US3599618A - Transistor ignition system with ballast compensation - Google Patents
Transistor ignition system with ballast compensation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3599618A US3599618A US41489A US3599618DA US3599618A US 3599618 A US3599618 A US 3599618A US 41489 A US41489 A US 41489A US 3599618D A US3599618D A US 3599618DA US 3599618 A US3599618 A US 3599618A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- transistor
- control device
- current control
- primary winding
- ignition system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
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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
- F02P3/05—Layout of circuits for control of the magnitude of the current in the ignition coil
- F02P3/051—Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with semiconductor devices
Definitions
- An ignition system has a transistor connected in series with a primary winding of a conventional spark coil, and a sensing resistor is also connected in series with the transistor.
- a silicon-controlled rectifier has the anode thereof connected to the base electrode of the transistor and the cathode thereof coupled to the emitter of the transistor effectively to be in parallel with the base-emitter junction.
- the gate electrode of the silicon-controlled rectifier is coupled to the sensing resistor to be rendered conductive in response to a predetermined voltage level developed at the sensing resistor.
- the silicon-controlled rectifier when conductive, decreases the current flow through the transistor and the primary winding of the spark coil and, when nonconductive, increases the current flow through the transistor and the primary winding of the spark coil.
- This invention relates generally to a transistor ignition system and moreparticularly to a transistor ignition system I useable with the standard ignition coil of an automobile.
- transistor ignition systems have been provided which allow for use of the standard ignition coil.
- these transistor ignition systems generally provide means only for increasing breaker point life without actually enhancing the fuel-igniting properties of the spark produced thereby.
- a ballast resistor may be connected in series with the ignition coil to limit the current flow therethrough.
- these prior art ignition systems generally required that the ballast resistor associated with some automobiles be removed from the circuit and in some cases, required that a ballast resistor, if not already provided, be added, depending upon the type of transistor ignition system used.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a transistor ignition, system which will function properly regardless-of whether 'or not a ballast resistor is connected in series therewith, thus eliminating the need of concern of adding or removing a ballast resistor within an automobile ignition system.
- 'A feature of this invention is the use of a silicon-controlled rectifier connected so as to form a shunt current path with the base-emitter junction of the transistor of the ignition system. This will provideeither a maximum current flow through the transistor, when the silicon-controlled rectifier is in its nonconductive state, or a reduced current flow through the transistor, when the silicon-controlled rectifieris in its conductive state.
- FIGURE illustrates a schematic diagram of a transistor ignition system constructed in accordance with the principals of this'invention.
- the battery of an automobile is designated generally by reference numeral and provides an operating potential to the transistor ignition system.
- an alternator charging circuit may be incorporated although'it is not shown herein.
- An ignition switch 12 is provided to apply potential to the primary winding 14a ofa standard ignition coil 14, the secondary winding 14b thereof being arranged to apply spark discharges to an internal combustion engine in any usual and well-known manner.
- a ballast resistor I6 forms part of the ignition system of an automobile into which the ignition system of this invention is inserted. However, it will be understood that the resistor 16 may be eliminated.
- the ballast resistor 16 is a low-resistance, highwattage element provided to reduce the current flow through the primary winding 14a. ln many cases, when installing a transistor ignition system, it is this ballast resistor that is to be removed or bypassed. To prevent the wrong polarity of voltage from being applied to the transistor ignition system, a blocking diode 18 has the anode thereof connected to the resistor16 and the cathode thereof connected to the primary winding 14a.
- the ignition system of this invention consists primarily of those components illustrated in the broken line area designated by reference numeral 20.
- a transistor 22 has the collector-emitter junction thereof connected in series with the primary winding 14a and in series with a sensing resistor 24.
- a voltage drop is developed across resistor 24 and applied to the gate electrode of a silicon-controlled rectifier 26.
- the silicon-controlled rectifier is rendered conductive only when the voltage across resistor 24 reaches a predetermined level.
- the anode of the silicon-controlled rectifier is connected to a circuit point 28 which, in turn, is connected to the base electrode of transistor 22 effectively to control the amount of control current passing through the base-emitter junction of the transistor 22.
- a current-limiting resistor 30 is connected between the gate electrode of silicon-controlled rectifier 26 and a junction point between the emitter of transistor 22 and sensing resistor 24. Also, a resistor 32 is connected in series with the siliconcontrolled rectifier 26 to provide a predetermined voltage drop upon conduction of the silicon-controlled rectifier, which voltage drop then provides a new bias condition across thebase-emitter junction of transistor 22 effectively to reduce the amount of current flow through the transistor.
- a temperature-responsive transistor 34 is connected to the gate electrode of silicon-controlled rectifier 26 to stabilize the voltage condition required at the gate electrode of the silicon-controlled rectifier to render it conductive.
- a diode 38 is connected between the base-emitter junction of transistor 22 to protect the transistor from inadvertent reverse voltage conditions which may occur.
- transistor 22 has two effective conductive conditions, one conductive condition being maximum when siliconcontrolled rectifier 26 is nonconductive and the other conductive condition being somewhat reduced when silicon-controlled rectificr 26 is conductive.
- the electrical characteristic of the primary winding 14a, together with the sensing resistor 24, will cause a decreased voltage condition to exist across the sensing resistor 24 at high engine r.p.m.
- This decreased voltage condition will render silicon-controlled rectifier 26 nonconductive, if is was previously conductive as would be the case where ballast resistor 16 is eliminated from the circuit, to increase the current through transistor 22 which, in turn, will increase the current through primary winding 14a and produce a substantial increase in the fuel-igniting properties of a spark produced at the output of the transformer 14.
- a conventional breaker point arrangement 40 has one contactor thereof connected to ground potential and the other contactor thereof coupled to the base electrode of a transistor 42 through a resistor 44.
- the resistor 42 is a current gain device and has the emitter-collector junction thereof connected in series with the base-emitter junction of transistor 22 through a resistor 46.
- a conventional breaker point arrangement is illustrated herein, it will be understood that any suitable means to provide external pulse signal information to the transistor ignition system may be incorporated. 4
- capacitor 50 To stabilize the collector electrode of transistor 22. a capacitor 50 and a voltage-dependent resistor 52 are connected thereto as a filter.
- the voltage-dependent resistor 52 has one end thereof connected to the juncture of transistor 22 and primary winding 14a and the other end thereof connected to ground potential.
- capacitor 50 has one end thereof connected to the juncture between transistor 22 and primary winding with the other end thereof con nected to the battery supply 10.
- the operation of the transistor ignition system at low r.p.m. when the ballast resistor 16 is absent is that the silicon-controlled rectifier 26 will conduct, due to increased voltage across resistor 24, to shunt the base of transistor 22 and change the bias on the transistor so that the current flow therethrough will be reduced.
- the voltage sensed across resistor 24 will decrease because of the through transistor 22 and enhance the fuel-igniting properties of the spark produced at the output of the ignition coil 14 to improve high-speed performance of the engine.
- ballast resistor 16 is present, as may be the case where a high-resistance wire is used within the ignition wiring of an automobile, the'voltage drop across resistor 24 will be insufficient to render silicon-controlled rectifier 26 conductive.- This action will cause maximum current flow to pass through transistor 22 at all times.
- switch means responsive to the rotation of the engine to provide control current
- a coil having a primary winding arranged for connection to a voltage source
- a first current control device connected with said primary winding to control current flow therethrough and having a control electrode coupled to said switch means to receive said control current to cause conduction of said first current control device;
- a second current control device connected to said control electrode of said first current control device to vary the control current applied to said first current control device upon a first conductive state of said second current control device to decrease current flow through said primary winding, and to allow full control current flow to said first current control device upon a second conductive state of 5 said second current control device to increase current flow through said primary winding.
- said first current control device is a transistor having the emitter-collector junction thereof connected in series with said primary winding, said control electrode being the base electrode of said transistor
- said second current control device is a silicon-controlled rectifier having the anode-cathode junction thereof connected in parallel with the base-emitter junction of said transistor with the gate electrode of said silicon-controlled rectifier coupled to said transistor to sense current flow therethrough.
- the transistor ignition system of claim 1 further including a sensing resistor connected in series with said first current control device, and said control electrode of said second current control device is coupled to said sensing resistor to render said second current control device conductive in response to a predetermined voltage value developed across said sensing resistor.
- the transistor ignition system of claim 1 further including a ballast resistance means connected in series with said primary winding and said first current control device.
