Ignition Control Apparatus Continuous Discharge Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ignition control apparatuses for internal combustion engines face issues such as energy inefficiency, increased complexity, and high manufacturing costs due to intermittent discharge and the use of high-voltage elements, leading to potential blow-off and loss of ignition energy.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ignition control apparatus employs a semiconductor switching element configuration with a DC power source, energy storing coil, and capacitor to control the ignition coil's primary and secondary windings, allowing for efficient energy storage and discharge management, minimizing blow-off and energy loss while maintaining reliable ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intermittent discharge is performed at a rate of more than once per single combustion stroke, then multiple discharge is achieved to improve combustion state, but discharge current is repeatedly cleared to zero causing blow-off and loss of ignition energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous discharge by controlling the ignition coil to maintain discharge current without clearing to zero between discharge events. The control unit regulates the primary current to ensure the secondary current remains continuous, preventing blow-off while achieving multiple discharge effects within a single combustion stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic discharge control within the continuous discharge framework. The control unit generates periodic control signals to the switching element, creating controlled discharge cycles that maintain continuous current flow while achieving multiple discharge events per combustion stroke, thereby improving combustion without energy loss.
2Duration of action of moving object
If two ignition coils are connected in parallel to achieve long duration discharge, then multiple discharge characteristics are improved, but device complexity and apparatus size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple ignition coils into a single ignition coil by controlling it to produce extended discharge duration. The control unit manages the primary current waveform to generate prolonged secondary current, achieving the effect of parallel coils without the physical complexity and space requirements of multiple coil assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends discharge duration by changing the temporal parameters of primary current control. The control unit adjusts the duty cycle, frequency, and waveform of the primary current to the switching element, thereby extending the secondary discharge duration without adding physical components, achieving long duration discharge with a single coil.
3Reliability
If excessive energy is generated beyond ignition needs, then ignition reliability is improved, but unnecessary power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors discharge current characteristics and adjusts primary current supply in real-time to match actual ignition requirements. By implementing feedback control, the system delivers only the necessary energy for reliable ignition without excessive power consumption, optimizing the balance between ignition reliability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by delivering precisely the amount of energy needed for ignition without excessive surplus. The control unit calculates and supplies primary current levels that generate adequate secondary current for reliable ignition while avoiding unnecessary energy generation, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining ignition reliability.
4Power
If DC-DC converter is added to secondary side of ignition coil, then ignition energy injection is improved, but manufacturing cost and apparatus size increase due to high voltage element requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the primary winding and magnetic core as an intermediary to transfer and transform energy from the low-voltage primary side to the high-voltage secondary side. By controlling primary current through the switching element, the system achieves efficient energy injection to the secondary winding without requiring complex DC-DC converters or high-voltage switching components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic DC-DC converter system with an electromagnetic induction-based ignition coil control system. By using the ignition coil's inherent electromagnetic transformation capability and controlling primary current waveform, the system achieves ignition energy injection without external DC-DC converters, eliminating high-voltage element requirements and associated manufacturing complexities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures stable and efficient ignition by controlling the discharge current and energy supply, reducing power consumption and apparatus size, and enhancing reliability at a lower cost.
Implementation Method 1
The ignition coil is configured to generate a secondary current in the secondary winding by increase and decrease of a primary current
Implementation Method 2
The energy storing coil is an inductor provided to store energy when the third switching element is turned on
Implementation Method 3
The capacitor is provided to store energy generated by the turn-off of the third switching element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In an ignition control apparatus (30), a control unit (319) controls switching elements so as to supply a primary current to the other end side of a primary winding (311a) opposite to one end thereof connected to a DC power source (312) by discharging (which is performed by turning on a second switching element (314) stored energy from a capacitor (317) during ignition discharge (which is started by turning off a first switching element (313). In particular, the control unit controls the second switching element or the third switching element so as to provide variability to the amount of stored energy discharged from the capacitor according to an operating state of an internal combustion engine.