|
(11) | EP 1 008 740 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
A circuit device for driving inductive loads Schaltungsanordnung zum Treiben induktiver Lasten Dispositif de circuit pour commander des charges inductives |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates in general to a circuit device for driving inductive loads, of the type defined in the preamble to Claim 1.
[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a circuit device for driving fuel injectors for an internal combustion engine or even for the electromagnetic driving of the valves of such an engine.
[0003] The essential requirement in the driving of fuel injectors or electromagnetic valves is precision in the definition of the actuation times. In particular, in the case of a direct-injection system in which the fuel injectors are disposed directly in the combustion chambers, it is necessary to inject precise quantities of fuel at the appropriate moments, overcoming the high pressure present in the chambers.
[0004] This precision can be achieved by rapid actuation of the injector or of the valve, for which it is necessary for the voltages available to be sufficiently higher than the battery voltage available at present in most vehicles (12 volts). It is also necessary to use a circuit which ensures rapid recirculation and possibly recovery of the discharge current typical of an inductive load, thus limiting dissipation towards an earth conductor.
[0005] According to the prior art, current is supplied to the coil of an injector by means of a resonant discharge of a capacitor (the conventional technique used, for example, in the injection of fuel in Diesel engines), or by the partial discharge of electrolytic capacitors which are recharged by means of the discharge current of the coil.
[0006] The greatest disadvantage of these solutions is that they do not permit a rapid succession of repeated actuations of the same injector, for example, in order to perform a multiple injection, which is preferred in direct-injection systems in order to optimize the combustion process. The use of a capacitor in a resonant configuration does not enable a voltage adequate for rapid actuation of the injector to be available at all times since, after the resonant discharge, the capacitor has to be recharged from the battery (or from another supply) before it can again have the necessary energy to operate the injector. Problems of efficiency also arise in a system in which electrolytic capacitors recharged by the injector coils are used if rapidity of operation is required.
[0007] To prevent these problems and in order to drive fuel injectors and/or electromagnetic valves more rapidly and precisely, the subject of the invention is a device for driving inductive loads having the characteristics recited in the appended claims.
[0008] In particular, this device may advantageously comprise a voltage-boosting circuit for increasing the battery voltage, when it is not adequate (12 volt motor-vehicle battery), to a driving voltage of predetermined value which is independent of the number of loads to be driven and which is always available to permit repeated actuations of the same load in rapid succession.
[0009] In the device according to the invention, filtering means are also advantageously provided for eliminating electrical and electromagnetic interference which is produced in operation and which is conducted towards the supply or radiated outwardly, respectively.
[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be explained in greater detail in the following specific description, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, and
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
[0011] In particular, the appended drawings show a device for driving fuel injectors in an internal combustion engine with four cylinders, but the following description may be extended to the more general case of the driving of any number of inductive loads.
[0012] In a first embodiment, the circuit described has, at its input, a voltage booster 10 connected directly to a battery 12. The voltage VAL at the terminals of the battery 12 is raised to a predetermined value VB at an output node B of the booster circuit 10.
[0013] Two circuit branches, each for driving two injectors, are connected to the node B: a first circuit branch B1 drives injectors I1 and I4; a second circuit branch B2 drives injectors I2 and I3.
[0014] In order to keep the notation in the following description to a minimum, corresponding and equivalent circuit elements in each branch are identified by the same reference symbols.
[0015] Each circuit branch comprises a current-regulator module and a filtering circuit, generally indicated as a modulation block 14. The input of this block is connected directly to the node B and its output is connected to a node A of the branch; a first terminal of each corresponding injector coil is connected directly to the node A.
[0016] A second terminal of each injector coil is connected to an earth conductor via a corresponding selection switch Q2n (n = 1 to 4) formed as a MOSFET transistor.
[0017] The current-regulator module comprises a switch Q1, also formed as a MOSFET transistor, connected to the node B by means of its drain electrode, and to the filtering circuit by means of its source electrode.
[0018] The filtering circuit is represented by a conventional LC circuit arranged in series between the source electrode of the transistor Q1 and the node A.
[0019] A first diode Dx connects the earth conductor to the inductor of the LC filter at the source electrode of the transistor Q1, for the recirculation of the current in the filter during the periods of time in which Q1 is cut off. A second diode Dy is connected between the node A and a node at the potential VB in order to limit to this value the voltage which can be reached by the node A in operation.
[0020] The device also comprises a recirculation network associated with the injector coils for taking away the transient discharge current which is generated in each coil every time the supply thereto is interrupted by the cutting-off of the transistor Q1 or the corresponding selection transistor Q2n.