- the transistor ignition system of claim 1 further including a third current control device having load electrodes connected in series between a power source and the junction of the control electrode of said first current control device and a given load electrode of said second current control device, said third current control device having a control electrode coupled to said switch means to be rendered conductive in res onse thereto.
- a transistor ignition system for operating from a voltage source including in combination:
- an ignition coil having a primary winding with one end thereof connected to the voltage source and a secondary winding arranged to supply spark discharges;
- a transistor having the emitter-collector junction thereof connected in series with said primary winding and further having a base electrode;
- sensing resistor connected in series with the emitter-collector junction of said transistor to develop a voltage thereacross indicative of the conductive state of said transistor
- switch means to develop external pulse signal information, said switch means coupled to said base electrode of said transistor periodically to render said transistor conductive thus energizing said primary winding;
- a silicon-controlled rectifier having the anode-cathode junction thereof connected in parallel with the base-emitter junction of said transistor and the gate electrode of said silicon-controlled rectifier coupled to said sensing resistor to render said silicon-controlled rectifier conductive in response to a predetermined voltage value at said sensing resistor.
- the transistor ignition system of claim 7 further including a ballast resistance means connected in series with said primary winding and said transistor.
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 (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US4148970A | 1970-05-28 | 1970-05-28 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3599618A true US3599618A (en) | 1971-08-17 |
Family
ID=21916779
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US41489A Expired - Lifetime US3599618A (en) | 1970-05-28 | 1970-05-28 | Transistor ignition system with ballast compensation |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3599618A (xx) |
JP (1) | JPS5334260B1 (xx) |
BR (1) | BR7103260D0 (xx) |
CA (1) | CA935507A (xx) |
DE (1) | DE2126428C3 (xx) |
FR (1) | FR2093793A5 (xx) |
GB (1) | GB1298182A (xx) |
SE (1) | SE362686B (xx) |
ZA (1) | ZA712822B (xx) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3709206A (en) * | 1971-07-08 | 1973-01-09 | Rca Corp | Regulated ignition system |
US3736913A (en) * | 1971-06-08 | 1973-06-05 | P Crisafulli | Inductor current relay switch |
US3797471A (en) * | 1972-04-14 | 1974-03-19 | Motorola Inc | Breakerless trigger circuit with variable dwell for ignition systems |
US3841288A (en) * | 1970-09-05 | 1974-10-15 | Philips Corp | Ignition system for internal combustion engines |
US3892219A (en) * | 1973-09-27 | 1975-07-01 | Gen Motors Corp | Internal combustion engine ignition system |
US3958546A (en) * | 1972-12-30 | 1976-05-25 | Iida Denki Kogyo K.K. | Ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine and premature ignition prevention method in the ignition device |
EP0023998A1 (de) * | 1979-08-14 | 1981-02-18 | Hubert Schmiga | Zündeinrichtung für Brennkraftmaschinen |
EP0067435A2 (en) * | 1981-06-12 | 1982-12-22 | Nec Corporation | Pulse width control circuit in which a feedback amount is vaired depending upon an operating temperature |
US4854292A (en) * | 1987-03-27 | 1989-08-08 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Ignition system for internal combustion engine |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2825830C3 (de) * | 1978-06-13 | 1993-12-02 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Zündeinrichtung für Brennkraftmaschinen |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3072823A (en) * | 1960-06-23 | 1963-01-08 | Gen Motors Corp | Internal combustion engine ignition system |
US3078391A (en) * | 1959-06-22 | 1963-02-19 | Csf | Internal combustion engines ignition systems |
US3152281A (en) * | 1962-06-25 | 1964-10-06 | Gen Motors Corp | Transistor ignition system |
US3167705A (en) * | 1960-12-22 | 1965-01-26 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Series stacked ignition system using series diodes in the bases |
