Patent ID: 8827175

Claim:
A method for the calibration of fuel injectors for internal combustion engines with at least one actuator element corresponding to each fuel injector, the actuator elements opening at least one corresponding injection valve having an injection rate for the supply of fuel to a combustion chamber via injection holes, the method comprising: applying an electric signal to an actuator element according to a stored characteristic voltage-time curve to actuate a particular fuel injector to cause a first injection; directly measuring an actual flow of fuel into the combustion chamber using a test facility during the first injection to create a measured characteristic flow-time curve for the first injection; comparing the measured characteristic flow-time curve for the first injection to a target characteristic flow-time curve; and in response to determining that the measured characteristic flow-time curve deviates from the target characteristic flow-time curve, modifying at least one of (a) a shape and (b) a start time of the stored characteristic voltage-time curve of the electric signal applied to the actuator element using a controller; and applying an electric signal to the actuator element according to the modified characteristic voltage-time curve to actuate the particular fuel injector to cause a second injection.