Abstract: In a method for detecting reverse rotation when starting an internal combustion engine having a sensor disk which is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine, the sensor disk having a marking via an alternating arrangement of teeth and tooth spaces, and a first sensor and a second sensor each capable of generating an electric signal which may assume at least two signal levels, being associated with the sensor disk, one of the signal levels being associated with a tooth and the other signal level with a tooth space, a rising or falling signal edge of the one signal and the signal level of the other signal being used for determining the direction of rotation and increment of the angle of rotation of the crankshaft, the start characteristics are improved by determining the direction of rotation during the start of the engine as early as at the first signal edge.

Abstract: To provide a value to be replaced for an output of a manifold pressure sensor in case of failure of the manifold pressure sensor for detecting a manifold pressure for calculating the amount of fuel injection. An abnormality determination unit outputs an abnormal signal when an output voltage of a manifold pressure sensor is not within a predetermined range. A manifold pressure estimating unit calculates an estimated manifold pressure value on the basis of the engine revolution, a throttle opening, and an atmospheric pressure. The manifold pressure estimating unit uses the estimated value as a substitute value of the output of the manifold pressure sensor and continues to control the engine when the manifold pressure sensor has failed.

Abstract: Notification of an air intake restriction is provided for an internal combustion engine (101). Readings from one or more air pressure sensors (117, 119) utilized with an internal combustion engine (101) are processed to determine whether an air intake restriction is present. A notification is provided, for example, by displaying (209) a message on a display (123) in a driver's station of a vehicle housing the engine. Various data, including detection of an air intake restriction, may be transmitted (215) for use by personnel, for example, to provide maintenance.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection control system having a first mode, wherein fuel injectors are controlled based on engine condition data supplied by a first group of sensors, and a second mode wherein fuel injectors are controlled based on engine condition data supplied by a second group of sensors. During normal operation of the engine, the control system switches between the first and second control modes based upon an engine operating condition (e.g., engine speed and/or engine load). If one of the sensors of the first group of sensors malfunctions, the control system controls the engine only in accordance with the second control mode. If one of the sensors of the second group of sensors malfunctions, the control system controls the engine only in accordance with the first control mode.

Abstract: A fuel pressure control device includes a fuel injection valve, a pressure accumulation chamber for storing a high pressure fuel, a high pressure pump, a fuel pressure control valve, a fuel pressure sensor for detecting a fuel pressure PR in the pressure accumulation chamber, an air-fuel ratio sensor for detecting an air-fuel ratio condition, target value calculation means for calculating a target fuel pressure and a target air-fuel ratio AFo, fuel pressure control means for performing feedback control of the fuel pressure control valve such that the fuel pressure PR matches the target fuel pressure, abnormality diagnosis means for diagnosing the fuel pressure sensor, and fuel pressure estimation means for calculating an estimated fuel pressure PRs based on the air-fuel ratio condition when an abnormal condition occurs. The fuel pressure estimation means corrects the estimated fuel pressure PRs such that the air-fuel ratio condition is guided to the target air-fuel ratio AFo.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device of an internal combustion engine includes: a pressure sensor detecting a pressure in an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, a pressure sensor failure determination device determining a failure of the pressure sensor, an idle determination device detecting that an opening of a throttle adjusting an air quantity supplied to the internal combustion engine is in an idle position, and a pressure sensor output value control device limiting an output value from the pressure sensor for use in a fuel injection quantity control of the internal combustion engine to be not more than a predetermined value when the throttle opening is determined by the idle determination device to be in the idle position and when the pressure sensor is not determined as being in failure by the pressure sensor failure determination device. This pressure sensor device prevents the over-rich of fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: An evaporative emission control system detects an opening failure of a purge control valve that controls the amount of purge gas flowing from a canister into an intake passage of the engine, and determines whether a significant shift occurs in an air/fuel ratio feedback factor when the opening failure is detected. If the air/fuel ratio feedback factor is shifted to the rich side, a rich-side initial value is set to a vapor concentration learned value, and, if the feedback factor is shifted to the lean side, a lean-side initial value is set to the vapor concentration learned value. These initial values give larger changes to the vapor concentration learned value than update amounts by which the learned value is updated during normal learning control.

