Injector Solenoid Drive Patents (Class 123/490)
  • Patent number: 11946430
    Abstract: Controlling a fuel injector in a fuel system for an engine includes switching between a boosted voltage power supply and a lower voltage power supply during energizing a solenoid actuator in a fuel injector, and generating a solenoid energizing waveform including a pull-in tier produced by a boosted voltage incipient current, a boosted voltage second current, and a lower voltage later current, based on the switching between a boosted voltage power supply and a lower voltage power supply. Controlling a fuel injector further includes detecting an arrival timing of the valve based on a property of the lower voltage later current, and electronically trimming the fuel injector based on the detecting an arrival timing. Related control system logic is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B Juchems, Daniel Reese Puckett
  • Patent number: 11939932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a static flow rate of a piezo-electric injector of an injection system. The piezo-electric injector includes a needle and a piezo-electric actuator designed to control a valve of the injector. The injection system includes an electric generator designed to send electric current pulses to the piezo-electric actuator of the injector, and a voltage sensor designed to measure voltage values at the terminals of the piezo-electric actuator. The method includes the following steps: sending during a phase of closure of the needle of an electric current pulse such that the piezo-electric actuator is positioned in contact with the valve, without giving rise to the opening thereof; measurement of a plurality of voltage values of the piezo-electric actuator; and determining a static flow rate of the piezo-electric injector on the basis of a plurality of voltage values measured of the piezo-electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Quentin Dussardier, Morgan Drouyer, Edouard Gambier
  • Patent number: 11885275
    Abstract: In abnormality determination of determining whether fuel injection has been executed normally, making an erroneous determination is prevented. A fuel injection control device 127 that controls a plurality of fuel injection valves each having a coil for energization includes a drive state detection unit 211 that detects a drive state of a fuel injection valve, from an energization current or an applied voltage of the coil of the fuel injection valve, an injection abnormality detection unit 213 that detects an injection abnormality of the fuel injection valve by comparing a fuel injection instruction with the drive state of the fuel injection valve, and an injection abnormality detection execution determining unit 212 that based on a state of an internal combustion engine, determines whether or not to permit execution of injection abnormality detection by the injection abnormality detection unit 213.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11795886
    Abstract: Operating an engine system and fuel system includes energizing a solenoid actuator for a spill valve in a fuel injector in a first engine cycle via a standard waveform to inject a shot of fuel. Operating an engine system and fuel system further includes determining suitability for reduced energy operating of the fuel system, and energizing the solenoid actuator via a reduced energy waveform based on the determining suitability so as to inject one or more shots of fuel in a second engine cycle. The operating methodology and control logic can extend an engine speed range for multi-shot fuel injection in an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel Reese Puckett, Mitchell B. Juchems
  • Patent number: 11674470
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of one or more fuel injectors includes a microcontroller, a pre-driver unit, and a power unit. The system is connectable to an electrically actuated fuel injector via at least two wires from the power unit, wherein the pre-driver unit is located between the microcontroller and the power stage, and wherein the microcontroller unit is adapted to send data to the pre-driver unit. The pre-driver unit is adapted to receive the data and control the power stage dependent on the data such that the power stage is adapted to output a corresponding signal along the wires to the fuel injector. The data includes both injector activation pulse data and other auxiliary data for the injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMATIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Felix Mandoux, John Mark Dikeman
  • Patent number: 11604483
    Abstract: The present invention maintains the accuracy of a reference current used in a functional circuit. Disclosed is a current generator circuit including a functional circuit and a diagnostic circuit. The functional circuit uses a reference current. The diagnostic circuit diagnoses the reference current in accordance with a comparison result obtained from comparison between the period of a periodic signal generated based on the reference current and the period of a reference clock inputted from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Komoriyama, Minoru Migita, Yoichiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11591982
    Abstract: A first switch designates one of energization instruction signals to designate a valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing detection unit monitors downstream voltages of the fuel injection valves to detect occurrence of an inflection point in change of the downstream voltages and detects valve closing. A second switch designates one of the downstream voltages and designates the valve closing detection cylinder. A stage number designation unit designates a valve closing detection stage number. A valve closing time measuring unit measures a valve closing time, which is from a switching timing at which the energization instruction signal is switched from ON to OFF to a valve closing detection timing of the valve closing, for injection of the valve closing detection stage number of the valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing time learning unit learns the valve closing time measured by the valve closing time measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11532449
