R.e. Phelon Company, Inc.

Michael J Piteo

Real L Mercier

Capacitor charge ignition system includes a computer chip programmed to control ignition timing of the system. The system has a generator coil and primary and secondary windings of an ignition coil disposed on one leg portion of a ferromagnetic core. The generator coil is wound with respect to ground potential to provide positive pulses, one preceding and one following, in sequence, an intermediate pulse of negative polarity induced in the generator coil in response to rotation of permanent magnet poles past the one core leg. The positive pulses are supplied to a microprocessor which is programmed to determine the elapsed time between the pair of positive pulses and to provide an output signal which is a multiple function of the elapsed time. A capacitor is charged by the intermediate pulse so that its grounded side is changed to a positive polarity voltage which is connected in circuit with the primary winding of the ignition coil and with the anode/cathode path of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). An opto-coupler switch is connected to the output signal of the microprocessor, to the control electrode of the SCR and to the capacitor. A minor portion of the positive voltage charge on the capacitor is used to trigger the SCR to its conductive state based on the output generated by the microprocessor. The capacitor is connected to discharge the remainder of its positive charge through the primary winding and the SCR to generate an ignition pulse in the secondary winding of the ignition coil.

Capacitor discharge ignition system with microprocessor timing control

A fault indicator light control circuit for a regulator controlled alternator/battery charging system has a first transistor connected with a light bulb in its conductive path to be turned 'ON' when the transistor is conducting. Conduction of the transistor is controlled by a plurality of conductive paths connected to the base of the transistor and each path includes a Zener diode having a breakdown voltage substantially above the rated voltage of the battery. The conductive paths are connected to detect any one of a plurality of circuit operating defects, including a short in the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) of a solid state regulator, an open SCR and a regulator failure. A capacitor is connected in the circuit to be charged by an alternator voltage having a polarity opposite that which is used to charge the battery. The capacitor voltage is used as a reference to bias the first transistor 'OFF' when the system is operating normally. A second transistor includes another Zener diode connected to the base thereof and is selected to have a breakdown level substantially lower than that of the other Zener diodes used in the circuit. The second transistor is connected to bias the first transistor 'OFF' immediately when the circuit is operating normally but an open circuit is detected between the regulator and the battery so that the light bulb will not be turned 'ON'.

Fault indicator light control circuit

Solid state inductive magneto ignition system with antireverse running circuit has a switching transistor connected in circuit with the primary of an ignition coil. A control circuit is connected for cutting 'off' the switching transistor to generate ignition pulses. A first by-pass circuit for shunting current from the control circuit includes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) which is turned 'on' by discharge of voltage from a capacitor in combination with a resistor which serves as a time delay to hold the by-pass circuit 'on' for the duration of a voltage pulse developed by reverse running of the magneto. A voltage polarity sensing circuit for by-passing the by-pass circuit in response to a forward running pulse includes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) connected in parallel with the first SCR and a choke coil and a resistor to cause the second SCR to be turned 'on' by a first negative pulse developed during forward running of the magneto.

Anti-reverse operation of solid state inductive magneto

This application discloses a solid state ignition system of the inductive type and includes a trigger coil and an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings disposed on a stator core. A flux generating magnet is carried by a rotor to induce voltages in the coils. A Darlington transistor is disposed in circuit with the primary winding of the ignition coil with the collector emitter electrodes of the transistor connected to carry current generated in the primary of the ignition coil. The base of the transistor is connected to receive current pulses generated in the trigger coil. A parallel capacitor and resistor network is connected in circuit between the trigger coil and the base of the Darlington transistor. The capacitance of said capacitor and the resistance of the resistor are selected so that the retard angle of said system from low-to-high rotational speed of the flux generating magnet remains essentially constant.

Solid state ignition system having drift-free timing

A full wave rectifier regulator for an alternator battery charging system has gate controlled rectifier connected in two separate branches of the rectifier bridge. The gates of the rectifiers are connected to the anode-cathode circuit of a third gate controlled rectifier (SCR) and are thereby selectively turned 'on' and 'off' by the current flow in the anode-cathode path of the SCR. A portion of the alternator output voltage triggers the SCR to its conductive mode whenever the battery voltage is between predetermined voltage levels. A protection circuit comprising an electronic switching component is connected to the gate of the SCR to shunt off any gate triggering current to hold the SCR 'off'. The switching component is connected to sense the battery voltage and to clamp 'off' the SCR should its voltage either be lower or higher than the predetermined levels. The regulator further includes means for shorting the output of the rectifier to its input terminals at a voltage substantially higher than the normal operating voltage levels of the system. A storage capacitor is also included to hold said SCR 'off' for a predetermined time to prevent rapid cycling of the system about an abnormally high output voltage.

Electronic regulator for alternator battery charging system

Electronic shut-off circuit is provided in a capacitor discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines to protect against excessive high-speed operation. The circuit includes an electronic switching component connected across the main capacitor of the ignition system. A trigger coil is connected in circuit with a control electrode of the electronic switching component. The trigger coil is selected to generate a sufficient voltage to bias the switching means to its conductive state, thereby providing a low impedance shunt path to short the capacitor and to prevent it from discharging its energy into the primary of the ignition coil. A resistance-capacitance network, in circuit with the switching component, serves to hold it 'on' until the engine is shut off.

Electronic speed control for capacitor discharge ignition system

Breakerless ignition system of the inductive type is used to provide ignition pulses for an internal combustion engine which substantially duplicates the timing performance of a breaker-point magneto. The system utilizes a transistor for making and breaking the current flow in the primary coil of the ignition transformer. Switching of the transistor is controlled by a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and gating of the SCR is controlled by a time-delay network which includes a capacitor, resistor and a transistor switching means in circuit with the control electrode of the SCR. A second transistor and capacitor network controls the rate of rise of current to the time-delay network as a function of engine speed.

Electronic switching for solid state ignition

A half-wave regulator rectifier utilizes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) as the rectifying element between an alternator producing positive and negative voltage phases or waveforms and a battery charged by the alternator. The SCR is permitted to conduct charging currents through the battery during the positive voltage phases by means of a control circuit having a transistor connected to the control gate of the SCR. The control circuit monitors the alternator voltage and causes the transistor to inhibit conduction through the SCR above a regulated battery voltage unless charging current flows through the battery before the regulated battery voltage is reached by the alternator voltage. The regulator rectifier is protected against damage when abnormal conditions exist, such as no battery connection with the regulated system.

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Enfield, CT, United States of America

Michael J Piteo