Disclosed is a fuel injection valve in which a movable core and a fixed core are enclosed in a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has an annular groove formed therein, on an outer circumferential side of a region in which the movable core and the fixed core are opposed to each other, to define a thin portion of small wall thickness. In a cross section taken along a center axis of the fuel injection valve, the thin portion has curved line sections on both end sides thereof in a direction along the center axis such that the curved line sections respectively connect a bottom of the annular groove to side edges of the annular groove by curved lines. The curved line sections are provided over a range of larger dimension, from the respective side edges in the direction along the center axis, than a depth dimension of the annular groove.

Linear actuators are disclosed. The linear actuator comprises a thruster and a stator. The thruster includes a thruster winding, and the stator includes a stator winding. The stator is disposed about the thruster. The linear actuator also includes a sheath disposed about the stator and the thruster. The thruster is configured to translate within the sheath relative to the stator upon application of an electrical current to the stator winding, the thruster winding, or a combination thereof. The stator winding and the thruster winding each comprise a nonpermanent magnet.

A valve controller and method for controlling a valve having a solenoid are disclosed, including receiving a least one input signal, detecting a first edge of the at least one signal and in response to the detection activating the valve. Activating the valve includes activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase.

Linear actuators are disclosed. The linear actuator comprises a thruster and a stator. The thruster includes a thruster winding, and the stator includes a stator winding. The stator is disposed about the thruster. The linear actuator also includes a sheath disposed about the stator and the thruster. The thruster is configured to translate within the sheath relative to the stator upon application of an electrical current to the stator winding, the thruster winding, or a combination thereof. The stator winding and the thruster winding each comprise a nonpermanent magnet.

A valve controller and method for controlling a valve having a solenoid are disclosed, including receiving a least one input signal, detecting a first edge of the at least one signal and in response to the detection activating the valve. Activating the valve includes activating the valve in a rise-to-peak phase during which the valve is opened, a hold phase following the rise-to-peak phase during which the valve remains open and a current level of the valve is less than a current level of the valve during the rise-to-peak phase, and an ending-of-activation phase following the hold phase during which current ripple in the valve is less than the current ripple in the valve during the hold phase.