Capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system

A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system comprising:

• an ignition coil comprising primary and secondary windings, said primary and secondary windings each having first and second terminals, and the second terminals of said primary and secondary windings being connected to a voltage reference;
• an ignition capacitor having first and second terminals, the first terminal of said ignition capacitor being connected to the first terminal of said primary winding;
• a first controllable power switching circuit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal of said first controllable power switching circuit being connected to the second terminal of said ignition capacitor, and the output terminal of said first controllable power switching circuit being connected to the voltage reference;
• a high voltage DC source;
• a second controllable power switching circuit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal of said second controllable power switching circuit being connected to said high voltage DC source, the output terminal of said second controllable power switching circuit being connected to the input terminal of said first controllable power switching circuit;
• a controller having first and second outputs respectively connected to the control terminal of said first controllable power switching circuit and to the control terminal of said second controllable power switching circuit;
• and
• a spark plug having a spark gap connected across the first and second terminals of said secondary winding;
• said first controllable power switching circuit for discharging said ignition capacitor and said second controllable power switching circuit for charging said ignition capacitor to provide an ignition current through said ignition coil for at least one charge and discharge cycle of said ignition capacitor.

A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system for use with an ignition coil comprising primary and secondary windings and a spark plug having a spark gap connected across the secondary winding, the CDI system comprising:

• an ignition capacitor having first and second terminals, the first terminal being connected to the primary winding of the ignition coil;
• a first controllable power switching circuit connected between the second terminal of the ignition capacitor and a first voltage reference;
• a second controllable power switching circuit connected between a second voltage reference and the second terminal of said ignition capacitor;
• and
• a controller for cooperating with said first and second controllable power switching circuits to cause said first controllable power switching circuit to discharge said ignition capacitor and said second controllable power switching circuit to charge said ignition capacitor to provide an ignition current through said ignition coil for at least one charge and discharge cycle of said ignition capacitor.

A method for driving an ignition system comprising an ignition coil comprising primary and secondary windings, and a spark plug having a spark gap connected across the secondary winding, the method comprising:

• connecting a first terminal of an ignition capacitor to the primary winding;
• connecting a first controllable power switching circuit between a second terminal of the ignition capacitor and a first voltage reference;
• connecting a second controllable power switching circuit between a second voltage reference and the second terminal of the ignition capacitor;
• and
• controlling the first and second controllable power switching circuits to cause the first controllable power switching circuit to discharge the ignition capacitor and the second controllable power switching circuit to charge the ignition capacitor to provide an ignition current through the ignition coil for at least one charge and discharge cycle of the ignition capacitor.