1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a battery-less vehicle, and to a method of using same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel injection control apparatus, which is operable to interrupt a supply of electricity to an injector drive system when a short-circuit occurs in the injector drive system, and at the same time, which can enhance startability of an engine of a battery-less vehicle.
2. Description of the Background Art
There is known fuel injection device which drive an injector having a fuel injection valve in response to a drive signal from a central processing unit (CPU) arranged inside an engine control unit (ECU). Such a fuel injection control apparatus requires a fail-safe function for preventing a continued supply of electricity to the injector when a circuit of an injector driving system is short-circuited by a chance, such as, due to some malfunctioning thereof.
An example of a known fuel injection control apparatus is disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3735380. The fuel injection control apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3735380 includes a relay switch arranged between a power source and an injector. When a circuit of an injector drive system is short-circuited, the relay switch is turned off so as to interrupt the supply of electricity to the injector driving system.
However, when the fuel injection control apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3735380 is applied to a battery-less vehicle, a relay switch having a mechanical drive portion is interposed between the AC generator and the injector. In the battery-less vehicle, an injector is driven using electricity generated by an AC generator which is rotated by a kick starter or the like at the time of starting an engine.
Hence, a time necessary for supplying electricity to the injector at the time of starting the engine is prolonged. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the startability of the engine is lowered. Further, with the configuration of the fuel injection control apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3735380, when a trouble such as sticking occurs in the relay switch, per se, the occurrence of such a trouble cannot be detected.
The present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks of the existing fuel injection control apparatus. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel injection control apparatus which is operable interrupt the supply of electricity to an injector drive system when a short-circuit occurs, and at the same time, which can enhance the startability of an engine of a battery-less vehicle.