The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1993
Filed:
Jul. 13, 1992
Kalyan P Gokhale, Shelby Township, Macomb County, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An ignition system for a spark ignited internal combustion engine has a plurality of high voltage switches connected respectively between a source of spark plug firing voltage and the spark plugs of the engine. Each high voltage switch includes a plurality of series connected light sensitive controlled rectifiers. The controlled rectifiers are associated with light emitting diodes which are positioned to apply light energy to the controlled rectifiers. When light energy is applied to a controlled rectifier, it is biased or gated conductive. The system is arranged such that all of the controlled rectifiers are biased conductive before the spark plug firing voltage is developed. A high voltage switch can be formed by mounting the controlled rectifiers on a substrate. The light emitting diodes are positioned such that the light emitted from one diode is applied to a plurality of controlled rectifiers.