US3915542A

US3915542A - Electronic ignition device for combustion engines of motors vehicles

Info

Publication number: US3915542A
Application number: US433946A
Authority: US
Inventors: Igor Schou-Kjeldsen
Original assignee: South East European Purchasing and Export Establishment
Current assignee: South East European Purchasing and Export Establishment
Priority date: 1973-01-24
Filing date: 1974-01-16
Publication date: 1975-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-28
Also published as: CS170113B2; DE2307725B2; IT1003467B; JPS5644261B2; ES422585A1; DE2307725A1; BR7400448D0; SU697059A3; CH552489A; GB1437049A; DD113085A5; JPS49104038A; CA1032596A; FR2214826A1; FR2214826B1

Abstract

An electronic ignition device for combustion engines of motor vehicles comprising a preliminary stage and an output stage, each such stage having at least one active semiconductor element and that at least the active semiconductor element of the preliminary stage can be removed from the ignition device.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Schou-Kjeldsen [4 1 Oct. 28, 1975 ELECTRONIC IGNITION DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES OF MOTORS VEHICLES Inventor: Igor Schou-Kjeldsen, Konigstein,

Germany [73] Assignee: South East European Purchasing &

Export Establishment, Liechtenstein Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 Appl. No.: 433,946

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 24, 1973 Switzerland 988/73 US. Cl 339/147 P; 123/148 E; 123/198 B; 339/184 M Int. Cl. B60R 25/04; HOlR 13/64 Field of Search... 339/147, 198, 184 R, 184 M, 339/185 R; 123/146.5 B, 198 B, 148 E, 148

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Richard 123/198 B X 3,222,534 12/1965 Scott 123/198 B X 3,720,284 3/1973 Myers... l23/146.5 B 3,791,364 2/1974 Saita 123/148 E FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 412,151 4/1925 Germany 123/146.5 B

Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant E.\'aminerE. F. Desmond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ladas, Parry, Von Gehr, Goldsmith & Deschamps [57] ABSTRACT An electronic ignition device for combustion engines of motor vehicles comprising a preliminary stage and an output stage, each such stage having at least one active semiconductor element and that at least the active semiconductor element of the preliminary stage can be removed from the ignition device.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent 'Oct.28,'1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,915,542

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,915,542

Fig.2

U.S.Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,915,542

ELECTRONIC IGNITION DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES OF MOTORS VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved electronic ignition device for combustion engines of motor vehicles or the like.

As is well known in this particular field of technology automobile engines are generally started by means of a key which is inserted into the ignition lock. As is equally well known it is readily possible, in the event that the key is missing, to start-up the engine by short circuiting the ignition device, a technique often carried out during the theft of vehicles. For this reason at the present time automobiles are oftentimes equipped with a steering wheel lock which, upon removal of the key from the ignition lock, blocks the steering. However, it has been found with time that even this security mea' sure has not materially suppressed the number of stolen vehicles. Furthermore, this steering wheel lock is associated with the danger that there is present an undesired blocking of the steering when the vehicle rolls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and limita tions of the prior art proposals.

Another and more specific object of the present in vention aims at the provision of a new and improved construction of an electronic ignition device for motor vehicles having internal combustion engines wherein there is reliably insured that unauthorized use of the vehicle will not occur. I

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the ignition device of this development is manifested by the features that there is provided a preliminary stage and an output stage, wherein for each such stage there is provided at least one active semiconductor element, and that at least the active semiconductor element of the preliminary stage can be removed or detached from the ignition device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional construction of coil ignition installation;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the ignition device showing the plug element which can be removed therefrom but here depicted in its inserted position;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the plug element which can be removed from the ignition device of FIG. 2 in its i nserted position; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of possible constructional forms of the contact pins of the plug element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically shows a coil ignition installation of known construction. The positive terminal or pole la of a not particularly illustrated voltage source 1, the negative terminal or pole lb of which is connected with ground, is electrically coupled via an ignition switch 2 with the primary winding 3a of an ignition coil 3. This primary winding 3a is periodically connected with the negative tenninal 1b of the voltage source 1 in known manner through the agency of an interrupter 4-. The voltage pulses generated in the primary winding 30 are amplified at the secondary winding. 3b of the ignition coil 3 and delivered to the ignition distributor 5 which, in likewise conventional manner,- distributes the ignition impulses to the individual spark or ignition plugs 6.