US3543109A (en) * | 1968-04-10 | 1970-11-24 | Brunswick Corp | Speed indicating apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an electronic ignition system |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1333388A (fr) * | 1962-09-10 | 1963-07-26 | Gen Motors Corp | Dispositif d'allumage pour moteur à combustion interne |
US3262438A (en) * | 1962-11-23 | 1966-07-26 | Philips Corp | Ignition system for internal combustion engines |
NL301698A (xx) * | 1963-12-13 | |||
US3295014A (en) * | 1963-12-31 | 1966-12-27 | Rca Corp | Transistor ignition system having ballast resistor shunt to maintain constant current through the ignition transformer |
GB1063257A (en) * | 1964-12-02 | 1967-03-30 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Spark ignition systems |
US3322107A (en) * | 1965-04-14 | 1967-05-30 | Ford Motor Co | Ignition system |
DE1564745A1 (de) * | 1966-10-20 | 1969-12-11 | Siemens Ag | Als vollelektronische Sicherung wirkende Schaltanordnung |
US3394690A (en) * | 1967-08-28 | 1968-07-30 | Laurence W. Bell | Ignition system |
US3552368A (en) * | 1968-11-08 | 1971-01-05 | Gen Motors Corp | Current responsive converter circuit |
-
1970
- 1970-05-28 US US41489A patent/US3599618A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1971
- 1971-04-07 CA CA109848A patent/CA935507A/en not_active Expired
- 1971-04-28 GB GB01816/71A patent/GB1298182A/en not_active Expired
- 1971-04-30 ZA ZA712822A patent/ZA712822B/xx unknown
- 1971-05-06 JP JP2949871A patent/JPS5334260B1/ja active Pending
- 1971-05-26 SE SE06785/71A patent/SE362686B/xx unknown
- 1971-05-26 FR FR7119163A patent/FR2093793A5/fr not_active Expired
- 1971-05-27 DE DE2126428A patent/DE2126428C3/de not_active Expired
- 1971-05-27 BR BR3260/71A patent/BR7103260D0/pt unknown
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3078391A (en) * | 1959-06-22 | 1963-02-19 | Csf | Internal combustion engines ignition systems |
US3072823A (en) * | 1960-06-23 | 1963-01-08 | Gen Motors Corp | Internal combustion engine ignition system |
US3167705A (en) * | 1960-12-22 | 1965-01-26 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Series stacked ignition system using series diodes in the bases |
US3152281A (en) * | 1962-06-25 | 1964-10-06 | Gen Motors Corp | Transistor ignition system |
US3543109A (en) * | 1968-04-10 | 1970-11-24 | Brunswick Corp | Speed indicating apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an electronic ignition system |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3841288A (en) * | 1970-09-05 | 1974-10-15 | Philips Corp | Ignition system for internal combustion engines |
US3736913A (en) * | 1971-06-08 | 1973-06-05 | P Crisafulli | Inductor current relay switch |
US3709206A (en) * | 1971-07-08 | 1973-01-09 | Rca Corp | Regulated ignition system |
US3797471A (en) * | 1972-04-14 | 1974-03-19 | Motorola Inc | Breakerless trigger circuit with variable dwell for ignition systems |
US3958546A (en) * | 1972-12-30 | 1976-05-25 | Iida Denki Kogyo K.K. | Ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine and premature ignition prevention method in the ignition device |
US3892219A (en) * | 1973-09-27 | 1975-07-01 | Gen Motors Corp | Internal combustion engine ignition system |
EP0023998A1 (de) * | 1979-08-14 | 1981-02-18 | Hubert Schmiga | Zündeinrichtung für Brennkraftmaschinen |
EP0067435A2 (en) * | 1981-06-12 | 1982-12-22 | Nec Corporation | Pulse width control circuit in which a feedback amount is vaired depending upon an operating temperature |
EP0067435A3 (en) * | 1981-06-12 | 1983-12-14 | Nec Corporation | Pulse width control circuit in which a feedback amount is vaired depending upon an operating temperature |
US4854292A (en) * | 1987-03-27 | 1989-08-08 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Ignition system for internal combustion engine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA935507A (en) | 1973-10-16 |
GB1298182A (en) | 1972-11-29 |
DE2126428A1 (de) | 1972-01-13 |
BR7103260D0 (pt) | 1973-04-10 |
DE2126428C3 (de) | 1974-11-07 |
DE2126428B2 (de) | 1974-03-21 |
ZA712822B (en) | 1972-01-26 |
JPS5334260B1 (xx) | 1978-09-19 |
SE362686B (xx) | 1973-12-17 |
FR2093793A5 (xx) | 1972-01-28 |
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