Abstract: An apparatus is provided for driving an injector injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The injector is provided with a piezoelectric element to be charged and discharged. The apparatus comprises a calculator and a charger. The calculator calculates a command value to charge the piezoelectric element. The calculator includes correcting means that corrects the command value based on information indicating either an operation of the piezoelectric element or an electric characteristic of the apparatus. The charger charges the piezoelectric element in response to the corrected command value to accumulate a desired amount of electric energy at the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: In fuel injection system having at least one fuel injector and a control unit for triggering the injector, each injector has a piezoelectric actuator, a nozzle element having at least one nozzle opening and at least one movable nozzle needle for selectively closing and opening the at least one nozzle opening, a hydraulic coupling element, which is connected between the piezoelectric actuator and the nozzle needle, and at least one stroke stop, against which the nozzle needle rests in its completely open and/or completely closed position. To be better able to ascertain when the stroke stop is reached in such injectors, the needle stroke stop is ascertained during an energization pause of the piezoelectric actuator by analyzing a voltage signal applied to the piezoelectric actuator. Oscillations of the voltage signal during the energization pause are preferably analyzed.

Abstract: A method for optimizing operation of an engine driven by an electronic or digital system incorporating at least one parameter or one law or one mapping for engine injection, combustion or post-treatment comprising analyzing fuel composition from at least one sensor located in a fuel circuit of an engine comprising a filling system, a fuel tank, a pump, a fuel filter, an engine fuel system and a return circuit to the fuel tank, and selecting or modifying the parameter, law or mapping for injection, combustion or post-treatment according to a result of the analysis, wherein the fuel composition analysis comprises, spectroscopic analysis of the molecular structure of the hydrocarbons composing the fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for measuring a normalized air-to-fuel ratio. A normalized air-to-fuel ratio is measured by providing an engine control module, providing a first wide-band oxygen sensor in fluid communication with an exhaust stream, adjusting the oxygen pumping current to achieve a stoichiometric balance, detecting the oxygen pumping current, converting the oxygen pumping current to an oxygen balance metric, and communicating the oxygen balance metric to the engine control module. In certain embodiments, the oxygen balance metric may be a volumetric oxygen percentage. In some embodiments, the present invention includes a first and second wide-band oxygen sensor upstream and downstream from an exhaust treatment module.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine can learn an alcohol concentration of fuel in a fuel tank according to air fuel ratio feedback control, and accurately calculate, even upon interruption of learning, an alcohol concentration in an injector by estimating an alcohol concentration change delay from the fuel tank to the injector. The alcohol concentration in the fuel tank is estimated based on an air fuel ratio correction amount calculated from an air fuel ratio detected. A delay behavior of an alcohol concentration change until the fuel in the fuel tank reaches the injector is estimated. The alcohol concentration of fuel supplied to the engine is calculated from the estimated alcohol concentration in the fuel tank and the estimated delay behavior. An alcohol concentration correction coefficient is calculated based on the alcohol concentration, and an amount of fuel supplied to the engine is corrected by the correction coefficient.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus is provided with a fuel injection nozzle, a crank angle detector, a timer, and a control computer. The crank angle detector outputs a pulse signal corresponding to each tooth portion of a signal rotor and a pulse signal corresponding to a tooth missing portion. The control computer sets, as a fuel injection timing, a point of time at which a predetermined standby time period has elapsed from a point of time at which a reference tooth portion is detected. The control computer recognizes a tooth missing zone based on the pulse signal corresponding to the tooth missing portion. The control computer determines whether the fuel injection timing is set in a specific section in the tooth missing zone. When the fuel injection timing is set in a section outside the specific section, the control computer sets, as the predetermined standby time period, a remaining time period shorter than one inter-signal time period.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a first valve member and a second valve member, an injection control chamber for fuel, and a set of nozzle outlets; wherein actuation of the second valve member controls the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber, and actuation of the first valve member is regulated by the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber; and wherein the fuel injector is arranged such that actuation of the second valve member establishes a fuel flow path between the injection control chamber and the set of nozzle outlets. The first valve member may be provided with a first valve bore within which the second valve member is received. An injection nozzle and a method of operating a fuel injector are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A fuel supply line enters an injector housing from a high pressure fuel source which can be hydraulically connected to a pressure chamber. A 3/2 directional control valve for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber has a valve piston which can be moved axially back and forth between a rest position and an injection position. The 3/2 directional control valve, by a first end face of the valve piston, which adjoins a hydraulic coupling chamber, is hydraulically coupled to and can be activated by a piezoelectric actuator. The 3/2 directional control has a ball element which is connected to a second end face of the valve piston and, in the rest position, can be moved against a first sealing edge and, in the injection position, can be moved against a second sealing edge.

