The present invention relates to a method for operating a valve actuated by an actuator, in particular, an injection valve of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, where the actuator is activated using an activation signal characterizing a desired opening duration of the valve. In addition, the present invention relates to a control unit for implementing such a method.
Valves of the type mentioned above that are actuated by actuators are used, for example, as fuel injectors of internal combustion engines having common-rail injection systems, as are used in motor vehicles. In a preferred specific embodiment, such fuel injectors have a control valve that is controlled by the actuator. In this context, opening the control valve causes, for example, a valve needle of the fuel injector to open, the needle lift of the valve needle preferably following a time characteristic of the lift that is primarily a function of a fuel pressure. Accordingly, closing the control valve via corresponding activation of the actuator reverses the movement direction of the valve needle of the injection valve and consequently initiates the closing operation. In the closing operation, the movement of the valve also follows a predetermined lift characteristic, which is mainly determined by the fuel pressure. Accordingly, an injection duration during the actuation of the fuel injector is mainly determined by the opening duration of the control valve. In the case of modern, pressure-equalized control valves, in particular, the valve seat is already substantially de-throttled at very small lifts, which means that the time interval between the lifting of a valve element of the control valve off its seat and the re-entry of the valve element into its seat may be defined as an effective opening duration of the control valve.
However, in conventional systems, the actual opening duration of the control valve contained in the fuel injector is not known, but only an activation duration during which the actuator of the fuel injector is activated for actuating the control valve. As a rule, so-called valve delay times, which are normally not constant, and which reduce a precision in the fuel metering in conventional systems, occur between a start of the activation of the actuator and the actual opening of the fuel injector, and between an end of the activation of the actuator and an actual closing time of the fuel injector.
An object of the present invention is to improve a method and a control unit of the type mentioned above, such that an increased precision is obtained with regard to the injection.
In accordance with the present invention, this object may be achieved by correcting the activation signal characterizing the desired opening duration, as a function of a valve delay time, in order to obtain a corrected activation signal for activating the actuator; the valve delay time representing a temporal deviation between the activation signal and an actual change of an operating state of at least one component of the valve, in particular, a valve needle.
The consideration of the valve delay time according to an example embodiment of the present invention may advantageously allow the activation signal used for activating the actuator to be corrected in such a manner, in particular, for subsequent activation instances, that an actual opening duration of the valve corresponds better to the desired opening duration.
A particularly advantageous specific embodiment of the method of the present invention provides that the activation signal be corrected as a function of an actual closing delay time of the valve ascertained, in particular, metrologically and/or based on a model; the actual closing delay time corresponding to a time lag between an end of the activation duration determined by the activation signal, and, an actual closing time. In this manner, fluctuating closing delay times, which may result, for example, due to the effects of ageing of valve components and variable environmental conditions (rail pressure, temperature, return back pressure), may also be taken into account.
If the injection valve operated according to the example embodiment of the present invention has a control valve, then the closing time of the control valve may also be advantageously considered in the calculation of the closing delay time.
A further increase in the precision of the example method according to the present invention may be advantageously achieved by taking into account a bounce of a valve needle of the valve during the determination of the actual closing delay time. With knowledge of the variables characterizing the bouncing event (e.g., opening duration during bouncing, number of bouncing events per activation cycle), the regular closing delay time may be increased by an appropriate factor, for example.
In a manner analogous to the present invention's consideration of the actual closing delay time, in a further advantageous specific embodiment of the operating method of the present invention, the activation signal may also be corrected as a function of an actual opening delay time of the valve, which corresponds to a time lag between a start of the activation duration determined by the activation signal and an actual opening time. The actual opening delay time may also be ascertained either metrologically and/or based on a model, which means that fluctuating opening delay times may also be advantageously taken into account.
If the injection valve operated according to the present invention has a control valve, then, in the scope of the method of the present invention, the opening time of the control valve may also be advantageously considered in the calculation of the opening delay time.
In a further, highly advantageous specific embodiment of the operating method of the present invention, an uncorrected activation duration is ascertained as a function of operating variables of the internal combustion engine, in particular, as a function of a setpoint quantity to be injected by the valve and/or of a fuel pressure, preferably using a first characteristics map; and that the uncorrected activation duration be corrected with the aid of a closing delay time correction value, which is ascertained as a function of the actual closing delay time.
