The present application is based on and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-099422, filed on Jun. 8, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure generally relates to an injection control device.
The injection control device performs a boost switching control of a boost switch to charge a boost capacitor, and supplies a boost power from a battery power source
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an injection control device capable of avoiding a decrease in boost speed and appropriately performing injection control.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, elements corresponding to those which have been described in a preceding embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.
A first embodiment is described with reference to
The injection control device 1 includes a control IC 3, a boost circuit 4, and a drive circuit 5. The control IC 3 may be, for example, an integrated circuit device using an ASIC. The control IC 3 includes, for example, a controller such as a CPU or a logic circuit, a storage such as a RAM, a ROM, or an EEPROM, and comparators. The control IC 3 is configured to perform various control processes based on hardware and software. When a sensor signal is input from an external sensor (not shown), the control IC 3 calculates an injection instruction timing, and drives the drive circuit 5 according to the calculated injection instruction timing.
The drive circuit 5 includes an upstream switch 6 and a downstream switch 7. The upstream switch 6 is a switch provided on an upstream side of the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d, and includes a peak current drive switch (also known as a discharge switch, not shown) for turning ON/OFF of discharge of a boost power supply Vboost to the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d, and a battery voltage drive switch (also knowns as a constant-current switch, not shown) for performing constant current control using a battery power supply VB. The boost power supply Vboost is, for example, 65 volts, and the battery power supply VB is, for example, 12 volts. The peak current drive switch and the battery voltage drive switch may, for example, be implemented as an n-channel type MOS transistor, but other types of transistors such as bipolar transistors may be used as well. The downstream switch 7 is a switch provided on a downstream side of the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d, and includes a low-side drive switch for selecting a cylinder. Similar to the peak current drive switch and the battery voltage drive switch, the low-side drive switch may be implemented as an n-channel type MOS transistor, but other types of transistors such as bipolar transistors may be used as well.
The drive circuit 5 is driven by switching control of the upstream switch 6 and the downstream switch 7 according to an energization current profile by an energization controller 17 described later. When driven, the drive circuit 5 controls the opening and closing of the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d by performing peak current drive and constant current drive of the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d, and controls the injection of fuel into the internal combustion engine from the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d.
The boost circuit 4 is implemented as a DC/DC converter with a chopper circuit, which includes, for example, a boost coil 8 composed of an inductor, a boost switch 9 composed of, for example, a MOS transistor, a current detection resistor 10, a boost diode 11, and a boost capacitor 12 in the illustrated form. The specific structure of the boost circuit 4 is not limited to the illustrated form, and various structures can also be used. In the boost circuit 4, according to switching of the boost switch 9 under boost switching control of the boost controller 13, which will be described later, energy of the electric current stored in the boost coil 8 is rectified by the boost diode 11, and the rectified current energy is stored in the boost capacitor 12 by charging the boost capacitor 12, and the battery power supply VB is thus boosted to generate the boost power supply VBoost. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor may be used as the boost capacitor 12.
The control IC 3 includes a boost controller 13, a boost voltage monitor 14, a boost monitor timing controller 15, a logical AND circuit 16, and the energization controller 17. The functions provided by the control IC 3 can be provided by (a) a combination of software stored in a memory device, and a computer that executes the software, (b) software only, (c) hardware only, or (d) a combination thereof.
The boost controller 13 detects the current flowing through the current detection resistor 10, determines whether boosting is necessary or not by a boost necessity determiner 13a, and, upon determining that boosting is required when the boost voltage is equal to or lower than the boost start threshold (also known as Vstartboost), starts the boost switching control by the boost switch 9 to start boosting (see (A) in
The boost voltage monitor 14 detects the voltage between an anode and a ground of the boost capacitor 12, and monitors the boost voltage. As a monitor mode for monitoring the boost voltage, the boost voltage monitor 14 can switch between a continuous monitor mode (CMM) for continuously monitoring the boost voltage and a section monitor mode (SMM, also knowns as an intermittent monitor mode) for intermittently monitoring the boost voltage, for monitoring of the boost voltage. The boost voltage monitor 14 compares the boost voltage after passing through a low-pass filter 14a with a preset boost stop threshold value and a preset boost start threshold value (also known as Vstartboost) by using a comparator circuit 14b. When the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a exceeds the boost stop threshold value (see (C) in
For simplicity and possible use in equations, the following terms and variables are introduced.
