Denso Corporation

Plasma Applications Co., Ltd.

Shizuoka University

Tokyo Keiki Inc.

Masashi Kando

Akimitsu Sugiura

Fumiaki Aoki

Daisuke Tanaka

Jan Husarik

Shota Kinoshita

Hiroshi Okajima

In an ignition apparatus, an ignition plug is provided. In the ignition plug, a tubular outer conductor surrounds an inner conductor, and a dielectric member is disposed in the tubular outer conductor to define a plasma formation region between the inner conductor and the dielectric member. The plasma formation region has opposing first and second ends in the axial direction of the tubular outer conductor, and the first end of the plasma formation region communicates with the combustion chamber. A power source is connected between the inner and tubular outer conductors. A controller causes a power source to apply electromagnetic power pulses with intervals therebetween across the inner and tubular outer conductors during an ignition cycle of an engine. Each of the electromagnetic power pulses forms at least a corresponding plasma in the plasma formation region.

Ignition apparatus

An ignition apparatus is provided which ignites a mixture of air and fuel gas by plasma to generate an initial flame. The apparatus includes: a spark plug that includes an inner conductor, a cylindrical outer conductor that holds the inner conductor thereinside, and a dielectric that is provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and that generates plasma in a plasma formation space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; an electromagnetic wave power supply that generates an electromagnetic wave to apply electromagnetic wave power to the spark plug; an evaluation section that evaluates a state of formation of the plasma; a determination section that determines a matching object of the electromagnetic wave based on an evaluation result by the evaluation section; and a coupled state control section that controls a matching condition of the electromagnetic wave so that the electromagnetic wave matches the matching object.

Ignition apparatus including spark plug that generates plasma

An ignition device ignites a mixture of air and fuel gas by plasma to generate an initial flame. The ignition device includes a spark plug having an inner conductor, a cylindrical outer conductor that holds the inner conductor inside, and a dielectric provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and the spark plug configured to emit an electromagnetic wave to a plasma formation space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor to generate a plasma. The ignition device includes an electromagnetic wave power supply that generates the electromagnetic wave by inputting the electromagnetic wave power Ps to the spark plug and a power supply control unit that controls the electromagnetic wave power supply. The electromagnetic wave power supply is configured to generate high frequency power at a number of different frequencies. The power supply control unit outputs at least one of the plurality of high frequency powers generated by the electromagnetic wave power supply as the electromagnetic wave power.

Ignition device

A discharge lamp including: a discharge vesselB configured by a light-transmissive non-electrically conducting member with a light-emitting substance sealed inside; one out of a pair of antenna membersD with a portion at one end provided inside the discharge vesselB and a portion at the other end projecting outside the discharge vesselB and covered by a non-electrically conducting member; the other of the pair of antenna membersD with a portion at one end provided inside the discharge vesselB and a portion at the other end projecting outside the discharge vesselB, covered by a non-electrically conducting member and capable of being connected to an electromagnetic waveguide path; and a loading coilE wound around the portion of the first antenna memberD that is covered by the non-conducting member. A point light source can be achieved as well as performing power supply with good efficiency.

Growing community of inventors

Hamamatsu, Japan

Masashi Kando