If the key for closing the ignition switch 2 is not available, then it is sufficient to bridge or shunt the ignition switch in order to start the engine. Therefore it is very easy if one has knowledge of the arrangement of the wire connections of the ignition installation to start-up the engine of the automobile without the ignition key.

Now by means of the ignition device which has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 it is possible to over come these drawbacks of the previously described ignition device. In FIG. 2 those components or parts which correspond to the parts or components illustrated in FIG. 1 have been designated by the same reference numerals.

In the device of FIG. 2 the primary winding 3:: of the ignition coil is no longer connected at one end with the ignition switch 2 and at the other end with the interrupter 4. i

The interrupter 4 is electrica1ly coupled via two resistors 7 and 8, forming a voltage divider, with the ignition switch 2. At the junction point of such resistors 7 and 8 there is connected the base 9a of a transistor 9. The collector 9b of this transistor 9 is electrically coupled via the ignition switch 2 with the terminal 1a and the emitter 9c is connected with the base 10a of a second transistor 10. A Zener diode Ill is connected parallel to the resistor 8.

The emitter 10b of the transistor 10 is connected with the collector 9b of the transistor 9. Thefcolle ctor 10c of the transistor 10 is connected via a glow lamp 12 at one end of the primary winding 30, the other end of which is connected to ground, as shown. I

A diode 13 is connected parallel to the. emittercollector path of the transistor l0. Additionally, the base 100 of the transistor 10 is connected via a resistor 14 with the terminal lb.

If the interrupter 4 is in its open position, then both the transistor 9 as well as also the transistor l0,are.

blocked. The connection between the terminal or pole 1a via the ignition coil 3 to the terminal or pole 1b of a the voltage source 1 is interrupted. With the ignition' switch 2 closed and with the closed position of the interrupter 4 the transistor 9 is rendered conductive, and this can be insured for through appropriate selection of the resistors 7 and 8. Due to the current which flows ductive condition or state, with the result that the primary winding 3a of the ignition coil 3 is coupled via the collector-emitter path of thetransistor 10 with the terminals la and lbof the voltage source 1.

Consequently, in the primary winding 30 of the ignition coil 3 voltage pulses are generated in accordance with the takt orcycle of the interrupter 4, and which are amplified atthe secondary winding 3b and delivered to the ignition distributor 5.

Both of the diodes 11 and '13 serve to respectively stabilize and suppress voltage peaks.

The glow lamp 12 in the current circuit of the primary winding 3a serves the purpose of limiting the cur rent in .the event that with the ignition switch 2 closed and with the interrupter 4 remaining in its closed position there flows a continuous current.

The lamp 12 which burns or glows in this case prevents any damage from arising owing to such continuous current and additionally can be used as a warning indicator in the event that it is arranged at the dashboard or instrument panel of the vehicle. During normal operation the glow lamp 12 is not turned-on owing to its low cold resistance and also does not influence the currentflowing through the primary winding 3a. The transistor 9 is therefore a component of the preliminary stage or prestage, whereas the power transistor 10 is a component of the output stage.

Now it is contemplated that the transistor 9 of the preliminary stage alone or in conjunction with certain other components can be removed from the device.

With the exemplary embodiment underconsideration the transistor 9, the resistor 8 and the diode 11 are assembled or grouped together into a detachable plug-in or plug element 15 which has been shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2. The aforementioned components are for instance molded in a small plate formed of plastic which is equipped with contact pins 16, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3.

Upon removal of the plug element 15 there are interrupted the circuit connections at the locations designated by reference numeral 15a, as such have been portrayed in FIG. 2. With the plug element 15 removed no current can flow through the primary winding 3a even with the ignition switch 2 closed. Hence, with the plug element 15 removed the ignition device therefore also cannot be placed into operation by short-circuiting the ignition switch. Hence, theft of a vehicle equipped with the described ignition device is practically impossible.

The resistor 7 is preferably arranged at the interrupter component 4 such that it is not accessible from the outside. In this way it is possible to prevent that the engine of the vehicle will be started-up when the plug element 15 has been removed by carrying out some type of short-circuiting manipulation, since the voltage pulses which are possible in such type short-circuited circuit are much too small owing to the resistor 7.

