Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of fuel injection, comprising the steps of: providing a fuel injector having an electronically actuated valve that opens to permit flow of high pressure fluid into the injector to initiate injection when activated but is biased to close when deactivated to end injection; determining a desired amount of fuel to be injected; calculating an activation duration; determining whether the activation duration corresponds to a transition zone of operation for the electronically actuated valve; if within the transition zone then: calculating a revised activation duration; activating the electronically actuated valve; deactivating the electronically actuated valve; reactivating the electronically actuated valve for said revised activation duration; and deactivating the electronically actuated valve at the end of said revised activation duration; if outside the transition zone then: activating the electronically actuated valve for said activation duration; and deactivating the electronically actuated valve at the end of said activation duration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of fuel injection, comprising the steps of: providing a fuel injector having an electronically actuated valve that opens to permit flow of high pressure fluid into the injector to initiate injection when activated but is biased to close when deactivated to end injection; determining a desired amount of fuel to be injected; calculating an activation duration; determining whether the activation duration corresponds to a transition zone of operation for the electronically actuated valve; if within the transition zone then: calculating a revised activation duration; activating the electronically actuated valve; deactivating the electronically actuated valve; reactivating the electronically actuated valve for said revised activation duration; and deactivating the electronically actuated valve at the end of said revised activation duration; if outside the transition zone then: activating the electronically actuated valve for said activation duration; and deactivating the electronically actuated valve at the end of said activation duration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said activation duration is greater than said revised activation duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the transition zone determination step includes the steps of: determining a range of activation durations for the electronically actuated valve in which the amount of fuel injected decreases with each increase in activation duration; and setting said transition zone to encompass range of activation durations; and determining whether said activation duration falls within said transition zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a revised activation duration includes the steps of: determining an amount of time that the electronically actuated valve must be activated to inject said desired amount of fuel when fluid pressure within the injector is significantly raised before injection is initiated; and setting said revised activation duration about equal to said amount of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining a minimum activation duration necessary to start injection; and choosing a staging activation duration that is less than said minimum activation duration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the time between the activating step and the first deactivating step within the transition zone is about equal to said staging activation duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: determining an amount of time that the electronically actuated valve can be deactivated, after being activated for said staging activation duration, before fluid pressure within the injector drops significantly; choosing a staging deactivation duration about equal to said amount of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the time between the first deactivating step and the reactivating step within the transition zone is about equal to said staging deactivation duration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: supplying low pressure fuel into the fuel injector; supplying a high pressure fluid to the fuel injector; and pressurizing the fuel using the high pressure fluid when the electronically actuated valve is open.