A corresponding correction of an initially uncorrected activation duration with the aid of a correction value for the opening delay time is also possible.
A control unit may be used to implement the example embodiment of the present invention. The present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer program, which is able to be run on a processing unit of a control unit.
Additional features, possible uses and advantages of the present invention are derived from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which are illustrated in the figures. In this context, all of the described or illustrated features form the subject matter of the present invention, either alone or in any combination, irrespective of their combination in the description and the figures.
a, 1b, 1c show different operating states of an injection valve operated according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
a, 4b, 4c show in each instance, a different specific embodiment of an operating method according to the present invention.
a, 5b show further specific embodiments of the operating method according to the present invention.
a through 1c show a specific embodiment of an injection valve 100 of a common-rail fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine in different operating states of an injection cycle, the injection valve being designed to inject fuel.
a shows injection valve 100 in its resting state, in which it is not energized by the control unit 200 assigned to it. In this connection, a solenoid valve spring 111 presses a valve ball 105 into a seat of outflow throttle 112 provided for it, which means that a fuel pressure corresponding to the rail pressure may build up in valve control chamber 106, as also prevails in the region of high-pressure connection 113.
The rail pressure is also present in chamber volume 109, which surrounds valve needle 116 of injection valve 100. The forces applied to the end face of control piston 115 by the rail pressure, as well as the force of nozzle spring 107, hold valve needle 116 closed in opposition to an opening force that acts upon pressure shoulder 108 of valve needle 116.
Starting out from the resting state depicted in
With the opening of outflow throttle 112, fuel may now flow off out of valve control chamber 106 into the cavity situated above it, as shown in
Subsequently, i.e., after lifting off from the valve needle seat, valve needle 116 follows a generally ballistic trajectory by the action of, primarily, the hydraulic forces in chamber volume 109 and in valve control chamber 106.
As soon as electromagnetic actuator 102, 104 (
The fuel injection is brought to an end, as soon as valve needle 116 reaches its valve needle seat in the region of spray orifices 110 and closes them.
All in all, the injection duration of the fuel injection effected by injection valve 100 is generally determined by the opening duration of control valve 104, 105, 112.
First of all, electromagnetic actuator 102, 104 (
Due to a non-zero opening delay time t11, valve ball 105 first moves out of its closing position in the region of outflow throttle 112 as of actual opening time topen. Opening delay time t11 is determined, inter alia, by the mechanical and hydraulic configuration of injection valve 100 and of the control valve.
As shown in the diagram of
According to the graph that is illustrated in
As shown in
If valve ball 105 of the control valve also exhibits bouncing action during its closing operation, then, due to this, further, relatively brief time intervals, during which the control valve is not completely closed, and during which fuel from valve control chamber 106 is accordingly discharged through outflow throttle 112, also occur after actual closing time ts. The consideration of such bounce times tbounce as an effective extension of closing delay time t2 is described below in detail.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that activation signal I (in this case, an activation current), which characterizes a desired opening duration for injection valve 100, be corrected as a function of at least one valve delay time, in order to obtain a corrected activation signal Icorr (
That is, in one specific embodiment of the method according to the present invention, activation signal I, in particular, its parameter characterizing activation duration ET (
However, a conventional operating method for an injection valve 100, which does not carry out a correction of activation signal I or its parameter ET in accordance with the present invention, is initially described below with reference to the flow chart shown in
In a first functional block 201 implemented, for example, using a characteristics map, in the conventional operating method, activation duration ET for the activation of electromagnetic actuator 102, 104 of the control valve is ascertained with a corresponding current I (
As it were, when controlling the control valve with the aid of this signal that represents activation duration ET and is ascertained in a conventional manner, delay times t11, t2, which are described above in further detail and are, generally, variable over time, join conventionally ascertained activation duration ET as disturbance variables, which means that control chamber 106 of injection valve 100 is controlled using a modified activation variable Top=ET−t11+t2. In
Due to the influence of the generally unwanted delay times t11, t2 already described above, the fuel quantity actually injected Qactual does not, generally, correspond to the setpoint fuel quantity to be injected Qsetpoint, which is the basis of the calculation of activation duration ET in control unit 200 (
Accordingly, the example method of the present invention advantageously provides a correction of activation duration ET as a function of at least one valve delay time of injection valve 100 or of its control valve.