    Abstract: A pulse control device 10 comprises: a switch output unit 100 which generates a pulse output voltage Vo from a direct-current input voltage Vi and supplies the pulse output voltage Vo to a load (such as a relay coil 21 of a mechanical relay 20); a low-pass filter unit 300 which receives a feedback input of the pulse output voltage Vo and generates a feedback voltage Vfb; and an output feedback control unit 200 which receives an input of the feedback voltage Vfb and controls the switch output unit 100 so that an average value of the pulse output voltage Vo becomes constant. The low-pass filter unit 300 may be configured without a coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Oshita, Tetsuo Tateishi, Yosuke Fukumoto, Yuhei Yamaguchi, Yoju Imamura, Genki Tsuruyama
  • Patent number: 11486324
    Abstract: A drive circuit is controlled when power is interrupted. When power is turned off, a main power supply is switched to a sub-power supply, and a residual charge of a step-up circuit is lowered to a drive voltage of a drive circuit using a step-down circuit is used as the sub-power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Mifune, Koichi Tsukio
  • Patent number: 11466653
    Abstract: A control device controls a drive current that flows through a drive coil of a fuel injection valve that is electromagnetically driven. A control device includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a supply fuel pressure, which is a pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel injection valve, is higher than a determination pressure at which the fuel pressure is determined abnormally high; a first control unit configured to control the drive current in a first mode when the determination unit determines that the supply fuel pressure is not higher than the determination pressure; and a second control unit configured to control the drive current in a second mode that facilitates maintaining of the fuel injection valve in an open state more than in the first mode when the determination unit determines that the supply fuel pressure is higher than the determination pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Yanoto
  • Patent number: 11466650
    Abstract: This fuel includes: a first switching element disposed between a booster circuit boosting a battery power and one end of a solenoid; a second switching element disposed between a battery and one end of the solenoid; a third switching element disposed between the other end of the solenoid and a ground; a fourth switching element disposed between one end of the solenoid and a ground; and a control unit configured to control open/closed states of the first switching element, the second switching element, the third switching element, and the fourth switching element. The control unit is configured to open the fourth switching element during a valve closing detection period of detecting closing of a fuel injection valve and to detect the closing of the fuel injection valve on the basis of a change in voltage of the other end of the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura, Keisuke Kuroda, Takashi Ryu
  • Patent number: 11448174
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve driving device which drives a fuel injection valve having a solenoid coil, includes: a regenerative switching element disposed between a first end portion of the solenoid coil and the ground; and a control unit configured to control the regenerative switching element to be in an ON state or an OFF state, wherein the control unit includes: a voltage detection unit configured to detect a voltage of the first end portion of the solenoid coil; and an abnormality detection unit configured to detect an abnormality of the regenerative switching element on the basis of the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Motoaki Kato, Atsushi Ogawa, Kengo Nomura, Keisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11448154
    Abstract: An injection control device of capable of correcting an energization time even in an S/N non-guaranteeable situation includes: an energization controller calculating an energization time correction amount based on an area correction performed by an energization time correction amount calculator regarding electric current flowing in a fuel injection valve when the fuel injection valve is electrically driven for injecting fuel; and an energization instruction time calculator correcting an energization instruction time for fuel injection in a next cycle and thereafter by using the energization instruction time correction amounts in or before a current cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Suganuma, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11415093
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes: a valve body having a rod connected to a valve part; a movable core fitted onto the rod slidably between valve-open side and valve-closed side stoppers; a fixed core having an attracting face opposing the movable core; a valve spring urging the valve body in a valve-closing direction; and an auxiliary spring exhibiting a spring force making the movable core abut against the valve-closed side stopper when a coil is unenergized. A surface, opposing the movable core, of the valve-closed side stopper includes: an annular first curved face part curved convexly toward the movable core and capable of abutting thereagainst; and first and second taper faces continuous respectively to inner and outer peripheral sides of the first curved face part and gradually separated from the movable core in going radially inward and outward, respectively, from the first curved face part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Nabeshima, Kento Yoshida, Shou Kanda
