# US 8,150,606 B2 · Ignition system, easy to start for internal combustion engines

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,150,606 B2
- Document ID: US8150606B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/240,130
- Filed: 2008-09-29
- Published: 2009-04-02
- Granted: 2012-04-03
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-27
- Assignees: Prufrex-Elektro-Apparatebau Inh. Helga Muller, geb./Dutschke
- Inventors: Leo Kiessling; Marek Lajda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8150606B2

## CPC

- F02P 1/086: {for generating sparks by discharging a capacitor into a coil circuit}
- F02P 5/1558: {with special measures for starting}
- F02D 2400/06: Small engines with electronic control, e.g. for hand held tools
- F02N 3/02: having pull-cords
- F02N 2250/04: Reverse rotation of the engine
- F02P 3/0846: {using digital techniques (F02P3/0869, F02P3/0892, F02P3/096 take precedence)}
- F02P 5/1506: {with particular means during starting}
- F02P 11/025: {Shortening the ignition when the engine is stopped (to prevent damage to the coil F02P3/0556)}
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00)
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An electrical ignition method for a combustion engine employing the use of an arrangement of several coils and a magnet wheel or magnet generator which rotates synchronously with the combustion engine, wherein the magnetic field of the magnet generator intermittently flows through the coils and therein generates a sequence of magnetic flux changes per revolution, whereby a sequence of corresponding alternating voltage half-waves is induced in the coils, which are used for charging an energy storage element. Through the use of a stop and/or switch-off system for the combustion engine, the disclosed method prevents a discharge of the energy storage element during the stopping and coast down procedure of the combustion engine and/or to actuate its charging, so that a charged energy storage element is available for the next start of the combustion engine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Electrical ignition method for combustion engines through the use of an arrangement of several coils (U1, LS; U2, TS; U5, Lp, Ls) and a magnet wheel or magnet generator (P, M, S, N) which rotates synchronously with the combustion engine, where the magnetic field of the magnet generator intermittently flows through the coils (LS, TS, Lp, Ls) and therein generates a sequence of magnetic flux changes (Ba, 1, 3, 5, 7; Bb, 9, 11, 13, 15), whereby a sequence of corresponding alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8;10, 12, 14, 16) is induced in the coils (U1; U2; U5), which are used:
for charging an energy storage element (U4), which is discharged by actuating an ignition switch (U9) via a primary coil (Lp) of a pulse transformer (U5) for initiating an ignition spark (FU),
and for generating an operating voltage or voltage supply (VDD) for an electronic, analog or digital or programmable control unit (U8), which is deployed for actuating an ignition switch (U9) at an ignition point (ZZP) in dependence of the acquired alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8; 10,12,14,16) or from the state of the combustion engine,
and through the use of a stop or switch-off system for the combustion engine, which prevents a discharge of the energy storage element (U4) during a stopping and coast down procedure of the combustion engine or actuates its charging, so that a charged energy storage element is available for the next start of the combustion engine,
characterized by,
(a) detecting alternating voltage half waves from two different limbs of a magnet generator (P,M,S,N) having an iron, soft-magnetic yoke core in a U-shape with, in the sequence of the rotational direction (D), a first limb (Ka) surrounded by a charging coil (U1) and a subsequent second limb (Kb) surrounded by at least the primary coil (Lp) of a pulse transformer (U5) or an auxiliary coil (U2);
(b) outputting signals (LSn, c, a) of both the charging coil (U1) on the first limb (Ka) and the primary coil (Lp) or the auxiliary coil (U2) on the second limb (Kb) each to the control unit (U8);
(c) for the purpose of inducing a continuous ignition advance (ZZP) as the rotational speed increases, detecting, using the control unit (U8), the chronological occurrence in each case of the first (2, 10) of the alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8;10, 12, 14, 16) by monitoring the voltage levels of the alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8;10, 12, 14, 16) and activating the ignition switch (U9), as the first (2, 10) of the alternating voltage half-waves occurs; and
(d) building-up (40) the control unit's supply voltage through the charging coil (U1) on the first limb (Ka) whereby the control unit (U8) immediately scans and checks the levels (c,a) of the primary coil voltage (PS) or the trigger coil (U2) on the second limb (Kb) in order to determine whether there is the first (10) of the alternating voltage half-waves (10,12, 14, 16).

