# US 8,539,933 B2 · Multiple fuel injection systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,933 B2 - Document ID: US8539933B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/027,531 - Filed: 2011-02-15 - Published: 2012-07-19 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-19 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Joshua D. Cowgill; J. Michael Ellenberger; Jonathan T. Shibata - Inventors: Joshua D. Cowgill; J. Michael Ellenberger; Jonathan T. Shibata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539933B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/402: {Multiple injections} - F02D 41/18: by measuring intake air flow - F02D 2200/021: Engine temperature - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - 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 desired pulse width module determines a desired length of a single pulse of fuel for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine. A multiple pulses module determines a number of pulses (N) for the combustion cycle, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. A fraction determination module determines N fractional values for the N pulses, respectively. An injector control module generates individual lengths for the N pulses based on the N fractional values, respectively, and based on the desired length. A fuel actuator module opens a fuel injector that injects fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in N pulses having the individual lengths, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a vehicle, comprising: a desired pulse width module that determines a desired length of a single pulse of fuel for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine; a multiple pulses module that determines a number of pulses (N) for the combustion cycle, wherein N is an integer greater than 1; a fraction determination module that determines N fractional values for the N pulses, respectively; an injector control module that, generates individual lengths for the N pulses based on the N fractional values, respectively, and based on the desired length; and a fuel actuator module that opens a fuel injector that injects fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in N pulses having the individual lengths, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the multiple pulses module determines the number of pulses based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the multiple pulses module selectively increases the number of pulses as the engine speed decreases. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the multiple pulses module selectively increases the number of pulses as the APC increases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the multiple pulses module selectively increases the number of pulses as the coolant temperature decreases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the fraction determination module determines the fractional values based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a timing determination module that determines N start timings for the N pulses, respectively, wherein the fuel actuator module transitions the fuel injector to an open state at the N start timings and maintains the fuel injector in the open state for the individual lengths, respectively. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the timing determination module determines the start timings based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein a sum of the individual lengths is equal to the desired length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising an enabling module that disables the multiple pulses module and the fraction determination module when the desired length is less than a product of 2 and a predetermined minimum length, wherein, when the multiple pulses and fraction determination modules are disabled, the fuel actuator module injects fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in the single pulse having the desired length. ### Claim 11 A method for a vehicle, comprising: determining a desired length of a single pulse of fuel for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine; determining a number of pulses (N) for the combustion cycle, wherein N is an integer greater than 1; determining N fractional values for the N pulses, respectively; generating individual lengths for the N pulses based on the N fractional values, respectively, and based on the desired length; and opening a fuel injector that injects fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in N pulses having the N individual lengths, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the number of pulses based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising selectively increasing the number of pulses as the engine speed decreases. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising selectively increasing the number of pulses as the APC increases. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising selectively increasing the number of pulses as the coolant temperature decreases. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the fractional values based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: determining N start timings for the N pulses, respectively; transitioning the fuel injector to an open state at the start timings; and maintaining the fuel injector in the open state for the individual lengths, respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising determining the start timings based on engine speed, air per cylinder (APC), and coolant temperature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein a sum of the individual lengths is equal to the desired length. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: disabling the determining the number of pulses, the determining the fractional values, and the generating the individual lengths when the desired length is less than a product of 2 and a predetermined minimum length; and injecting fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in the single pulse having the desired length.