  • Patent number: 11408364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regulating the output voltage of a DC-to-DC voltage converter of a motor vehicle engine control computer. The method includes a step of the microcontroller simultaneously controlling a control module, so that the control module drives at least one injector of the vehicle engine, and a converter, so that the converter generates its own output voltage by setting the strength of the drive current to its maximum in what is called a “forced” mode corresponding to a step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Stéphane Saint-Macary
  • Patent number: 11391233
    Abstract: Method for controlling a fuel injector with a solenoid actuating a needle opening the injector and a spring returning the needle to the closed position. A controller, powering the solenoid, provides a first potential connected to a first transistor's drain, the source of the first transistor connected to the first diode's anode, the cathode of the first diode connected to a second diode's cathode, to a first connector of the solenoid and to the source of a second transistor. The drain of a second transistor is connected to a second potential, the second diode's anode being connected to ground, the second potential being connected to ground via a capacitance and to the cathode of a third diode, the third diode's anode being connected to a second connector of the solenoid and to the drain of a third transistor, the source of the third transistor being connected to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Thierry Bavois
  • Patent number: 11394289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a module for driving a transistor of a DC-DC voltage converter allowing at least one fuel injector of a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine to be controlled. The method includes a step of measuring the amplitude of the current flowing through that of the first switch or of the second switch that is in the on state, a step of determining the electric charge transported by the current, and a step of interrupting the operation of the drive module when the determined electric charge is higher than a preset maximum electric-charge threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Cedrick Biellmann, Thierry Bavois
  • Patent number: 11371464
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a condition of a fuel injector of an engine. In one example, a method for an engine includes injecting a first pulse of fuel as a first pilot injection into a first subset of cylinders of a plurality of engine cylinders, where the first pilot injection precedes a primary injection of fuel into the first subset of cylinders by a duration; correlating a first response in an engine operating parameter to the first pilot injection; and adjusting the primary injection of fuel into the first subset of cylinders based on the first response. In one example, the first pilot injection precedes the primary injection by a predefined short duration and the primary injection of fuel is adjusted within a predefined or preset upper limit and lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Pradheepram Ottikkutti, Shailesh Nair
  • Patent number: 11300068
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector, and a fueling control unit electrically connected to a solenoid in the fuel injector. The fueling control unit energizes the solenoid with a lift current pulse to lift an armature, then energizes the solenoid with a separate capture current pulse to capture the armature at a lifted position. The solenoid is deenergized a dwell time while the armature is in flight toward the lifted position. Armature lifting speed is retarded based on the deenergizing of the solenoid so as to limit bouncing of a valve pin in the fuel injector against a stop. The techniques assist in linearizing a fuel delivery curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Charles Hill, Zhenyu Li
  • Patent number: 11261998
    Abstract: A method for switching over a solenoid valve having a movable valve body between a first position and a second position, wherein the method comprises at least the following method steps: a) adjusting a switching current to a pre-energization current intensity, in which the valve body remains in the present position, for a first time interval, and b) adjusting the switching current to a first switchover current intensity, which introduces a switchover movement of the valve body, for a second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Bodenschatz, Erich Ludewig, Dirk Foerch, Steffen Benzler
  • Patent number: 11215155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection valve for the intermittent injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having a housing which has a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber. In addition, the fuel injection valve has a control chamber which is divided by means of a control valve into a first and a second control chamber. The control valve in turn has a valve guide and a valve insert, wherein an outflow throttle which connects the first control chamber to the second control chamber is arranged in the valve guide. According to the invention, the connection which is formed by way of the outflow throttle between the first control chamber and the second control chamber can be interrupted temporarily in a targeted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Liebherr-Components Deggendorf GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Pirkl, Razvan-Sorin Stinghe, Markus Hoellbacher, Alexander Preis, Michael Schmid
  • Patent number: 11181067
