Extended spark capacitor discharge ignition system

Extended spark composite capacitor discharge and ignition coil electromagnetic storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine (E) having

• ignition signal generating means (10--13) coupled to the engine (E) and providing an ignition event signal at a predetermined angular position of the crankshaft of the engine,
• an ignition coil (15) having a primary and secondary, and at least one spark gap (19) connected to the secondary of the ignition coil,
• and a source (24) of electrical power,
• and comprising, in accordance with the invention, the combination of
• a high-voltage capacitor discharge ignition system including
• a capacitor (18);
• capacitor charge control circuit means (16, 17, 26, 27) connected to said source (24) and controlling charging of the capacitor;
• and a capacitor discharge switch (14) connected to and controlled by said ignition signal generating means, said ignition event signal controlling the capacitor discharge switch (14) to connect the capacitor to the ignition coil to discharge the capacitor through said coil and initiate an ignition event;
• with
• an extended spark electromagnetic storage discharge system including
• a coil current control switch (23) connected to said source (24) controlling current flow to the ignition coil (15);
• and a pulse control generation means (28) controlling generation of a plurality of extended spark discharge signals, and controlling closing of said current control switch (23) to close repetitively to permit current flow through the primary of the ignition coil from said source independently of current flow therethrough upon discharge of the capacitor, and under command of said pulse control generation means,
• said ignition signal generating means further being connected to control the first closing of said coil current control switch (23) to occur under control of said ignition signal generating means and as a function of said ignition event signal;
• and further comprising a delay circuit (21) coupled to and controlled by the ignition signal generating means and controlling said coil current control switch (23) to delay closing thereof until the capacitor (18) has discharged upon operation of the capacitor discharge switch (14) to provide for an initial spark of the spark gap generated by energy derived from the capacitor (18) and subsequent sparks at the spark gap (19) under control of said pulse control generation means.