“Filtered boost voltage” (Vfboost) defines the boost voltage (Vboost) after passing through the low-pass filter 14a.
“Vstartboost” is the boost start threshold value.
“Vstopboost” is the boost stop threshold value.
Looking at the “BOOST VOLTAGE MONITOR OUTPUT” in
Thus, boost voltage monitor 14 includes a memory function that remembers that condition (i) was satisfied until that memory is lost/erased when condition (ii) is satisfied. This memory logic may be performed quickly and cheaply with a relatively simple (and cheap, and fast) circuit called a flip-flop, as shown in
A flip-flop (or latch) is a circuit that has two stable states and can be used to store state information—a bistable multivibrator. The circuit can be made to change state by signals applied to one or more control inputs and will have one or two outputs.
The boost voltage monitor 14 is a flip-flop (or latch) that turns ON (or flips ON, or latches ON) when condition (i) is satisfied, and then turns OFF (or flips OFF, or latches OFF) when condition (ii) is satisfied.
In
When the boost controller 13 determines that the output terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 is switched from OFF to ON, the boost controller 13 shifts the monitor mode from the continuous monitor mode to the section monitor mode, by outputting a boost monitor section switch instruction to the boost monitor timing controller 15 for a switching of a boost monitor timing control, i.e., for switching from OFF (i.e., invalid) to ON (i.e., valid) of such control.
When the boost monitor timing controller 15 inputs the boost monitor section switch instruction from the boost controller 13, the boost monitor timing control is switched from invalid to valid, and the boost monitor timing controller 15 sets a boost monitor section for each of the boost switching control of the boost switch (not shown) in the section monitor mode (See (D) in
In other words, looking at
The boost monitor timing controller 15 switches the output to a second input terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 from OFF to ON when the timing after a predetermined time from the on-edge timing of the boost switch 9 arrives, and thereafter, when the off-edge timing of the boost switch 9 arrives, switches the output to the second input terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 from ON to OFF. That is, the boost monitor timing controller 15 keeps the output to the second input terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 to ON in the boost monitor section. The boost monitor timing controller 15 sets a boost monitor section for each boost switching control of the boost switch 9 to preemptively prevent an overboost situation.
The boost voltage rises as the boost switching control by the boost switch 9 progresses, but if the boost voltage does not reach a target voltage value, the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a in the boost monitor section will never reach a value that is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value. In such a state, the output from the output terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 to the boost necessity determiner 13a of the boost controller 13 is OFF. Thereafter, as the boost switching control by the boost switch 9 further progresses, the boost voltage rises, and when the boost voltage reaches the target voltage value, the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a in the boost monitor section becomes equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value. (See (E) in
When the input from the output terminal of the logical AND circuit 16 to the boost necessity determiner 13a is switched from OFF to ON, the boost controller 13 determines that boosting is unnecessary, stops the boost switching control by the boost switch 9, and stops boosting of the voltage. When the boost controller 13 stops boosting, the boost controller 13 stops the output of the boost monitor section switch instruction, instructs the boost monitor timing controller 15 to switch the boost monitor timing control from valid to invalid, shift the monitor mode from the section monitor mode to the continuous monitor mode, and stops the boost necessity determination by the boost necessity determiner 13a. When a switch instruction to switch the boost monitor timing control from valid to invalid is input from the boost controller 13, the boost monitor timing controller 15 switches the boost monitor timing control from valid to invalid.