Abstract: A fuel system for an engine has a source of pressurized fuel, a rail, and a plurality of fuel injectors. The fuel system also has a sensor to sense a parameter of the pressurized fuel, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a flow control offset value indicative of a difference between the value of the parameter and a desired value for the parameter, and to control operation of the source in response to the flow control offset value when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly. The controller is also configured to store the flow control offset value in a memory of the controller when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly and to associate the flow control offset value with at least one operating condition of the engine. The controller is further configured to control operation of the source in response to previously stored flow control offset value when the sensor is determined to be malfunctioning.

Abstract: Fuel injection control methods and systems and related apparatus for Liquefied Petroleum gas Injection (LPI) engine are provided. Preferred methods and systems determine the increased amount of engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature during an initial engine start period; determine fuel pressure on the basis of such values; determines propane content of the engine fuel by consideration of the fuel pressure and fuel temperature of the P-T diagram of the fuel; and controls the fuel injection time and injection period by using a map prepared according to propane content. Preferred systems and methods of the invention need not include use of fuel pressure and temperature sensors that provide injection control conditions to an Engine Control Unit, thereby providing a simplified and more efficient apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for controlling a fuel injection amount of a two-cycle internal combustion engine with an exhaust control valve wherein the electronic control unit comprises an injection amount determination means for determining the fuel injection amount at various control conditions, a valve abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality of operation of the exhaust control valve, and an injector driving means for driving an injector so as to inject fuel of the amount determined by the injection amount determination means from the injector. The injection amount determination means determines the injection amount so that when the valve abnormality detection means detects the abnormality of operation of the exhaust control valve, an air-fuel mixture is made in a rich state.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve protecting apparatus for an LPG injection type engine operates when an excessive current passes through the fuel injection valve, or when an abnormality of the fuel injection valve occurs. An electrical fuse is inserted in a driving current supply line of the fuel injection valve. An electronic control apparatus has an abnormality diagnostic unit to detect any abnormality of the fuel injection valve by monitoring a check signal sent back from a fuel injection valve driving circuit, to thereby close a fuel shutoff valve and shut off the liquefied petroleum gas. Relief valves are connected in parallel between a petroleum gas supply line and an intake manifold so as to directly discharge any petroleum gas in the petroleum gas supply line into the intake manifold when the pressure difference between the petroleum gas supply line and the intake manifold reaches a set differential pressure.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel supply pump, a fuel pressure detector, and a control unit. The fuel supply pump supplies pressurized fuel to a fuel injection valve in the internal combustion engine. The fuel pressure detector detects the pressure of the fuel supplied. The control unit controls the amount of the fuel supplied based on a deviation between an actual fuel pressure and a target fuel pressure. The control unit includes an integral term calculator and an integral term holder. The integral term calculator adds an integral compensation quantity and a last-time integral term to calculate a this-time integral term based on an integral compensation quantity that is updated according to the deviation. The integral term holder stops the updating of the integral compensation quantity and retains the last-time integral term when a defect in the fuel supply pump is detected.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling a fuel injector. A fuel shot is injected during a zero fuel condition. A rail pressure drop corresponding to the fuel shot is determined. A change in engine speed corresponding to the fuel shot is determined. An adjustment to the fuel injection as a function of the rail pressure drop and the corresponding change in engine speed is determined.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a drive unit, in particular, of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, in which at least one performance quantity of the drive unit is detected and at least one actuator of the drive unit is controlled with controlled variables, depending on this performance quantity, according to predefinable or preselectable functionalities. In a controller, at least two processors process the possible functionalities, where these functionalities are defined by program code in at least one assigned program memory per processor. These possible functionalities of the processors, i.e., the program codes in the program memories assigned to the processors are identical.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including an internal combustion engine for powering a ground travelling vehicle, a throttle control arrangement including a device for sensing position of an operator-adjustable pedal to provide a throttle control signal, a first sensor to sense rotational speed of the engine, a second sensor to sense brake status of the vehicle, a way to determine failure of the throttle control signal, and a way to operate the engine in a limp-home mode in response to the failure, which includes fueling the engine during the limp-home mode of operation in accordance with idle position of the pedal, rotational speed of the engine, and the brake status.

