistors Qa and Qb, designated by the symbol D in the transistor illustrations.
• the output circuits of such transistors of the NPN and PNP types are serially connected by connecting their emitters in series.
• a DC power source 10 the negative terminal of the power source being at ground potential, has its positive terminal connected to the collector of transistor Qa, the collector of transistor Qb being connected to one side of primary winding L1 of an ignition transformer, the other side of the primary winding and one side of secondary winding L2 being commonly at ground potential, whereas the other side of secondary winding L2 is fed to a rotor member of a high voltage conventional distributor, not shown herein, such distributor being one that feeds four igniters inasmuch as reluctor wheel 25 of timer 20 is designated for a four igniter operation.
• Such reluctor wheel and distributor rotor are electrically insulated from each other and are mounted on and driven by the same distributor shaft 24.
• Reluctor wheel 25 therefore has four protrusions 26 regularly spaced from each other at the wheel's outer periphery. Each time one of protrusions 26 passes armature pole piece 22 of a permanently magnetized core 21 , a bipolar pair of pulses is generated at outputs A and B of coil 23, coil 23 being wound on core 21.
• the operation of timer 20 as it relates to the circuits of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 18 and 19, is provided in detail in U.S. Patent 4,377,151 issued to same applicant, but a summary of such operation is provided herein.
• Waveform F output therefore is characterized by a pair of bipolar pulses closely spaced to each other wherein the negative pulse leads the positive pulse in time frame.
• waveform G obtained by transposing leads A and B, so that lead B is connected to the base of Qa and lead A is connected to the base of Qb, will provide a leading positive pulse of the bipolar pulse pair output of coil 23.
• an advantage is gained utilizing the circuits of Qa and Qb in that trigger actuation of such circuits by generation of either waveform F or G as input to Qa and Qb makes switching initiation independent of the DC power source 10 and consequently independent of its voltage and current variations.
• the benefit of bipolar operation by activating and deactivating Qa and Qb simultaneously may be appreciated by examining their emitter-base voltages V BE illustrated as waveforms H and J in FIG. 6.
• Qa and Qb have been illustrated as Darlington type multifunction transistors, such transistors may be of the power type, may be of the unijunction or field effect Darlington or non-Darlington types.
• FIG. 2 the same operational criteria applies as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1 configuration.
• a capacitor C is shown shunting secondary winding L2 of the ignition transformer.
• Such capacitor is of the distributed parameter type as illustrated in U.S. Patents 4,413,304 or 4,422,054 to same applicant. It had been found that such capacitor increases the voltage and current output of L2 dramatically.
• transistors Qa and Qb may be conveniently biased by utilizing resistors R1 , R2 and/or R3 connected between the emitter and base of one or both Qa and Qb, or by connecting resistor R3 between the bases of Qa and Qb.
• the circuit therein is the same as the one in FIG. 1, except that the primary winding L1 is in the collector circuit of transistor Qa and is powered by DC source 10 applying a positive voltage to the junction of winding L1 and L2, and the collector of Qb is at ground potential. Otherwise the operation of this circuit is identical to the operation discussed for FIG. 1 configuration.
• One detriment of this circuit is that one end of secondary winding L2 is connected to DC power source 10 and hence requires a capacitor between the junction of L1 and L2 and ground in order to provide a shortened electrical path for ignition current flow and to prevent ignition energy loss due to long leads connecting source 10 to the ignition transformer. Referring to FIGS.
• timer 20 is the same as described in conjunction with FIG. 1 description, except that transistors Qn and Qp therein may be of non-Darlington transistors, or Darlington types if desired. Output leads from the coil of timer 20 are connected to bases of Qn and Qp respectively.
• Transistor Qn is of the NPN type and transistor Qp is of the PNP type.
• Transistor Qn has its collector connected to the positive terminal of DC source 10, the collector of transistor Qp being connected to a center tap at 73 of a tertiary or feedback winding made part of ignition transformer 70.
• Ignition transformer 70 has a center tapped primary winding 71, the ends of which are connected to the collectors of a pair of NPN transistors Q1, their emitters being at ground potential.
• the center tap of winding 71 is connected to the positive terminal of DC source 10.
• the circuit consisting of windings 71 and 73 and transistors Q1 is an alternating current square wave generator of the Royer type providing the AC rectangular waveform each time the center tap at 73 is biased positively for enabling conduction of transistors Q1, and well known in the art. This generator is triggered by activation of transistors Qn and Qp utilizing waveform G of FIG. 5 principle.
• transistors Qn - Qp Activation of transistors Qn - Qp causes a positive DC voltage level to be applied to tap 73 turning on transistors Q1 in sequence to create oscillation of the Royer generator circuit.