Abstract: An arrangement with a piezoelectric actuator is disclosed, made up of a piezoelectric element with a multilayer construction of piezoelectric layers. The piezoelectric actuator is surrounded by an inner chamber at least surrounding the layers, which filled with a fluid insulation medium. The inner chamber is sealed from a fluid medium in an outer chamber an elastic sleeve which can change shape. The sleeve is sealed with sealing elements being provided at the axial ends thereof in the region of an actuator base and an actuator head. By a shape and/or positional change of the sealing elements, corresponding to the elasticity of the sleeve, a volume equalization in the inner chamber with the insulation medium is achieved.

Abstract: An electric circuit for triggering a piezoelectric element, in particular of a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle. Two transistors connected in series and triggerable using a clock pulse are provided, whose shared connecting point is coupled to the piezoelectric element and one of which is provided for discharging the piezoelectric element. In the event of an error, the transistor provided for discharging can be triggered using the clock pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for actuating at least one piezoelectric actuating drive (1) of an injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine, comprising a control device (6) which cyclically actuates a charging circuit and a discharging circuit (2, 3) of the piezoelectric actuating drive (1).

Abstract: In a method, a computer program and a control unit for operating an internal combustion engine having an injection system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, in the injection system fuel is conveyed into a fuel accumulator by a metering unit and a high-pressure pump. The pressure in the fuel accumulator is recorded and controlled by control of the metering unit with the aid of the control unit. In order to consider also possible manufacturing tolerances of individual metering units in the control of the pressure in the fuel accumulator of such a system, which is already known as such, and thereby make the control more precise, an individual characteristic curve is provided for the actually used metering unit be ascertained and taken into account in the pressure regulation.

Abstract: An engine control module determining an alcohol compensated fuel consumption value includes an alcohol percent module that determines an alcohol percent in fuel and a fuel mass module that determines a mass of the fuel. The engine control module also includes a fuel volume module that calculates a volume of the fuel based on the mass of the fuel, a density of the fuel, and the alcohol percent.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injector including a piezoelectric actuator having a stack of piezoelectric elements, and wherein in use the injector communicates with a fuel rail, the method comprises: applying a discharge current to the actuator for a discharge period so as to discharge the stack from a first differential voltage level across the stack to a second differential voltage level across the stack; maintaining the second differential voltage level for a period of time; and applying a charge current to the actuator for a charge period so as to charge the stack from the second differential voltage level to a third differential voltage level; wherein the third differential voltage level is selected in dependence on at least two engine parameters, the at least two engine parameters selected from: rail pressure; the electric pulse time; and the piezoelectric stack temperature.