Abstract: A misfire detection apparatus of an internal combustion engine for detecting combustion or a misfire of an air fuel mixture in the internal combustion engine based on an ion current generated at the combustion time of the air fuel mixture. The misfire detection apparatus includes ion current detection means and misfire determination means. The ion current detection means detects the ion current responsive to the amount of ions occurring in a cylinder just after combustion of the air fuel mixture in the cylinder in the internal combustion engine. The misfire determination means calculates a predetermined function based on the ion current detection value and determines that the condition is combustion when the magnitude exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: An engine control system has a self-diagnosis function of an exhaust system. The self-diagnosis function includes a first mode for detecting a failure or abnormality of the exhaust system as a whole, and a second mode for determining and locating a specific failed component in the exhaust system. The first mode is executed during the engine is operated under a normal condition. Therefore it is possible to detect the failure of the exhaust system without lowering a drive performance or increasing emissions. In case of detecting any failure in the first mode, the second mode is activated in response to a command signal that can be entered via a service tool. In the second mode, the engine is operated in order to determine the failed component. In the second mode, determining the failed component takes priority over keeping the drive performance or reducing emissions.

Abstract: A fuel supply system detects the detects operating condition of an engine, calculates the width of the fuel injection pulse including valve-opening signal and holding signal based on the detected operating condition, and supplies valve-opening current to the solenoid located in the fuel injector based on the fuel injection pulse width and a holding current for holding the valve-opening condition after the valve-opening current has reached the predetermined current value. Current is supplied to the solenoid when the logical product of the valve-opening signal and the holding signal has been formed. The fuel supply system diagnoses an abnormality of the fuel injector when the time period from the start of the fuel injection pulse until the valve-opening current reaches the predetermined current value is shorter than the predetermined one.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the injection time of the injection system of an internal combustion engine, comprising the following steps: detecting a crankshaft signal that indicates the relative position of the crankshaft, determining the injection time on the basis of said crankshaft signal, detecting the phase angle of the crankshaft, synchronizing the calculated injection time on the basis of the phase position of the crankshaft, said phase position of the crankshaft being determined on the basis of the crankshaft signal.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for eliminating a step in a control input before and after switching between control processing based on one modulation algorithm selected from a ? modulation algorithm, a ?? modulation algorithm, and a ?? modulation algorithm and control processing based on a response specified control algorithm to avoid a sudden change in the output of a controlled object in the event of the switching.

Abstract: A control apparatus, a control method, and an engine control unit for a variable cylinder internal combustion engine are provided for appropriately performing any of an idling rotational speed control, a deceleration fuel-cut control, and an auxiliary machinery driving control irrespective of whether or not a cylinder pausing mechanism fails. The control apparatus for the variable cylinder internal combustion engine switchably operated in a full cylinder operation mode and a partial cylinder operation mode comprises an ECU. The ECU determines whether or not the cylinder pause mechanism fails, and sets a target idling rotational speed for use in the idling rotational speed control to a normal operation value when the cylinder pausing mechanism is normal and to a faulty operation value higher than the normal operation value when the cylinder pausing mechanism is faulty.

Abstract: An evaporative emission control system detects an opening failure of a purge control valve that controls the amount of purge gas flowing from a canister into an intake passage of the engine, and determines whether a significant shift occurs in an air/fuel ratio feedback factor when the opening failure is detected. If the air/fuel ratio feedback factor is shifted to the rich side, a rich-side initial value is set to a vapor concentration learned value, and, if the feedback factor is shifted to the lean side, a lean-side initial value is set to the vapor concentration learned value. These initial values give larger changes to the vapor concentration learned value than update amounts by which the learned value is updated during normal learning control.

Abstract: A fuel supply control system for an internal combustion engine wherein a basic fuel amount supplied to said engine can be calculated according to the intake air flow rate detected by said intake air flow rate sensor. An air-fuel ratio correction coefficient can be calculated for correcting an amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine so that the detected air-fuel ratio coincides with a target air-fuel ratio. At least one correlation parameter vector which defines a correlation between the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient and the intake air flow rate detected by the intake air flow sensor, can be calculated using a sequential statistical processing algorithm. A learning correction coefficient relating to a change in characteristics of the intake air flow rate sensor can be calculated using the correlation parameter. An amount fuel to be supplied to the engine can be controlled using the basic fuel amount, the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient, and the learning correction coefficient.

