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.

Various embodiments may include a method for actuating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive and a nozzle needle. The solenoid drive has a solenoid and a movable armature. The fuel injector has an idle stroke between the armature and the nozzle needle. An example method includes: applying a precharging current to the solenoid drive during a precharging phase to move the movable armature into mechanical contact with the nozzle needle; and applying a voltage pulse to the solenoid drive during a boost phase until the current intensity of the current flowing through the solenoid reaches a predetermined peak value.

A fuel injection control device includes a valve closing detection unit to detect a valve closing timing by using either of an electromotive force quantity detection mode and an timing detection mode and a selection unit to select either of the electromotive force quantity detection mode and the timing detection mode for detecting the valve closing timing, and the selection unit: selects the timing detection mode when a requested injection quantity is larger than a prescribed reference injection quantity in partial lift injection; and selects the electromotive force quantity detection mode when the requested injection quantity is smaller than the reference injection quantity.

Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of accurately detecting a valve opening delay time of a fuel injection valve, and implementing high-precision minute injection control. A valve opening delay time of a fuel injection valve is estimated on the basis of a plurality of valve closing delay times obtained when the fuel injection valve is operated with injection pulse widths that are different injection pulse widths from each other and with which the fuel injection valve is in an intermediate lift state.

A Dual-fuel combustion engine, possessing: a control device at least one combustion chamber at least one gas supply device for supplying a gaseous fuel to at least one combustion chamber, and at least one injector for injecting liquid fuel into the at least one combustion chamber, and which injector is controllable through a control device by the use of an actuator triggering signal, for which at least one injector possesses an output opening for the liquid fuel, which is closable by means of a needle (6), and for which the control device regulates through the use of the actuator triggering signal, the opening of the needle (6) in the ballistic region of the needle in a pilot operating mode of the combustion engine
to which end, an algorithm is stored in the control device, which receives, as input values, at least the actuator triggering signal (t) and, using an injector model, calculates the mass of liquid fuel introduced via the output opening of the injector, and which compares the mass calculated by means of the injector model with a required target value (m.sub.d.sup.ref) of the mass of liquid fuel, and on the basis of the result of such comparison, either leaves the actuator triggering signal (t) unchanged or corrects it, and a process for the operation of a combustion engine and of an injector.

In some embodiments, a method includes: setting an actuation time based on a predefined injection quantity; detecting a duration of a resulting closing process; calculating an injection quantity based on the time and the duration; determining the difference of the injection quantity and the predefined quantity; and determining a corrected value of the actuation time based on the difference; and using the corrected value to control further actuation of the fuel injector. The injection quantities and the actuation time are on a characteristic diagram of the relationship between the actuation time, the duration of the closing process, and the injection quantity.

A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of controlling fuel injection valves while causing valve-closing delay time periods, which occur with the valves actually mounted on the engine, to be reflected thereon, thereby making it possible to improve exhaust emission characteristics and fuel economy performance. The ECU of the control system performs initial value-specific control in fuel injection control and ignition timing control, such that initial value acquisition conditions are satisfied, so as to calculate the initial values of the valve-closing delay time periods when the initial value acquisition conditions are satisfied. When normal-time control is performed, the valve-opening time periods of the valves are calculated using the initial values of the valve-opening time periods, and the valves are controlled to be open over the valve-opening time periods.

An internal combustion engine including a control device, at least one combustion chamber, and at least one injector for injecting liquid fuel into the at least one combustion chamber is provided. The injector can be controlled by the control device by means of an actuator control signal. An algorithm is stored in the control device, which algorithm receives the actuator control signal and using an injector model calculates the amount of liquid fuel that is discharged via the discharge opening of the injector and compares the amount of liquid fuel calculated by means of the injector model with a desired target value of the amount of liquid fuel. Depending on the result of the comparison, the control device leaves the actuator control signal the same or corrects it.

An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a control device, and at least one injector for liquid fuel. The injector(s) can be controlled by the control device via an actuator control signal. The injector(s) include an injector outlet opening for the liquid fuel which can be closed by a needle. A sensor is also provided for measuring a measurement variable of the injector(s). The sensor is or can be in a signal connection with the control device. An algorithm is stored in the control device, which algorithm calculates a state of the injector(s) based on input variables and an injector model, compares the state calculated via the injector model with a target state, and produces a state signal in accordance therewith. The state signal is characteristic of a change in the state of the injector(s) that occurs during intended use of the injector(s) and/or an unforeseen change in the state of the injector(s). The input variables include at least the actuator control signal and the measurement values of the sensor. A method for operating such an internal combustion engine and an injector is also provided.

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.