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:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 01, 1999
Howard V Bonavia, Groton, NY (US);
Peabody Engneering Corporation, Shelton, CT (US);
Abstract
An exciter circuit for an ignition system including an igniter plug. The exciter circuit includes an energy storage device comprising a pair of capacitors and a charging circuit for charging the capacitors of energy storage device to a predetermined voltage. The exciter circuit further includes a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage device and the igniter plug providing a conductive path between the energy storage device and the igniter plug. The exciter circuit periodically energizes the igniter plug by applying an output signal of the discharge circuit to the igniter plug, the output signal having a voltage magnitude sufficient to initiate a spark across electrodes of the igniter plug. The discharge circuit includes a polarity reversal circuit coupled to the energy storage device for periodically reversing a polarity of the charge on one of the capacitors and discharging the energy storage device to generate the output signal wherein the voltage magnitude of the output signal is greater in magnitude than the predetermined voltage of capacitors. A solid state switch, preferably a thyristor, is coupled to a resonant coil which, in turn, is coupled to the energy storage device. The solid state switch, which is not on the discharge path, initiates the reversal of polarity on the one capacitor by causing current to flow between the resonant coil and the one capacitor.