US3716758A - Thyristor ignition control device - Google Patents

Thyristor ignition control device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3716758A
US3716758A US00233634A US3716758DA US3716758A US 3716758 A US3716758 A US 3716758A US 00233634 A US00233634 A US 00233634A US 3716758D A US3716758D A US 3716758DA US 3716758 A US3716758 A US 3716758A
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United States
Prior art keywords
thyristor
transformer
capacitor
firing
primary winding
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00233634A
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English (en)
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M Palazzetti
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Fiat SpA
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Fiat SpA
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    • 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
    • F02P3/06—Other installations having capacitive energy storage
    • F02P3/08—Layout of circuits
    • F02P3/0807—Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means
    • F02P3/0838—Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means with semiconductor devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
    • H01F38/12—Ignition, e.g. for IC engines

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A thyristor ignition control device for internal combustion engine ignition circuits.
  • a capacitor is charged from a voltage source and discharges through the primary of a step-up transformer when a thyristor connected across the source is fired, producing a high voltage impulse at the transformer secondary to induce sparking across a gap.
  • the transformer has a core, for example of ferrite,with a high initial reluctance, thereby reducing wear in the thyristor.
  • This invention relates to ignition control devices, especially for ignition circuits in internal combustion engines, and more particularly the invention concerns the ignition coil or transformer of such ignition control devices.
  • Electronic ignition control devices in which a capacitor is pre-charged from a voltage source and in which the firing of a thyristor induces the discharge of the capacitor through the primary winding of a step-up transformer, inducing a high voltage pulse across the transformer secondary winding sufficient to induce discharge across a spark-gap, such as, for example, in a sparking plug of an internal combustion engine, a flash light, or some other device.
  • the thyristor should cause an instantaneous short circuit between its anode and cathode, so that the current pulse in the primary winding of the transformer or coil is of the shortest possible duration, with the object of achieving a large voltage excursion in the secondary winding.
  • a thyristor has a finite striking time.
  • the impedance of a thyristor in fact decreases hyperbolically in the initial stage of firing, rising again after an interval of a few microseconds. Since the thyristor is traversed by considerable currents while its impedance is still relatively high, it will be appreciated that considerable power has to be dissipated within the thyristor in the initial discharge stage. This harms the thyristor and causes its premature deterioration, with marked shortening of its useful life.
  • the time constant of the transformer or ignition coil should be sufficiently long. In practice, however, this time constant is not sufficiently long for this purpose in conventional coils: the time constant of a transformer is proportional, inter alia, to the input inductance of the primary winding and therefore, to the equivalent loss resistance. The latter, as is known, is proportional to f'" where f is the frequency of the applied voltage and a is an empirical parameter roughly equal to 1.6. Consequently the loss resistance is initially very low during the sharp initial transition of the applied voltage signal upon firing of the thyristor, the frequency of this applied voltage being very high. This has the effect of reducing the initial value of the time constant, allowing the current to build up too quickly, and consequently adversely affecting the working conditions of the thyristor.
  • this high initial current in the thyristor reduces the magnitude of the voltage excursion in the secondary winding of the transformer or coil.
  • a main object of this invention is to provide an ignition control device for a thyristor firing cir- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • the invention accordingly provides an ignition control device including a capacitor arranged to be charged from a continuous voltage source, and a thyristor arranged when tired to discharge the capacitor through the primary winding of a transformer, in which the transformer includes a core of high initial reluctance, in order to limit the current through the thyristor during the initial phase of its firing.
  • FIG. I is a circuit diagram of an ignition control device of known type
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing the variation of the impedance of a thyristor plotted against time 'from the moment of application of a firing pulse;
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing the variation of the current in the primary winding of a conventional transformer, plotted against time, from the moment of application of a voltage thereacross, and
  • FIG. 4 is a graph, similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the primary current variation in a transformer forming part of a device according to the present invention.
  • a capacitor 10 is connected across a direct voltage source 12 in series with the primary winding 14 of a coil or step-up transformer.
  • the secondary winding 16 of the coil or transformer is connected across a spark-gap 18, formed by, for example, a sparking plug in an internal combustion engine.
  • a thyristor 20 is connected in parallel with the series combination of the capacitor 10 and the primary winding 14.
  • the thyristor 20 is normally, non-conducting and can be rendered conducting, or fired, by the application of a firing or trigger pulse to a control electrode 22.
  • the capacitor 10 is charged from the source 12 while the thyristor 20 is non-conducting and, when the thyristor 20 is fired, the capacitor 10 discharges into the primary winding 14 of the step-up transformer, inducing in the secondary winding of the latter a high voltage step such as to induce a spark discharge across the spark-gap 18.
  • the impedance Z of the thyristor 20 in fact changes with time as shown graphically in FIG. 2, in which t 0 is the instant at which the trigger pulse is applied.
  • the impedance Z decreases rapidly in a short but finite time, reaching virtually zero at time t .
  • the current I in the primary winding 14 of a conventional step-up transformer increases according to the curve shown in FIG. 3. This curve has a marked bend, the initial steeply sloping part of the curve being due to the high initial permeability of the materials normally used for the core of the step-up transformer, and to losses through parasitic currents.
  • the step-up transformer l4, 16 has a ferrite core of a type having low parasitic current loss and low initial permeability, so that the variation with time of the current I in the primary winding, upon application of a voltage step, has the form shown in FIG. 4. It will be seen that the current I remains low initially and then increases very rapidly.
  • the coil is so dimensioned that the rapid increase in current occurs when the impedance of the thyristor 20 has decreased to a sufficiently low value as not to give rise to excessive heating up of the thyristor.
  • the windings of the coil are formed, in the known manner, with low parasitic capacity, in order to keep the amount of stored energy low.
  • Ignition control device comprising transformer having a primary and secondary winding, spark electrodes connected across said secondary winding, a capacitor in series with said primary winding, means connecting a continuous voltage source across the serles combination of said capacitor and transformer primary winding to charge said capacitor, and a thyristor connected in parallel with said series combination, control electrode means for firing said thyristor thereby causing discharge of said capacitor through said transformer primary winding, said transformer having a core of high initial reluctance effective to limit current through said thyristor in the initial phase of firing of said thyristor.
  • Ignition control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transformer core comprises ferrite material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
US00233634A 1971-03-12 1972-03-10 Thyristor ignition control device Expired - Lifetime US3716758A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6786671 1971-03-12