### Claim 2

Electrical ignition method for combustion engines through the use of an arrangement of several coils (U1, LS; U2, TS; U5, Lp, Ls) and a magnet wheel or magnet generator (P, M, S, N) which synchronously rotates with the combustion engine, where the magnetic field of the magnet generator intermittently flows through the coils (LS, TS, Lp, Ls) and therein generates a sequence of magnetic flux changes (Ba, 1, 3, 5, 7; Bb, 9, 11, 13, 15), whereby a sequence of corresponding alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8;10, 12, 14,16) is induced in the coils (U1; U2; U5), which are used:
for charging an energy storage element (U4), which is discharged by actuating an ignition switch (U9) via a primary coil winding (Lp) of a pulse transformer (U5) for initiating an ignition spark (FU),
and for generating an operating voltage or voltage supply (VDD) for an electronic, analog or digital or programmable control unit (U8), which is deployed for actuating an ignition switch (U9) at an ignition point (ZZP) in dependence of the acquired alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8; 10, 12,14,16) or from the state of the combustion engine
and through the use of a stop or switch-off system for the combustion engine, which is technically designed or arranged for programming or switching to prevent a discharge of the energy storage element (U4) during a stopping and coast down procedure of the internal combustion engine or to actuate its charging, so that a charged energy storage element is available for the next start of the internal combustion engine,
characterized by,
(a) detecting alternating voltage half waves from two different limbs of a magnet generator (P,M,S,N) having an iron, soft-magnetic yoke core in a U-shape with, in the sequence of the rotational direction (D), a first limb (Ka) surrounded by a charging coil (U1) and a subsequent second limb (Kb) surrounded by at least the primary coil (Lp) of a pulse transformer (U5) or an auxiliary coil (U2);
(b) detecting the first (2, 10) of the alternating voltage half-waves (2, 4, 6, 8;10,12, 14, 16), outputting signals (LSn, c, a) of both the charging coil (U1) on the first limb (Ka) and the primary coil (Lp) or the auxiliary coil (U2) on the second limb (Kb) each to the control unit (U8);
(c) for the purpose of inducing a continuous ignition advance (ZZP) as the rotational speed increases, the control unit (U8) monitoring the first exceedance within each respective magnet wheel or magnet generator rotation of a preset trigger voltage threshold (Ux), at least by monitoring one alternating voltage half-wave by means of the control unit (U8) and the control unit (U8) actuating the ignition switch (U9) when the preset trigger voltage threshold (Ux) is exceeded by said first exceedance;
(d) building-up (40) the control unit's supply voltage through the charging coil (U1) on the first limb (Ka) whereby the control unit (U8) immediately scans and checks the levels (c,a) of the primary coil voltage (PS) or the trigger coil (U2) on the second limb (Kb) in order to determine whether there is the first (10) of the alternating voltage half-waves (10,12, 14, 16).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first occurrence per revolution of alternating voltage half-waves is monitored or detected via the control unit (U8) by means of voltage levels of different coils which are offset in relation to each other with reference to the magnet wheel or magnet generator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ignition switch is actuated by means of an alternating voltage half-wave (2) per revolution which originates from the charging coil (U4) coupled to the energy storage element (U4).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Ignition method according to claim 4, characterized in that for the detection or for monitoring of the rotational position of the magnet wheel or the magnetic generator, whether within one revolution of the magnet wheel or the magnetic generator, the respectively first alternating voltage half-waves (2, 10) which occur, the voltage level of a trigger coil, ignition coil or a primary or secondary coil of a pulse transformer is monitored by means of the control unit (U8) or is compared with a preset threshold value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at each revolution at least one alternating voltage half-wave (2) is monitored via the control unit (U8) with respect to exceedance of a preset trigger threshold value (Ux), and that during the exceedance the rotational position of the magnet wheel or magnet generator (P, M, S, N) is determined by monitoring the voltage level of at least one further, isochronous alternating voltage half-wave (10), and that the ignition switch is actuated when the so determined rotational position (30) corresponds to respectively first occurring alternating voltage half-wave/s (2, 10) within one revolution.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the monitoring of the voltage level of the alternating voltage half-waves comprises at least one comparison of the respective voltage level of an alternating voltage half-wave with one or multiple preset voltage thresholds in the control unit (U8), which correspond to those alternating voltage half of the waves which follow the first half-waves (2, 10) per revolution in each case.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized through the use of a combustion engine with a magnetic generator or magnet wheel, where the diameter is smaller than 130 mm or is at least 90 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ignition switch (U9) for interrupting a current flow from the energy storage element (U4) is kept open during the stopping and coast down procedure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy storage element (U4), in order for it to be charged, is coupled with the charging coil (U1) or another coil carrying alternating voltage half-waves during the stopping and coast down procedure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy storage element (U4) is charged in such a manner during the stopping and coast down procedure, in that already during a first pass of a cylinder piston of the combustion engine through a top dead center (TDC) and actuation of the ignition switch (U9), a high-voltage pulse of at least 10 KV, results on the pulse transformer (U5).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

Ignition method according to claim 11, characterized in that the control unit (U8) is technically so designed or arranged for programming or switching or a trigger voltage threshold (Ux) is placed such that at rotational speeds of approximately 150 revolutions to approximately 200 or 220 revolutions per minute (rpm) the ignition point (ZZP) is assigned to a range near the top dead center (TDC), so that a back kick during the start of the combustion engine will be counteracted.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

Ignition method according to claim 12, characterized in that the range near TDC comprises 5 degrees of angle before and after TDC.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 2)

Ignition method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the control, a microcontroller or another microelectronic switch mechanism with an operating voltage (LVR—low voltage reset) from about 1.5 V to 2.5 V or from about 2 V or 2.1 V is used for the control.