US-12626860-B1 - Multiconfiguration ignition coil and coil cap adapter

US12626860B1US 12626860 B1US12626860 B1US 12626860B1US-12626860-B1

Abstract

The multiconfiguration ignition coil and the coil cap provide a user with way to modify the workings of an engine. The multiconfiguration ignition coil has a transformer, a housing, a multiconfiguration ignition coil power wire terminal, a multiconfiguration ignition coil signal wire terminal, a multiconfiguration ignition coil high voltage output, a wire harness connector, and internal wiring. The internal wiring can accept a signal from the multiconfiguration ignition coil signal wire terminal, transmit the signal to the wire harness connector, accept a second signal from the wire harness connector that is able to control output from the multiconfiguration ignition coil high voltage output. The internal wiring can also or alternatively accept a first voltage level from the multiconfiguration ignition coil power wire terminal, transmit the first voltage level to the wire harness connector, accept a second voltage level from the wire harness connector that is able to power the transformer.

Inventors

Bradley Sheridan

Assignees

Bradley Sheridan

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220519

Claims (9)

1 . An apparatus comprising: an ignition coil comprising: an ignition coil high voltage output; a coil cap comprising: a coil cap housing; a coil cap power input terminal; a coil cap signal input terminal; a coil cap signal output terminal; a coil cap power output terminal; a coil cap harness connector; and a coil cap internal wiring; wherein the coil cap internal wiring is located in the coil cap housing; the coil cap power input terminal and the coil cap signal input terminal are accessible from the exterior of the coil cap housing; the coil cap defines an opening; wherein the coil cap is coupled to the ignition coil and the ignition coil high voltage output extends though the opening; and the coil cap internal wiring is configured to accept a first signal from the coil cap signal input terminal, transmit the first signal to the coil cap harness connector, accept a second signal from the coil cap harness connector and transmit to the coil cap signal output terminal; accept a first voltage level from the coil cap power input terminal, transmit the first voltage level to the coil cap harness connector, accept a second voltage level from the coil cap harness connector and transmit the second voltage level to the coil cap power output terminal; or both.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitive discharge ignition electrically coupled to the coil cap; a voltage booster electrically coupled to the coil cap; an ignition dwell controller electrically coupled to the coil cap; or a combination thereof.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coil cap power input terminal is insulated from the coil cap power output terminal and the coil cap signal input terminal is insulated from the coil cap signal output terminal.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coil cap power input terminal is electrically coupled to a battery, an alternator, an ignition switch, a relay, or a combination thereof.
5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coil cap signal input terminal is electrically coupled to a distributor, an external ignition pickup, a control unit, or a combination thereof.
6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coil cap further comprises a selector switch that is configured to selectively direct the first signal, the first voltage level, or both to the capacitive discharge ignition, the voltage booster, or the ignition dwell controller.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the selector switch is further configured to selectively select a bypass position, wherein in the bypass position, the first signal and the first voltage level are directed to the ignition coil.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ignition coil comprises a power wire input terminal and a signal wire input terminal; and the coil cap signal output terminal is electrically coupled to the power wire input terminal, and the coil cap power output terminal is electrically coupled to the signal wire input terminal.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the coil cap signal output terminal is located inside the power wire input terminal, and the coil cap power output terminal is located inside the signal wire input terminal.

Description

FIELD The subject matter herein generally relates to an apparatus and method to easily allow a user to upgrade their ignition. Spark ignition-based internal combustion engines use an ignition coil to create the high voltage spark and some control method to control the coil to create the spark. These control methods require several wires to interface from the car and the ignition controller to the coil. A common method of improving the ignition performance has been to add a capacitive discharge ignition into an existing ignition circuit. These are added by wiring them into the wiring harness between the ignition controller and the coil. Other methods of improving the ignition performance involve increasing the voltage supply to the coil or adjusting the control signal to the coil. BACKGROUND For decades, the capacitive discharge ignition has been a common aftermarket item added to engines in automotive and other applications. These provide improvements to several spark characteristics to improve the operation of the engine. These capacitive discharge ignitions are added to an existing ignition system by splicing in several wires between the car wiring and ignition controller (points, electronic, or other) and the coil. These wires are cut/intercepted individually by the installer, often the vehicle owner with limited understanding of the ignition electronics. Incorrectly connecting any of this wiring could cause malfunction and/or damage to the car, capacitive discharge ignition, or both. Incorrect wiring is a common problem that people encounter when performing these ignition upgrades. Cutting and splicing wiring into the harness is also undesirable from the standpoint of damaging the original wiring and being more difficult to undo. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: FIG. 1 shows an automotive ignition coil according to the prior art. FIG. 2 shows a schematic of an automotive ignition coil and a capacitive discharge ignition according to the prior art. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a multiconfiguration coil with a capacitive discharge ignition. FIG. 4a shows an embodiment of a multiconfiguration coil cap and an automotive ignition coil. FIG. 4b shows an embodiment of an underside of a multiconfiguration coil cap. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a multiconfiguration coil. FIG. 6 shows an electrical schematic of a typical ignition coil according to the prior art. FIG. 7 shows an electrical schematic of a typical ignition coil with a capacitive discharge ignition according to the prior art. FIG. 8 shows an electrical schematic of an embodiment of the multiconfiguration coil and a capacitive discharge ignition. FIG. 9 shows an electrical schematic of an embodiment of the multiconfiguration coil and a voltage booster. FIG. 10 shows an electrical schematic of an embodiment of the multiconfiguration coil and an ignition dwell controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether integral with, directly attached, or indirectly attached through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “electrically coupled” is defined as being in structural electrical contact, whether in direct contact, without intervening components, or indirectly through intervening components, to allow the flow of electrons between the respective elements. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essent