An ion current detection apparatus which can detect ion current with a high degree of accuracy regardless of the presence of voltage damped oscillation and which does not cause contamination of a spark plug.
A spark discharge current Isp generated upon spark discharge of a spark plug 10 flows through a charge diode 28, a capacitor 24, and a diode 22, which form a closed loop together with the spark plug 10 and a secondary winding L2 of an ignition coil 12 that constitutes an ignition apparatus 2. As a result, a Zener diode 26 connected in parallel to these components generates a Zener voltage Vz and thereby charges the capacitor 24. When a preset wait time has elapsed after the ignition timing for starting spark discharge, the discharge switch 30 short-circuits the opposite ends of the charge diode 28 to discharge the capacitor 24, so that a high voltage having a polarity opposite that in the case of spark discharge is applied to the spark plug. An ion current Iio flowing at this time is detected by use of a resistor 22 connected in parallel to the diode 22.