In-Vehicle Engine Control Apparatus Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle engine control systems face challenges in accurately controlling the temperature rise of switch elements within the fuel injection control apparatus, leading to increased costs, vehicle weight, and reliability issues due to excessive wiring, as well as inefficient thermal management and power loss concentration.
Innovation Solution
An engine control apparatus with a drive control circuit, boosting control circuit, and operation control circuit that includes switch elements for electromagnetic coils, high-voltage capacitors, and a microprocessor-based control program to manage fuel injection commands and temperature monitoring, allowing for precise control of split injection frequency and engine rotational speed to minimize temperature rise and enhance engine performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple fuel injections are performed in one combustion cycle period, then fuel injection efficiency is improved, but temperature rise of switch elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the boosting circuit by switching between different operational modes (first boosting mode with higher voltage for rapid excitation, second boosting mode with lower voltage for sustained operation) based on real-time temperature feedback from thermistors. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high fuel injection efficiency while preventing excessive temperature rise in switch elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates temperature detection means (thermistors) that continuously monitor the temperature of switch elements and provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit uses this feedback information to adjust the boosting circuit's operational mode, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal performance while preventing overheating.
2Temperature
If four separating FETs and two charging FETs are used to disperse heat, then temperature distribution is improved, but device complexity and wiring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a shared boosting circuit architecture where a single boosting circuit serves multiple separating FETs (first and second separating FETs) and multiple charging FETs (first and second charging FETs). This multi-functional design allows the system to disperse heat across multiple components while avoiding the wiring complexity that would result from having separate boosting circuits for each FET pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the boosting functionality into a single shared circuit that serves multiple purposes - boosting voltage for both the first and second separating FETs, and charging both the first and second charging FETs. This merging of functions reduces the overall complexity of the wiring and circuit architecture while still achieving effective heat dispersion.
3Measurement precision
If temperature detection means is provided near each switch element, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a shared temperature detection approach where temperature detection means (thermistors) are strategically placed to monitor the temperature of multiple switch elements simultaneously. The control unit uses this temperature information to manage the operational states of multiple separating and charging FETs, achieving effective thermal management without requiring individual detection means for each switch element.
4Productivity
If split injection frequency is increased, then fuel efficiency is improved, but power loss concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different boosting modes based on operational conditions and temperature feedback. During high-speed operation with increased split injection frequency, the system can transition to the second boosting mode with lower voltage to reduce power loss concentration, while still maintaining the fuel efficiency benefits of high-frequency injection through precise timing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the boosting circuit dynamically - switching between high voltage (first boosting mode) and lower voltage (second boosting mode) operation. This parameter change allows the system to optimize the balance between fuel injection efficiency and power loss concentration, enabling high split injection frequencies while managing energy losses effectively.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces temperature rise in critical switch elements, improves fuel injection efficiency, and reduces the control load on the microprocessor, while minimizing excessive temperature and power loss, thereby enhancing engine performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a boosting control circuit which generates a boosted high voltage for rapidly exciting the electromagnetic coils, and an operation control circuit mainly composed of a microprocessor and a program memory, the boosting control circuit including one induction element intermittently excited by one boosting switch from an in-vehicle battery, and one high-voltage capacitor charged to a boosted high voltage as a target through multiple intermittent operations by electromagnetic energy accumulated in the induction element being discharged
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of switch elements for alternately and sequentially driving a plurality of electromagnetic coils 103i for driving the electromagnetic valves to be opened
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle engine control apparatus allowing split injection frequency or split injection of fuel while preventing a driving switch element for fuel injecting electromagnetic coils and a boosting switch element for generating a boosted high voltage from being overheated. An operation control circuit portion has reference data of measured environmental temperature vs allowable engine rotational speed with a selected value of the split injection frequency being a parameter, and determines the selected value having, as an upper limit, a split injection frequency which makes the internal temperature of the boosting switch element or a rapidly exciting switch element a predetermined allowable limit value in association with the present environmental temperature detected by an average environmental temperature detection element in a case and the present engine rotational speed detected by an engine rotation sensor.