High performance ignition apparatus and method

An ignition system comprising:

• a spark plug coupled to a first winding of an ignition coil;
• a switching means coupling a voltage source to a discharge capacitor, and also causing discharge of the discharge capacitor through a second winding of said ignition coil;
• control means for opening and closing said switching means to couple said voltage source to said discharge capacitor and said discharge capacitor to said ignition coil in synchronization with timing signals received from an engine sensor;
• wherein said voltage source generates an oscillatory recharge voltage across said ignition coil during periods when the voltage source is coupled to the discharge capacitor, and wherein a signal comprising a plurality of exponentially decaying sinusoidal waveforms is generated across said ignition coil during periods when the discharge capacitor is being discharged.

A system for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a cylinder, comprising:

• a capacitor coupled to an ignition coil and a voltage source;
• a semiconductive switching device having a transconductive path and control electrode for controlling conduction through said path coupled to said capacitor and said ignition coil;
• and
• a control signal for turning said switching device on and off coupled to said control electrode;
• wherein when said switching device conducts, said capacitor discharges in a damped oscillatory manner through said ignition coil, and when said switching device does not conduct, said capacitor charges by means of said voltage source in an oscillatory manner through said ignition coil.

A system for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a cylinder, comprising:

• a capacitor coupled to an ignition coil and a voltage source;
• a semiconductive switching device having a transconductive path and control electrode for controlling conduction through said path coupled to said capacitor and said ignition coil;
• and
• a control signal for turning said switching device on and off coupled to said control electrode;
• wherein when said switching device conducts, said capacitor discharges through said ignition coil, and when said switching device does not conduct, said capacitor charges by means of said voltage source,
• wherein said voltage source comprises a buffered amplifier that amplifies a signal received from an oscillator;
• wherein when said switch permits the discharge of said capacitor, said buffered amplifier is off;
• and wherein when said switch permits the charging of said capacitor, said buffered amplifier is on.

A method for igniting fuel with a fuel ignitor coupled to the secondary winding of an ignition coil, the ignition coil also having a primary winding, the method comprising the steps of:

• discharging a capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition coil in an oscillatory manner;
• and
• recharging the capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition coil in an oscillatory manner;
• wherein, energy is discharged by the fuel ignitor during both the discharging and recharging of the capacitor.

An apparatus for igniting fuel, comprising:

• an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings;
• a fuel ignitor coupled to the secondary winding of the ignition coil for igniting the fuel;
• a capacitor coupled to the primary winding of the ignition coil;
• a charging voltage source coupled to the capacitor;
• and
• timing and switching means for controllably discharging the capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition coil, the discharging of the capacitor occurring in an oscillatory manner, and for controllably recharging the capacitor with the charging voltage source through the primary winding of the ignition coil, the recharging of the capacitor also occurring in an oscillatory manner.