Abstract: In an automotive engine control apparatus used for a multi-cylinder engine where both an injection coil and an ignition coil are employed with each of multiple cylinders, abnormal states are systematically detected, while an injection system is mutually interconnected with an ignition system as to these abnormal states. The injection coils are driven via a first switch element by a microprocessor, and injection operations of these injection coils are monitored by a first detection circuit. The ignition primary coils are driven via a second switch element by the microprocessor, and ignition operations of these ignition coils are monitored by a second detection circuit. The microprocessor controls drive stopping means to perform a turn-out drive operation such that this drive stopping means stops both a fuel injection operation and an ignition operation of an abnormal-operated cylinder with respect to an abnormal state occurred in either the injection system or the ignition system.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve protecting apparatus in an LPG injection type engine is disclosed which operates when an excessive current passes through a fuel injection valve, or when an abnormality of the fuel injection valve occurs. Also disclosed is a fuel pressure increase preventing apparatus which can release an excessive pressure of petroleum gas so as to avoid a failure in parts of the engine and an engine malfunction. An electrical fuse is inserted in a driving current supply line of a fuel injection valve. An electronic control apparatus has an abnormality diagnostic means incorporated therein to detect an abnormality of the fuel injection valve by monitoring a check signal sent back from a fuel injection valve driving circuit, to thereby close a fuel shutoff valve and shut off the liquefied petroleum gas supplied to a vaporizer from a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder as appropriate.

Abstract: Cylinder judgment signals are output from cam sensors at every uneven crank angle interval. The number of cylinder judgment signals output per cam sensor during a time period between a previous output and a present output of cylinder judgment signals from the other cam sensor, is counted up, to judge a specific cylinder based on the number of outputs. As a result, cylinders other than the specific cylinder are judged based on the judgment result and the cylinder judgment signals. Simultaneously, a time period from the previous cylinder judgment to the present cylinder judgment is calculated, to judge erroneous detection of cylinder judgment signal due to noise based on a ratio between a previous calculation value and a present calculation value of the time period. When the erroneous detection is judged, the cylinder judgment result based on the cylinder judgment signals is canceled.

Abstract: A sensor error compensation system and method is provided that facilitates improved sensor error detection and compensation. The sensor error compensation system includes an expected value generator and a sensor fault detector. The expected value generator receives sensor data from a plurality of sensors in a turbine engine. From the sensor data, the expected value generator generates an expected sensor value for a sensor under test. The expected sensor value is passed to the sensor fault detector. The sensor fault detector compares the expected sensor value to a received sensor value to determine if a sensor error has occurred in the sensor under test. If an error has occurred, the error can be compensated for by generating a replacement sensor value to substitute for erroneous received sensor value.

Abstract: There is provided a degradation determining system for an exhaust gas sensor, which, even when unexpected changes occur in the air-fuel ratio during execution of air-fuel ratio control, can determine degradation of the sensor by suppressing adverse influence of noise caused by the changes on the output from the sensor, to thereby enhance the accuracy of the degradation determination. In the degradation determining system, a determining input signal IDSIN for determining the degradation of the sensor is generated, and a modulation output (u(k), DSMSGNS(k), us(k), or ud(k)) is generated by modulating the determining input signal IDSIN by using any one of the &Dgr;&Sgr; modulation algorithm, the &Sgr;&Dgr; modulation algorithm, and the &Dgr; modulation algorithm. Degradation of the sensor is determined based on the output KACT delivered from the sensor when the fuel injection amount is controlled based on the generated modulation output.

Abstract: The plenum of an engine air manifold, coupled to engine cylinders, is provided with a fuel injector. A solenoid prevents supply of fuel to the plenum fuel injector during normal operation of the engine. Upon failure of the primary fuel system, solenoid opens to provide a fuel/air mixture via the manifold, to the engine cylinders, converting the manifold from a dry manifold to a fuel/air mixture manifold. The fuel bus of the primary fuel system preferably receives fuel from, and returns fuel to, a header tank, rather than directly from and to one or more fuel tanks.