Now in FIG. 3 there is illustrated a coupling element 18 with inserted plug element 15, and which coupling element 18 has been mounted at the dashboard or instrument panel 17 of an automobile 'or vehicle. As already mentioned, the plug element 15 is equipped with contact pins 16, the number of which is greater than the number necessary for the connection of the components. In the embodiment under consideration there are provided ten such contact pins, whereas only three thereof are connected with the group of components 8, 9 and 10 which constitute the components of the plug or plug-in element 15.

At the coupling element 18 there are provided contact elements 19 which in arrangement and construction correspond to the Contact pins 16. Of these contact elements 19 those, which cooperate with the contact pins 16 which are connected with the components 8, 9 and 11, are connected at three connection lines or conductors 20 which lead to the part of the ignition device which is fixedly mounted at the automobile or vehicle. This fixedly mounted part or component encompasses all of the elements which are located outside of the phantom boundary lines shown in FIG. 2.

Now the wiring of the plug element 15 and the coupling element 18 can be constituted different for each ignition device while making use of all of the various combination possibilities, so that with a single plug element it is only possible to start-up the engine of the associated vehicle.

It is of course possible to arrange the pins at the coupling element 18 and the corresponding contact elements at the plug element 15.

Now in FIG. 4 there is shown in front view the plug element 15 which has been inserted into the coupling element 18. At the top of the plug element plate there are provided different constructed or formed projections 21 which cooperate with appropriately configured recesses 22 at the coupling element 18. Due to different construction and arrangement of the projections 21 and the recesses 22 it is possible to further prevent that a given plus element 15 can be inserted into different coupling elements 18. Here also it would be readily possible to reverse the arrangement i.e., to form the projections at the coupling element and the recesses at the plug element.

FIG. 5 shows different possible constructional forms of the contact pins 16, and wherein the contact elements 19 are to be correspondingly constructed.

Due to different wiring arrangements at the plug element 15, different arrangements and constructions of the contact pins and contact elements as well as the projections and recesses shown in FIG. 4 it is possible to achieve the result that a very large number of ignition devices of the described type can be constructed without a plug element being used for more than one ignition device.

The dimensions of the small plate-shaped plug element permits this plug element to be carried away without any difficulty by the driver when he leaves his parked vehicle.

Although in the illustration of the drawings the transistor 9 has been shown as a npn-transistor and the transistor 10 as a pnp-transistor, it is to be understood that it is also possible to use two similar type pnpor npn-transistors. The circuit depicted in FIG. 2 in such case is to be correspondingly or appropriately changed 'as will be readily understood by those skilled in the electronics art.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is: v

1. An electronic ignition system for a vehicle which is provided with an internal combustion engine, said ignition system comprising a power stage connected to an ignition coil and a switching stage for controlling the power stage, said switching stage being controlled by an ignition time detector, both the power stage and the switching stage possessing at least one transistor which is essential to the operation of said system, the transistor of the switching stage being encapsulated within a support element constructed as a plug element, said plug element being removably electrically connected by means of a coupling element to the remaining components of the ignition system through given ones of first contact members on the plug element which cooperate with given ones of second Contact members on the coupling element, such that upon removal of the plug element from the coupling element the transistor of the switching stage is electrically disconnected from the ignition system to disable the ignition system and thereby prevent theft of the vehicle, said coupling element being capable of being fixedly mounted at a location on the vehicle remote from the power stage.

2. The ignition system as defined in claim 1, wherein both the first contact elements and the second contact elements have constructional forms which differ from one another.

i 3. The ignition system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug element and the coupling element have cooperating means which cooperate with one another when the plug element is inserted into the coupling element.

4. The ignition system as defined in claim 3, wherein the cooperating means 'of the plug element comprise projections and the cooperating means of the coupling element comprise recesses which cooperate with one another when the plug element is inserted into the connection element.

5. The ignition system as defined in claim 3, wherein the cooperating means of the plug element comprises recesses and the cooperating means of the coupling element comprises projections which cooperate with one another when the plug element is inserted into the coupling element.

Claims

3. The ignition system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug element and the coupling element have cooperating means which cooperate with one another when the plug element is inserted into the coupling element.

4. The ignition system as defined in claim 3, wherein the cooperating means of the plug element comprise projections and the cooperating means of the coupling element comprise recesses which cooperate with one another when the plug element is inserted into the connection element.