# US 2014/0190453 A1 · Method to Detect Partial Failure of Direct-Injection Boost Voltage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190453 A1 - Document ID: US20140190453A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,319 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Ningsheng Qiao; Michael Cottrell; Francois Fabre - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190453A1 ## CPC - F02M 51/00: Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically - F02D 41/20: Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils - F02D 41/221: {relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements} - F02M 51/005: {Arrangement of electrical wires and connections, e.g. wire harness, sockets, plugs; Arrangement of electronic control circuits in or on fuel injection apparatus} - F02D 2041/2006: {by using a boost capacitor} - F02D 2041/2013: {by using a boost voltage source} - F02D 2041/2058: {using information of the actual current value} - F02D 2041/2086: {with means for detecting circuit failures} - F02D 2400/08: Redundant elements, e.g. two sensors for measuring the same parameter - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A power supply diagnostic circuit includes a switching power supply that generates a voltage for powering a fuel injector. An injector control module selectively applies the voltage to the fuel injector and monitors a resultant electrical current flow through the fuel injector. The switching power supply includes a dual path circuit comprising two inductors, two MOSFETs, and two diodes. The injector control module determines whether one path of the dual path circuit is defective based on the electrical current flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power supply diagnostic circuit, comprising: a switching power supply that generates a voltage for powering a fuel injector; and an injector control module that selectively applies the voltage to the fuel injector and monitors a resultant electrical current flow through the fuel injector, wherein the switching power supply includes a dual path circuit comprising two inductors, two MOSFETs, and two diodes, and the injector control module determines whether one path of the dual path circuit is defective based on the electrical current flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 1 wherein the injector control module determines whether the one path is defective based on whether the electrical current flow exceeds a predetermined current limit within a predetermined amount of time after the voltage is applied to the fuel injector during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 1 wherein the injector control module determines whether the one path is defective based on whether the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector sags below a predetermined voltage limit during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 1 further comprising a current shunt that generates a signal based on the current flow and communicates the signal to the injector control module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one transistor that is controlled by the injector control module and that switches the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 1 wherein the injector control module modifies the fuel injector pulse width in association with determining whether the one path is defective. ### Claim 7 A diagnostic method for a power supply circuit, the method comprising: employing a boost power supply that includes a dual path circuit for generating a voltage for powering a fuel injector; selectively applying the voltage to the fuel injector; monitoring a resultant electrical current flow through the fuel injector; and determining whether one path of the dual path circuit is defective based on the electrical current flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising determining whether the one path is defective based on whether the electrical current flow exceeds a predetermined current limit within a predetermined amount of time after the voltage is applied to the fuel injector during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising determining whether the one path is defective based on whether the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector sags below a predetermined voltage limit during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a signal based on the current flow and communicating the signal to an injector control module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising switching the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising modifying the fuel injector pulse width in association with determining whether the one path is defective. ### Claim 13 A power supply diagnostic circuit, comprising: switching power supply means for generating a voltage for powering a fuel injector; and injector control means for selectively applying the voltage to the fuel injector and monitoring a resultant electrical current flow through the fuel injector, wherein the switching power supply means includes a dual path circuit comprising two inductors, two MOSFETs, and two diodes, and the injector control means determines whether one path of the dual path circuit is defective based on the electrical current flow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 13 wherein the injector control means includes diagnostic means for determining whether the one path is defective based on whether the electrical current flow exceeds a predetermined current limit within a predetermined amount of time after the voltage is applied to the fuel injector during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 13 wherein the diagnostic means includes means for determining whether the one path is defective based on whether the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector sags below a predetermined voltage limit during high engine speed and dual fuel injection pulses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 13 further comprising current shunt means for generating a signal based on the current flow and communicating the signal to the injector control means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 13 further comprising at least one transistor switching means for switching the voltage that is applied to the fuel injector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The power supply diagnostic circuit of claim 13 wherein the injector control means modifies the fuel injector pulse width in association with determining whether the one path is defective.