Direct ignition

• Direct ignition is, in a way, the

follow-on from distributorless
ignition. This system utilizes an
• inductive coil for each cylinder.
These coils are mounted
directly on the spark plugs
• The use of an individual coil for each plug
ensures that the rise time for the low
inductance primary winding is very fast. This
ensures that a very high voltage, high energy
spark is produced. This voltage, which can be
in excess of 40kV, provides efficient initiation
of the combustion process under cold starting
conditions and with weak mixtures
• In order to switch the ignition coils, igniter
units are used. These can control up to three
coils and are simply the power stages of the
control unit but in a separate container. This
allows less interference to be caused in the
main ECU due to heavy current switching and
shorter runs of wires carrying higher currents
 Control of spark
• system that does not require a sensor to determine
which cylinder is on compression (engine position is
known from a crank sensor) determines the
information by initially firing all of the coils. The
voltage across the plugs allows measurement of the
current for each spark and will indicate which cylinder
is on its combustion stroke. This works because a
burning mixture has a lower resistance. The cylinder
• with the highest current at this point will be the
cylinder on the combustion stroke.