Fuel Injection Valve Control for Individual Difference Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection control devices face challenges in accurately detecting individual differences in fuel injection valves, leading to variations in injection amounts and potential deterioration of fuel consumption efficiency and exhaust performance due to disturbances in electrical signal detection and learning execution conditions.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injection control device that includes a valve body operation time period detection unit to detect the operation time of the fuel injection valve and a state determination unit to determine abnormalities based on this information, allowing for precise detection and correction of individual differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If half lift control is used to reduce minimum injection amount, then injection amount per stage is reduced, but valve body position control accuracy requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection amount per stageVSAvoidvalve body position control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by detecting the actual valve body operation time period and comparing it with expected values. The control unit adjusts the drive pulse width based on the detected individual differences, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for variations in valve characteristics, thereby maintaining control accuracy at half lift positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical position measurement with an electrical measurement approach by detecting the valve body operation time period through electrical characteristics (inductance changes). This substitution enables indirect but accurate measurement of valve position without complex mechanical sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If electrical characteristics detection is used to detect individual differences, then valve timing can be monitored, but detection reliability deteriorates when abnormality occurs in input circuit or filter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual difference detectionVSAvoiddetection reliability under disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the valve body operation time period as an indirect indicator of valve characteristics. Instead of directly measuring vulnerable electrical signals, the system measures the time period which is less sensitive to electrical disturbances, thereby maintaining detection reliability while still capturing individual differences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of electrical noise and disturbances into a benefit by using time period measurement. The time period detection method is inherently more robust to electrical disturbances, and the system leverages this robustness to maintain reliable individual difference detection even in the presence of circuit abnormalities or filter issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If learning is prohibited when learning execution condition is not satisfied, then false learning is prevented, but detection of individual differences is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelearning accuracyVSAvoidtime for individual difference detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary detection of valve body operation time period during normal engine operation before formal learning is executed. This preliminary action gathers necessary data in advance, so when learning execution conditions are met, the individual differences can be quickly determined without significant delay, while still maintaining learning accuracy through proper condition checking.

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

Enables accurate detection and collection of individual differences in fuel injection valves, improving fuel injection control and preventing unintended torque fluctuations and performance deterioration.

Implementation Method 1

a coil 305 that generates a magnetic field in accordance with a drive pulse

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

electrical characteristics such as a change in inductance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductance: Inductor

Data Source

PatentUS11193442B2Fuel injection control device

Publication Date: 2021.12.07 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of detecting individual differences in fuel injection valves and appropriately collecting information on the individual differences. For this reason, the fuel injection control device includes a fuel injection valve drive circuit that supplies a current or a voltage to a coil of a fuel injection valve to drive the fuel injection valve, a valve body operation time period detection unit that detects a valve body operation time period related to an operation of a valve body of the fuel injection valve, and a state determination unit that determines that at least one of the fuel injection valve, the valve body operation time period detection unit, and the fuel injection valve drive circuit is abnormal based on information related to a valve body operation time period detected by the valve body operation time period detection unit.