Abstract: A method for monitoring a pressure sensor in a direct injection system including at least one common rail, a high-pressure fuel pump, a hydraulic circuit connecting the high-pressure pump to the common rail, a passive pressure-limiting valve connected to the hydraulic circuit, configured to open once the pressure in the hydraulic circuit is greater than a threshold pressure, so as to discharge the fuel, including the steps of detecting the opening of the pressure-limiting valve, measuring the pressure PMES corresponding to the time of opening of the pressure-limiting valve and comparing the measured pressure PMES to the threshold pressure P1 in order to detect a drift in the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for operating a high-pressure pump comprising: driving a piston arranged in a compression chamber with a motor shaft; during movement of the piston toward the top dead center, closing the inlet valve so the fluid is then delivered by the piston through an outlet valve; applying a coil current to an electromagnet used to close the inlet valve during and/or after overshooting the top dead center; detecting a start time at which the coil current, on account of starting of an opening movement of the inlet valve, fulfills a predetermined change criterion; labelling a dead center rotation position of the motor shaft at which the piston is at the top dead center based at least in part on the ascertained start time; and adjusting operation of the pump based on the identified dead center rotation position.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for diagnosis of a high-pressure sensor of a motor vehicle comprising: measuring a pressure with the high-pressure sensor; feeding the measured pressure to a control unit; evaluating the measured pressure with the control unit and determining a control signal for an amount of fuel to be injected; checking whether a first difference between two successive values of the pressure measurement signal is greater than a calculated maximum difference value; checking whether a second difference between a minimum pressure measurement signal measured within a time segment and a maximum pressure measurement signal measured within the time segment is less than an expected change in the pressure measurement signal; and checking whether a measured pressure gradient is smaller than an expected pressure gradient.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for operating a high-pressure pump comprising: driving a piston arranged in a compression chamber with a motor shaft; during movement of the piston toward the top dead center, closing the inlet valve so the fluid is then delivered by the piston through an outlet valve; applying a coil current to an electromagnet used to close the inlet valve during and/or after overshooting the top dead center; detecting a start time at which the coil current, on account of starting of an opening movement of the inlet valve, fulfills a predetermined change criterion; labelling a dead center rotation position of the motor shaft at which the piston is at the top dead center based at least in part on the ascertained start time; and adjusting operation of the pump based on the identified dead center rotation position.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for diagnosis of a high-pressure sensor of a motor vehicle comprising: measuring a pressure with the high-pressure sensor; feeding the measured pressure to a control unit; evaluating the measured pressure with the control unit and determining a control signal for an amount of fuel to be injected; checking whether a first difference between two successive values of the pressure measurement signal is greater than a calculated maximum difference value; checking whether a second difference between a minimum pressure measurement signal measured within a time segment and a maximum pressure measurement signal measured within the time segment is less than an expected change in the pressure measurement signal; and checking whether a measured pressure gradient is smaller than an expected pressure gradient.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for checking a calibration of a pressure sensor comprising: moving a piston toward a TDC in successive cycles; while the piston moves toward TDC, closing an inlet valve thereby adjusting a setpoint value of a fluid pressure; measuring the fluid pressure with the pressure sensor arranged downstream of the outlet valve; applying a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed; while the piston moves away from TDC, detecting an opening position of the inlet valve on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins; over multiple pump cycles, changing the setpoint value of the fluid pressure by a predetermined difference; checking whether the change in opening position satisfies a predetermined correspondence criterion; and if the criterion is met, generating a fault signal.

Abstract: An example embodiment relates to a method for switching a current in an electromagnet of a switchable solenoid valve, wherein, in successive switching cycles, the current is in each case switched on in order to close the valve against a force of a spring, and thereby the current is generated by electrical connection of the electromagnet to a voltage source. The example embodiment makes provision for the current in the electromagnet to be generated with a current direction opposite to the respective previous switching cycle in at least two successive switching cycles in a switched operation of the valve.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a pressure sensor in a direct injection system including at least one common rail, a high-pressure fuel pump, a hydraulic circuit connecting the high-pressure pump to the common rail, a passive pressure-limiting valve connected to the hydraulic circuit, configured to open once the pressure in the hydraulic circuit is greater than a threshold pressure, so as to discharge the fuel, including the steps of detecting the opening of the pressure-limiting valve, measuring the pressure PMES corresponding to the time of opening of the pressure-limiting valve and comparing the measured pressure PMES to the threshold pressure P1 in order to detect a drift in the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for controlling a pressure dissipation valve comprising a closure element, a spring applying a spring force urging the closure element toward the closed position, and an electromagnetic actuator responding to an applied voltage to urge the closure element to an open position. The method may include: applying a constant voltage until the closure element begins motion counter to the spring force; immediately ending the voltage upon the beginning of motion; thereafter, applying a pulsed voltage to the actuator to induce a substantially constant holding-open current intensity; maintaining the pulsed voltage for a predetermined duration to hold the closure element open; and interrupting the application of voltage after the predetermined duration, wherein the closure element moves into the closed position as a result of the spring force.