• Secondary winding 72 analogous to secondary winding L2 of FIG. 1, provides the output of the AC generated power to a high voltage distributor.
• the negative pulse of the bipolar pulse pair arriving at the base of Qn causes the base of Qp to be positive, turning off Qn and Qp simultaneously and providing zero bias to tap 73 causing transistors Q1 to be turned off and producing zero voltage across the output of winding 72.
• the following listing shows transistors in small type T0-220AB plastic packages usable in the foregoing circuits to enable the total ignition electronics to be manufactured in a container small enough to be included within the confines of the ignition distributor per se:
• transistors Qa and Qb exhibit capacitive output parameters which aid in producing an increased voltage and current in the primary winding L1.
• Transistors Qn and Qp also have such inherent output capacities, as well as transistors Q2 through Q7 inclusive.
• unijunction transistor circuitry of Q2 and Q3 may be utilized with magnetic pulse timer 20 in similar manner as discussed for the FIG. 1 situation.
• a Darlington P-N type transistor with an N type base Q2 is shown in FIG. 7, and for simplicity in symbolic notation in FIG. 8 with the symbol D therein indicating a Darlington type circuit.
• FIG. 9 a unijunction Darlington transistor of the N-P type with a P type base Q3 is shown in FIG. 9 with its symbolic form denoted by symbol D in FIG. 10.
• Such transistors Q2 and Q3 have their bases B1 series connected, the base B2 of Q2 being connected to DC power source 10, whereas the base B2 of Q3 is connected to primary winding L1 of the ignition transformer.
• the output winding of the timer is connected to the emitters of Q2 and Q3 providing similar inputs to activate and deactivate Q2 and Q3 as discussed for the FIG. 1 situation. Referring to FIGS.
• Transistor Q4 of FIG. 12 is symbolically shown as a Darlington type in FIG. 13 illustration wherein the symbol D therein indicates Darlington circuitry.
• Transistor Q4 is of the N-channel type.
• Transistor Q5 of FIG. 14 is of the P-channel type and is symbolically shown as a Darlington type in FIG.
• FIG. 18 illustrates transistors Q4 and Q5 as providing the total ignition electronics in conjunction with timer 20.
• FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrating N-channel and P-channel non-Darlington transistors are also usable as a pair of complementary transistors of opposite conductivities in the circuit of FIG. 19.
• the gates of transistors Q4 and Q5 are connected to the output winding or coil in timer 20, and in FIG. 19 the gates of transistors Q6 and Q7 are similarly connected.
• the N-channel transistors Q4 and Q6 have their drains connected to the positive terminal of the DC source 10.
• the drains of P-channel transistors Q5 and Q7 are connected to the primary winding L1 of the ignition transformer.
• the sources of transistor pair Q4 - Q5 are serially interconnected and the sources of transistors Q6 - Q7 are also serially interconnected. Otherwise the circuits of FIGS. 18 and 19 both function as described for the circuit of FIG. 1 situation, wherein the gates are analogous to the bases of Qa - Qb, the drains are analogous to the collectors of Qa - Qb, and the sources are analogous to the emitters of Qa - Qb.
• a simplified ignition system is powered by DC source 10 through ignition switch 11 when such switch is closed.
• the circuit therein utilizes a PNP type transistor Q9 which may also be of the Darlington type.
• Darlington transistor types TIP 147, TIP 147T or 2N6668 made by Motorola, Inc. or non-Darlington transistor such as MJE 2901 made by Motorola, Inc. may be used as Q9. Except for the change in transistors to opposite conductivities, this configuration operates similarly to that of FIG. 20 configuration. However, here the operation is dependent on feeding waveform G of FIG. 5 to the base of the transistor, achieved by connecting end B of output sensor winding 23 of timer 20 to the base of the transistor and providing a positive potential to end A of winding 23.
• the circuit herein is identical to that of FIG. 20 except that a plural number of NPN transistors, Q10 and Q11, are used instead of transistor Q8.
• the circuit actually is a quasi-Darlington circuit since the emitter of Q10 is connected to the base of Q11, but the collectors of Q10 and Q11 are not commonly connected, the collector of Q10 being at positive DC potential and the output circuit consisting of winding L1, connected between power source 10 and the collector of Q11 when switch 11 is closed, is part of Q11 circuit.
• the input circuit is between the base of Q10 and ground.
• Timer 20 is connected by means of lead A to the base of Q10, lead B being at ground potential.
• Resistor 15 in the Q10 collector circuit limits the-voltage imposed upon the base of Q11.
• Transistor Q10 may be of the 2N5818 type, and transistor Q11 may be of the MJE 2801 type made by Motorola, Inc. No additional resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes or transistors are required for proper ignition system performance. Referring to FIG. 24, the circuit herein is the same as described for FIG.
