IP Library Granted Patent US 7,789,073
Granted Patent B2
US 7,789,073 · App. 12/339,496 · Granted Sep 7, 2010

Fuel injection control apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,789,073
App. No.
12/339,496
Granted
Sep 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel injection control apparatus is capable of reducing a minimum quantity of fuel injection without reducing a maximum quantity of injection. To open a fuel injector valve, a driving circuit supplies an electric current from a high-voltage power supply to the fuel injector. Then, after valve opening, the high-voltage power supply is switched to a low-voltage power supply, and an open state of the valve is retained. For opening the valve of the fuel injector, a microcomputer, after supplying current from the high-voltage power supply to the injector, discharges the current rapidly for a decrease below a first current level at which the open state of the valve cannot be retained. The microcomputer then controls the supply current to the injector so as to supply a current at a second current level at which the open state of the valve can be retained.

Claims (4)

1. A fuel injection control apparatus of an internal combustion engine for supplying electric current from a high-voltage power supply to a fuel injector in order to open a valve of the injector, then, after opening the valve, switching the high-voltage power supply to a low-voltage power supply, and retaining the open state of the valve, the control apparatus comprising:

control means for controlling the current supplied to the fuel injector such that, after the current is supplied from the high-voltage power supply to the fuel injector to open the valve of the injector, the current is rapidly discharged to reduce the current to a first current incapable of keeping the valve open, the first current is supplied during a predetermined period, and a second current capable of keeping the valve open is then supplied to the fuel injector.

2. A fuel injection control apparatus of an internal combustion engine for supplying electric current from a high-voltage power supply to a fuel injector in order to open a valve of the injector, then, after opening the valve, switching the high-voltage power supply to a low-voltage power supply, and retaining the open state of the valve, the control apparatus comprising:

control means for controlling the current supplied to the fuel injector such that, after the current is supplied from the high-voltage power supply to the fuel injector to open the valve of the injector, the current is rapidly discharged to reduce the current to a first current incapable of keeping the valve open, the first current is supplied during a predetermined period, and the control means retains a third current higher than a current capable of keeping the valve open for a predetermined amount of time and then supplies the second current capable of keeping the valve open.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058481/0935 →
DEMERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058960/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2009
From: MIYAKE, TAKAO; TOYOHARA, MASAHIRO; MAYUZUMI, TAKUYA; ISHIKAWA, TOHRU; OURA, RYOICHI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022252/0313 →