Abstract: A method for controlling a digital high-pressure pump, the control method including the following consecutive steps when the internal combustion engine does not manage to start during the starting procedure: checking the external parameters of the internal combustion engine; measuring a physical parameter at the high-pressure output, applying an electrical detachment control signal as a replacement for the electrical control signal to the high-pressure pump during the starting procedure when the physical parameter measured at the high-pressure output is less than or equal to a reference value, and stopping the starting procedure after a given time when the physical parameter measured at the high-pressure output is greater than the reference value.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method comprising: moving a piston toward TDC in successive pump cycles; during the movement, closing an inlet valve by applying current to an electromagnet; generating a pressure signal downstream of the outlet; applying a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed; while the piston moves away from TDC, detecting an opening position at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current; checking whether a value sequence of the ascertained opening positions over multiple pump cycles satisfies a predetermined discrepancy criterion with regard to the sensor signal; and if the discrepancy criterion is satisfied, generating a fault signal relating to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for adjusting an initial attenuation current for an injection valve comprising: moving a piston to a TDC; while moving the piston, closing an inlet valve; expelling the fluid; moving the piston away from TDC and applying an attenuation current to an electromagnet with the inlet valve still closed; switching a source for the attenuation current off; detecting an induction pulse resulting from an opening movement of the inlet valve by monitoring a current intensity signal of a subsequent decay in the current; adjusting a current intensity over a plurality of pump cycles to a current intensity level; checking for each current intensity level whether a time profile of the induction pulse satisfies a predetermined detention criterion; and when the detention criterion is satisfied, adjusting the current intensity level for future pump cycles to a lower current intensity level than the most recent level.

Abstract: A method for controlling a digital high-pressure pump, the control method including the following consecutive steps when the internal combustion engine does not manage to start during the starting procedure: checking the external parameters of the internal combustion engine; measuring a physical parameter at the high-pressure output, applying an electrical detachment control signal as a replacement for the electrical control signal to the high-pressure pump during the starting procedure when the physical parameter measured at the high-pressure output is less than or equal to a reference value, and stopping the starting procedure after a given time when the physical parameter measured at the high-pressure output is greater than the reference value.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method comprising: moving a piston toward TDC in successive pump cycles; during the movement, closing an inlet valve by applying current to an electromagnet; generating a pressure signal downstream of the outlet; applying a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed; while the piston moves away from TDC, detecting an opening position at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current; checking whether a value sequence of the ascertained opening positions over multiple pump cycles satisfies a predetermined discrepancy criterion with regard to the sensor signal; and if the discrepancy criterion is satisfied, generating a fault signal relating to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for checking a calibration of a pressure sensor comprising: moving a piston toward a TDC in successive cycles; while the piston moves toward TDC, closing an inlet valve thereby adjusting a setpoint value of a fluid pressure; measuring the fluid pressure with the pressure sensor arranged downstream of the outlet valve; applying a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed; while the piston moves away from TDC, detecting an opening position of the inlet valve on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins; over multiple pump cycles, changing the setpoint value of the fluid pressure by a predetermined difference; checking whether the change in opening position satisfies a predetermined correspondence criterion; and if the criterion is met, generating a fault signal.

Abstract: An example embodiment relates to a method for switching a current in an electromagnet of a switchable solenoid valve, wherein, in successive switching cycles, the current is in each case switched on in order to close the valve against a force of a spring, and thereby the current is generated by electrical connection of the electromagnet to a voltage source. The example embodiment makes provision for the current in the electromagnet to be generated with a current direction opposite to the respective previous switching cycle in at least two successive switching cycles in a switched operation of the valve.

Abstract: An electrically driven solenoid coupled to a spring-operated valve, regulates pressure in an accumulator by opening when a predefined threshold pressure in a pressure accumulator is exceeded. The solenoid provides an assistive force to a spring-closed valve, reducing the amount of pressure required to open the valve responsive to the amount of current provided to the solenoid. The threshold pressure at which the valve opens is thus determined by the amount of current provided to the solenoid. Increasing the current decreases the threshold pressure; decreasing the current increases the threshold pressure.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for adjusting an initial attenuation current for an injection valve comprising: moving a piston to a TDC; while moving the piston, closing an inlet valve; expelling the fluid; moving the piston away from TDC and applying an attenuation current to an electromagnet with the inlet valve still closed; switching a source for the attenuation current off; detecting an induction pulse resulting from an opening movement of the inlet valve by monitoring a current intensity signal of a subsequent decay in the current; adjusting a current intensity over a plurality of pump cycles to a current intensity level; checking for each current intensity level whether a time profile of the induction pulse satisfies a predetermined detention criterion; and when the detention criterion is satisfied, adjusting the current intensity level for future pump cycles to a lower current intensity level than the most recent level.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for controlling a pressure dissipation valve comprising a closure element, a spring applying a spring force urging the closure element toward the closed position, and an electromagnetic actuator responding to an applied voltage to urge the closure element to an open position. The method may include: applying a constant voltage until the closure element begins motion counter to the spring force; immediately ending the voltage upon the beginning of motion; thereafter, applying a pulsed voltage to the actuator to induce a substantially constant holding-open current intensity; maintaining the pulsed voltage for a predetermined duration to hold the closure element open; and interrupting the application of voltage after the predetermined duration, wherein the closure element moves into the closed position as a result of the spring force.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of electromechanics. The teachings may be applied to high-pressure valves, including methods for operating a valve and with devices which are used for activating the valves. Some embodiments include methods for operating a pressure reduction valve for an accumulator injection system, wherein the valve is driven, against a return spring, with an energizable coil and armature, between a closed position and an open position. The method may include: supplying the coil with a defined electrical signal to move the armature, sensing the current intensity profile over time, and determining a movement profile for the defined current signal, including an opening or closing time, based at least in part on the current intensity profile over time.