# US 2021/0277844 A1 · Method for controlling a dc-to-dc voltage converter

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- Number: US 2021/0277844 A1
- Document ID: US20210277844A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/258,118
- Filed: 2019-07-08
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-10
- Assignees: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
- Applicants: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GmbH
- Inventors: Jean CANNAVO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277844A1

## CPC

- F02D 41/20: Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
- H03K 17/0822: {in field-effect transistor switches}
- H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
- H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
- F02D 2041/2003: {using means for creating a boost voltage, i.e. generation or use of a voltage higher than the battery voltage, e.g. to speed up injector opening}
- F02D 2041/2006: {by using a boost capacitor}
- F02D 2041/2068: {characterised by the circuit design or special circuit elements}
- H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter}
- H02M 1/327: {against abnormal temperatures}
- H03K 2017/0806: {against excessive temperature}
- 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)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)

## Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling a DC-DC voltage converter for driving with current at least one fuel injector of a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine. The method includes, when the transistor is switched from the off state to the on state, triggering a counter for measuring time, and, if at the end of a preset time called the “observation” time, the amplitude of the peak current has not reached its maximum value, steps of commanding that transistor so that the transistor switches from the on state to the off state, of keeping the transistor in the off state for a preset time called the “cooling time”, and of commanding the transistor so that the transistor switches to the on state at the end of the cooling time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a DC-DC voltage converter (1) for driving with current at least one fuel injector (2) of a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine, said converter (1) comprising a control module (10) and an induction coil (20) that is connected to a field-effect transistor (30) comprising a drain (D), a source (S) and a gate (G), said gate (G) being connected to the control module (10) in order for said control module (10) to command the transistor (30) to an on state in which current passes between the drain (D) and the source (S) or to an off state in which current does not pass between the drain (D) and the source (S), the alternation of the on and off states of the transistor (30) generating a sawtooth current called the peak current (Ipeak), the amplitude of which is bounded by a maximum value, called the “top” value, and that allows the converter (1) to deliver an output voltage (Vout) across the terminals of a capacitor called the “intermediate” capacitor (Cint), the discharge of which is commanded by a computer via a drive module in order to command at least one fuel injector (2), the converter (1) being configured to make said output voltage (Vout) tend toward a target value, the method comprising:
when the transistor (30) is switched from the off state to the on state, triggering (E1) a counter (120) for measuring time,
if at the end of a preset time called the “observation” time, the amplitude of the peak current (Ipeak) has not reached the maximum value, commanding (E2) the transistor (30) so that said transistor (30) switches from the on state to the off state,
keeping (E3) the transistor (30) in the off state for a preset time called the “cooling” time,
commanding (E4) the transistor (30) so that said transistor (30) switches to the on state at the end of the cooling time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset observation time is comprised between 50 and 100 microseconds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset cooling time is comprised between 0 and 2000 microseconds.

### Claim 4

A DC-DC voltage converter (1) for driving with current at least one fuel injector (2) of a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine, said converter (1) comprising a control module (10) and an induction coil (20) that is connected to a field-effect transistor (30) comprising a drain (D), a source (S) and a gate (G), said gate (G) being connected to the control module (10) in order for said control module (10) to command the transistor (30) to an on state in which current passes between the drain (D) and the source (S) or to an off state in which current does not pass between the drain (D) and the source (S), the alternation of the on and off states of the transistor (30) generating a sawtooth current called the peak current (Ipeak), the amplitude of which is bounded by a maximum value, called the “top” value, and that allows the converter (1) to deliver an output voltage (Vout) across the terminals of a capacitor called the “intermediate” capacitor (Cint), the discharge of which is commanded by a computer via a drive module in order to command at least one fuel injector (2), the converter (1) being configured to make said output voltage (Vout) tend toward a target value, wherein the control module (10) is configured to:
switch the transistor (30) from the off state to the on state,
trigger a counter (120) for measuring time when the transistor (30) is switched to the on state,
if at the end of a preset time called the “observation” time, the amplitude of the peak current (Ipeak) has not reached its maximum value, command the transistor (30) so that said transistor (30) switches from the on state to the off state,
keep the transistor (30) in the off state for a preset time called the “cooling” time,
command the transistor (30) so that said transistor (30) switches to the on state at the end of the cooling time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control module (10) comprises the counter (120) for measuring the time taken for the peak current to reach or not its top value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control module (10) comprises a comparator (160) of the voltage defined across the terminals of a current-measuring shunt connected between the source (S) of the transistor (30) and ground (M), and of a reference voltage (Vref) representing the top value of the peak current (Ipeak).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control module (10) comprises an OR logic gate (130) a first input of which is connected to the output of the counter (120) and a second input of which is connected to the output of the comparator (160).

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control module (10) comprises a logic unit (110) configured to send signals for commanding the gate (G) of the transistor (30) in order to get said transistor (30) to switch to an on state.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control module (10) comprises a latch (140) that receives, on a first input, the control signals sent by the logic unit (110) in order to switch the transistor (30) to the on state and, on a second input, the output of the logic gate (130) in order to switch the transistor (30) to the off state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 4.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the preset cooling time is comprised between 0 and 2000 microseconds.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control module (10) comprises a comparator (160) of the voltage defined across the terminals of a current-measuring shunt connected between the source (S) of the transistor (30) and ground (M), and of a reference voltage (Vref) representing the top value of the peak current (Ipeak).

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control module (10) comprises a logic unit (110) configured to send signals for commanding the gate (G) of the transistor (30) in order to get said transistor (30) to switch to an on state.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control module (10) comprises a logic unit (110) configured to send signals for commanding the gate (G) of the transistor (30) in order to get said transistor (30) to switch to an on state.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The converter (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control module (10) comprises a logic unit (110) configured to send signals for commanding the gate (G) of the transistor (30) in order to get said transistor (30) to switch to an on state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 5)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 5.

### Claim 17 (depends on 6)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 6.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 7.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 8.

### Claim 20 (depends on 9)

A motor vehicle comprising a converter (1) as claimed in claim 9.