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a fuel injection quantity command value output unit that outputs a command value for a fuel injection quantity of a fuel injection valve; and a controller that executes current control on the fuel injection valve. The controller executes current area correction by calculating an area correction amount for an energization time to cause an integrated current value of an energization current profile and the integrated current value of a current to be equal to each other. Correction control of the current area correction is changed based on a detection signal of a cooling water temperature of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kato, Yasumasa Ishikawa, Yohei Suganuma, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11181066
    Abstract: An injection controller includes a control IC outputting an energization instruction signal to apply a peak current to a fuel injection valve (i.e., an instruction TQ), and a current monitor unit detecting an electric current flowing in the fuel injection valve. The control IC corrects an output OFF time of the energization instruction signal based on a difference between (i) an integrated current of an ideal current profile which serves as a target current before reaching the peak current and (ii) an integrated current of an energization current in the fuel injection valve detected by the current monitor unit (i.e., an effective TQ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Inaba, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Katsuya Minamijima
  • Patent number: 11143130
    Abstract: An injection controller has a voltage applicator that applies a voltage to a driving coil of an injection valve. After a voltage is applied to the driving coil with a peak current for opening the injection valve, the voltage applicator applies a power supply voltage to the driving coil in an ON-OFF manner, to supply the driving coil with a less-than-peak current. A comparator detects whether a terminal voltage at a terminal of the coil is less than a predetermined threshold voltage. Upon detecting that the terminal voltage is less than the threshold voltage, a discharge switch applies a boosted voltage to the driving coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshio Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11118525
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device includes an injection valve drive circuit that drives a plurality of injection valves, a booster circuit that generates a boosted voltage supplied to the injection valve drive circuit; and a fuel pump drive circuit that drives a fuel pump for compressing fuel of an internal combustion engine. The fuel pump drive circuit is configured to, when driving the fuel pump, regenerate energy into the booster circuit. The injection valve drive circuit is configured to, during a non-drive period of the injection valves or during a period in which the fuel pump is intermittently driven continuously, perform a non-valve opening energization on at least one of the plurality of injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11111892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sensing the state of an injector, comprising an injector for injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber, a switch, which is designed to change the switching state thereof in accordance with the state of the injector, and an evaluating unit for sensing the switching state of the switch, wherein a first switch contact of the switch is connected to an electrical input line of the injector, a second switch contact of the switch is connected to ground, and the evaluating unit is designed to carry out a first current measurement for a current flowing into the injector and into the switch and a second current measurement for the current flowing into the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS DEGGENDORF GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Schoefbaenker, Richard Pirkl, Lorand D'Ouvenou
  • Patent number: 11098669
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device that can ensure diagnosis of whether a fuel injection cut function normally works and that further permits startup of an internal combustion engine in a case in which the fuel injection cut function normally works is provided. To attain the internal combustion engine control system, the startup of the internal combustion engine is prohibited when carrying of a diagnostic monitoring current based on a diagnostic drive signal related to each of fuel injection valves to each of fuel injection valves in a case of transmitting a drive prohibition signal related to each of fuel injection valves to a fuel injection valve drive circuit before the startup of the internal combustion engine and transmitting the diagnostic drive signal related to each of fuel injection valves to the fuel injection valve drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Iizuka, Osamu Mukaihara, Koichi Tsukio, Takanori Umeki
  • Patent number: 11047328
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device includes: a state detection unit configured to detect an on-state or an off-state of a first switch and a second switch forming a boosting circuit; a boosting control unit configured to control a boosting operation, by performing a synchronous rectification control on switching of the first switch and the second switch, depending on the state of the first switch or the second switch detected by the state detection unit; and a drive circuit configured to drive an electromagnetic valve by supplying a voltage boosted by the boosting operation to the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura
  • Patent number: 11015546
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device includes: a state detection unit configured to detect an on-state or an off-state of a first switch and a second switch forming a boosting circuit; a boosting control unit configured to control a boosting operation, by performing a synchronous rectification control on switching of the first switch and the second switch, depending on the state of the first switch or the second switch detected by the state detection unit; and a drive circuit configured to drive an electromagnetic valve by supplying a voltage boosted by the boosting operation to the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura
