# US 2017/0284357 A1 · Forced frequency ignition system for an 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 2017/0284357 A1 - Document ID: US20170284357A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/088,945 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Marshall Electric Corp. - Applicants: Marshall Electric Corp. - Inventors: Thomas C. Marrs; Stephen P. Barlow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284357A1 ## CPC - F02P 9/002: {Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression (by means of current control in the storage devices F02P3/05, F02P3/09, during starting F02P15/12)} - 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 3/0435: {with semiconductor devices (F02P3/0453, F02P3/051, F02P3/0552 take precedence)} - F02P 15/10: having continuous electric sparks - H01T 13/04: Means providing electrical connection to sparking plugs - H01T 13/44: with transformers, e.g. for high-frequency ignition - 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) - H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H) ## Abstract An ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a power source, a transformer having first and second primary windings and a secondary winding, a connector extending from the secondary winding and adapted so as to connect with a terminal of the spark plug of the internal combustion engine, and electronic spark timing circuit cooperative with the transformer so as to activate and deactivate voltage to the first and second primary windings. The first and second primary windings are connected to the power source such that the transformer produces an alternating voltage output from the secondary winding of between 1 kHz and 100 kHz and a voltage of at least 20 kV. A forced push-pull inverter is cooperative with the electronic spark timing circuit so as to fix a frequency of voltage to the first and second primary windings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a power source; a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding and a secondary winding, said first and second primary windings connected to said power source such that said transformer produces an alternating voltage output from said secondary winding of between 1 kHz and 100 kHz and a voltage of at least 20 kv; a connector extending from said secondary winding, said connector adapted to connect with a terminal of a spark plug of the internal combustion engine; an electronic spark timing circuit cooperative with said transformer so as to activate and deactivate a voltage to said first and second primary windings; and a forced push-pull inverter cooperative with said electronic spark timing circuit so as to directly fix a frequency of voltage to said first and second primary windings. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, the fixed frequency being between 1 kHz and 100 kHz. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, said forced push-pull inverter comprising an astable oscillator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, further comprising: an inverting gate-driver IC cooperative with said electronic spark timing circuit so as to transmit voltage relative to a timing pulse of said electronic spark timing circuit; a first field effect transistor connected to an output of said gate-driver IC, said first field effect transistor being switchable so as to transmit the alternating voltage to said first primary winding; and a second field effect transistor connected to an output of said gate-driver IC, said second field effect transistor being switchable so as to transmit the alternating voltage to said second primary winding. ### Claim 6 An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a power source; a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding and a secondary winding, said first and second primary windings connected to said power source such that said transformer produces an alternating voltage output from said secondary winding of between 1 kHz and 100 kHz and a voltage of at least 20 kv; a connector extending from said secondary winding, said connector adapted to connect with a terminal of a spark plug of the internal combustion engine; an electronic spark timing circuit cooperative with said transformer so as to activate and deactivate a voltage to said first and second primary windings, said electronic spark timing circuit passing a square wave of voltage to said electronic spark timing circuit, said electronic spark timing circuit producing a voltage pulse off of a falling edge of the square wave. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ignition system of claim 6, said square wave ranging from 0 volts to 5 volts, a spark being generated to said secondary winding from said electronic spark timing circuit when the square wave falls from 5 volts to 0 volts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, said alternating voltage output of said secondary winding being a spark having a continuous arc duration of between 0.5 millisecond and 5 milliseconds. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, further comprising: a voltage regulator circuit electrically connected between said power source and said electronic spark timing circuit so as to step down voltage from said power source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ignition system of claim 9, said voltage regulator establish a reference voltage of approximately 8 volts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The ignition system of claim 5, said gate-driver IC inverting voltage so as to cause said first field effect transistor and said second field effect transistor to bias alternately. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, further comprising: a transient voltage suppressor electrically connected between said power source and said electronic spark timing circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ignition system of claim 1, said power supply comprising: a battery having a voltage between 5 volts and 15 volts. ### Claim 14 An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a power source; a transformer having a first primary winding and a second primary winding and a secondary winding, said first and second primary windings connected to said power source such that said transformer produces an alternating voltage output from said secondary winding of between 1 kHz and 100 kHz and a voltage of at least 20 kV; a connector extending from said secondary winding, said connector adapted to connect with a terminal of a spark plug of the internal combustion engine; an electronic spark timing circuit cooperative with said transformer so as to activate and deactivate voltage to said first and second primary windings; a forced push-pull inverter cooperative with said electronic spark timing circuit so as to fix a frequency of voltage to said first and second primary windings, said electronic spark timing circuit passing a square wave of voltage to said electronic spark timing circuit, said electronic spark timing circuit producing a voltage pulse off of a falling edge of the square wave; an inverting gate-driver IC cooperative with said electronic spark timing circuit so as to transmit voltage relative to a timing pulse of said electronic spark timing circuit; a first field effect transistor connected to an output of said inverting gate-driver IC, said first field effect transistor being switchable so as to transmit the alternating voltage to said first primary winding; and a second field effect transistor connected to an output of said inverting gate-driver IC, said second field effect transistor being switchable so as to transmit the alternating voltage to said second primary winding. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The ignition system of claim 14, said alternating voltage output of said secondary winding being a spark having a continuous arc duration of between 0.5 millisecond and 5 milliseconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The ignition system of claim 14, further comprising: a voltage regulator circuit electrically connected between said power source and said electronic spark timing circuit so as to step down voltage from said power source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The ignition system of claim 16, said gate-driver IC inverting voltage so as to cause said first field effect transistor and said second field effect transistor to bias alternately. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The ignition system of claim 14, said power supply comprising: a battery having a voltage of between 5 volts and 15 volts.