Sensor for engine control

An ignition circuit for firing a spark plug in an internal combustion engine, said ignition circuit being comprised of a circuit for energizing a primary winding of a step-up coil and comprised of a capacitor and a solid state switching device for effecting discharge of said capacitor for inducing a voltage in said primary winding a single electromagnetic device for both charging said capacitor and effecting switching of said solid state device through cooperation with at least one magnet rotatable relative to said single electromagnetic device, said single electromagnetic device being comprised of a core surrounded by a winding, said core having its opposite ends disposed in spaced relationship to said magnet for inducing two pulses in said coil upon the relative rotation, said ends being disposed in a relationship such that said capacitor is discharged before said charging coil output decreases so as to eliminate the necessity for a diode in the charging circuit.

An ignition circuit for firing a spark plug in an internal combustion engine, said ignition circuit being comprised of a circuit for energizing a primary winding of a step-up coil and comprised of a capacitor and a solid state switching device for effecting discharge of said capacitor for inducing a voltage in said primary winding, a single electromagnetic device for both charging said capacitor and effecting switching of said solid state device through cooperation with a pair of circumferentially spaced magnets rotatable relative to said single electromagnetic device, said single electromagnetic device being comprised of a core surrounded by a winding, said core having its opposite ends disposed in spaced relationship to said magnet for inducing two pulses in said coil upon the relative rotation, one of said magnets being employed for charging said capacitor in two steps and the other of said magnets being employed for effecting the switching of said solid state device.