Abstract: A fuel injector control system and method provides precise fuel injection timing while eliminating the need for a voltage regulator by estimating or predicting ramp times between voltage application and actual fuel injection. In one embodiment, an estimated ramp time injection is calculated from a measured voltage and is used to delay or advance application of the voltage on the coil so that the load current reaches a desired current level at a desired injection start time. In another embodiment, an actual ramp time for a given injection is measured and used to predict future ramp times. A current regulator prevents excessive emissions from being generated when controlling the load current.

Abstract: A fuel injector control system and method provides precise fuel injection timing while eliminating the need for a voltage regulator by estimating or predicting ramp times between voltage application and actual fuel injection. In one embodiment, an estimated ramp time injection is calculated from a measured voltage and is used to delay or advance application of the voltage on the coil so that the load current reaches a desired current level at a desired injection start time. In another embodiment, an actual ramp time for a given injection is measured and used to predict future ramp times. A current regulator prevents excessive emissions from being generated when controlling the load current.

Abstract: A fuel injector control system and method provides precise fuel injection timing while eliminating the need for a voltage regulator by estimating or predicting ramp times between voltage application and actual fuel injection. In one embodiment, an estimated ramp time injection is calculated from a measured voltage and is used to delay or advance application of the voltage on the coil so that the load current reaches a desired current level at a desired injection start time. In another embodiment, an actual ramp time for a given injection is measured and used to predict future ramp times. A current regulator prevents excessive emissions from being generated when controlling the load current.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed by which identification codes for a plurality of systems are utilized to provide a control with an indication of a particular characteristic of the particular system. The characteristic is assigned with an identifying variable, in a disclosed embodiment voltage, which increases. As this variable increases, possible errors due to system features will also increase. Thus, the possibility of the control misreading an identification code due to the error increases. To address this increasing possibility, the distance between adjacent variables also increases as the variables themselves increase. In a preferred embodiment the distance is increased proportionally.

Abstract: A method for identifying particular characteristics of a physical system includes assigning codes information to the system based upon two distinct characteristics. The code increases in value, with increasing code numbers being assigned to combination of the characteristics in such a way that between any two adjacent code values, only one of the two characteristics change, and the increasing value only changes by one value level.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed by which identification codes for a plurality of systems are utilized to provide a control with an indication of a particular characteristic of the particular system. The characteristic is assigned with an identifying variable, in a disclosed embodiment voltage, which increases. As this variable increases, possible errors due to system features will also increase. Thus, the possibility of the control misreading an identification code due to the error increases. To address this increasing possibility, the distance between adjacent variables also increases as the variables themselves increase. In a preferred embodiment the distance is increased proportionally.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a plurality of fuel injectors (22), each of which may have a different performance characteristic. After the performance characteristics have been determined, an internal, energizable voltage or current source (28) is provided within the injector housing (23). Each time the vehicle ignition is turned on, a controller (26) queries each injector (22) to obtain a signal from the individual, internal, energizable voltage or current sources (28). The controller (26) then uses the output of the internal voltage or current source (28) as an indication of the performance characteristics of each injector (22). The controller then customizes the power signal supplied to each injector to accommodate for different performance characteristics.

Abstract: A fuel injector control system and method provides precise fuel injection timing while eliminating the need for a voltage regulator by estimating or predicting ramp times between voltage application and actual fuel injection. In one embodiment, an estimated ramp time injection is calculated from a measured voltage and is used to delay or advance application of the voltage on the coil so that the load current reaches a desired current level at a desired injection start time. In another embodiment, an actual ramp time for a given injection is measured and used to predict future ramp times. A current regulator prevents excessive emissions from being generated when controlling the load current.

Abstract: A current regulator that controls a load current by selectively connecting the load to a high voltage source and a low voltage source. The switching is triggered by a command pulse. By switching between the high voltage source and the low voltage source, the regulator controls load current without generating emissions. The low voltage source also maintains the load current at a selected level without requiring switching.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Abstract: A fuel injector coil control circuit includes high side and low side gates. The current through the coil is increased while being monitored by low side shunt circuitry. The current continues to increase until a predetermined value is reached. When the predetermined value is reached, the low side gate is switched off and the current begins to decay. The off time of the low side gate is controlled for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time elapses, the low side gate is switched back on, causing the current to rise again toward the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed by which identification codes for a plurality of systems are utilized to provide a control with an indication of a particular characteristic of the particular system. The characteristic is assigned with an identifying variable, in a disclosed embodiment voltage, which increases. As this variable increases, possible errors due to system features will also increase. Thus, the possibility of the control misreading an identification code due to the error increases. To address this increasing possibility, the distance between adjacent variables also increases as the variables themselves increase. In a preferred embodiment the distance is increased proportionally.

Abstract: A method for identifying particular characteristics of a fuel injection system places a characterization resistor into a power circuit for each fuel injector. The resistance is selected once the characteristics of the fuel injector have been tested after assembly. The control for the fuel injector is able to query the particular fuel injector and determine its characteristics based upon a voltage which has been influenced by the characterization resistance. In another feature of this invention, coded information, such as the characterization resistance, is assigned to a number of possible combinations of characteristics in a spiral fashion if the characteristics were stored in a two dimensional array.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply management system includes a load absorbing device (28, 32, 34) that absorbs an excess voltage from the vehicle battery (24). Under circumstances, such as at vehicle shutdown when an excess voltage spike occurs at the battery, the load absorbing device is selectively coupled to the battery to absorb the excess voltage and protect other electronic components on the vehicle. In one example, a comparator (44) compares the voltage on the battery (24) to a preselected threshold value (46). Whenever the battery voltage exceeds the threshold, the inventive arrangement selectively couples a load absorbing device, such as a plurality of glow plugs (28), heating elements within a vehicle seat (32) or a window defrost unit (34), for example, to the vehicle battery (24) to absorb the excess voltage.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a plurality of fuel injectors (22), each of which may have a different performance characteristic. After the performance characteristics have been determined, an internal, energizable voltage or current source (28) is provided within the injector housing (23). Each time the vehicle ignition is turned on, a controller (26) queries each injector (22) to obtain a signal from the individual, internal, energizable voltage or current sources (28). The controller (26) then uses the output of the internal voltage or current source (28) as an indication of the performance characteristics of each injector (22). The controller then customizes the power signal supplied to each injector to accommodate for different performance characteristics.

Abstract: A fuel injector control circuit reduces the number of gates required by arranging high side and low side gates in a matrix. Each coil is selectively activated by activating a unique pair of a high side gate and a low side gate, thus reducing the total number of gates required.