A DISTRIBUTORLESS IGNITION SYSTEM--SOLID STATE HIGH VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION WITH LOW RFI EMISSIONS (RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE)

A distributorless ignition system (DIS) having solid state, high voltage distribution was designed and constructed as a major competitor of conventional ignition for four-cylinder application under electronic engine control. It uses high-voltage diodes, a special ignition coil, and a special electronic module. The ignition coil has two opposite-polarity, high-voltage outputs that alternate in phase upon each firing. Each high-voltage terminal is connected to two spark plugs through a pair of high-voltage diodes arranged in back-to-back polarity. DIS has significant advantages in that the ignition package size is smaller, RFI emission levels are low, rotor registration is expanded, and problems with distributor cap maintenance are eliminated. Disadvantages include double spark plug firing rate causing increased plug erosion, electronic module circuit complexity, need for a sensor to index one pair of cylinders relative to the crankshaft, and need for an engine modification to drive the oil pump. DIS cannot be applied to three-cylinder or to five-cylinder engines because cylinder pairing of compression and exhaust strokes cannot be carried out with an odd number of cylinders.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the SAE Congress and Exposition, Detroit, 27 February-3 March 1978.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Asik, J R
  • Moyer, D F
  • Rado, W G
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Diodes; Electronics; High voltage; Ignition coils; Ignition systems; Solid state devices
• Old TRIS Terms: Solid state
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395652
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 780327, HS-025 422U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM