Fuel injection control system

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine fuel control system of the type having trigger signal generating means for generAting a signal indicative of engine speed, a plurality of engine parameter sensors, a first pulse generator means responsive to the trigger signal generating means and to a first sensor operative to generate a first generator signal, a second pulse generator means responsive to the first generator signal and to a second sensor operative to generate a second generator signal, each of the first and second generator signals having frequencies dependent upon the triggering frequency and pulse durations dependent upon the sensor inputs, and a plurality of sequentially actuated injector valve means, the improvement comprising switching means for applying the first and second generator signals to the plurality of injector valve means in a sequence whereby the open times of consecutive injector valve means in the sequence may overlap comprising: first gating means responsive to the first and second pulse generator means, operative to apply consecutive first and second pulse generator means pulses to selected injector valve means; further pulse generator means responsive to said first pulse generator means operative to generate signals having at least one frequency dependent upon the triggering frequency and a pulse duration substantially corresponding to the time interval between the terminations of consecutive first generator signal pulses; and second gating means responsive to said further pulse generator means pulses operative to apply second generator signal pulses to said first gating means in a manner determined by said further pulse generator means signal.

Claim 3

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first gating means comprise OR gates in one-to-one relationship with the plurality of injector valve means.

Claim 4

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pulse generator means comprise means for generating signals substantially equal to the trigger signal generating means signal but delayed in time relative thereto by a duration substantially equal to the duration of the pulses of the first generator signal.

Claim 5

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further pulse generator means comprise means for generating a plurality of pulse train pulses having a frequency dependent upon the triggering frequency and a pulse duration substantially equal to the reciprocal of the freqquency divided by the number of injector valve means in the sequence.

Claim 6

The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said further pulse generator means comprise a bistable device.

Claim 7

The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bistable device is switched between stable modes after an interval following initiation of the first generator signal pulses.

Claim 8

An internal combustion engine fuel control system comprising in combination: triggering means for cooperative association with an engine operative to generate a plurality of pulse train signals each signal having a frequency and a pulse duration indicative of engine speed, the beginning of a pulse of one triggering means signal substantially corresponding to the termination of a pulse of another triggering means signal; a plurality of engine sensors for cooperative association with an engine operative to generate signals indicative of engine operating conditions; first pulse generator means mutually responsive to said triggering means and at least one of said sensors operative to generate a first output signal pulse train having a frequency dependent upon said triggering signal frequency and pulse durations determined by said at least one sensor; second pulse generator means mutually responsive to said first pulse generator means and a second of said sensors operative to generate a second output signal pulse train having a frequency dependent upon said first signal frequency and pulse durations determined by said second sensor; fuel delivery means, including a plurality of injector valve means arranged in a plurality of sequentially actuated injector valve members, responsive to said first and Second signals operative to deliver quantities of fuel substantially in proportion of the duration of said first and second signal pulse durations; and switching means including third pulse generator means responsive to said triggering, first and second signals operative to apply said triggering, first and second signal pulses to said injector valve means in a predetermined manner, said third pulse generator being responsive to the first signal pulses and being operative to generate a third signal having a frequency and pulse durations substantially equal to the frequency and pulse durations of said triggering signals but delayed in time relative thereto by a predeterminable amount of time.

Claim 9

An internal combustion engine fuel control system comprising in combination: triggering means for cooperative association with an engine operative to generate a plurality of pulse train signals each signal having a frequency and a pulse duration indicative of engine speed, the beginning of a pulse of one triggering means signal substantially corresponding to the termination of a pulse of another triggering means signal; a plurality of engine sensors for cooperative association with an engine operative to generate signals indicative of engine operating conditions; first pulse generator means mutually responsive to said triggering means and at least one of said sensors operative to generate a first output signal pulse train having a frequency dependent upon said triggering signal frequency and pulse durations determined by said at least one sensor; second pulse generator means mutually responsive to said first pulse generator means and a second of said sensors operative to generate a second output signal pulse train having a frequency dependent upon said first signal frequency and pulse durations determined by said second sensor; fuel delivery means, including a plurality of injector valve means arranged in a plurality of sequentially actuated injector valve members, responsive to said first and Second signals operative to deliver quantities of fuel substantially in proportion of the duration of said first and second signal pulse durations; and switching means including third pulse generator means responsive to said triggering, first and second signals operative to apply said triggering, first and second signal pulses to said injector valve means in a predetermined manner, said third pulse generator being responsive to the first signal pulses and being operative to generate a third signal having a frequency and pulse durations substantially equal to the frequency and pulse durations of said triggering signals but delayed in time relative thereto by a predeterminable amount of time.

