Various embodiments include a method for controlling a pressure dissipation valve comprising a closure element, a spring applying a spring force urging the closure element toward the closed position, and an electromagnetic actuator responding to an applied voltage to urge the closure element to an open position. The method may include: applying a constant voltage until the closure element begins motion counter to the spring force; immediately ending the voltage upon the beginning of motion; thereafter, applying a pulsed voltage to the actuator to induce a substantially constant holding-open current intensity; maintaining the pulsed voltage for a predetermined duration to hold the closure element open; and interrupting the application of voltage after the predetermined duration, wherein the closure element moves into the closed position as a result of the spring force.

A method for detecting variations between the quantities of fuel injected into cylinders by fuel injection devices and correcting the fuel injection quantity variation while minimizing the computational load on a drive device and the level of performance required of a pressure sensor includes a drive device for fuel injection control, wherein movable valves are driven so that predetermined quantities of fuel are injected by applying, for the duration of a set energization time, a current that will reach an energization current to solenoids of a plurality of fuel injection devices which open/close fuel flow paths. The drive device is characterized in that the set energization time or energization current is corrected on the basis of a pressure detection value from a pressure sensor that is attached to a fuel supply pipe disposed upstream of the plurality of fuel injection devices.

Methods and systems are provided for moving an injector needle of a fuel injector assembly from a first position to a second position to provide a first fuel injection at the first position, and moving the needle from the second position to the third position to provide a second fuel injection at the third position, and moving the needle back to the first position via the second position, and providing a third fuel injection at the second position. In this way, three fuel injections may be performed during a single actuation cycle of the injector during a single combustion cycle.

The present disclosure relates to the field of electromechanics. The teachings may be applied to high-pressure valves, including methods for operating a valve and with devices which are used for activating the valves. Some embodiments include methods for operating a pressure reduction valve for an accumulator injection system, wherein the valve is driven, against a return spring, with an energizable coil and armature, between a closed position and an open position. The method may include: supplying the coil with a defined electrical signal to move the armature, sensing the current intensity profile over time, and determining a movement profile for the defined current signal, including an opening or closing time, based at least in part on the current intensity profile over time.

A control apparatus, which controlling an operation of an injector provided to an internal combustion engine, includes: a voltage application unit applying a voltage raised to have a step-up target value to the injector to open the injector; a current measurement unit measuring a drive current supplied to the injector in response to an application of the voltage; and a calculator calculating a current difference value which indicates a difference between an actually-measured profile and a reference profile. The actually-measured profile indicates a time-variation in an actually-measured value of the drive current, and the reference profile is a profile set in advance. The step-up target value is corrected according to the current difference value that is calculated.

According to the present invention, by providing control whereby a rising slope or a descending slope of step-up current flowing to a step-up coil is detected, and corrections are made to step-up switching control, the step-up upper and lower limit current values of the step-up circuit can be controlled within intended current threshold values regardless of constant modifications or change in characteristics due to fluctuations of the battery power supply voltage or degradation of step-up circuit elements over time; heat emission by step-up circuit elements can be kept to a minimum; and the step-up recovery time can be adjusted to a constant value regardless of the slope of the step-up current.

An engine includes a fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a valve body and an electromagnetic part that moves by energizing the valve body from a valve-closed position to a valve-open position. The fuel injector injects fuel when the valve body is moved to the valve-open position. In fuel injection, an ECU feeds a pre-charge current smaller than a current for operating the valve body, to the electromagnetic part in a pre-charge period at the beginning of a start of energization, and subsequently feeds a drive current for operating the valve body, to the electromagnetic part. Further, the ECU acquires a current change parameter as a parameter correlated with a speed of a rising change in drive current, and controls the feed of the pre-charge current to the electromagnetic part of the fuel injector, based on the acquired current change parameter.

A method for providing consistent actuator events for each of a plurality of consecutive actuator events of an electromagnetic actuator, includes applying a first bi-directional current waveform for a first actuator event and applying a second bi-directional current waveform for a second actuator event immediately subsequent to the first actuator event. The first bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in a first direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in a reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position. The second bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in the reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in the first direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position.

A method for detecting the commencement of opening of the nozzle needle of an injector of an injection system. In the detection method, the coil of the solenoid injector has a voltage applied to it which is so low that the armature is moved toward the nozzle needle at such a low speed that the abutment causes a stoppage of the armature movement, without the nozzle needle being opened. In this case, the idle travel is overcome, but no injection process is initiated. The abutment of the armature against the nozzle needle is detected, in the current profile, as the commencement of opening of the nozzle needle.

The invention relates to a method for operating a piston pump, which is driven by means of a coil (1) of an electromagnet, wherein a piston (2) of the piston pump can be moved against a restoring force by means of the electromagnet, wherein a voltage (U) is applied to the coil (1) during a switch-on duration such that a current (I) flows through the coil (1) and the piston (2) is accelerated, wherein two different quenching methods are used for the current (I) in the coil (1).