The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1998
Robert E Weber, Newport News, VA (US);
Siemens Automotive Corporation, Auburn Hils, MI (US);
Abstract
A driver circuit is provided for an electromagnetic fuel injector having a coil and powered by a supply voltage. The driver circuit includes a comparator to control activation current to the coil of the fuel injector and transistor structure operatively associated with the comparator and constructed and arranged, together with said comparator, to maintain a hold current of the coil at a constant level slightly above a minimum current required to open the injector, regardless of the supply voltage value. The transistor structure includes first, second, and third transistors. The first transistor is arranged to receive an output of the comparator and to provide a constant current to the second transistor regardless of a value of the supply voltage. The second transistor is operatively associated with the supply voltage and with a high end of the coil. The third transistor is electrically connected to the lower end of the coil so as to sense, in conjunction with a resistor, a current in the coil. The third transistor is also connected to the comparator such that the voltage at the drain of the third transistor is directed to a negative input of the comparator.