Universal control of a plurality of fuel injectors for an internal

Abstract

Auxiliary control is used to reduce the processing load of an engine control computer by directly controlling a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. After initial set up, an auxiliary controller is able to control up to eight injectors while only receiving delay times from engine operating events, e.g. power stroke of each associated cylinder, and pulse width time periods defining the activation times for the injectors. The auxiliary controller can also maintain limited engine operation in the event of failure of the engine control computer when the computer is unable to provide updated delay times and pulse width time periods. A delay time and a pulse width time period are continuously calculated by the engine control computer and provided to the auxiliary controller. The most recently received delay time and pulse width time period are then used by the auxiliary controller to control up to eight identified fuel injectors. The auxiliary controller needs to be set up only one time during each engine operating period. By initializing the auxiliary controller each time it is used, the auxiliary controller can be made universal in that one controller design can be used to interchangeably service a large variety of engines.