Electric Intake Valve Armature Timing via Two-Position Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the movement and switching behavior of an electric intake valve in diesel engines are inefficient, particularly in ascertaining the characteristic point in time of armature movement without additional hardware like sensors, and often result in unintentional maximum outputs due to incomplete valve reopening.

Innovation Solution

A method using a two-position controller to control electrical variables, such as current, to ascertain the movement of the armature by analyzing the switching behavior, specifically utilizing the start of the longest deactivation phase as the characteristic point in time, and applying a test current to evaluate the armature's movement without actuating the valve, thus optimizing valve activation and preventing unintentional maximum outputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional hardware sensors are used to detect armature movement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmature movement detection accuracyVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sensors with an electrical measurement system. Instead of using physical sensors to detect armature position, the invention measures electrical variables (current, voltage) during valve operation and infers armature movement characteristics from these electrical signals. This substitution eliminates the need for additional mechanical hardware while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces electrical variables as an intermediary medium to indirectly detect armature movement. Rather than directly measuring mechanical position, the system uses current and voltage profiles as intermediaries that correlate with armature position, allowing movement detection through electrical measurements alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the electric intake valve is actuated with current to determine movement characteristics, then measurement accuracy is improved, but unintentional maximum outputs occur due to incomplete valve reopening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmature movement characteristic accuracyVSAvoidvalve operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a test current before the main actuation current to preliminarily activate the armature and determine its movement characteristics. This preliminary action allows the system to assess valve behavior and adjust parameters before full actuation, preventing incomplete reopening and subsequent maximum output issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from measuring electrical variables during valve operation to continuously monitor armature movement. This feedback mechanism allows real-time detection of incomplete valve reopening and enables corrective adjustments to prevent unintentional maximum outputs, improving operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the current profile is optimized based on armature movement analysis, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to control algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve actuation efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes valve actuation by dynamically changing electrical parameters (current magnitude, duration, timing) based on measured armature movement characteristics. The system adjusts these parameters in real-time to match actual valve behavior, improving actuation efficiency and productivity while using relatively simple parameter adjustment logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for the simple and accurate determination of the armature's movement characteristics without additional hardware, optimizing the current profile and preventing unintentional maximum outputs by correlating the start of the longest deactivation phase with the armature's starting point in time, thereby enhancing the control and regulation of the electric intake valve.

Implementation Method 1

electric intake valve (18) having an armature (20) which can be actuated by means of current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a characteristic point in time of the movement of the armature is ascertained based on the switching behavior of the two-position controller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical measurement and evaluation:

Data Source

PatentUS11719264B2Method for ascertaining the movement of an armature of an electric intake valve

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method for ascertaining the movement of an armature of an electric intake valve, an electrical variable of the electric intake valve being controlled to predefined values with the aid of a two-position controller, a characteristic point in time of the movement of the armature being ascertained based on the switching behavior of the two-position controller.