Abstract: A fuel pump controller includes a detecting device for detecting environmental vibrational energy and converting the environmental vibrational energy into an electrical signal. A motor controller is coupled to a fuel pump motor wherein the electrical signal is used by the controller to command the fuel pump motor to operate at one of a plurality of speeds wherein the commanded speed is at least in part a function of the environmental vibrational energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for the fuel supply of an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle. The injector has a piezoactuator for activating and/or actuating at least one nozzle needle to control the injection of fuel under high pressure through at least one nozzle spray hole. The piezoactuator is arranged with its shaft disposed in an actuator chamber of an injector body, and a high-pressure path directing the fuel under high pressure to at least one nozzle spray hole passes through the actuator chamber. In the injector according to the invention, the piezoactuator has an actuator foot at an end remote from the nozzle needle. The actuator foot has a sealing contour facing the nozzle needle and fitting in a sealing seat formed on the injector body remote from the nozzle needle.

Abstract: A charge control unit controls electricity charged to a piezo element, which is for actuating a backpressure control valve so as to control backpressure applied to a valve element for a fuel injection valve. The backpressure control valve is configured to start to decrease the backpressure to actuate the valve element to open an injection port of the fuel injection valve when voltage of the electricity exceeds a threshold. A charge unit increases the voltage by repeating increasing and decreasing a drive current, which is supplied to the piezo element, for multiple times for charging the piezo element. A switching unit alternates the increasing and the decreasing such that the voltage exceeds the threshold in an intermediate period in a middle of a specific increasing period among multiple increasing periods, in each of which the drive current increases.

Abstract: Injectors each having a piezo actuator are assigned to cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A regulator device is configured for furnishing a cylinder-specific controlled variable and a command variable to a controller whose primary manipulated variable is a variable representing an electrical power supplied to the piezo actuator during a control cycle. A manipulated variable splitting unit is provided whose input variable is a regulator-determined regulator value of the primary manipulated variable and is configured for determining a total value of the primary manipulated variable according to the regulator value. It is also configured for splitting the total value into a primary value of the primary manipulated variable and into a secondary value of a secondary manipulated variable according to a lower and/or upper threshold value of the total value.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector which functions as a positive displacement pump and dispenses an amount of fuel which is fixed for each and every operation of the injector, and a controller which controls the operation of the fuel injector. In response to an increasing engine speed and/or load the controller increases in amount the fuel delivered per engine cycle by increasing in number the occasions the fuel injector is operated per engine cycle. In response to a decreasing engine speed and/or load the controller reduces in amount the fuel delivered per engine cycle by reducing in number the occasions the fuel injector is operated per engine cycle.

Abstract: To simplify reliable detection of operating faults in a control unit for operating an electrical component (for example, a fuel injector), an end stage is provided on the output side and is provided with a first line section and a second line section for supplying current in a synchronized manner to an electrical consumer which can be connected to the two line sections via an external line pair. A detection coil configuration is provided for detecting operating faults on the basis of an evaluation of a current that is induced at the detection coil configuration. The detection coil configuration is flowed through by a magnetic flux that is composed of magnetic flow components which are caused by the current flows in the two line sections, and wherein mutual compensation of the magnetic flow components is provided in a normal mode.

Abstract: An accumulator fuel injection apparatus is provided in which average pressure in the common rail can be detected by an extremely simple and inexpensive means with increased accuracy to be used as a control signal for controlling fuel injection. A pressure detection room is formed at an end part of the accumulation chamber such that the pressure detection room is connected to the accumulation chamber of the common rail, an orifice is provided between the pressure detection room and the accumulation chamber of the common rail to communicate the pressure detection room with the accumulation chamber by a throttled sectional area, and a common rail pressure sensor for detecting fuel pressure in the accumulation chamber is attached to an end of the common rail to face the pressure detection room.

Abstract: A fuel feed apparatus is provided for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine, which is controlled using an engine control unit. The fuel feed apparatus includes a pump module that is provided to the fuel tank. The pump module includes a fuel pump that is accommodated in the fuel tank for pumping fuel from the fuel tank. The fuel feed apparatus further includes a pressure detecting unit that is provided in a downstream of the fuel pump for detecting pressure of fuel. The fuel feed apparatus further includes a pump control unit that is provided separately from the engine control unit for controlling a driving signal of the fuel pump in accordance with a detection signal of the pressure detecting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injector in which at least one electrically triggered valve is disposed inside an injector member and is connected to an externally accessible injector member contact by means of a solid conductor, the solid conductor and the electrical valve contact being interconnected directly via an electrically conducting positive connection or indirectly via an electrically conducting connecting element. The solid conductor is configured so as to substantially maintain the shape thereof under the influence of the proper weight thereof.

