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:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 29, 1996
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno, Catania, IT;
Abstract
A circuit for use with an ignition system to enable detection of an overvoltage condition in the primary winding of an ignition coil caused by opening of a power switch connected to the primary winding. The circuit senses the overvoltage condition by comparing the voltage on the primary winding to a first threshold voltage and produces a signal at an output terminal indicative of the presence of the overvoltage condition. The output terminal is maintained at a high logic level upon detection of an overvoltage condition and throughout the time duration of the overvoltage condition, and drops to a low logic level when the voltage on the primary winding falls to a second threshold voltage, which is lower than the first threshold voltage. Comparison circuitry is provided for sensing the overvoltage condition by reference to fixed voltage values. Logic circuitry responds to the comparison circuitry to produce the appropriate logic levels at the output terminal.