Supply circuit for a corona ignition device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10468858-B2
Application number	US-201715637704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jul 1, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

Described is a supply circuit for a corona ignition device, with an input for connection to a direct voltage source, a first converter, a second converter, and an output for connecting a load. The two converters each generate an output voltage, which is provided on its secondary side and exceeds the input voltage. The two converters each contain a transformer that galvanically separates the primary side of the converter from its secondary side. At least one transistor switch is arranged between the input and primary side of the two converters for pulse width-modulation of the input voltage. The primary side of the second converter is connected in parallel with the primary side of the first converter, the secondary side of the second converter is connected in series with the secondary side of the first converter, the secondary sides of the two converters are each bridged in this series connection by at least one diode, so that an output voltage can be provided at the output of the supply circuit even given a failure of one of the two converters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A supply circuit for a corona ignition device, comprising:
an input terminal configured for connection to a direct voltage source;
a first converter;
a second converter; and
an output terminal configured for connecting a load;
wherein:
(i) the two converters each generate an output voltage, which is provided on its secondary side and exceeds the input voltage, from a respective input voltage applied to its primary side;
(ii) the two converters each comprise a transformer that galvanically separates the primary side of the converter from its secondary side;
(iii) at least one transistor switch is arranged between the input terminal and the primary side of the two converters for pulse width-modulation of the input voltage;
(iv) the primary side of the second converter is connected in parallel with the primary side of the first converter;
(v) the secondary side of the second converter is connected in series with the secondary side of the first converter; and
(vi) the secondary sides of the two converters are each bridged in this series connection by at least one diode, so that an output voltage can be provided at the output terminal of the supply circuit even in case of a failure of one of the two converters; and

wherein a respective bridge circuit with at least four transistor switches is situated between the input terminal and the primary side of the converters, thereby allowing a response to changes in the input voltage.

2. The supply circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a storage capacitor is connected in parallel with the output terminal to compensate for voltage fluctuations.

3. The supply circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the converters are resonant converters.

4. The supply circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a respective rectifier is connected to the secondary side of the converters.

5. The supply circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the rectifiers are bridge rectifiers.

6. A supply circuit for a corona ignition device, comprising:
an input terminal configured for connection to a direct voltage source;
a first converter;
a second converter; and
an output terminal configured for connecting a load;
wherein:
(i) the two converters each generate an output voltage, which is provided on its secondary side and exceeds the input voltage, from a respective input voltage applied to its primary side;
(ii) the two converters each comprise a transformer that galvanically separates the primary side of the converter from its secondary side;
(iii) at least one transistor switch is arranged between the input terminal and the primary side of the two converters for pulse width-modulation of the input voltage;
(iv) the primary side of the second converter is connected in parallel with the primary side of the first converter;
(v) the secondary side of the second converter is connected in series with the secondary side of the first converter; and
(vi) the secondary sides of the two converters are each bridged in this series connection by at least one diode, so that an output voltage can be provided at the output terminal of the supply circuit even in case of a failure of one of the two converters; and

wherein the converters are configured to deliver the output voltage at a magnitude of 100 V to 500 V.

7. The supply circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the converters are designed to generate the output voltage from the input voltage of less than 50 V.

8. A supply circuit for a corona ignition device, comprising:
an input terminal configured for connection to a direct voltage source;
a first converter;
a second converter; and
an output terminal configured for connecting a load;
wherein:
(i) the two converters each generate an output voltage, which is provided on its secondary side and exceeds the input voltage, from a respective input voltage applied to its primary side;
(ii) the two converters each comprise a transformer that galvanically separates the primary side of the converter from its secondary side;
(iii) at least one transistor switch is arranged between the input terminal and the primary side of the two converters for pulse width-modulation of the input voltage;
(iv) the primary side of the second converter is connected in parallel with the primary side of the first converter;
(v) the secondary side of the second converter is connected in series with the secondary side of the first converter; and
(vi) the secondary sides of the two converters are each bridged in this series connection by at least one diode, so that an output voltage can be provided at the output terminal of the supply circuit even in case of a failure of one of the two converters; and

wherein the load connected to the output is a high-frequency generator, which generates a high-frequency alternating voltage of 10 kV or more from the output voltage of the supply circuit.

9. A corona ignition system comprising a supply circuit according to claim 8 and a corona ignition device that comprises an electrical resonant circuit with a coil, and a center electrode that is held in an insulator and ends in an ignition tip, wherein the resonant circuit is excited by the high-frequency generator.

10. The supply circuit according to claim 9 , wherein a respective bridge circuit with at least four transistor switches is situated between the input terminal and the primary side of the converters, thereby allowing a response to changes in the input voltage.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Ludwigsburg Gmbh

Inventors

• Holzschuh Thomas
• Etzkorn Hans-Peter
• Schaefer Peter

Classifications

• H01T19/00

  Devices providing for corona discharge (for charging electrographic elements G03G15/02) · CPC title

• F23Q3/006

  Details (sparking-plugs H01T13/00) · CPC title

• H01F38/12

  Ignition, e.g. for IC engines · CPC title

• F02P3/01 Primary

  Electric spark ignition installations without subsequent energy storage, i.e. energy supplied by an electrical oscillator (with magneto- or dynamo-electric generators F02P1/00; piezoelectric ignition F02P3/12; with continuous electric spark F02P15/10) · CPC title

• F02P23/04

  Other physical ignition means, e.g. using laser rays · CPC title