Abstract: A procedure to recognize a depressurized fuel system of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine that includes a parameter characterizing the fuel system temperature is acquired when turning off the internal combustion engine; a parameter characterizing the fuel system temperature is acquired in the immediately subsequent driving cycle when starting the internal combustion engine; and from the difference between the shut-down temperature and the starting temperature, the pressure in the fuel system is inferred.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a gasoline internal combustion engine capable of running in a spark ignition mode and a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode. The method and system implementation include determining humidity of air to be drawn into a combustion cylinder of the engine, and controlling an operating parameter of the engine that affects the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for driving an injector injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The injector is provided with a piezoelectric element to be charged and discharged. The apparatus comprises a calculator and a charger. The calculator calculates a command value to charge the piezoelectric element. The calculator includes correcting means that corrects the command value based on information indicating either an operation of the piezoelectric element or an electric characteristic of the apparatus. The charger charges the piezoelectric element in response to the corrected command value to accumulate a desired amount of electric energy at the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: For accurately estimating an air quantity flowing into a cylinder at the time of operating an intake control valve, a control apparatus for an engine according to the present invention is provided with an intake control valve which can open/close an intake passage in synchronization with opening/closing of an intake valve, intake control valve controlling means which opens the intake control valve in the midst of the intake stroke and thereafter, closes the intake control valve, and air quantity estimating means which estimates an air quantity flowing into a cylinder after the intake control valve has opened, based upon opening timing of the intake control valve, closing timing or an opening period of the intake control valve, and a pressure at a downstream side of the intake control valve at the opening timing of the intake control valve.

Abstract: A device for determining the mass flow via a tank venting valve for an internal combustion engine including an intake manifold and a throttle valve, the intake manifold being connected to the tank venting valve and an exhaust gas recirculation system, one measuring transducer each being assigned to the throttle valve and the tank venting valve, and a sensor for the mass flow via the exhaust gas recirculation system being assigned to the exhaust gas recirculation system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining an ethanol content of a fuel that is part of a fuel and air mixture combusted within an internal combustion engine. A pressure characteristic of a fuel rail is monitored during operation of the engine. At least one of an effective bulk modulus of the fuel and a pressure perturbation signature is determined based on the pressure characteristic. The ethanol content is determined based on the at least one of the effective bulk modulus and the pressure perturbation signature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.

Abstract: This invention provides a simple means to initiate the movement of a vehicle by utilizing a fuel injector system, which determines a length of a magnet on the flywheel or crankshaft pulley. This system enables a person to choose a speed where fuel from a fuel injector can be efficiently dispersed into an engine. The engine's fuel efficiency is optimized by this invention, because only a specific amount of fuel will be dispersed to generate electricity to operate the engine, which prevents the engine from needlessly expending energy.

Abstract: When fuel supply is stopped while an engine is decelerating, pressure in each cylinder is detected using a pressure sensor, and the peak value of the pressure in each cylinder is determined. Also, an intake air amount is detected when the fuel supply is stopped, and the allowable range of the peak value is calculated based on the intake air amount. When the peak value of the pressure in a cylinder is in the allowable range, it is determined that a charged air amount in the cylinder is in a target amount range. When the peak value of the pressure in a cylinder is out of the allowable range, it is determined that the charged air amount in the cylinder is out of the target amount range, and a warning device is operated.

