Fuel Injection Valve Control Device for Variable Spring Characteristics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection valve control devices face variability in injection amount characteristics across different fuel injection devices due to spring variances, particularly in the transition region to full stroke, leading to reduced control accuracy and increased variability.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injection valve control device that applies a boosting voltage and a holding current, with the timing and current levels adjusted for each fuel injection device based on its specific spring characteristics to minimize variability in drive pulse width.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single characteristic curve is used for all fuel injection devices, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variability in injection amount characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol structureVSAvoidinjection amount characteristic
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the drive pulse width based on detected valve characteristics. Specifically, the control device measures the actual valve opening/closing behavior and modifies the drive pulse parameters (width, timing) to compensate for manufacturing variations in spring force and valve dynamics, thereby achieving consistent injection amounts across devices with different manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by detecting the actual valve operation characteristics (opening/closing timing, duration) and using this information to adjust subsequent drive pulses. The control device monitors the valve response and dynamically modifies the drive signal parameters to maintain precise injection control despite manufacturing variations, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for individual device differences

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the transition region of the characteristic curve is masked to improve linearity in partial and full stroke regions, then control accuracy in linear regions is improved, but variability in the transition region to full stroke region increases due to unaddressed bounce effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoidinjection amount consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control parameters adaptive rather than static. Instead of using a fixed characteristic curve with masked transition regions, the system dynamically adjusts drive pulse parameters based on real-time detection of valve behavior. This allows the control system to account for bounce effects and other dynamic phenomena in the transition region by continuously optimizing the drive signal to match actual valve response characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing detection and correction of valve characteristics before they cause injection errors. The system proactively measures valve opening/closing behavior and pre-adjusts drive pulse parameters to compensate for anticipated variability, including bounce effects in the transition region, rather than reacting to errors after they occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach effectively reduces variability in injection amount characteristics across multiple fuel injection devices, ensuring consistent fuel injection by matching valve behaviors and injection amount characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid to open the valve body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP3239503B1Fuel injection valve control device
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3239503B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3239503B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3239503B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve control device with which variability in the injection amount with respect to drive pulse width can be kept to a satisfactory level in each of a plurality of fuel injection devices. The present invention provides a fuel injection valve control device for controlling a plurality of fuel injection devices each equipped with a valve body and a solenoid for opening the valve body, characterized in that the device is configured such that, a prescribed time after voltage has been applied to the solenoid, a holding current is applied, the prescribed time and the holding current being corrected for each of the fuel injection devices, on the basis of the operating characteristics of the fuel injection device.