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US3716758A true US3716758A (en) 1973-02-13

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US00233634A Expired - Lifetime US3716758A (en) 1971-03-12 1972-03-10 Thyristor ignition control device

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US (1) US3716758A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2212067A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2129595A7 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1327564A (enExample)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3813581A (en) * 1973-09-21 1974-05-28 Cam Stat Inc Spark igniter for a plurality of gas burners
US3883246A (en) * 1972-01-25 1975-05-13 Bicosa Recherches Electronic device adapted to produce high voltage-pulses, especially for igniting a gas lighter
US4144859A (en) * 1975-12-15 1979-03-20 Iida Denki Kogyo K.K. Oven-rotation prevention method and circuit in the non-contact type ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine
EP0369236A3 (en) * 1988-11-15 1991-04-03 Unison Industries Limited Partnership Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5148084A (en) * 1988-11-15 1992-09-15 Unison Industries, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5245252A (en) * 1988-11-15 1993-09-14 Frus John R Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5473502A (en) * 1992-09-22 1995-12-05 Simmonds Precision Engine Systems Exciter with an output current multiplier
US5488536A (en) * 1993-04-01 1996-01-30 Simmonds Precision Engine Systems, Inc. Exciter circuit using gated switches
US5754011A (en) * 1995-07-14 1998-05-19 Unison Industries Limited Partnership Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ignition system or the like
US6529680B1 (en) 1996-04-26 2003-03-04 Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. Device for selecting and controlling a plurality of signal sources in a television system
RU2243406C2 (ru) * 2002-10-07 2004-12-27 Терехов Владимир Михайлович Устройство электроискрового зажигания топливной смеси
US20100315006A1 (en) * 2009-06-12 2010-12-16 Stmicroelectronics (Tours) Sas Circuit for controlling a lighting unit with light-emitting diodes

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6670777B1 (en) 2002-06-28 2003-12-30 Woodward Governor Company Ignition system and method
US7355300B2 (en) 2004-06-15 2008-04-08 Woodward Governor Company Solid state turbine engine ignition exciter having elevated temperature operational capability