Abstract: A fuel control method and system is provided for delivering fuel to an engine that employs an engine controller that is configured to the fuel injection quantity delivered to the engine. The engine controller is configured to: calculate a fuel injection quantity based on at least one operating condition of an engine; calculate an estimated fuel pressure value of the high pressure fuel that will be acting on a fuel injection valve when the prescribed fuel injection timing is reached at a prescribed calculation time occurring before the prescribed fuel injection timing; correct the fuel injection quantity that was previously calculated to a corrected fuel injection quantity based on the estimated fuel pressure value that will exist at the prescribed fuel injection timing; and open the fuel injection valve at the prescribed fuel injection timing to discharge a quantity of fuel equal to the corrected fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: A computer calculates an estimated cylinder-intake-air amount based on outputs from an airflow meter and a throttle position sensor, and then calculates a reference cylinder-intake-air amount based on an air-fuel ratio in an exhaust gas and fuel injection amount. An error of the estimated cylinder-intake-air amount is calculated by comparing the reference cylinder-intake-air amount with an estimated cylinder-intake-air amount base value. The error is low-pass filtered. The estimated cylinder-intake-air amount base value is corrected to obtain the final estimated cylinder-intake-air amount.

Abstract: In a method for the pressure regulation in a common rail fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine wherein pressurized fuel is supplied to the various combustion chambers of the engine via injectors under the control of an electronic control unit, a first actual control pressure is determined from a measured rail pressure and compared with a desired rail pressure in order to form a first control deviation, whereupon a volume flow depending on the first control deviation is determined and, from the measured rail pressure, a second actual rail pressure is determined using overridingly the second actual rail pressure for the calculation of the controller parts of the high pressure controller.

Abstract: In collecting fuel pressure data in a common rail 2 during engine operation, the common rail fuel pressure is detected each time a crank shaft rotates 6°, and the common rail fuel pressure is stored in storage means 12 by associating the common rail fuel pressure with a cylinder number and a crank angle for tabulation, thus providing improved detection data accuracy.

Abstract: In a method for ascertaining the position of a mobile closing element of an injector valve in a motor vehicle engine, in which the closing element is driven by a piezoelectric element for opening or closing the injection valve and a voltage signal allocated to an electrical voltage recorded on the piezoelectric element, the position of the closing element is ascertained from the ascertained voltage signal. Through a two-way valve arranged on the injection valve, a change in the voltage signal is brought about based upon a change in the electrical voltage on the piezoelectric element as a function of the position of the closing element.

Abstract: When a gas flow producer is driven, plural kinds of gases flow into a measure-passage at respective timing. An orifice is provided in the measure-passage. The orifice has a diameter-changing portion which restricts a separation of gases from an inner surface of the measure-passage. A pressure sensor is provided in the measure-passage to detect a pressure determined by the orifice and the gas flow producer. A microcomputer calculates a density ratio between the gases based on the detected differential pressure.

Abstract: In an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine providing a throttle body for each of a plurality of air intake passages provided for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, an air flow meter which measures an air volume suctioned into a cylinder corresponding to the air intake passage is provided on a part of the insides of the plurality of air intake passages.

Abstract: A pressure pattern estimation device of a fuel injection controller of an engine estimates a pressure transition of fuel in a common rail. A surplus pressure range calculation device of the fuel injection controller calculates a surplus pressure range in which pressure pattern data provided by the pressure pattern estimation device exceeds a target common rail pressure. The fuel injection controller releases the common rail pressure to a lower-pressure side by operating a pressure reduction valve of the common rail to eliminate the surplus pressure range calculated by the surplus pressure range calculation device. Thus, the common rail pressure (injection pressure) during an injection period is smoothed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing fuel vapor pressure in a fuel system that supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performs excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, performs excess positive pressure relief of the headspace, and performs a diagnostic on the purge valve. The apparatus includes a housing, a pressure operable device, and a printed circuit board. The housing defines an interior chamber. The pressure operable device separates the interior chamber into first and second portions. And the pressure operable device includes a poppet that moves along an axis and a seal that is adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet. The printed circuit board is supported by the housing in the interior chamber.

