Importance

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Abstract

An exciter circuit for an ignition system including an igniter plug. The exciter circuit includes an energy storage device comprising a pair of capacitors and a charging circuit for charging the capacitors of energy storage device to a predetermined voltage. The exciter circuit further includes a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage device and the igniter plug providing a conductive path between the energy storage device and the igniter plug. The exciter circuit periodically energizes the igniter plug by applying an output signal of the discharge circuit to the igniter plug, the output signal having a voltage magnitude sufficient to initiate a spark across electrodes of the igniter plug. The discharge circuit includes a polarity reversal circuit coupled to the energy storage device for periodically reversing a polarity of the charge on one of the capacitors and discharging the energy storage device to generate the output signal wherein the voltage magnitude of the output signal is greater in magnitude than the predetermined voltage of capacitors. A solid state switch, preferably a thyristor, is coupled to a resonant coil which, in turn, is coupled to the energy storage device. The solid state switch, which is not on the discharge path, initiates the reversal of polarity on the one capacitor by causing current to flow between the resonant coil and the one capacitor.

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First Claim