A first specific embodiment of the operating method according to the present invention is described below with reference to the flow chart shown in
Uncorrected activation duration ET* is presently calculated by a first characteristics map KF1 as a function of operating variables Qsetpoint, pactual. First characteristics map KF1 is preferably a static characteristics map, which remains unchanged over the entire service life of control unit 200 and of injection valve 100.
A setpoint closing delay time t2*, which is subtracted from the actual closing delay time t2actual metrologically determined according to the present invention in first adder a_1, is ascertained by second characteristics map KF2, from setpoint quantity Qsetpoint and rail pressure pactual; the second characteristics map also being implemented in control unit 200. Accordingly, a closing delay time adaptation value t2adap=t2actual−t2* is generated on the output side of first adder a_1.
Setpoint closing delay time t2* supplied by characteristics map KF2 represents the closing delay time t2, which the control valve must have in order that, given above-described interference effects t11, t2, uncorrected activation duration ET* produces the desired valve opening duration of the control valve and, consequently, the desired injection quantity.
The closing delay time adaptation value t2adap ascertained according to the present invention is supplied to a third characteristics map KF3.
From input variables Qsetpoint and pactual third characteristics map KF3 ascertains a closing delay time correction value Δt2, which is used in accordance with the present invention to correct uncorrected activation duration value ET*; this is arithmetically performed by subtracting closing delay time correction value Δt2 from uncorrected activation duration ET* with the aid of second adder a_2: ET=ET*−Δt2.
Closing delay time adaptation value t2adap acts advantageously upon adaptively configured, third characteristics map KF3 and influences, in this manner, in accordance with the present invention, the calculation of closing delay time correction value Δt2 as a function of actual closing delay time t2actual. By suitably calibrating third characteristics map KF3 and suitably modifying adaptive characteristics map KF3 using closing delay time adaptation value t2adap, in this manner, it is advantageously ensured that in response to a changing, actual closing delay time t2actual, closing delay time correction value Δt2 is also correspondingly changed.
According to a specific embodiment, the measurement of actual closing delay time t2actual in accordance with the present invention may be carried out continuously or also periodically. As an alternative, it is possible to only determine actual closing delay time t2actual metrologically, e.g., ascertain it based on a model, if specifiable, e.g., applicable, acceptance conditions are present. In addition, the manner in which closing delay time adaptation value t2adap influences adaptive, third characteristics map KF3 may be realized in various ways in a manner known to one skilled in the art, e.g., including filtering, consideration of the effect on adjacent points of reference of third characteristics map KF3, etc. A measuring principle for the closing delay time is described, for example, in German Patent No. DE 38 43 138.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the method illustrated in
Due to the correction of activation duration ET as a function of the closing delay time t2 that is presently determined metrologically in accordance with the present invention, it produces an agreement between fuel quantity actually injected Qactual and desired fuel quantity Qsetpoint that is better than the conventional method schematically represented in
The flow chart described below with reference to
In
To take opening delay time t11 into account, an example embodiment of the present invention provides further functional block 220 in
In a manner analogous to the function of second characteristics map KF2 shown in
Just as in the case of variable t2*, setpoint opening delay time t11* is a delay time, as is yielded as a function of operating variables, for a reference injection valve, for example, an injection valve 100 whose condition is new. Therefore, to initialize characteristics maps KF2, KF4, variables t2*, t11* may be ascertained, for example, by measurements at the reference valves at all operating points (Qsetpoint, pactual) Of interest.
According to the present invention, an opening delay time adaptation value t11adap is calculated by subtraction of setpoint opening delay time t11* from metrologically determined, actual opening delay time t11, which is rendered arithmetically possible by adder a_6.
Opening delay time adaptation value t11adap is supplied to fifth characteristics map KF5, which is an adaptive characteristics map, and which allows a modification of the functional relationship between an opening delay time correction value Δt11 and operating variables Qsetpoint, pactual supplied on the input side and opening delay time adaptation value t11adap in a manner analogous to third characteristics map KF3 shown in
In this manner, an opening delay time correction value Δt11, which is dynamically obtained as a function of actual delay time t11actual and setpoint opening delay time t11*, may be calculated over the entire operation of injection valve 100.
