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US4589401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Injector driver fault detect and protection device
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1985-04-12
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2005-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An injector driver fault detect and protection device for use with fuel injection systems that include at least one solenoid (17) for controlling a fuel injection valve, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means (14) responsive to the control signal for providing a drive signal, and a current control switch (16) being responsive to the drive signal for selectively closing and opening a power line that includes the solenoid (17) to thereby control the fuel injection valve. The device includes a fault detect and protection unit that receives current sense information regarding the flow of current through the solenoid (17), control signals from the control unit (13), and engine rotation data in the form of CAM degrees from a CAM position sense unit (19). Based upon this information, the fault detect and protection unit (11) can provide a fault protect signal to a fault control switch (12) to open circuit the solenoid (17) under specific fault conditions, and to provide a fault data signal under other fault conditions, as appropriate.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Karim
- 👤 Howard L. Frank
- 👤 Nicholas C. Hopman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/005; G01R31/006; G01R31/007; F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/20; F02D41/22; F02D41/221; F02D2041/202; F02D2041/2058; F02D2041/2068; F02D2041/2075; F02D2041/2086; F02D2041/2093; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) current sense means for sensing current flow through said solenoid and for producing a current sense signal in response thereto; (b) fault detect means for receiving said current sense signal and said control signal for providing a fault protect signal when said current sense means provides said current sense signal and said control means does not substantially simultaneously provide said control signal; and (c) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) current sense means for sensing current flow through said solenoid and for producing a current sense signal in response thereto; (b) fault detect means for receiving said current sense signal and said control signal for providing a fault protect signal when said current sense means provides said current sense signal and said control means does not substantially simultaneously provide said control signal; and (c) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ir:provement of claim 1 wherein said fault protect switch means operates to selectively open and close said power line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said current sense means comprises a resistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said resistor connects in series with said power line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fault detect means further receives engine revolution data and functions to maintain a selective count related to said engine revolution data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said engine revolution data relates to CAM degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said fault detect means provides a fault data signal when said control signal has been absent longer than a predetermined count of said engine revolution data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) fault detect means for receiving; (i) said control signal; and (ii) engine revolution data from an engine used in conjunction with said fuel injection system; said fault detect means providing a fault protect signal when said control signal has been continuously in existence for too long in view of said engine revolution data; and (b) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) fault detect means for receiving; (i) said control signal; and (ii) engine revolution data from an engine used in conjunction with said fuel injection system; said fault detect means providing a fault protect signal when said control signal has been continuously in existence for too long in view of said engine revolution data; and (b) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said fault protect switch means functions to selectively open and close said power line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said engine revolution data relates to CAM degrees.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said "too long" criteria relates to a preselected specific number of CAM degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 8 and further including current sense means for sensing current flow through said solenoid and for producing a current sense signal in response thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein said fault detect means further receives said current sense signal, and functions to provide a fault data signal if said fault detect means senses that a control signal is present and no current is substantially simultaneously flowing through said solenoid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) current sense means for sensing current flow through said solenoid and for producing a current sense signal in response thereto; (b) fault detect means for receiving: (i) said current sense signal; (ii) said control signal; and (iii) engine revolution data; for providing (i) a fault protect signal when said current sense means provides said current sense signal and said control means does not substantially simultaneously provide said control signal; and (ii) a fault protect signal when said control signal has been in existence for too long in view of said engine revolution data; and (c) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a fuel injection system having at least one fuel injection valve for use with an engine, at least one solenoid for controlling said fuel injection valve, a power line operably connected to said solenoid, control means for providing a control signal, injector driver means responsive to said control signal for providing a drive signal, and switch means having selectively variable conductive states and being responsive to said drive signal for selectively closing and opening said power line to thereby control said solenoid, an improvement comprising: (a) current sense means for sensing current flow through said solenoid and for producing a current sense signal in response thereto; (b) fault detect means for receiving: (i) said current sense signal; (ii) said control signal; and (iii) engine revolution data; for providing (i) a fault protect signal when said current sense means provides said current sense signal and said control means does not substantially simultaneously provide said control signal; and (ii) a fault protect signal when said control signal has been in existence for too long in view of said engine revolution data; and (c) fault protect switch means responsive to said fault protect signal for preventing a flow of current through said solenoid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said fault detect means maintains a count related to said engine revolution data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein said engine revolution data relates to CAM degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said "too long" criteria relates to a specific number of said CAM degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said fault detect means provides a fault data signal when said control signal has been absent greater than a predetermined count of said CAM degrees.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said fault detect means provides a fault data signal if said fault detect means senses that said control signal is present and that substantially simultaneously therewith no current flows through said solenoid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |