# US 2014/0190438 A1 · Plasma generating device and internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190438 A1 - Document ID: US20140190438A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/156,170 - Filed: 2014-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-16 - Assignees: Imagineering, Inc. - Applicants: Imagineering, Inc. - Inventors: Yuji Ikeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190438A1 ## CPC - F02P 23/045: {using electromagnetic microwaves} - F02P 3/01: Electric spark ignition installations without subsequent energy storage, i.e. energy supplied by an electrical oscillator (with magneto- or dynamo-electric generators F02P1/00; piezoelectric ignition F02P3/12; with continuous electric spark F02P15/10) - F02P 3/045: for control of the dwell or anti dwell time - F02P 9/007: {by supplementary electrical discharge in the pre-ionised electrode interspace of the sparking plug, e.g. plasma jet ignition} - F02P 15/00: Electric spark ignition having characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F02P1/00 - F02P13/00 {and combined with layout of ignition circuits (not combined F02B, F02C, F02G, F02K)} - F02P 23/04: Other physical ignition means, e.g. using laser rays - H05H 1/46: using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy (H05H1/26 takes precedence) - H05H 1/52: using exploding wires or spark gaps (H05H1/26 takes precedence) - F02M 27/042: {by plasma} - H05H 1/463: {using antennas or applicators} - F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00) - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract The size of the plasma produced by a plasma-generating device that generates plasma using electromagnetic (EM) radiation is enlarged. The plasma-generating device has an EM-wave-generating device that generates EM radiation, a radiation antenna that emits the EM radiation supplied from the EM-wave-generating device to a target space, and a receiving antenna located near the radiation antenna. The receiving antenna is grounded such that an adjacent portion that is close to the radiation antenna has a higher voltage while the EM radiation is emitted from the radiation antenna. The plasma-generating device generates plasma in the target space near the radiation antenna and the adjacent portion by emitting EM radiation from the radiation antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plasma-generating device comprising: an electromagnetic (EM)-wave-generating device that generates EM radiation, a radiation antenna that emits the EM radiation supplied from the EM-wave-generating device to a target space, and a receiving antenna located near the radiation antenna, whereby the receiving antenna is grounded such that an adjacent portion close to the radiation antenna has a high voltage while the EM radiation is emitted from the radiation antenna, wherein the plasma is generated near the radiation antenna and the adjacent portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiation antenna is annular or C-shaped in form, the plasma-generating device includes a plurality of receiving antennas, and each receiving antenna is rod-shaped in form and extends in a direction away from the radiating antenna at the outer side of the radiating antenna from said adjacent portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: a connecting conductor, which electrically connects the adjacent portions in the plurality of receiving antennas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each receiving antenna is grounded by a grounding circuit such that the adjacent portion has a higher voltage while the EM radiation is emitted from the radiation antenna, and a switching element is provided on the grounding circuits of each of the receiving antennas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of receiving antennas are grounded in sequence by controlling the switching element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a discharge device that generates a discharge in the target space while or before the period that the EM radiation is emitted from the radiation antenna. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) An internal combustion engine comprising: the plasma-generating device as claimed in claim 2, and an internal combustion engine body equipped with an ignition plug at a center portion of the combustion chamber, wherein the radiation antenna is located on the ceiling surface of the combustion chamber so as to surround the ignition plug, and the plurality of receiving antennas are located in a radial fashion outside the radiation antenna. ### Claim 8 An internal combustion engine including an internal combustion engine body formed with a combustion chamber, and an EM-wave-emitting device that emits EM radiation into the combustion chamber from a radiation antenna, wherein the combustion of an air-fuel mixture is enhanced by the EM radiation emitted into the combustion chamber; the internal combustion engine comprises: a receiving antenna located near the radiation antenna, where the receiving antenna is grounded such that an adjacent portion that is close to the radiation antenna has higher voltage when the EM radiation is emitted from the radiation antenna, wherein an intense electric field is generated near the radiation antenna and said adjacent portion in the combustion chamber by the emitted EM radiation from the radiation antenna during flame propagation in the combustion chamber.