  • Patent number: 10989134
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system for a vehicle is provided. In particular, the fuel injection system includes an injection nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle orifice and a nozzle needle movable in the nozzle body. The method including: measuring an actual injection timing of the injection nozzle during injection based on an electrical signal generated by the nozzle needle through an electric contact with the nozzle body so that the electrical signal identifies an open state and a closed state of the injection nozzle; calculating a deviation of the actual injection timing from a scheduled injection timing of the fuel injection system; and controlling the injection nozzle by adjusting injection parameters of the injection nozzle based on the evaluated deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roland Steininger, Viktor Boschmann
  • Patent number: 10961963
    Abstract: An injection control device controls a drive of a solenoid in a high pressure pump for pressurizing fuel to an internal combustion engine. The injection control device includes a transistor on an upstream side of a power supply path from a direct current power supply line to the solenoid and a transistor provided on a downstream side of the power supply path. The injection control device further includes a diode at a position between an upstream terminal of the solenoid and ground, a transistor arranged in parallel with the diode, and a drive controller. The drive controller drives the solenoid to an open position by switching ON the transistors on the upstream and downstream sides of the power supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Inaba, Noboru Nagase, Taichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10957474
    Abstract: An injection control device controls a solenoid in a fuel injection valve. The injection control device includes a transistor on an upstream side of a first power supply path to the solenoid, and a transistor on an upstream side of a second power supply path to the solenoid. The injection control device has another transistor with a body diode arranged in parallel at a position between an upstream terminal of the solenoid and ground. The injection control device also includes a transistor on the downstream side of the first and second power supply paths. A drive controller in the injection control device drives the solenoid to an open position by switching ON the transistor on the downstream side and one of the transistors on the upstream side power supply paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Inaba, Noboru Nagase, Taichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10900435
    Abstract: In a drive unit of a fuel injection device, an electric current is supplied to the fuel injection device by applying a high voltage to the fuel injection device from a high voltage source whose voltage is boosted to a voltage higher than a battery voltage at the time of opening a valve of the fuel injection device. Thereafter, the electric current supplied to the fuel injection device is lowered to a current value at which a valve element cannot be held in a valve open state by stopping the applying of the high voltage from the high voltage source. Thereafter, in a stage where a supply current is switched to a hold current, another high voltage is applied to the fuel injection device from the high voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Hideharu Ehara, Tohru Ishikawa, Takuya Mayuzumi, Kenji Hiraku
  • Patent number: 10900391
    Abstract: A valve controller and method for controlling a valve having a solenoid are disclosed, including receiving a least one input signal, detecting a first edge of the at least one signal and in response to the detection activating the valve. Activating the valve includes activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC.
    Inventor: Dirk Etzler
  • Patent number: 10895589
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for monitoring a reverse voltage is provided. The semiconductor device includes an intellectual property having an input node and an output node; a passive component connected between the output node and a potential; a monitoring circuit connected to the input node and the output node and powered by a driving power, the monitoring circuit monitoring a difference between an input level at the input node and an output level at the output node to detect a reverse voltage across the intellectual property. The driving power is provided by the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-han Choi, Tae-hwang Kong, Kwang-ho Kim, Sang-ho Kim, Se-Ki Kim, Jun-hyeok Yang, Sung-yong Lee, Yong-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10890167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a piston pump, which is driven by means of a coil (1) of an electromagnet, wherein a piston (2) of the piston pump can be moved against a restoring force by means of the electromagnet, wherein a voltage (U) is applied to the coil (1) during a switch-on duration such that a current (I) flows through the coil (1) and the piston (2) is accelerated, wherein two different quenching methods are used for the current (I) in the coil (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Nitsche, Thorsten Allgeier, Walter Maeurer
  • Patent number: 10889300