• FIG. 25 the circuit is identical to that of FIG. 24 except that timer 30, as described in conjunction with FIG. 22, is used in a like manner as for FIG. 22 situation.
• the output of timer 30 is fed to the base of Q12.
• the quasi-Darlington interconnection of transistors Q12 and Q13 are as discussed for the FIG. 24 case.
• Typical PNP transistors are of similar types as for the FIG. 24 case.
• This circuit is tailored for use with ignition systems still using breaker contactors in their timers. No additional components such as capacitors, inductors, resistors, diodes or transistors, other than illustrated, are required for proper system operation.
• capacitor 60 effectively shunting the DC power input to the ignition circuits, may included as part of such circuits if desired.
• the circuit herein consists of a pseudo Darlington circuit of an NPN transistor coupled to a PNP transistor, triggered by a magnetic pulse timer 20, identical to the one used in the FIG. 20 configuration.
• Capacitor 60 may be connected so as to effectively shunt source 10 and provide a reduced AC ohmic resistance path for ignition current flow in primary winding L1.
• the advantage of this circuit with opposite conductivity transistors is that the base current of Q15 is identical to the collector current of Q14, and this pair of transistors provides a high input impedance to the timer's sensor winding inductance, and thus a high waveform voltage amplitude to the base of Q14 of the bipolar pulse pair voltage generated by timer 20, for reliable triggering of transistor Q14 and consequently the triggering of Q15.
• Typical transistors for Q14 may be either type 2N3773 or MJE 2801 by Motorola, Inc.
• Typical transistors for Q15 may be either type 2N6609 or MJE 2901 by Motorola, Inc.
• the circuit herein employs a pseudo Darlington circuit consisting of a PNP transistor Q16 as its input transistor, the collector of which feeds the base of NPN transistor Q17.
• Resistor 16 in the emitter of Q16 produces a voltage drop from the voltage of power source 10, a reduced voltage being applied to the base of transistor Q17.
• Winding L1 is in the collector circuit of Q17, such winding and the emitter of Q16 being at positive DC potential when switch 11 is closed, and maintaining Q16 in its OFF state.
• Capacitors C and/or 60 may be used here as in the ca.ce of FIG. 26 configuration. Referring to FIG. 28, this structure is identical in all respects to that of FIG. 27 configuration, and only the timer is different. Timer 30, feeding transistor 16, is of the breaker-point contactor type which is fully described in conjunction with FIG. 22 configuration. All other components such as capacitor 60 connected to one side of primary winding L1 and capacitor C shunting secondary winding L2, may be utilized. Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, typical transistors for Q16 may be either type 2N6609 of MJE 2901 by Motorola, Inc. Typical transistors for Q17 may be either type 2N3773 or MJE 2801 by Motorola, Inc. Referring to FIG.
• an extremely high power ignition system having high voltage and current output fed to a distributor as shown in FIG. 20 is provided with the bipolar magnetic pulse circuit consisting of transistors Q18 and Q19 of opposite conductivities, analogous to the bipolar pair Qa-Qb used for FIG. 1 configuration, and such circuit functions in a similar manner to that described for the FIG. 1 condition.
• Q18 and Q19 may be of the signal type, for reasons stated below and to effect economy of fabrication.
• Transistor pair Q18 and Q19 may also be of the Darlington type, the multijunction type, the unijunction type or the field effect type as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-19.
• Magnetic pulse timer 20 triggers and activates bipolar pair Q18 and Q19, as in the case of FIG.
• waveform G as illustrated in FIG. 5, with the positive pulse of the bipolar pulse pair output of winding 23 of the timer 20 leading the negative pulse of such pulse pair, appears to provide better performance than with one of waveform F, the transposition of leads A and B.
• waveform G will be provided to activate Q18-Q19 pair in a similar manner discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1 configuration.
• Typical transistors for Q18 are types 2N3019, 2N2222, MPS-U10 or MJE 200 by Motorola, Inc.
• Typical transistors for Q19 are types 2N2905, 2N2907, MPS-U60 or MJE 210 by Motorola, Inc.
• power transistor Q20 is of opposite conductivity to that of Q18, the base of Q20 being directly coupled to the collector of Q18. Consequently, the base current I of Q20 is identical to the collector currents of Q18 and Q19, since all transistors are powered by direct current source 10 fed to the emitter of Q20, and direct current flow from the emitter to base of Q20 proceeds to flow through the collectoremitter circuits of Q18 and Q19 to ground.
• the bipolar pair are switched on at the time the positive pulse of waveform G at lead B turns on Q18 and the negative potential at lead A at that same time turns on 0.19 so that all three transistors are conducting at the same time, to provide a current through primary winding L1 charging L1 with current from source 10.