Next, the operation of the above configuration is described with reference to
The control IC 3 compares the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a with the boost stop threshold value, and determines whether or not the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value (S4). When the control IC 3 determines that the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value (S4: YES), the control IC 3 stops the continuous monitor mode, and shifts from the continuous monitor mode to the section monitor mode (S5), and continues boosting by continuing the boost switching control (S6). The control IC 3 stops the continuous monitoring of the boost voltage by stopping the continuous monitor mode.
The control IC 3 determines whether or not it has entered the boost monitor section (S7), and if the control IC 3 determines that it has entered the boost monitor section (S7: YES), the control IC 3 monitors the boost voltage in the boost monitor section (S8), and determines whether or not the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a in the boost monitor section is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value (S9). When the control IC 3 determines that the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a in the boost monitor section is not equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value (S9: NO), the control IC 3 returns to step S6, and repeats step S6 and subsequent steps.
On the other hand, when the control IC 3 determines that the boost voltage after passing through the low-pass filter 14a in the boost monitor section is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value (S9: YES), the control IC 3 stops the boost switching control and stops boosting (S10), and stops the section monitor mode, shifts the monitor mode from the section monitor mode to the continuous monitor mode (S11), and ends the boost monitor process, and waits for an occurrence of a start event of the next boost monitor process.
Since the accuracy of the boost voltage affects the accuracy of the injection amount of the fuel injection valves 2a to 2d, during a high engine rotation time or multi-stage injection time which shortens the injection cycle to a minimum injection cycle, it is essential, i.e., absolutely necessary, for the boost voltage that has dropped by the discharge due to injection to reach/recover the target voltage value before the next injection as shown in
As shown in
According to the first embodiment, in the injection control device 1, in view of the fact that the boost voltage jumps up due to the ESR which is a DC resistance component of the boost capacitor 12, by setting the boost monitor section (a) from a timing after lapse of the predetermined time from the on-edge timing of the boost switch 9 (b) to the off-edge timing thereof, upon detecting an increase of the boost voltage in such boost monitor section being equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value, the boost switching control is stopped for stopping boosting. As a result, unlike the conventional, simple configuration in which the boosting is stopped when the boost voltage exceeds (i.e., is equal to or greater than) the boost stop threshold, the timing of stop of boosting is more appropriately determinable by determining the boost voltage in the boost monitor section. As a result, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the boost speed, and it is possible to appropriately perform injection control.
In the injection control device 1, when the boost voltage is equal to or higher than the boost stop threshold value in the continuous monitor mode, the continuous monitor mode is shifted to the section monitor mode. By providing a continuous monitor mode that continuously monitors the boost voltage, it is possible to continuously determine whether or not the boost voltage is equal to or lower than the boost start threshold value, and when the boost voltage is equal to or lower than the boost start threshold value, boosting can be started quickly.
In the injection control device 1, when the boosting is stopped, the section monitor mode is shifted to the continuous monitor mode. By shifting to the continuous monitor mode, the next start of boosting can be appropriately prepared, and when the boost voltage becomes equal to or lower than the boost start threshold value, the boosting can be started quickly.
In the injection control device 1, the boost monitor section is set for each boost switching control. Thus, it is possible to avoid the situation of overpressurization.
The injection control device 1 is provided with a timer counter 15a for measuring a predetermined time. By setting the predetermined time as a count value of the timer counter 15a, the boost monitor section can be set by the count value of the timer counter 15a.
A second embodiment is described with reference to
The gradient of the boost current during boost switching control fluctuates greatly depending on the battery voltage and the temperature characteristics of the boost coil. If an ON time of the boost switching control fluctuates, it also affects the monitor section. Therefore, if the worst case is considered for setting the ON time, the range of effect will decrease. Therefore, it is possible to maximize the effect by making the predetermined time proportionally follow the change of the ON time of the boost switching control.
