Ignition circuit with piezoelectric transformer
US6114797A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N30/804
Abstract
Circuits for use in ignition systems are disclosed which use a resonating piezoelectric transformer along with complementary circuit components, to efficiently convert a DC first voltage to a transformer-output AC second voltage. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a High Displacement Piezoelectric (HDP) transformer converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage which is rectified into a DC signal of sufficiently high voltage to create a spark across the spark gap of a spark plug. The transformer circuit may be a "self resonating" circuit which relies on an initial pulse from turning on the DC power supply to cause the transformer to begin resonating. In a modified circuit the circuit is not "self resonating" and instead has a phase shift oscillator sub-circuit that provides small pulse signals to start the transformer resonating when the circuit is initially turned on.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.