Method for controlling the ignition point in an internal combustion engine by means of a corona discharge

A method for controlling the ignition point of a fuel/air mixture in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine by means of at least one corona discharge originating from an electrode, the method comprising:

• starting the corona discharge or at least one of a plurality of corona discharges at a crankshaft angle between 400° and 200° before the top dead center, with which a power stroke of the engine starts, by applying an ignition voltage to the electrode or the electrodes;
• and
• controlling the energy input of the corona discharge or of the corona discharges by adapting the burn time of the corona discharge and the strength of the ignition voltage such that the fuel/air mixture ignites at a crankshaft angle between 30° and 5° before the top dead center, with which the power stroke starts, and 50% of the fuel/air mixture is combusted at a crankshaft angle between 6° and 10° after the top dead center point, with which the power stroke starts.