Using adder a_5, opening delay time correction value Δt11 is combined with value ET for the activation duration, as is obtained by the functional block 210 already described with reference to
The value ET′ for the activation duration that is corrected by the two valve delay times t11 and t2 in accordance with the present invention is supplied to injection valve 100, where it is initially subjected to the influence of real valve delay times t11, t2, as already described with reference to
In the exemplary embodiment of the operating method of the present invention illustrated in
A simplified functional structure for correcting the activation signal or activation duration ET as a function of the two valve delay times t11, t2 is shown in
In the specific embodiment shown in
Correction value ΔTop for the opening time is added to uncorrected activation duration value ET* by second adder a_2, so that at the output of second adder a_2, an activation value ET corrected according to the present invention is generated for output to injection valve 100.
That is, in the specific embodiment shown in
In characteristics maps KF2, KF2′, KF3, KF4, KF5, KF6, uncorrected activation duration ET* may also be used as an input variable in place of setpoint fuel quantity Qsetpoint.
According to a further specific embodiment of the operating method of the present invention, the situation of the bouncing of valve ball 105 (
The virtual closing duration extension may be ascertained, for example, as a function of a characteristics map stored in control unit 200 or a characteristic curve. The extended closing delay time may then be used in place of previous value t2 or t2actual for correcting the value for activation duration ET in accordance with the present invention.
According to a particularly preferred variant of the present invention, at the beginning of an operating period of injection valve 100, setpoint value characteristics maps KF2, KF2′, KF4 may be adaptively changeable for a limited operating-duration performance interval. In this variant, the corresponding actual values of an injection valve 100 whose condition is new are initially written to the setpoint value characteristics map. A result of this is that only changes in the valve delay time of injection valve 100 in the course of its service life are corrected, but not deviations of its valve delay time in the new state from a specified setpoint value.
a shows a flowchart for implementing a further specific embodiment of the operating method according to the present invention.
First of all, in place of activation duration ET, for the driving of injection valve 100, i.e., of its electromagnetic actuator 102, 104 with activation current I, a setpoint opening duration Top* of the control valve of injection valve 100 is ascertained by characteristics map KF7 from operating variables Qsetpoint, pactual. Characteristics map KF7 preferably remains unchanged over the entire service life of injection valve 100, that is, it is a static characteristics map.
According to the present invention, expected opening delay time t11* is added to setpoint opening duration Top* by adder a_8. Depending on the opening characteristics of the control valve, expected opening delay time t11* may be a fixed value or also a value ascertained by a preferably static characteristics map, e.g., as a function of setpoint quantity Qsetpoint and fuel pressure pactual.
The specific embodiment of the operating method according to the present invention, which is illustrated in
Using adder a_7, correction value t2b is taken into account in the calculation of activation duration ET as follows: ET=Top*+t11*−t2b. Therefore, the effect of actual closing delay time t2 on the injection quantity may be compensated for by appropriately adjusting activation duration ET. The further “processing” of activation duration ET inside of injection valve 100 in
A further structure of a flow chart representing an example embodiment of the method of the present invention, which is simplified in comparison with the variant of the present invention described above with reference to
Here, in place of setpoint opening duration Top* via characteristics map KF7, the sum of setpoint opening duration Top* and expected opening delay time tn* is already obtained by means of characteristics map KF9 as a function of operating variables Qsetpoint, pactual. Correction value t2b is obtained in a manner analogous to the method variant described with regard to
For the case in which a measured value or value ascertained on the basis of a model is also available for opening delay time t11, then, in the variants of the present invention described with reference to
State Z_0 corresponds to a condition of control unit 200 (
In subsequent state Z_1, characteristics map KF2 is initially supplied with average closing duration values or closing delay times t2* of an injection valve regarded as ideal, which are obtained, for example, in the scope of a series of measurements over several injection valves and held in reserve for this purpose at the end of a manufacturing process of injection valve 100. Simultaneously to this, the further characteristics map KF3 (
State Z_2, which is also referred to as new-state learning phase, and in which actually-occurring, closing delay times t2* of injection valve 100 are determined, e.g., metrologically, and stored in characteristics map KF2 as a function of operating point, follows state Z_1. In comparison with preceding states Z_0, Z_1, state Z_2 is characterized in that it may first be assumed, when injection valve 100 initiates its operation in the injection system of the internal combustion engine. A separate characteristics map KF2, KF3 is advantageously provided for each injection valve 100 of the internal combustion engine, in order to take into account, inter alia, deviations in parts.