Abstract: A fuel injector (5) injects fuel to generate an air-fuel mixture that is burnt in the engine (1), and a sensor (16) detects an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture from an exhaust gas composition of the engine (1). A controller (11) calculates a dead time representing a lag between the air-fuel ratio variation of the air-fuel mixture and the air-fuel ratio variation detected by the sensor (16), and calculates an estimated state quantity by applying a dead time compensation according to Smith method and a disturbance compensation to the air-fuel ratio detected by the sensor (16). By determining an air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount based on the estimated state quantity applying a sliding mode control process, the response and stability of air-fuel ratio control is improved.

Abstract: A fuel supply system comprising a means for detecting operating condition of an engine, a means for calculating the width of the fuel injection pulse including valve-opening signal and holding signal based on the detected operating condition, a means for supplying valve-opening current to the solenoid located in the fuel injector based on the fuel injection pulse width, and a means for supplying solenoid holding current for holding the valve-opening condition after the valve-opening current has reached the predetermined current value; and the fuel supply system supplying current to the solenoid when the logical product of the valve-opening signal and the holding signal has been formed, and the fuel supply system diagnosing an abnormality of the fuel injector when the time period from the start of the fuel injection pulse until the valve-opening current reaches the predetermined current value is shorter than the predetermined one.

Abstract: There is provided a failure diagnostic system for an atmospheric pressure detecting device, which is capable of rationally determining whether that device has failed or not and is capable of improving the diagnostic accuracy. The failure diagnostic system is comprised of an atmospheric pressure sensor for detecting an atmospheric pressure of the air taken into an engine; a condition determination section for determining that conditions required for determining that the atmospheric pressure sensor has failed are satisfied if the number of operations, in each of which the engine continuously operates for a predetermined period of time, has exceeded a predetermined number; and a failure diagnosis section for determining that the atmospheric pressure sensor has failed if a variation in the atmospheric pressure over a period of time equivalent to that predetermined number is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the required conditions have been satisfied.

Abstract: A throttle opening range is divided into regions corresponding to the opening positions, and a deviation between an actual intake air suction state and a predetermined suction state provided for each of the divided regions is calculated. Intake system abnormality such as air cleaner clogging or intake pipe leakage is determined, if the deviation changes in a predetermined increasing or decreasing direction over a plurality of the divided regions. The air suction state may be represented by an intake pipe pressure or intake air flow quantity.

Abstract: A control for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine reduces exhaust emissions and prevents catalytic converter damage due to detected cylinder misfiring. The engine cylinders are individually monitored for misfiring, and when misfiring is detected in a given cylinder, fueling for that cylinder is suspended and the intake and exhaust valves for that cylinder are maintained closed to trap the unburned air/fuel charge for a predetermined number of engine cycles or until the mixture is ignited. If several successive air/fuel charges in a given cylinder fail to ignite using this procedure, the intake and exhaust valves for that cylinder are maintained closed to disable the cylinder until the engine can be serviced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect abnormal combustion conditions for use as a feedback control of a lean burn reciprocating engine using ionization signals is presented. The system receives a succession of ionization signals for successive cycles of a running engine and processes a plurality of related ionization signals for signal stability. The ionization signals are checked to determine if an abnormal combustion condition such as knock or misfire has occurred. The variation of an ionization signal that changes with respect to an engine parameter over a combustion event of the lean burn reciprocating engine operating with an air to fuel ratio corresponding to a lambda (&lgr;) greater than 1.4 is measured and a floating bounded space is associated with the ionization signal. An indication that the abnormal combustion condition has been detected is provided if a portion of the ionization signal is within the floating bounded space.