[0021] This recirculation network comprises, for each circuit branch, a first recirculation diode D1 of which the anode is kept at the earth potential and the cathode is connected to the node A, and hence to the first terminal of each inductive load of the branch.
[0022] It also comprises a plurality of second recirculation diodes D2n (n = 1 to 4) each associated with a respective injector coil and having its anode connected to a second terminal of the corresponding coil and its cathode connected to a node C common to the recirculation paths of all of the coils. The common node C is connected to the node B by means of a Zener diode Dz.
[0023] The input booster circuit 10 is formed in accordance with a known configuration. It has at its input a supply capacitor CAL which is charged by the battery via a supply diode DAL. An inductor Lb is arranged in series downstream of the supply capacitor and is connected to earth via a switch Qb. A diode Db arranged in series with the inductor Lb connects the latter to two storage capacitors Cb (Cb1 and Cb2) the positive electrodes of which are connected directly to the output node B and have the predetermined voltage value VB, relative to the earth conductor.
[0024] In operation, the voltage booster 10 keeps the voltage VB substantially constant, recharging the storage capacitors when the voltage at their terminals falls below the predetermined value VB.
[0025] A control unit (ECU) associated with the device detects the voltage present at the node B and drives the switch Qb accordingly. If the voltage VB is greater than the predetermined value, the transistor Qb is cut off and the storage capacitors are discharged progressively, supplying current to the injector coils. When the voltage VB detected falls below the predetermined value, the control unit turns the transistor Qb on, drawing current from the battery through the diode DAL and the inductor Lb towards the earth, charging the inductor. The control unit also monitors the current flowing in the transistor Qb and, when this reaches a predetermined intensity, causes Qb to be cut off again, so that the inductor Lb is discharged towards the storage capacitors which are consequently recharged. The control unit then repeats the cycle when it again detects that the voltage VB is below the predetermined value.
[0026] Each injector is actuated by the driving of the transistor Q1 belonging to the circuit branch to which the coil of the injector in question is connected, and of the transistor Q2n corresponding to that coil, by means of the same control unit.
[0027] The operation of the device during the actuation of the injector I1 will be described below by way of example.
[0028] The coil of the injector I1 is selected by turning the corresponding selection transistor Q21 on. The intensity of the current conveyed through I1 is regulated by the driving of the transistor Q1 of the branch B1, by means of pulse-width modulated enabling signals (PWM). The voltage which is established at the node A during the periods of time in which the transistor Q1 is conductive is substantially the voltage VB minus the potential drop in the transistor Q1. This voltage is limited to a maximum value VB by the connection of the node A to this reference voltage by means of the diode Dy.
[0029] Since the voltage downstream of Q1 varies rapidly (PWM modulation), the LC filter disposed upstream of the wiring for connection to the injectors limits the slope of the voltage fronts between the node A and earth and eliminates the undesired high-frequency components of the corresponding electric field radiated.
[0030] The particular circuit configuration of the voltage booster 10 (and, in particular, the presence of the inductor Lb) also acts as a filter towards the battery for filtering the current oscillations which are produced as a result of the switching of each of the transistors Q1 and Qb.
[0031] If there is no voltage-booster circuit owing to the availability of an adequate voltage (for example 42 volts) directly from the battery, an inductance is advantageously provided in series between the battery and each circuit branch as a filter for the current oscillations towards the battery.
[0032] During the periods of time in which the transistor Q1 is cut off, the current from the injector is recirculated through a path constituted by D1, I1 and Q21.
[0033] At the end of the period of actuation of the injector, the selection transistor Q21 is also cut off and recirculation takes place through a path constituted by D1, I1, D21 and Dz, towards the storage capacitors Cb. By virtue of this configuration, with the use of a suitable Zener diode, it is possible to bring the voltage at the node C, which is given by the sum of the reference voltage VB and of the voltage drop in Dz, to a preferred voltage as large as desired, to permit rapid discharge of the injector coil.
[0034] The choice of connecting the Zener diode to the node B rather than to the earth conductor permits the use of a Zener diode which has a smaller voltage drop at its terminals and hence lesser dissipation problems, and enables some of the energy coming from the injector coils to be recovered by conveying their recirculation current towards the storage capacitors Cb.
[0035] In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, each circuit branch is connected to the battery 12 by means of a voltage-regulator circuit 20 which operates as a current regulator with bi-directional switching to enable the battery also to be recharged.
[0036] The circuit 20 comprises an inductor Lb arranged in series with the battery, a storage capacitor Cb the positive electrode of which is connected to the output node B and has the predetermined voltage value VB relative to the earth conductor, and transistors Qb1 and Qb2 disposed downstream of the inductor Lb and connected, respectively to the positive electrode of the capacitor Cb and to earth. For completeness, the parasitic diodes Db1 and Db2 between the drain and source electrodes of the transistors are indicated in the drawing.
