Fuel Injector Drive System Merging Control Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines with multiple solenoids increase complexity and cost due to the need for multiple control modules and drive circuits, which also introduce more potential failure points.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injection system that uses a single electronic control module to actuate and monitor both solenoids of multiple fuel injectors, sharing a common drive circuit to reduce the number of control modules and improve energy efficiency by connecting spill valves and control valves in pairs across the engine cylinders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple electronically-controlled valves are used in fuel injectors for precise fuel injection control, then fuel injection precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple dedicated drive circuits and control modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive circuits into a single shared drive circuit that can sequentially control multiple electronically-controlled valves across different fuel injectors. Instead of dedicating one drive circuit per valve, the invention merges the drive functions, allowing a single circuit to serve multiple valves by timing their activation according to their respective injection schedules, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise control
Solution Approach 2:
The single shared drive circuit is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling different valves at different times. The circuit universally handles the actuation of spill valves and control valves across multiple fuel injectors, adapting its operation to the specific timing requirements of each valve without requiring dedicated hardware for each function
2Measurement precision
If multiple dedicated drive circuits are used for each electronically-controlled valve, then valve control accuracy is improved, but the number of control modules increases leading to more failure points and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple dedicated drive circuits into a single shared drive circuit that maintains accurate control of multiple valves through sequential operation. By combining the drive functions while preserving individual valve control timing, the system reduces the number of control modules from multiple dedicated circuits to a single shared circuit, thereby reducing failure points and improving reliability without sacrificing valve control accuracy
3Ease of operation
If multiple control modules are used to coordinate fuel injection events, then injection coordination is improved, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control modules into a single control module that coordinates all fuel injection events. The single control module manages the timing and actuation of multiple electronically-controlled valves across different fuel injectors by generating appropriate control signals for the shared drive circuit, thereby maintaining effective injection coordination while eliminating the need for multiple separate control modules and reducing system complexity
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 configuration reduces the number of control modules and drive circuits, lowers costs, and enhances reliability by allowing a single control module to manage multiple fuel injectors, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing the risk of electrical failures.
Implementation Method 1
a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.