IGNITION APPARATUS, IGNITION PLUG, AND ENGINE USING THEM

摘要

The present invention provides an engine ignition apparatus, an ignition plug, and an engine using said apparatus and plug. The engine ignition apparatus is capable of reducing the required voltage and improving the ignition performance with no special electric configuration. An ignition apparatus (3) configured to cause spark discharge upon a voltage being impressed in a gap between a center electrode (11) and an earth electrode (12), wherein, in addition to the center electrode (11), the ignition apparatus is provided with an auxiliary electrode (13) for applying a voltage, the voltage being homopolar or antipolar with respect to the center electrode (11). The location of the auxiliary electrode (13) is determined so that, when a voltage is applied, an electric field (Ef2) between the auxiliary electrode (13) and the earth electrode (12) or an electric field (Ef3) between the auxiliary electrode (13) and the center electrode (11) is affected by the gap. The voltage is equal to or lower than a voltage applied between the center electrode (11) and the earth electrode (12), and does not cause spark discharge. The electric fields (Ef2, Ef3) are generated by the applied voltage. The time period over which the voltage is applied to the auxiliary electrode (13) is controlled to include a time period over which the voltage is applied between the center electrode (11) and the earth electrode (12).