Fuel injector control including adaptive response

1. A fuel injector control system, comprising:

a driver that is configured to supply electrical power to a fuel injector; and

a controller configured to control the driver according to a predetermined sequence of states for an injection cycle,

and wherein

the plurality of predefined states each include parameters for supplying electrical power to a fuel injector, each of the states having a corresponding plurality of test parameters, at least one of the test parameters being a target parameter for the state,

during each of the states the controller is configured to

determine whether at least one of the test parameters is met and

determine how to control the driver for a subsequent portion of the injection cycle based on which one of the test parameters is met.

2. The fuel injector control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to

continue to control the driver according to the predetermined sequence of the states by advancing to a next one of the states in the sequence when the at least one target parameter is met; or

alter how to control the driver for the subsequent portion of the injection cycle when at least one other test parameter is met.

3. The fuel injector control system of claim 2 , comprising a memory associated with the controller and wherein

the memory includes instructions for subsequent control of the driver associated with each of the plurality of test parameters;

the instructions associated with the target parameter indicate how to advance to the next one of the states from the state in which the target parameter was met; and

the instructions associated with the at least one other test parameter instruct the controller to provide diagnostic information.

4. The fuel injector control system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions associated with the at least one other test parameter instruct the controller to interrupt the one of the states in which the at least one other test parameter is met and to stop supplying power to the fuel injector.

5. The fuel injector control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of test parameters establish limits on a change of injector current over time during the corresponding state.

6. The fuel injector control system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the test parameters for a first one of the states has a first value that is different than a second value for the at least one of the test parameters for a second, different one of the states.

7. The fuel injector control system of claim 1 , wherein

a first one of the test parameters establishes a maximum current for a fuel injector and a minimum time that has to elapse prior to reaching the maximum current during the corresponding state;

a second one of the test parameters establishes a minimum current for a fuel injector and a minimum time that has to elapse prior to reaching the minimum current during the corresponding state;

a third one of the test parameters establishes a maximum current value for current supplied to the fuel injector within an acceptable time window during the corresponding state;

a fourth one of the test parameters establishes a minimum current value for current supplied to the fuel injector within an acceptable time window during the corresponding state;

a fifth one of the test parameters establishes a time limit on the corresponding state.

8. The fuel injector control system of claim 7 , wherein

the sequence includes at least two of the states alternately repeated in a loop; and

a sixth one of the test parameters establishes a duration of the loop.

9. The fuel injector control system of claim 7 , wherein

at least one of the first and second ones of the test parameters is a diagnostic parameter; and

the at least one target parameter comprises at least one of the third and fourth ones of the test parameters.

10. The fuel injector control system of claim 7 ,

wherein the first and second ones of the test parameters, respectively, have a higher priority than each of the third, fourth and fifth ones of the test parameters.

11. A method of controlling a fuel injector based on a plurality of predefined states that each include parameters for supplying electrical power to a fuel injector, each of the states having a corresponding plurality of test parameters at least one of the test parameters being a target parameter for the state, the method comprising:

controlling power supplied to a fuel injector according to a predetermined sequence of the states for an injection cycle, and

during each of the states

determining whether at least one of the test parameters is met and

determining how to control the power supplied to the fuel injector for a subsequent portion of the injection cycle based on which one of the test parameters is met.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising

continuing to control the power supplied to the fuel injector according to the predetermined sequence of the states by advancing to a next one of the states in the sequence when the at least one target parameter is met; or

altering how to control the power supplied to the fuel injector for the subsequent portion of the injection cycle when at least one other test parameter is met.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising reporting a diagnostic when the at least one other test parameter is met.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising

interrupting the one of the states in which the at least one other test parameter is met; and

stopping the power supplied to the fuel injector.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of test parameters establish limits on a change of injector current over time during the corresponding state.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the test parameters for a first one of the states has a first value that is different than a second value for the at least one of the test parameters for a second, different one of the states.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein

a first one of the test parameters establishes a maximum current for a fuel injector and a minimum time that has to elapse prior to reaching the maximum current during the corresponding state;

a second one of the test parameters establishes a minimum current for a fuel injector and a minimum time that has to elapse prior to reaching the minimum current during the corresponding state;

a third one of the test parameters establishes a maximum current value for current supplied to the fuel injector within an acceptable time window during the corresponding state;

a fourth one of the test parameters establishes a minimum current value for current supplied to the fuel injector within an acceptable time window during the corresponding state;

a fifth one of the test parameters establishes a time limit on the corresponding state.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein

the sequence includes at least two of the states alternately repeated in a loop; and

a sixth one of the test parameters establishes a duration of the loop.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein

at least one of the first and second ones of the test parameters is a diagnostic parameter; and

the at least one target parameter comprises at least one of the third and fourth ones of the test parameters.

20. The method of claim 17 , comprising

treating the first and second ones of the test parameters, respectively, with a higher priority than each of the third, fourth and fifth ones of the test parameters.