Patent ID: 8215102
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: F01N,Y02A,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A particulate filter regeneration apparatus comprising: a driving unit configured to drive an exhaust pipe injector to inject fuel into an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine by energizing an actuator of said exhaust injector in order to regenerate a particulate filter provided in said exhaust pipe for collecting particulate matter contained in exhaust gas of said engine; a fuel shutoff valve configured to shut off fuel supply to said exhaust pipe injector; and a diagnosis unit configured to perform a diagnostic process in which said fuel shutoff valve is caused to shut off fuel supply to said exhaust pipe injector, and said driving unit is configured to energize said activator in a state of fuel supply to said exhaust pipe injector being shut off by said fuel shutoff valve so that the fuel shutoff valve is closed prior to energizing the actuator in order to make a determination whether said actuator is energized normally by said driving unit; wherein the diagnostic process is performed by the diagnosis unit when a condition is satisfied; said condition is that a voltage of a batter of a vehicle having said internal combustion engine is above a predetermined voltage; and the predetermined voltage corresponds to a voltage which enables a current of a coil in the exhaust pipe injector to reach a peak current.