A multiple magnet flywheel alternator is connected to charge a capacitor of a capacitor discharge ignition system. The capacitor is discharged to the several spark plugs of an internal combustion engine by individual controlled rectifiers having the gates connected to a separate pulse generator establishing trigger pulses of an amplitude varying with speed. A self-generating reverse voltage bias network includes a parallel capacitor and resistor connected in series with the output of the generator and the triggering circuits.

An ignition system for internal combustion engines which comprises a magneto electric generator having a generating coil for producing two output signals different in phase, a capacitor which will be charged and discharged to operate a high tension coil, a switching element for discharging the capacitor, and a control circuit for controlling the switching element, one of the two output signals charging the capacitor, the other output signal controlling the switching element through the control circuit with the results that the control voltage of the switching element is not affected by the ambient temperature and the ignition system is made smaller in size, is serviceable for preventing excessive rate of rotation of the combustion engine, and can be molded into one unit.

Electric pulse generating apparatus is provided for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine. Apparatus comprises essentially means for delivering a voltage which is substantially-inversely proportional to the rotating speed of the engine, means for delivering a sawtooth voltage whose leading edge slope is proportional to the rotating speed of the engine, means for comparing these two voltages and delivering - when the voltage substantially-inversely proportional to the speed is lower than at least one value of the sawtooth voltage - pulses for controlling the ignition system of the engine.

In an internal combustion engine electronic ignition system of the type responsive to each of a series of alternating current timing signals of an amplitude directly proportional to engine speed that are induced in the output coil of an electrical generator assembly having at least a rotor member rotated in timed relationship with the engine, the timing signals are overriden by the output signal of a circuit combination that is responsive to a potential level of a predetermined magnitude across the electrical generator assembly output coil to provide an engine speed ignition spark advance within increasing engine speeds greater than a selected value that substantially follows a desired engine speed ignition spark advance curve.