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. 14, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 20, 1998
Luigi P Tozzi, Columbus, IN (US);
Robert R Atherton, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Cummins Engine Company, Inc., Columbus, IN (US);
Abstract
A controlled energy ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil having a primary coil and a secondary coil coupled to first and second electrodes of an ignition plug defining a spark gap therebetween, wherein the primary coil is responsive to activation of a control signal to produce a spark voltage across the secondary coil and across the spark gap. The secondary coil is responsive to the spark voltage to produce a discharge current across the spark gap of the ignition plug. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, means are provided to draw discharge current away from the ignition plug to thereby limit the discharge current to below a threshold current value within some predefined time period after activation of the control signal. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, means are provided for establishing a supplemental voltage across at least a portion of either the primary or secondary coil to thereby produce a supplemental discharge current across the spark gap. The ignition system of the present invention is accordingly operable to control the discharge current throughout an ignition event to thereby minimize electrode erosion while optimizing ignition of the air-fuel mixture.