Tuned power ignition system
AssigneeMide Technology Corporation
InventorsBrett Masters, Brian MacLachlan, Gert Muller, Jaco Pretorius, Marthinus van Schoor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ignition system employing a piezoelectric transformer having a drive side and an output side. The ignition system further includes circuit elements in electronic communication with the output side that tune output impedance in series with a breakdown gap to optimize power flow from the transformer to the breakdown gap after breakdown and a timing control circuit in electronic communication with the drive side that meters post-breakdown energy delivered to the breakdown gap by timing the duration of post-breakdown power flow.
Claims28
An ignition system, comprising:
- a piezoelectric transformer having a drive side, an output side, and a piezoelectric element;
- circuit elements in electronic communication with the output side that tune output impedance in series with a breakdown gap to optimize power flow from the transformer to the breakdown gap after breakdown;
- a timing control circuit in electronic communication with the drive side that meters post-breakdown energy delivered to the breakdown gap by timing the duration of post-breakdown power flow;
- and
- a control circuit selected from the group consisting of electronic feedback control, feed forward control, and both, wherein the control circuit optimizes output performance as the resonance condition of the transformer changes.
An ignition system, comprising:
- a piezoelectric transformer having a drive side, an output side, and a piezoelectric element;
- means for tuning an output impedance of the transformer in series with a breakdown gap to optimize power flow from the transformer to the breakdown gap after breakdown;
- means for metering post-breakdown energy delivered to the breakdown gap;
- and
- means for optimizing output performance of the transformer as a resonance condition of the transformer changes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.