    Abstract: A method for controlling a sudden unintended acceleration due to misoperation of an engine in a power split type hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) system, the method including when a determination is made that a delta revolution per minute (RPM) of an engine is out of a predetermined criterion, determining that an operating point of the engine does not move along a profile defined according to a target operating point of the engine and the sudden unintended acceleration is possible. The delta RPM is a difference of value between a current RPM of the engine and a profile RPM of the engine required to move to the target operating point of the engine from a current operating point of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jin-Kuk Cho
  • Patent number: 10883434
    Abstract: An object is to suppress an inclination of a waveform indicating an injection quantity with respect to an injection pulse particularly when a lift amount of a valve body is small and an injection pulse width is short, thereby improving control accuracy of the injection quantity of a fuel injection device. Thus, a control device for controlling a fuel injection device, which includes a valve body, a solenoid, and a movable element to open the valve body, is provided with a control unit that controls a drive voltage or a drive current to be applied to the solenoid, in which the control unit controls the drive current such that the drive current to be supplied to the solenoid decreases from a maximum drive current after the maximum drive current is supplied to the solenoid and before the valve body starts to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Miyake, Akiyasu Miyamoto, Takatoshi Iizuka, Kiyotaka Ogura
  • Patent number: 10865697
    Abstract: A thermostat device for a motor vehicle cooling system includes a valve, a heat-sensitive component to induce opening of the valve when the temperature of the sensitive component exceeds a temperature threshold, and a heating module controlled by the sensitive component. The heating module delivers at most a maximum heating power. The heating module includes a regulating module to determine a gross useful voltage based on a measured temperature and of a temperature setpoint, and a correcting module including an electrical resistor connected to an electrode. The correcting module controls the heating module either to limit the heating power delivered by the heating module to a heating power strictly lower than the maximum heating power and sufficient to induce complete opening of the valve, or so that the heating module delivers non-zero heating power that is not sufficient to induce opening of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Christophe Piard, Kamal Zaoui, Vincent Santangeli, Christophe Viel, Axel Fortun
  • Patent number: 10837394
    Abstract: A fuel injection controller includes a discharge switch that turns ON/OFF energization of a first energization path from a boost power source of a second booster circuit when a second control IC energizes a second solenoid, a first detection element that detects a value that depends on an energization state of the discharge switch, a constant current switch that turns ON/OFF energization of a second energization path from a power source voltage that outputs a lower voltage than a boost power source voltage when the second control IC energizes the second solenoid, a second element that detects a value that depends on an energization state of the constant current switch, and an energization path controller that switches energization to the second solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Sanada
  • Patent number: 10808642
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device includes a valve closing detection unit (54) to detect a valve closing timing by using either of an electromotive force quantity detection mode and a timing detection mode, a selection unit (21) to select either of the electromotive force quantity detection mode and the timing detection mode for detecting the valve closing timing, and a correction unit (21) to calculate a correction coefficient for correcting a requested injection quantity so as to reduce the difference between an estimated injection quantity and the requested injection quantity, and the selection unit selects the electromotive force quantity detection mode regardless of the value of the requested injection quantity when the calculation of the correction coefficient is not completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satake, Eiji Murase, Tomohiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 10801461
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus performs energy input control in which energy is continuously inputted to an ignition coil to enable a spark discharge in a predetermined energy input period after interrupting a primary current by an ignition switch and generating a discharge of a spark plug by a secondary current. A combustion state determination circuit determines a combustion state by comparing a combustion pressure P detected by a combustion state detector. When the combustion pressure P is smaller than a second threshold Pth2, and there is room for improving the combustion state with respect to the present energy input condition, the energy input period IGW is increased or a target secondary current I2* is increased. By compensating the condition of the energy input control in accordance with the combustion state, a target combustion state can be achieved with just enough energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuomi Imanaka, Kaori Doi
  • Patent number: 10781936
    Abstract: A valve has a valve housing in which a closure element having at least one sleeve section is movable along its sleeve longitudinal axis by an actuator to open and close a fluid connection between a fluid inlet and outlet. The actuator has stationary and movable parts relative to the valve housing. At least the movable parts and the closure element are arranged entirely within an enclosed fluid space between the fluid inlet and outlet. To close the fluid connection spaced first and second seal devices of a double-sealed seat are in sealing contact with equally-spaced first and second counter-seal devices on the valve housing along first and second closed seating lines, respectively. With regard to the at least one double-seal seat, the ratio between first and second areas enclosed by first and second sealing lines in projection along the sleeve longitudinal axis, respectively, is between 6/10 and 10/6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Eugen Seitz AG
