Method and control unit for operating a valve

A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

• a program code arrangement having program code for operating a valve, which is a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, by performing the following:
• obtaining an auxiliary variable as a function of at least one electrical operating variable of an electromagnetic actuator driving a component of the valve, which is a valve needle;
• checking the auxiliary variable for the presence of a predefinable characteristic;
• ascertaining a reference variable as a function of the auxiliary variable;
• modifying, the auxiliary variable as a function of the reference variable to obtain a modified auxiliary variable;
• and
• checking the modified auxiliary variable for the presence of the predefinable characteristic.

A control and/or regulating system for operating a valve, which is a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a control and/or regulating arrangement configured to perform the following:
• obtaining an auxiliary variable as a function of at least one electrical operating variable of an electromagnetic actuator driving a component of the valve, which is a valve needle;
• checking the auxiliary variable for the presence of a predefinable characteristic;
• ascertaining a reference variable as a function of the auxiliary variable;
• modifying, the auxiliary variable as a function of the reference variable to obtain a modified auxiliary variable;
• and
• checking the modified auxiliary variable for the presence of the predefinable characteristic.