Calibration of a pressure sensor of an injection system for a motor vehicle

A control device for a high-pressure injection system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the control device comprising:

• a processor and a memory storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions, when loaded and executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• close an inlet valve of a high-pressure pump of the high-pressure injection system based at least in part on a sensor signal of a pressure sensor;
• move a piston within a compression chamber of the high-pressure pump toward a top dead center in successive pump cycles during an expulsion phase to expel a fluid from the compression chamber through an outlet valve;
• while the piston moves toward top dead center, close an inlet valve by applying a current to an electromagnet thereby adjusting a setpoint value of a fluid pressure, wherein the fluid generates the fluid pressure downstream of the outlet valve;
• measure the fluid pressure with the pressure sensor arranged downstream of the outlet valve;
• apply a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed;
• while the piston moves away from top dead center, detect an opening position of the inlet valve on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins;
• over multiple pump cycles, change the setpoint value of the fluid pressure by a predetermined difference value;
• check whether a determined change of the opening position in relation to the changed setpoint value satisfies a predetermined correspondence criterion;
• and
• if the correspondence criterion is met, generate a fault signal relating to the calibration.

A high-pressure injection system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

• a high-pressure pump having an outlet valve;
• a pressure sensor arranged downstream of the outlet valve;
• a processor and a memory storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions, when loaded and executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• close an inlet valve of a high-pressure pump of the high-pressure injection system based on the sensor signal;
• move a piston within a compression chamber of the high-pressure pump toward a top dead center in successive pump cycles during an expulsion phase to expel a fluid from the compression chamber through an outlet valve;
• while the piston moves toward top dead center, close an inlet valve by applying a current to an electromagnet thereby adjusting a setpoint value of a fluid pressure, wherein the fluid generates the fluid pressure downstream of the outlet valve;
• measure the fluid pressure with the pressure sensor arranged downstream of the outlet valve;
• apply a measurement current to the electromagnet when the inlet valve is closed;
• while the piston moves away from top dead center, detect an opening position of the inlet valve on the basis of a predetermined change with respect to time of the measurement current at which an opening movement of the inlet valve begins;
• over multiple pump cycles, change the setpoint value of the fluid pressure by a predetermined difference value;
• check whether a determined change of the opening position in relation to the changed setpoint value satisfies a predetermined correspondence criterion;
• and
• if the correspondence criterion is met, generate a fault signal relating to the calibration.