[0037] During operation as a voltage booster, the circuit 20 behaves in the same manner as the voltage-booster circuit 10 of Figure 1, the transistor Qb1, which is turned on, corresponding to the diode Db.
[0038] If the storage capacitor Cb is over-charged by the recirculation current coming from the injector coils, the control unit recognizes this condition by detecting the voltage present at the node B and drives both of the transistors appropriately so as to allow the storage capacitor to release current towards the battery, which is recharged.
- a current-regulator module (14) having an input for connection to the voltage supply (12), its output in use being connected to a first terminal of the at least one respective inductive load (I1, I4; I2, I3), the module (14) comprising first electronic switching means (Q1) arranged to be turned on so as to regulate the current to be supplied to the at least one load,
- second electronic switching means (Q21, Q24; Q22, Q23) each of which is associated with a respective load (I1, I4; I2, I3) and which are in use connected between a second terminal of the load and a conductor which is kept at a first reference potential, the second switching means (Q21, Q24; Q22, Q23) being capable of being turned on selectively in predetermined ways such as to permit a flow of current from the supply (12) through the respective load (I1, I4; I2, I3) when the first switching means (Q1) are turned on, and
- a current-recirculation network (D1, D21, D24; D1, D22, D23) associated with the at least one inductive load (I1, I4; I2, I3) in order to take away the transient discharge current which flows therein every time such a load is disconnected from the voltage supply (12), the recirculation network comprising:
a first recirculation diode (D1) of which the anode is kept at the first reference potential and the cathode is connected to the first terminal of the at least one inductive load, and at least one second recirculation diode (D21, D24; D22, D23) which is associated with a respective load (I1, I4; I2, I3) and of which the anode is connected to a second terminal of the respective load and the cathode is connected to a node (C) which can be controlled at a second reference potential, the second reference potential being controlled by corresponding voltage-regulation means.
- an inductive element (Lb) having a first terminal which can be connected to the direct-current supply (12),
- a capacitive element (Cb) having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the inductive element (Lb) by means of a first switch (Qb1), and a second terminal connected to an earth conductor, and
- a second switch (Qb2) connected between the second terminal of the inductive element (Lb) and the earth conductor, the capacitive element (Cb) being able:
- to receive a current from the inductive element (Lb) in order to increase the voltage (VB) at its own terminals so as to reach a voltage which is greater than the voltage (VAL) provided by the supply (12) and corresponds to the second reference potential;
- to receive a discharge current from the recirculation network (D1, D21, D24; D1, D22, D23), and
- to release a current towards the supply (12) when the voltage (VB) at its own terminals has exceeded a predetermined value corresponding to the second reference potential.
- einen Stromregel-Modul (14) mit einem Eingang für einen Anschluss an die Spannungsversorgung (12), wobei sein Ausgang im Betrieb mit einem ersten Anschluss der zumindest einen entsprechenden induktiven Last (I1, I4; I2, I3) verbunden ist, wobei der Modul (14) eine erste elektronische Umschalteinrichtung (Q1) enthält, die so angeordnet ist, um eingeschaltet zu werden, um den Strom, der der zumindest einen Last zugeführt werden soll, zu regeln;
- eine zweite elektronische Umschalteinrichtung (Q21, Q24; Q22, Q23), von denen jede einer entsprechenden Last (I1, I4; I2, I3) zugeordnet ist, wobei sie im Betrieb zwischen einem zweiten Anschluss der Last und einem Leiter liegt, der auf einem ersten Bezugspotential gehalten wird, wobei die zweite Umschalteinrichtung (Q21, Q24; Q22, Q23) wahlweise auf vorgegebene Weise eingeschaltet werden kann, um einen Stromfluss von der Versorgung (12) über die entsprechende Last (I1, I4; I2, I3) zu ermöglichen, wenn die erste Umschalteinrichtung (Q1) eingeschaltet ist; und
- ein Strom-Umlaufnetzwerk (D1, D21, D24; D1, D22, D23), das der zumindest einen induktiven Last (I1, I4; I2, I3) zugeordnet ist, um den darin fließenden Einschwing-Entladestrom immer dann abzuleiten, wenn eine Last von der Spannungsversorgung (12) getrennt wird, wobei das Umlaufnetzwerk enthält:
eine erste Umlaufdiode (D1), deren Anode auf dem ersten Bezugspotential gehalten wird und deren Kathode mit dem ersten Anschluss der zumindest einen induktiven Last verbunden ist, und zumindest eine zweite Umlaufdiode (D21, D24; D22, D23), die einer entsprechenden Last (I1, I4; I2, I3) zugeordnet ist, wobei ihre Anode mit einem zweiten Anschluss der entsprechenden Last verbunden ist und ihre Kathode an einem Knotenpunkt (C) liegt, der auf ein zweites Bezugspotential geregelt werden kann, wobei das zweite Bezugspotential mit einer entsprechenden Spannungsregelstufe geregelt wird.