Claim 10

The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said third pulse generator means are arranged to be responsive to the termination of said first signal pulses.

Claim 11

The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said third pulse generator means comprise bistable multivibrator means.

Claim 12

The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said switching means further include first gating means responsive to said triggering means for applying said first signal to a selected injector valve means, the selection being determined by said triggering means signal.

Claim 13

The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said switching means further include second gating means responsive to said third signals for applying said second signal to a selected injector valve means, the selection being determined by said third signals.

Claim 14

The system as claimed in claim 10 including further second gating means responsive to said third signals for applying said second signal to a selected injector valve means, the selection being determined by said third signals and corresponding to the selection made by said triggering means signals.

Claim 15

In an engine having an operating cycle, an electrically controlled fuel injection system, comprising, in combination: at least two injection means adapted to inject fuel sequentially at predetermined time instants in said operating cycle, each for a length of time dependent upon the duration of an activation signal; first signal generator means for furnishing first control signals at said predetermined time instants, said first control signals having a duration varying in response to at least one engine parameter; second signal generating means connected to said first signal generating means adapted to furnish a second control signal for each of said first control signals, the termination of each of said second control signals following the termination of the corresponding first control signals in said operating cycle by a first time interval, the duration of said first time interval being a function of a second engine parameter; third signal generating means connected to said first signal generating means for generating further signals having a frequency dependent upon engine speed and pulse durations equal to the period of the signal divided by the number of injection means in the sequence; means for combining said first and second control signals comprising first and second gating portions, said first gating portion being connected to said second and third signal generating means for generating a gated second control signal only in the presence of a said second control signal and a said further signal and said second gating portion being connected to said first signal generating means and said second gating portion to form said activation signals in such a manner that the beginning of each of said activation signals is dependent upon the termination of the corresponding second control signal; and means for applying said activation signals to each of said injection means at the corresponding predetermined time instant.

Claim 16

In an engine having an operating cycle, an electrically controlled fuel injection system, comprising, in combination: at least two injection means adapted to inject fuel sequentially at predetermined time instants in said operating cycle, each for a length of time dependent upon the duration of an activation signal; first signal generator means for furnishing first control signals at said predetermined time instants, said first control signals having a duration varying in response to at least one engine parameter; second signal generating means connected to said first signal generating means adapted to furnish a second control signal for each of said first control signals, the termination of each of said second control signals following the termination of the corresponding first control signals in said operating cycle by a first time interval, the duration of said first time interval being a function of a second engine parameter; third signal generating means connected to said first signal generating means for generating further signals having a frequency dependent upon engine speed and pulse durations equal to the period of the signal divided by the number of injection means in the sequence; means for combining said first and second control signals comprising first and second gating portions, said first gating portion being connected to said second and third signal generating means for generating a gated second control signal only in the presence of a said second control signal and a said further signal and said second gating portion being connected to said first signal generating means and said second gating portion to form said activation signals in such a manner that the beginning of each of said activation signals is dependent upon the termination of the corresponding second control signal; and means for applying said activation signals to each of said injection means at the corresponding predetermined time instant.

Claim 17

The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for generating the further signal are arranged to initiate respective pulses of said further signal at a point in time following said predetermined time instants by a preDeterminable interval.

Claim 18

The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said predeterminable time interval is substantially equal to the duration of said first control signals.