Abstract: A control unit calculates a quantity of air that is taken into an engine from an output current from an air flow meter that is located downstream from a throttle valve. The control unit then determines the quantity of fuel to be injected for this quantity of air. The control unit determines a rise in the air intake as being when the quantity of air is on an increasing trend and has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. In contrast, the control unit determines a fall in the air intake as being when the quantity of air is on a decreasing trend and has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. An injection of fuel starts from a rise in the air intake and is ended at an earlier timing than the end of the air intake.

Abstract: An engine control system (1) measures an amount of air sucked by an engine (2) based on the output of an air flow meter (14) provided in an air intake passage (4), on the downstream side of a throttle valve (12), calculates an injection amount of fuel based on the air amount measured, and injects the fuel from an injector (5). The air flow meter (14) is installed at a position on the downstream side of the throttle valve (12), away from the valve (12) by a predetermined distance corresponding to twice to four times the diameter of the air intake passage (4).

Abstract: In common rail fuel injection systems, a sensed rail pressure is used to determine control signals to produce desired injection characteristics. Because rail pressure fluctuates, especially during cold start procedures, and because the rail pressure must be sensed before the injection event to be controlled, the accuracy of the timing and quantity of the injection event can be compromised if the rail pressure at the start of the injection event is different from the sensed rail pressure. In order to produce more accurate fuel injection characteristics, the rail pressure is sensed after the end of control signal for an immediately preceeding injection event but at least a predetermined time before the start of control signal for a succeeding injection event.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling fuel injection in an spontaneous ignition engine equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection system and with an electronic control unit receiving engine quantities comprising the pressure in the combustion changer of the engine and closed-loop controlling the fuel injection system on the basis of the pressure in the combustion chamber, in which the pressure in the combustion chamber is determined as a function of engine kinematic quantities such as the engine speed and the crank angle and of the fuel injection law, which is defined by the quantity of fuel injected and by the crank angle at the start of injection.

Abstract: A method for adjusting fuel injection, the method comprising during an engine start from a non-warmed-up condition, identifying a fuel quality of fuel supplied to the engine during said start based on a performance of said start, and after said start is completed and during a transient fueling condition, adjusting a fuel injection amount based on said identified fuel quality from said start.

Abstract: The types of gasolines having different distillation characteristics and various compositions are identified accurately and rapidly. A pulse voltage is applied for a predetermined time to a liquid type identifying sensor heater including a heater and an identifying liquid temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of the heater. Then, a gasoline to be identified is heated by the heater, and a liquid type is identified with a voltage output difference V0 corresponding to a temperature difference between an initial temperature and a peak temperature in the identifying liquid temperature sensor.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel vapor control system, purge valve and methods are described. The system includes a fuel supply, internal combustion engine, vapor canister, a bypass passage, and a purge valve. The bypass passage includes a sensor disposed in the bypass passage and in communication with the flow passage to provide a signal indicative of the magnitude of chemicals in the fuel vapor being provided to the engine. Various methodologies relating the system, purge valve and sensors are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the quality of fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising a pressure sensor (1) for determining the pressure (p) inside a fuel tank and/or comprising a temperature sensor (4) for determining the temperature (T) inside a fuel tank. According to the invention, an evaluation unit (5) is provided for determining a quality value (Q), which depicts die quality of the fuel, based on the temperature (T) and/or the pressure (p) inside the fuel tank. Said evaluation unit is connected on the input side to the pressure sensor (1) and/or to the temperature sensor (4).

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel-supply system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is provided, the fuel-supply system having a fuel-storage tank, a fuel pump and a pressure sensor, the fuel pump supplying fuel from the fuel-storage tank to a pressure region, the pressure sensor being arranged in the pressure region, and the pressure sensor generating a signal representing the pressure in the pressure region.