Electrical arrangement of hybrid ignition device

摘要

A corona ignition system 20 includes a corona drive circuit 26 and an auxiliary energy circuit 28. The energy circuit 28 stores energy during a standard corona ignition cycle. When arc discharge occurs or corona discharge switches to an arc discharge, the energy circuit 28 discharges the stored energy to the electrode 30 to intentionally maintain a robust arc discharge 29 and thus provide reliable ignition. The stored energy is transmitted to the electrode 30 over a predetermined period of time. The arc discharge is detected and an arc control signal 60 is transmitted to the energy circuit 28, triggering discharge of the stored energy to the electrode 30. The stored energy can be transmitted to the electrode 30 along a variety of different paths. The voltage of the stored energy is typically increased by an energy transformer 70 before being transmitted to the electrode 30.

主权项

1. A corona ignition system (20) for igniting a mixture of fuel and air of a combustion chamber (32), comprising: an electrode (30), a corona drive circuit (26) transmitting energy to said electrode (30) in an amount capable of emitting an electrical discharge from said electrode (30), and an energy circuit (28) auxiliary to said corona drive circuit (26) for storing energy while said corona drive circuit (26) transmits said energy to said electrode (30) and transmitting said stored energy to said electrode (30) to intentionally maintain said arc discharge (29) upon detecting said arc discharge.