New-state learning phase Z_2 may also advantageously provide low-pass filtering of closing delay times t2* to be learned, in order to minimize the negative influence of outliers on the learning process.
Since characteristics map KF2 is normally formed by a predefined grid of value pairs (Qsetpoint, pactual) which are each assigned a closing delay time value t2*, the use of interpolation or smoothing methods may also be provided, in order to determine, starting out from the values of Qsetpoint, pactual actually occurring during the operation of injection valve 100, which pair of values (Qsetpoint, pactual) of characteristics map KF2 is assigned the value to be learned, or to what extent a value to be learned is to be modified, e.g., as a function of adjacent, already learned values of characteristics map KF2, in order to take into account a difference between the actual values for Qsetpoint, pactual and the grid of characteristics map KF2.
The values of correction characteristics map KF3 also remain initialized with zero values during state Z_2. After each operating cycle, the values of characteristics map KF2 learned during state Z_2 are continuously saved, so that they are used as a starting point for a subsequent driving cycle.
New-state learning phase Z_2 is preferably limited to a specifiable maximum number of learning cycles per operating point, i.e., per pair of values (Qsetpoint, pactual) and/or to a specifiable period of time. A failure to reach a minimum required learning change is used as a further criterion for the successful completion of the learning phase, i.e., as soon as the learning process results in only a slight modification of values already learned, the learning process is regarded as complete.
As soon as these criteria are satisfied, characteristics map KF2 is regarded as sufficiently adapted to respective injection valve 100 and, consequently, as “learned.” The completion of the learning operation is represented by a state transition from Z_2 to Z_4. State Z_4 is followed by a correction phase described later in further detail. However, the further states of the learning process of the present invention shown in
Starting out from new-state learning phase Z_2, the situation may occur in which control unit 200 (
Starting out from new-state learning phase Z_2, the replacement of a single injection valve results in a state transition into state Z_6, in which only the characteristics map KF2 assigned to replaced injection valve is initially filled with average closing delay time values t2* of an injection valve regarded as ideal.
The replacement of all of the injection valves results in state Z_5, which has a functionality comparable to state Z_1.
As soon as state Z_4 is reached, and consequently, a learning process for characteristics map KF2, i.e., all of the characteristics maps of the individual injection valves 100, is complete, a correction phase may commence. During the correction phase, closing delay time values actually occurring t2* are determined and subtracted from the characteristics map values of characteristics map KF2. The differential values obtained in doing this or derived from this, cf. variable t2adap from
After each operating cycle, correction characteristics map KF3 is continuously stored as a starting point for a subsequent operating cycle. The characteristics map KF2 already learned is not changed anymore during the correction phase.
In addition, a weighting characteristics map may also be provided, which takes into account a shift and an amplification of a change of activation duration ET on a closing duration change as a function of operating point. An output variable of the weighting characteristics map may be advantageously combined with the output variable of correction characteristics map KF3, in order to influence the activation signal or activation duration ET.
Instead of directly storing learned values of an injection valve 100 in characteristics map KF2 (
The example method of the present invention is also advantageously applicable to other actuator-operated valves in the form of fuel injectors of internal combustion engines, in which valve delay times of the described type occur. In general, the method of the present invention may be applied to all actuator-operated valves, which do not have a delay-free chain of action between activation of the actuator and valve operation. The individual causes of delays, such as tolerances of the hydraulic components, mechanical play, rise times of electrical activation signals, e.g., due to parasitic inductances, etc., are not of significance for the functioning of the principle according to present invention. In particular, the method of the present invention may also be applied to “directly” actuated valves, i.e., valves, in which actuator 102, 104 (
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
102009029590.9 | Sep 2009 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2010/062203 | 8/23/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/30/2012 |