Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine

A capacitor discharge ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a) a DC power supply (1, 2, 3) for outputting a relatively low voltage charging current;
• b) signal generating means (7) for generating a relatively low voltage trigger signal output in synchronism with the rotation of the engine;
• c) an ignition coil (5) having a primary winding and a secondary winding which is connected to a spark plug;
• d) a capacitor (4) having one end thereof connected to one end of the primary winding of said ignition coil;
• e) a switching element (9) connected in series between another, opposite end of said capacitor and another, opposite end of the primary winding of said ignition coil to form a high voltage discharge path for said capacitor;
• f) wiring harness means (15) connecting an output of said DC power supply to said another end of said capacitor to charge the capacitor, and connecting the trigger signal output of the signal generating means to a control terminal of the switching element;
• and
• g) a single, unitary casing (13) surrounding, housing and mounting, exclusively, the ignition coil, the capacitor, the switching element and all wiring connections therebetween to minimize the length of said wiring connections and to attendantly reduce noise signals generated by the high voltage discharge of said capacitor and minimize energy loss in said wiring connections.