Engine control system and method for controlling activation of solenoid valves
AssigneeVitesco Technologies USA, LLC
InventorDirk Etzler
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Abstract
A valve controller and method for controlling a valve having a solenoid are disclosed, including receiving a least one input signal, detecting a first edge of the at least one signal and in response to the detection activating the valve. Activating the valve includes activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase.
Claims21
A valve controller configured to control a valve having a solenoid, the valve controller comprising:
- a first input and at least one output for coupling to the valve, the valve controller configured to selectively activate the valve following receipt of a first edge of a first signal at the first input, the valve activation including a rise-to-peak phase followed by a hold phase in which a current level of the valve during the hold phase is less than a current level of the valve in the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase in which current of the valve during the hold phase is maintained but current ripple of the valve is less than the current ripple of the valve in the hold phase wherein the valve comprises a fuel injector for a motor vehicle having a combustion engine such that the valve controller controls the fuel injector.
A valve controller configured to control a valve having a solenoid, the valve controller comprising:
- a first input and at least one output for coupling to the valve, the valve controller configured to selectively activate the valve following receipt of a first edge of a first signal at the first input, the valve activation including a rise-to-peak phase followed by a hold phase in which a current level of the valve during the hold phase is less than a current level of the valve in the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase in which current ripple of the valve is less than the current ripple of the valve in the hold phase, wherein an amount of current jitter of the valve is less than the amount of current jitter of the valve without the valve being activated in the ending-of-activation phase wherein the valve comprises a fuel injector for a motor vehicle having a combustion engine such that the valve controller controls the fuel injector.
A method of controlling a valve having a solenoid, comprising:
- receiving a least one input signal;
- detecting a first edge of the at least one input signal;
- and
- in response to detecting the first edge of the at least one input signal, activating the valve, comprising activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase, wherein activating the valve in the ending-of-activation phase comprises increasing a switching frequency of drive transistors which drive a solenoid in the valve, relative to the switching frequency of the drive transistors during the hold phase wherein the valve comprises a fuel injector for a motor vehicle having a combustion engine such that the valve controller controls the fuel injector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.