The boost monitor timing controller 15 measures the ON time of the boost switching control, and sets a time obtained by subtracting an arbitrary time from the ON time as a predetermined time. The arbitrary time is a time/duration required for monitoring, and is the time including a filter time (including a soft filter) and a processing time of a determination logic. Further, the boost monitor timing controller 15 measures the ON time of the boost switching control, and sets the time calculated as proportional to the ON time as a predetermined time. The time that is proportional to the ON time is a time obtained by multiplying the ON time by a predetermined coefficient (for example, 80% or the like).
According to the second embodiment, the injection control device 1 can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment, can avoid a decrease in the boost speed, and can appropriately perform the injection control.
In the injection control device 1, the predetermined time is set variably. For example, an optimum predetermined time can be set by variably setting the predetermined time by software in consideration of the battery voltage, the temperature characteristics of the boost coil 8, and the like, and the optimum boost monitor section can be set.
In the injection control device 1, a time obtained by subtracting an arbitrary time from the ON time of the boost switching control is set as a predetermined time. A predetermined time can be set by subtracting an arbitrary time from the ON time with reference to the ON time of the boost switching control.
In the injection control device 1, the time calculated to be proportional to the ON time of the boost switching control is set as the predetermined time. A predetermined time can be set by calculating a time that is proportional to the ON time with reference to the ON time of the boost switching control.
In the injection control device 1, the ON time of the boost switching control in the continuous monitor mode is measured, and a predetermined time is set based on the ON time of the boost switching control in the continuous monitor mode. The influence of variation can be reduced by adopting an average value of a predetermined number of times of measurement of the ON time as the ON time of the boost switching control in the continuous monitor mode immediately before shifting to the section monitor mode.
The low-pass filter 14a receives the boost voltage Vboost and outputs a filtered boost voltage Vfboost.
The first comparator 42 receives the filtered boost voltage Vfboost and compares it to a boost stop threshold value Vstopboost. If Vfboost>Vstopboost (see point C in
The second comparator 44 receives the boost start threshold value Vstartboost and compares it to the filtered boost voltage Vfboost. If Vstartboost>Vfboost, then the second comparator output R is ON or HI. Output R acts as a Reset input for the latch 46.
The latch 46 may be an S-R (set-reset) flip-flop, and receives the first comparator 42 output S as a set input that sets an output Q to ON or HI when the set input transitions (leading edge rise) from OFF to ON (or from LOW to HI). Some latches use leading edges of inputs, some latches use an input value at a clocked time. Upon receiving a setting input (S=ON), the latch sets the latch output Q to ON. Note, an additional latch output (not shown) may be set to OFF.
After being set or latched due to S=ON, the latch maintains a set output (Q=ON) even if the setting input S changes to S=OFF. Thus, the latch is a memory. Specifically, the latch (or flip-flop) is a circuit that has two stable states and can be used to store state information—a bistable multivibrator. The circuit can be made to change state by signals applied to one or more control inputs and will have one or two outputs. More complex circuits with more inputs and/or more outputs may be used, if they include at least one bit of memory.
After being set or latched to Q=ON, the latch may be reset (to Q=OFF) by inputting a reset input R=ON or HI. Thus, the reset effectively clears the memory, and resets the output to an initial or default value of Q=OFF or LOW.
In the present embodiment, the memory function is essential because the latched output Q to the AND gate 16 must remain set ON (even if Vfboost falls below Vstopboost) until the resetting condition (Vfboost<Vstartboost) is satisfied in the second comparator 44.
This setting, holding due to memory, then resetting is illustrated by the output pulses shown in the 5th graph in
Although the present disclosure has been described in accordance with the examples, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples or structures. The present disclosure incorporates various modifications and variations within the scope of equivalents. Additionally, various combinations and configurations, as well as other combinations and configurations including more, less, or only a single element, are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
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2020-099422 | Jun 2020 | JP | national |
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