Fuel Injection Valve Control Device Abnormality Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection valve control devices fail to detect abnormalities in the fuel injection valve's operational characteristics, leading to potential damage in exhausting performance during multi-stage injection control.

Innovation Solution

A control device that monitors the fuel injection valve's operation state to determine if it performs according to the control command, using parameters such as drive current and voltage profiles to detect abnormalities and adjust the injection process accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only drive circuit output is monitored to determine fuel injection valve operation, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of injection control deteriorates because mechanical friction or structural changes cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device structureVSAvoidinjection control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by monitoring the actual drive current and voltage profiles of the fuel injection valve during operation. The control device compares these actual parameters against expected profiles to detect deviations caused by mechanical friction, structural changes, or operational deterioration. This feedback mechanism enables continuous verification of injection valve performance without adding complex hardware, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses electrical parameters (drive current and voltage profiles) as intermediaries to indirectly assess the mechanical state of the fuel injection valve. Instead of directly monitoring mechanical conditions, the system measures electrical characteristics that reflect the valve's operational status. This intermediary approach allows detection of mechanical issues through electrical measurements, maintaining device simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multi-stage injection control is performed without verifying actual injection operations, then productivity is improved through efficient fuel injection, but exhausting performance deteriorates when injection valve abnormalities occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel injection efficiencyVSAvoidexhausting performance degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by verifying the operational status of the fuel injection valve before and during multi-stage injection control. The control device continuously monitors drive current and voltage profiles to ensure the injection valve is functioning correctly before executing multi-stage injection sequences. This preliminary verification prevents exhausting performance degradation by detecting abnormalities early, while still enabling efficient multi-stage injection operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If no monitoring of fuel injection valve operation is performed, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of injection status deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol operation simplicityVSAvoidinjection status detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the fuel injection valve system to monitor and verify its own operational status. The control device uses the existing drive circuitry to measure current and voltage profiles, allowing the system to self-diagnose without external monitoring equipment. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while achieving precise measurement of injection status through intelligent use of available electrical parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3258092B1Control device for fuel injection valve
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP3258092B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3258092B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3258092B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention determines whether multi-stage injection control is operating normally or abnormally, and carries out a failsafe of multi-stage injection control as necessary. The present invention, which solves the problem described above, has means such as the following. The invention is provided with fuel injection valves provided respectively to each cylinder, an opened/closed valve detection means for detecting either one or both of an open valve state and a closed valve state of the fuel injection valves on the basis of the drive currents or drive voltages of the fuel injection valves, and a detection execution determination means for determining a detection execution time period including the detection start timing and the detection end timing of the open valve state or closed valve state; detection interference such as overlapping detection with another cylinder and overlapping of open valve detection and closed valve detection being preventable, and risks such as erroneous detection being reducible.