Capacitor discharge ignition system

In a capacitor discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines having permanent magnetic means, rotatable about a circular path in synchronism with the operation of said machine, a charge coil, a capacitor connected in circuit with said charge coil and an electronic switch means which is rendered conductive in response to a trigger pulse connected to said switch means for discharging said capacitor into the primary winding of a transformer ignition coil, the secondary winding of said transformer ignition coil being connected to a spark gap device for said engine, the improvement in said system comprising an integral core of ferromagnetic material including at least one radially extending leg portion disposed adjacent said circular path, said core providing a path for varying magnetic flux generated by the movement thereby of said magnetic means, said coils being wound on said core such that voltages simultaneously induced therein by said varying flux include half wave voltages of opposite polarity, said capacitor being charged by voltage of one polarity generated in the charge coil and the trigger voltage for said electronic switch being derived at least in part from the secondary winding of said ignition coil, the polarity of the trigger voltage generated in said secondary winding being opposite the polarity of the charge coil whereby said capacitor is charged during one half cycle of voltage induced in the charge coil and discharged during the next half cycle of voltage induced in the secondary coil by said changing flux.