• This circuit is different in principle from the one in U.S. Patent 4,377,151, and quite unique in that all transistors are turned on and .off at substatially the same time, the power transistor is of opposite conductivity to the transistor of the bipolar pair to which it is coupled, no resistors are required in this circuit, and that the power transistor Q20 is actually triggered by a pulse having both positive and negative excursions, as was observed in a laborator test utilizing an oscilloscope connected between the base of Q20 and ground.
• the DC current I was measured at 130 milliamperes.
• the voltage induced in primary winding L1 was measured at approximately 1000 volts, peak-to-peak, so that for a 100:1 ratio ignition transformer, the voltage across secondary winding L2 and fed to the igniters would be about 100 kilovolts peak-to-peak.
• the igniter current was difficult to measure but there was sufficient evidence that such current was in excess of one ampere.
• the waveform output is very short during L1 discharge, it can be accommodated in the delay time period, so that in effect the high voltage produced by L1 cannot burn out any of the transistors due to their effective terminal short circuit or very low impedances.
• Such inherent characteristic permits the use of inexpensive transistors for Q18 and Q19 while at the same time providing pin point ignition energy waveform to the igniters.
• this circuit Q20 could be of the MJE 4353, TIP 147, TIP 147T or MJH 11021 by Motorola, Inc., and may be of a suitable Darlington type, multijunction type, unijunction type or field effect type as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-19.
• a distributed parameter capacitor C referred to in conjunction with FIG. 2, shunting winding L2 may be utilized.
• Capacitor 60 utilized for reducing the ohmic AC return path and also for radio noise reduction, is not a part of this ignition circuit and is generally part of the automotive engine wiring system. This capacitor usage is referred to in conjunction with FIG. 20 configuration.
• the power transistor Q21 is of the NPN type, the collector thereof being coupled to primary winding L1. Direct current power is fed to both the collector of Q18, and the collector of Q21 through L1.
• the base current I of Q21 is also the collector current of Q18 and Q19, all transistors turning on and off substantially at the same time and otherwise perfoiming identically to FIG. 29 configuration.
• Typical transistors for Q21 are MJE 4343, MJE 13009, MJH 11022, TIP 142, TIP 142T by Motorola, Inc.
• Q21 may be a suitable Darlington type, multijunction type, unijunction type or field effect type, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-19.
• FIGS. 31 , 43 and 44 the structure herein is the same as illustrated in FIG. 26, except that in FIG. 31 a feedback path consisting of capacitor 80 is provided between primary winding L1 and terminal B of sensor coil 23 to produce a portion of the ignition transient signal developed at the primary L1 and to be fed back to the input of NPN transistor Q22.
• resistor 81 also is used to maintain a ground or negative battery 10 bias to the base of Q22 to maintain 022 in its OFF state until a positive pulse output from sensor winding 23 appears at terminal A to turn Q22 to its ON state, thereby causing the collector of Q22 and the base of Q23 to drop to ground potential to turn ON Q23 and charge primary winding L1.
• the transistors herein are identical to those used for FIG. 36 configuration. Referring to FIG. 38, this circuit is identical to that of FIG. 33 except for the feedback structure, which feedback structure utilizes the same structure as for FIG. 36 situation.
• the transistors Q28 and Q29 are of the same types respectively as transistors Q24 and Q25 of FIG. 33 configuration. Referring to FIG. 39, this circuit is identical to that of FIG. 38, except for the added bias resistor 83 that maintains transistor Q29 in its OFF state until timer command is issued.
• the transistors herein are the same as in the FIG.
• FIG. 40 the circuit herein is identical to that of FIG. 38, except that timer 30 is used instead of timer 20. Timer 30 function has been explained in conjunction with FIG. 22 configuration.
• FIG. 41 this circuit is identical to that of FIG. 29, except for the additional use of transient feedback circuit described in conjunction with FIG. 36 configuration.
• the base of Q30 is shown as the connection point of the feedback capacitor 80, but the base of Q31 may alternately be used to make such connection.
• Transistors Q30 and Q31 are the same as specified for FIG. 29 configuration.
• Transistor 32 may be selected from the group of transistors MJE 2901, MJE 4353, MJE 5852 or MJH 11021. The functions are otherwise similar to those function illustrated by FIGS.
• capacitor C shown in several of the figures may be connected and used in conjunction with any of the figures illustrated shunting winding L2, to obtain increased energy output from the ignition transformer. It should also be understood that although a bit more cumbersome, ignition transient feedback signals may be obtained by tapping secondary winding L2 in lieu of primary winding L1.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=27418309

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1985
  • 1985-08-06 WO PCT/US1985/001475 patent/WO1986003257A1/en unknown
  • 1985-08-06 EP EP19850904177 patent/EP0202235A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events