An ECU as a valve body operation estimation device includes a sampling unit that obtains at least one of voltage and current of the electromagnetic coil as sample values at intervals of a predetermined time in a sampling period set based on a predetermined reference timing, a variation calculation unit that calculates a degree of variation of the sample values obtained in the sampling period, a variation waveform which represents a change of the degree of variation caused by shifting the reference timing including a point at which the degree of variation reduces and then rises as the reference timing is delayed, the point referred to as a rising start point, and a timing estimation unit that estimates an operation timing of a valve body based on the reference timing at the rising start point.

A method for monitoring an injector for common-rail injection systems includes detecting an electrical signal indicative of a deformation of a diaphragm of a head plate having a reaction surface facing a control chamber of the injector and processing the deformation signal to determine characteristic data of the operation of the injector.

A method for detecting the malfunction of a software solution configured to generate data representing the instant of interruption of fuel injection of an internal combustion engine. The method comprises acquiring data by a data acquisition device which is connected to a measurement device fixed to an injector body and configured to emit data representing closure instants of an injection nozzle, recording the data generated by the software solution and the data emitted by the measurement device, over a predetermined duration, synchronizing the data generated by the software solution and the data emitted by the measurement device, and comparing the data generated by the software solution and the data emitted by the measurement device, the software solution being considered to be malfunctioning when they do not satisfy predefined criteria.

A fuel injector includes a noise sensor fixed to the body fixed on the injector body to record knocks relevant to the end travel of a control valve and of a needle.

To reduce collision noise caused when an electromagnetic valve of a high-pressure fuel supply pump is opened. Therefore, in a control device for controlling a high-pressure fuel supply pump including: an anchor; a fixed core configured to attract the anchor with an electromagnetic force; a suction valve configured to be opened or closed when the anchor is sucked by the fixed core; and an electromagnetic force generation unit configured to generate the electromagnetic force when applied with a driving voltage, it can be achieved by providing a control unit configured to perform control to lower a driving current from a peak current before a timing at which the anchor is sucked by the fixed core and collides in an operation state where an engine is under no load and an engine rotation speed is equal to or less than a set rotation speed.

The invention relates to a device for sensing the state of an injector, comprising an injector for injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber, a switch, which is designed to change the switching state thereof in accordance with the state of the injector, and an evaluating unit for sensing the switching state of the switch, wherein a first switch contact of the switch is connected to an electrical input line of the injector, a second switch contact of the switch is connected to ground, and the evaluating unit is designed to carry out a first current measurement for a current flowing into the injector and into the switch and a second current measurement for the current flowing into the injector.

A method for operating a fuel injection system for a vehicle is provided. In particular, the fuel injection system includes an injection nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle orifice and a nozzle needle movable in the nozzle body. The method including: measuring an actual injection timing of the injection nozzle during injection based on an electrical signal generated by the nozzle needle through an electric contact with the nozzle body so that the electrical signal identifies an open state and a closed state of the injection nozzle; calculating a deviation of the actual injection timing from a scheduled injection timing of the fuel injection system; and controlling the injection nozzle by adjusting injection parameters of the injection nozzle based on the evaluated deviation.

A nozzle assembly of a fuel injector includes a nozzle body in which a needle member is adapted to translate. The nozzle assembly is further provided with an electrical circuit so that an electrical signal enabling contact detection is measurable between the needle member and the nozzle body. The nozzle assembly also includes a piezoresistive device which continuously varies the electrical signal during the final closing displacements, or the initial opening displacements, of the needle, the variations of the signal being a function of a differential pressure.

A device and a method are provided for determining a stroke of an armature of a magnetic valve which has a coil and the armature is displaceable by magnetic force, including: providing at least one reference data set which includes a magnitude of a current through the coil and a magnitude of the magnetic flux in the case of a known magnitude of the stroke; generating a current flow through the coil of the magnetic valve in order to generate a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the armature, which magnetic force displaces the armature in the direction for the opening of a closure element coupled to the armature; determining a magnitude of the magnetic flux when the armature abuts against a driver of the closure element; and determining the magnitude of the stroke based upon the determined magnitude of the magnetic flux and the reference data set.

A fuel injection system for fuel metering may include an injection nozzle, which includes a nozzle body, a nozzle needle, and a nozzle orifice, wherein nozzle needle is disposed in the nozzle body; a control piston configured to mechanically and electrically contact the nozzle needle in an axial direction opposite to the nozzle orifice; a transmitter configured to communicate with a controller and electrically contact the nozzle needle via the control piston; wherein the controller is configured to determine an open state and a closed state between the nozzle needle and the nozzle body via an electrical signal detected by the transmitter; and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the open state and the closed state in correlation with a fuel injection quantity.