Direct injection flexible multiplexing scheme

摘要

An engine system may include a specified number of injectors and an engine control unit (ECU) having pins to which the injectors may be coupled. The ECU may include a controller implemented in hardware, software, or combination of both, and capable of switching between different multiplexing configurations, where each multiplexing configuration includes a specified number of individual injectors coupled across corresponding pairs of pins. The controller may select one multiplexing configuration from the number of specified multiplexing configurations without requiring any hardware adjustments to be made to the injectors and/or pins. The controller may also operate the individual injectors through the corresponding pairs of pins in an active multiplexing configuration selected by the controller. In at least one multiplexing configuration, the controller may control low-side switches at certain pins of the corresponding pairs of pins, and independent high-side switches at the remaining pins of the corresponding pairs of pins.

主权项

1. An engine control system comprising:
a plurality (N) of pins, each pin of the N pins configured to couple to an injector; and a control unit configured to:
switch between a plurality (P) of multiplexing configurations, wherein each multiplexing configuration of the P multiplexing configurations comprises a different combination of specified individual injectors of a plurality (M) of injectors coupled across corresponding pairs of pins of the N pins, and wherein when the control unit switches to a respective multiplexing configuration of the P multiplexing configurations, the respective multiplexing configuration becomes an active multiplexing configuration; andoperate the specified individual injectors through the corresponding pairs of pins in the active multiplexing configuration; wherein N is an integer greater than 2, and M is an integer greater than 1.