    Inventors: Marcel Ramsperger, Guenter Morawietz
  • Patent number: 10778210
    Abstract: A load driving device supplies power to drive a solenoid valve from a high-voltage power source via a discharge MOSFET or from a direct current power source via a constant-current MOSFET. A return current flows through a reflux MOSFET. A control circuit determines an operation state of the reflux MOSFET by detecting a drain voltage of the reflux MOSFET as a detection voltage. When the reflux MOSFET does not turn ON due to a gate-ground fault, the return current flows through a parasitic diode and the control circuit can determine such a fault based on the detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuto Kamiya, Shohei Fujita
  • Patent number: 10774772
    Abstract: In view of the foregoing issues, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that reduces the constraints of heat generation and charging time of a booster circuit, and decreases favorably the fuel consumption and exhaust emission of an engine. A vehicle control device installed in a vehicle, the device includes: a battery; a high-voltage battery that has a voltage higher than a voltage of the battery; and a fuel injection device that injects fuel into an internal combustion engine, wherein the vehicle control device includes a control unit that determines whether to supply a drive current to the fuel injection device by the battery or supply a drive current to the fuel injection device by the high-voltage battery, and controls the fuel injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shirou Yamaoka, Ryo Kusakabe, Kiyotaka Ogura
  • Patent number: 10767579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for operating a solenoid valve (1) for metering a fuel (2) in a fuel injection system (3). The solenoid valve can be actuated against a restoring force (12) by an electromagnet (11), wherein •the time curve l(t) of the current I flowing through the electromagnet (11) and/or the time curve U(t) of the voltage U applied to the electromagnet (11) are detected during at least one opening process of the solenoid valve (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Claudia Gasselsdorfer, Peter Christiner
  • Patent number: 10746120
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include a method for operating a diesel-common-rail piezo-operated servo injector comprising: partially charging the piezo-actuator from a non-charged state at 0 V (method a); partially discharging the piezo-actuator from an already charged state to a remaining limited charge (method b); measuring the piezo-voltage with both methods and comparing the results; when the comparison demonstrates correspondence within a predefined threshold, using method b in ranges in which method a cannot be carried out; and when the comparison does not demonstrate correspondence within the predefined threshold, using method a without using method b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Vincent Dian, Matthias Scheid
  • Patent number: 10746126
    Abstract: A method for actuating a fuel injector having a magnetic coil drive for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The fuel injector has a first terminal and a second terminal, where the first terminal is connectable via a switch element to ground and the second terminal is connected to ground. The method includes the following: actuating the switch element to connect the first terminal to ground, acquiring a time curve of the current strength of a current flowing through the magnetic coil drive, and applying a voltage pulse to the magnetic coil drive to initiate an opening procedure of the fuel injection. A duration of the voltage pulse is established as a function of the acquired time curve of the current strength. Furthermore, an engine controller and a computer program are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Denk
  • Patent number: 10742024
    Abstract: An electrical system includes an input node electrically connectable to a power supply. The system includes a plurality of voltage suppressors, with at least one of the voltage suppressors electrically connected to the input node. A voltage selection switch is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of voltage suppressors. A controller in communication with the switch may selectively operate the switch based on a nominal operating voltage at the input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Ronald Strayer, Daniel William Shafer
  • Patent number: 10731595
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device includes a reference interval calculation section that calculates a reference interval between an end time of a decrease interval where the pressure decreases as a fuel injection rate increases and a start time of an increase interval where the pressure increases as the fuel injection rate decreases on a pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor, an integration interval setting section that sets, in the reference interval, an integration interval where an influence of a disturbance on the fuel pressure decrease due to a target injection is suppressible, and a decrease amount calculation section that calculates a corresponding pressure decrease amount, which is a fuel pressure decrease amount corresponding to a maximum injection rate of fuel of the target injection, based on an integral value obtained by integrating the fuel pressure decrease amount due to the target injection in the integration interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ko Komatsu