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3393039A (en) * 1966-05-11 1968-07-16 Emerson Electric Co Burner control system
US3488131A (en) * 1964-10-26 1970-01-06 Whirlpool Co Electronic spark ignitor control for fuel burner
US3529910A (en) * 1968-03-20 1970-09-22 Liberty Combustion Corp Reignite system
US3596133A (en) * 1969-09-30 1971-07-27 Glenn B Warren Solid-state multispark ignition
US3632285A (en) * 1969-12-31 1972-01-04 Fenwal Inc Gas igniter system
US3681001A (en) * 1970-05-15 1972-08-01 Liberty Combustion Corp Fluid fuel igniter control system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3488131A (en) * 1964-10-26 1970-01-06 Whirlpool Co Electronic spark ignitor control for fuel burner
US3393039A (en) * 1966-05-11 1968-07-16 Emerson Electric Co Burner control system
US3529910A (en) * 1968-03-20 1970-09-22 Liberty Combustion Corp Reignite system
US3596133A (en) * 1969-09-30 1971-07-27 Glenn B Warren Solid-state multispark ignition
US3632285A (en) * 1969-12-31 1972-01-04 Fenwal Inc Gas igniter system
US3681001A (en) * 1970-05-15 1972-08-01 Liberty Combustion Corp Fluid fuel igniter control system

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3883246A (en) * 1972-01-25 1975-05-13 Bicosa Recherches Electronic device adapted to produce high voltage-pulses, especially for igniting a gas lighter
US3813581A (en) * 1973-09-21 1974-05-28 Cam Stat Inc Spark igniter for a plurality of gas burners
US4144859A (en) * 1975-12-15 1979-03-20 Iida Denki Kogyo K.K. Oven-rotation prevention method and circuit in the non-contact type ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine
US5561350A (en) * 1988-11-15 1996-10-01 Unison Industries Ignition System for a turbine engine
US5065073A (en) * 1988-11-15 1991-11-12 Frus John R Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5148084A (en) * 1988-11-15 1992-09-15 Unison Industries, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5245252A (en) * 1988-11-15 1993-09-14 Frus John R Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5399942A (en) * 1988-11-15 1995-03-21 Unison Industries Limited Partnership Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
EP0369236A3 (en) * 1988-11-15 1991-04-03 Unison Industries Limited Partnership Apparatus and method for providing ignition to a turbine engine
US5473502A (en) * 1992-09-22 1995-12-05 Simmonds Precision Engine Systems Exciter with an output current multiplier
US5488536A (en) * 1993-04-01 1996-01-30 Simmonds Precision Engine Systems, Inc. Exciter circuit using gated switches
US6034483A (en) * 1995-07-14 2000-03-07 Unison Industries, Inc. Method for generating and controlling spark plume characteristics
US5754011A (en) * 1995-07-14 1998-05-19 Unison Industries Limited Partnership Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ignition system or the like
US6353293B1 (en) 1995-07-14 2002-03-05 Unison Industries Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ignition system or the like
US20020101188A1 (en) * 1995-07-14 2002-08-01 Unison Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ingnition system or the like
US7095181B2 (en) 1995-07-14 2006-08-22 Unsion Industries Method and apparatus for controllably generating sparks in an ignition system or the like
US6529680B1 (en) 1996-04-26 2003-03-04 Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. Device for selecting and controlling a plurality of signal sources in a television system
RU2243406C2 (ru) * 2002-10-07 2004-12-27 Терехов Владимир Михайлович Устройство электроискрового зажигания топливной смеси
US20100315006A1 (en) * 2009-06-12 2010-12-16 Stmicroelectronics (Tours) Sas Circuit for controlling a lighting unit with light-emitting diodes
US8564209B2 (en) * 2009-06-12 2013-10-22 Stmicroelectronics (Tours) Sas Circuit for controlling a lighting unit with light-emitting diodes
US8994283B2 (en) 2009-06-12 2015-03-31 Stmicroelectronics (Tours) Sas Circuit for controlling a lighting unit having a periodic power supply with a thyristor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1327564A (en) 1973-08-22
DE2212067A1 (de) 1972-09-21
FR2129595A7 (enExample) 1972-10-27

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