EP0305344A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A circuit for the piloting of inductive loads, particularly for operating the electro-injectors of a diesel-cycle internal combustion engine
Assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
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Filing: 1988-08-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-02
Abstract
Abstract The circuit comprises: - an input (1) for connection to a low-tension supply (V S ), - a storage coil (L₁) for storing energy delivered by the supply (V B ), and - electronic switching devices (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) for controlling the connection between the input (1), the storage coil (L₁) and each of the loads (L i ) in a predetermined manner to achieve a rapid transfer of current to each of the loads selectively, - a capacitor (C) situated in parallel with the branch circuits containing the loads (L₁) and connected to the coil (L₁) and the electronic switching devices (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ), and - an electronic control unit (ECU) for piloting the electronic switching devices (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) according to a first operative mode in which, to transfer current to one of the loads (L i ), the switching devices cause in succession, after the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the supply (V B ): the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the capacitor (C) so as to form a resonant circuit, and then the discharge of the resonant circuit (L₁, C) into the load (L i ).
Inventors
- 👤 Marco Calfus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:09
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/20; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D2041/2003; F02D2041/2006; F02D2041/201; F02D2041/202; F02D2041/2051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A circuit for the piloting of inductive loads (L i ), particularly for operating the electro-injectors of a diesel-cycle internal combustion engine, comprising: an input (1) for connection to a low-tension supply(V B ), a storage coil (L₁) for storing energy delivered by the supply (V B ), and electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) for controlling the connection between the input (1), the storage coil (L₁) and each of the loads (L i ) in a predetermined manner to achieve a rapid transfer of current to each of the loads selectively, characterised in that it also includes: a capacitor (C) arranged in parallel with the branch circuits containing the loads (L₁), and connected to the coil (L₁) and the electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ), and an electronic control unit (ECU) for piloting the electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) according to a first operative mode in which, to transfer current into one of the loads (L i ), the switching means cause in succession, after the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the supply (V B ): the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the capacitor (C) so as to form a resonant circuit, and then the discharge of the resonant circuit (L₁, C) into the load (L i ).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A circuit for the piloting of inductive loads (L i ), particularly for operating the electro-injectors of a diesel-cycle internal combustion engine, comprising: an input (1) for connection to a low-tension supply(V B ), a storage coil (L₁) for storing energy delivered by the supply (V B ), and electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) for controlling the connection between the input (1), the storage coil (L₁) and each of the loads (L i ) in a predetermined manner to achieve a rapid transfer of current to each of the loads selectively, characterised in that it also includes: a capacitor (C) arranged in parallel with the branch circuits containing the loads (L₁), and connected to the coil (L₁) and the electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ), and an electronic control unit (ECU) for piloting the electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) according to a first operative mode in which, to transfer current into one of the loads (L i ), the switching means cause in succession, after the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the supply (V B ): the connection of the storage coil (L₁) to the capacitor (C) so as to form a resonant circuit, and then the discharge of the resonant circuit (L₁, C) into the load (L i ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A circuit according to Claim 1, further including a current-inversion capacitor (C i ) in parallel with each load (L i ) for enabling the current in the corresponding load (L i ) to be cancelled out rapidly, characterised in that each of the inversion capacitors (C i ) has a smaller capacitance than that of the said capacitor (C).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A circuit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,characterised in that it also includes sensor means (S) for providing electrical signals indicative of the current delivered by the supply (V B ), and in that the control unit (ECU) is connected to the sensor means (S) and is arranged to pilot the electronic switching means (SW₁, SW₂, SW i ) in the first operative mode and in a second operative mode when the current delivered by the supply is greater than and less than a predetermined value, respectively, the unit (ECU) being adapted to cause the connection of the capacitor (C) to the supply (V B ) through voltage-boosting means (L₁, R₂) in the second operative mode, so as to charge the capacitor (C) to a predetermined voltage level greater than the voltage of the supply, and then the discharge of the energy stored in the capacitor (C) into a selected load (L i ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A circuit according to Claim 3, characterised in that the sensor means comprise a shunt resistor in series with the storage coil (L₁).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit according to Claim 3, characterised in that the sensor means comprise a galvanometric-effect sensor (S), particularly a Hall-effect sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A circuit according to Claim 3, characterised in that the control unit (ECU) is adapted to detect the voltage across the capacitor (C).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of branch circuits in parallel with each other, each of which includes a load (L i ), and in which the electronic switching means comprise a first switch (SW₁) between the supply (V B ) and the storage coil (L₁), a second switch (SW₂) in parallel with the branch circuits, and a control switch (SW i ) in each of the branch circuits, between the corresponding load (L i ) and the supply (V B ), characterised in that it also includes clamping circuit means (R c ; D c ) for limiting and possibly dissipating the voltage generated by each of the loads (L i ) when the associated control switch (SW i ) cuts off the current flowing into the load (L i ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit according to Claim 7, characterised in that the clamping circuit means comprise a clamping circuit of the parallel-RC type, and in that the loads (L i ) are connected to the clamping circuit by means of an OR circuit (D c ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also includes energy-recovery circuit means (SW₃, R c , C c ) controlled by the unit (ECU) and adapted to enable part of the reactive energy stored in the load (R i ) to be recycled towards the supply (V b ) each time a load (L i ) is deactivated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A circuit according to Claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the recover circuit means include a further electronic switch (SW₃) connected between the clamping circuit (R c , C c ) and the supply (V B ) and controlled by the electronic unit (ECU).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3896346A
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EP0034076A2
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FR2533263A1
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EP0106743A2
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FR2538942A1
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DE3324937A1
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GB2182815A
Cited
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