- ein induktives Schaltelement (Lb) mit einem ersten Anschluss, der mit der Gleichspannungsversorgung (12) verbunden werden kann,
- ein kapazitives Schaltelement (Cb) mit einem ersten Anschluss, der mit einem zweiten Anschluss des induktiven Schaltelements (Lb) über einen ersten Umschalter (Qb1) verbunden ist, und mit einem zweiten Anschluss, der an Masse liegt, und
- einen zweiten Umschalter (Qb2), der zwischen dem zweiten Anschluss des induktiven Schaltelements (Lb) und Masse liegt,
wobei das kapazitive Schaltelement (Cb) in der Lage ist:- einen Strom vom induktiven Schaltelement (Lb) zu empfangen, um die Spannung (VB) an seinen Anschlüssen anzuheben, um eine Spannung zu erreichen, die größer als die Spannung (VAL) ist, die von der Versorgung (12) geliefert wird, und die dem zweiten Bezugspotential entspricht;
- einen Entladestrom vom Umlaufnetzwerk (D1, D21, D24; D1, D22, D23) zu empfangen, und
- einen Strom zur Versorgung (12) abzugeben, wenn die Spannung (VB) an seinen eigenen Anschlüssen einen vorgegebenen Wert überschritten hat, der dem zweiten Bezugspotential entspricht.
- un module régulateur de courant (14) comportant une entrée en vue de sa connexion à l'alimentation en tension (12), sa sortie, en utilisation, étant connectée à une première borne de cette au moins une charge inductive respective (I1, 14 ; 12,13), le module (14) comprenant des premiers moyens de commutation électroniques (Q1) configurés pour être activés afin de réguler le courant devant être amené à cette au moins une charge,
- des seconds moyens de commutation électroniques (Q21, Q24 ; Q22, Q23), chacun d'entre eux étant associé à une charge respective (I1, 14 ; I2, I3), qui sont, en utilisation, connectés entre une seconde borne de la charge et un conducteur qui est maintenu à un premier potentiel de référence, les seconds moyens de commutation (Q21, Q24 ; Q22, Q23) pouvant être, sélectivement, activés, selon des façons prédéterminées, afin de permettre une circulation de courant depuis l'alimentation (12), à travers la charge respective (I1, I4 ; I2, I3), lorsque les premiers moyens de commutation (Q1) sont activés, et
- un réseau de recirculation de courant (D1, D21, D24 ; D1, D22, D23) associé à cette au moins une charge inductive (I1, I4 ; I2, I3) afin de soutirer le courant de décharge transitoire qui y circule, chaque fois qu'une telle charge est déconnectée de l'alimentation en tension (12), le réseau de recirculation comprenant:
- une première diode de recirculation (D1) dont l'anode est maintenue au premier potentiel de référence et la cathode est connectée à la première borne de cette au moins une charge inductive, et
au moins une seconde diode de recirculation (D21, D24 ; D22, D23) qui est associée à une charge respective (I1, I4 ; I2, I3) et dont l'anode est connectée à une seconde borne de la charge respective et la cathode est connectée à un noeud (C) qui peut être commandé à un second potentiel de référence, le second potentiel de référence étant commandé par des moyens régulateurs de tension correspondants.- un élément inductif (Lb) comportant une première borne qui peut être connectée à l'alimentation à courant continu (12),
- un élément capacitif (Cb) comportant une première borne connectée à une seconde borne de l'élément inductif (Lb) au moyen d'un premier commutateur (Qb1), et une seconde borne connectée à un conducteur de masse, et
- un second commutateur (Qb2) connecté entre la seconde borne de l'élément inductif (Lb) et le conducteur de masse,
l'élément capacitif (Cb) étant apte :- à recevoir un courant à partir de l'élément inductif (Lb) afin d'accroître la tension (VB) à ses propres bornes de manière à atteindre une tension qui soit supérieure à la tension (VAL) fournie par l'alimentation (12) et qui corresponde au second potentiel de référence;
- à recevoir un courant de décharge à partir du réseau de recirculation (D1, D21, D24 ; D1, D22, D23), et
- à délivrer un courant vers l'alimentation (12) lorsque la tension (VB) à ses propres bornes a dépassé une valeur prédéterminée correspondant au second potentiel de référence.