Vehicle Ignition System

Conventional vehicle ignition systems include a switch operated by a key to connect the vehicle battery to the ignition coil. This arrangement is not very secure, and thieves have been able to energize the vehicle engine by short-circuiting the switch operated by the key.

Additional vehicle security systems have been proposed, independent of the ignition system, for example causing an alarm to sound if the vehicle is tampered with, but if the alarm is itself disabled, it is still possible to dive away the vehicle by short-circuiting the ignition switch.

The present invention has the object of providing an additional security device within the ignition system which disables the system for illicit use independent of the possible short-circuiting of the ignition switch.

According to this invention there is provided a vehicle ignition system comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding for providing the desired high voltage to the engine and a circuit including a further winding of said transformer which circuit when activated prevents sufficient magnetic flux in the system from reaching said secondary winding to provide the desired high voltage to the engine, the circuitbeing activated by a switch is normally closed and which is openable only by a security device. The security device may comprise a conventional key, but more sophisticated security devices include a coded magnetic card and card-reader, or a comparator which compares a code fed into the device with a preset code.

A further switch may be provided in the system in series with the primary winding of the transformer, the further switch being normally open, but closed in synchronism with the opening of the first switch under the control of the security device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of the invention for providing a secure ignition system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention using conventional components.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing FIG. 1 which is a circuit diagram of an ignition system for a vehicle.

In the figure, the ignition coil generally indicated at 11 has a primary winding 12, a conventional secondary winding 13 and an additional auxiliary winding 14. One terminal of the primary winding 12 is connected through a pair of contacts 15 of the distributor to the earthed terminal of the battery 16. The other terminal of the primary winding 12 is connected through a switch 17 to be described to the other terminal of the battery 16. A conventional ignition switch is not shown in the drawing, but if provided, would be located in series with the switch 17.

The first terminal of the primary winding and one terminal of the conventional secondary winding 13 of the coil 11 are connected together through a capacitor 18 to earth. The other terminal of the winding 13 provides the high voltage required for the vehicle engine, and in the drawing is shown being connected to a spark plug 19 in the engine.

The additional auxiliary winding 14 is connected across a device 21 and switch 22. The switches 17 and 22 are operable in response to electrical signals, and can comprise a triac, SCR, or any suitable semiconductor switch. The electrical signal to actuate the switches is provided by a comparator 23, which is fed with a signal from a preset data coding device 24 and compares this with the output of a code reader 25 into which the intending user of the vehicle inserts a code. If the inserted code is correct, the comparator 23 produces an electrical signal which is fed through an inverter 26 to cause the switch 22 to open and through a further inverter 27 to cause the switch 17 to close. When the comparator 23 produces the electrical signal, the battery 16 energizes the primary winding of the coil, and the additional auxiliary winding 14 produces no effect on the coil 11 since the switch 22 is open. The power from the winding 12 is therefore transferred to the secondary winding 13 and the spark plug 19. However, when the correct code is not fed into the reader 25, the comparator 23 does not produce an electrical signal and the switch 22 remains closed and the switch 17 remains open.

The device 21 can be a load, whose connection across the coil 14 by the switch 22 absorbs at least a substantial amount of the power from the winding 12 so that there is insufficient energy, if any, to energize the spark plug 19 through the coil 13.

Alternatively the device 21 can be a reverse flux generator, which passes a current through the coil to generate a flux in the transformer core which is approximately equal and opposite to that generated by the primary winding 12. The resultant flux at the winding 13 is therefore little or nothing, so that the spark plug 19 is not energized.

The opening of the switch 17 disconnects the battery 16 from the primary winding 12. Even if an illicit user manages to short-circuit the switch 17 in the same way as the conventional thief short-circuits the conventional ignition switch, the device 21 connected across the secondary winding 14 will prevent sufficient energy reaching the spark plug 19. The additional winding 14, the device 21 and the switch 22 can be encapsulated within the coil so that it is not possible or at least very difficult for the illicit user to cancel the effect of the winding 14.

The provision of the switch 17 makes the conventional ignition switch unnecessary. A key may be used to input the code into the code reader 25, but if desired a magnetic card may be used or even a keyboard may be provided for the user to feed the code into the code reader.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the circuitry 29 for actuating switches 22 and 17 is replaced by a single integrated circuit 31, manufactured by LS1 Computer System Inc., known to those skilled in the art as part no. LS7225. Connected to the input ports 10-14 is a code generator which may be the same as code reader 25 of FIG. 1. Any device such as a magnetic card or thumbwheel binary digit generator may serve as code generator 25. Integrated circuit 31 will provide first and second enabling voltages on ports 7 and 8 when the proper code is applied to ports 10-14. Indicator 32, which may be a light emitting diode indicates the condition of the ignition system as either locked or unlocked.

Silicon controlled rectifier 33 takes the place of switch 17 of FIG. 1. When the gate of SCR 33 is enabled, equal and opposite currents flow through windings 12 and 14. The flux produced from primary winding 12 is cancelled by the flux produced by auxiliary winding 14. Thus, secondary winding 13 receives only a residual flux insufficient to produce a spark producing voltage. Also relay winding 35a is deenergized in the locked condition opening contacts 35b.

When the proper code has been reviewed by integrated circuit 31, no enabling voltage occurs at port 7 and therefore SCR 33 is rendered non-conducting. Also, port 8 applies a voltage for energizing relay winding 35a. Contacts 35b therefore assumes a closed condition permitting primary winding 12 to generate a flux for inducing a spark generating voltage in secondary winding 13.

Although the conventional firing system for an internal combustion engine has been shown with mechanical contacts 15, the invention can clearly be applied to other ignition systems, including electronic systems.