Abstract: In an automotive engine control apparatus used for a multi-cylinder engine where both an injection coil and an ignition coil are employed with each of multiple cylinders, abnormal states are systematically detected, while an injection system is mutually interconnected with an ignition system as to these abnormal states. The injection coils are driven via a first switch element by a microprocessor, and injection operations of these injection coils are monitored by a first detection circuit. The ignition primary coils are driven via a second switch element by the microprocessor, and ignition operations of these ignition coils are monitored by a second detection circuit. The microprocessor controls drive stopping means to perform a turn-out drive operation such that this drive stopping means stops both a fuel injection operation and an ignition operation of an abnormal-operated cylinder with respect to an abnormal state occurred in either the injection system or the ignition system.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a real fuel quantity (rk_w), supplied from a high-pressure region of a fuel system into a combustion chamber of the engine, depends on a real rotational moment. In addition, the control duration (dwmsvo) of a volume control valve, with which the fuel supplied from a fuel pump into the high-pressure region can be affected, depends on the difference between a real pressure and a determined pressure (prist) in the high-pressure region. The supply output of the fuel pump, which supplies into the high-pressure region, depends in turn on the rotational speed (nmot) of a crankshaft of the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect abnormal combustion conditions for use as a feedback control of a lean burn reciprocating engine using ionization signals is presented. The system receives a succession of ionization signals for successive cycles of a running engine and processes a plurality of related ionization signals for signal stability. The ionization signals are checked to determine if an abnormal combustion condition such as knock or misfire has occurred. The variation of an ionization signal that changes with respect to an engine parameter over a combustion event of the lean burn reciprocating engine operating with an air to fuel ratio corresponding to a lambda (&lgr;) greater than 1.4 is measured and a floating bounded space is associated with the ionization signal. An indication that the abnormal combustion condition has been detected is provided if a portion of the ionization signal is within the floating bounded space.

Abstract: An excessive volume of fuel discharged by a high-pressure supply pump to a common rail due to an opened state abnormality of an inlet metering valve of the pump may result in an abnormal increase in common rail pressure. In the event of such an abnormal increase, a target idle revolution speed is newly set at an abnormal value greater than a normal value as a measure taken to increase an idle revolution speed. Thus, a pressure limiter, which has been once put in an opened valve state by an actual common rail pressure higher than a limit setting pressure, can be prevented from again entering a closed valve state. As a result, it is possible to eliminate idle performance instability caused by repetition of opened valve and closed valve states of the pressure limiter and, hence, assure reliability of the pressure limiter.

Abstract: A method for determining the rail pressure of an injector including a voltage-controlled piezoelectrical actuator, the piezoelectrical actuator actuating a nozzle needle using hydraulic coupler. As a result of the pressure in the high-pressure channel, a coupler pressure is built up via the hydraulic coupler, the coupler pressure inducing a piezovoltage in the actuator. Because this voltage value is redundant with regard to the pressure value in the high-pressure channel, which is measured by a pressure sensor, the voltage value is used for monitoring the functioning of the pressure sensor. In the event of the failure of the pressure sensor, emergency operation is built up for the injector with the assistance of the induced voltage. The injector advantageously functions for injecting fuel in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An engine control device includes a reference voltage memory device (21) for memorizing reference voltage VAFS_STD of AFS (9) for controlling an engine (1) under a normal state, a comparing device (22) for comparing an output voltage VAFS from the AFS (9) when the engine (1) is stopped with the reference voltage VAFS_STD, and calculating a deviation &Dgr;VAFS, and a corrections device (23) for correcting the output voltage VAFS from the AFS (9) (based on the deviation &Dgr;VAFS so that the output voltage VAFS becomes the reference voltage VAFS_STD; A fuel injection quantity Tinj is calculated based on the output voltage VAFS_OBJ from the sensor obtained by the correction device (23), so that engine stall caused by failure of the sensor for controlling the engine is avoided.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine system upon loss of a crankshaft position sensor signal produced by such system is provided. The method includes providing a control module having a central processing unit and a time processor unit associated with such central processing unit. The time processor unit has programmed into is a first code for operating the engine system in the presence of a proper crankshaft position sensor signal. The control module stores a second code for loading into the time processor unit to operate the engine system with the time processor unit upon detection of an improper crankshaft position sensor signal. Initially, the engine system is operated with the time processor unit executing the first code. The method monitors the crankshaft position signal for a fault. Upon detection of the fault, the method loads the second code into the time processor unit and operates the engine system with the time processor unit executing the second code.

Abstract: In an engine controller with a feed back control system, an instruction signal for controlling an engine condition adjusting device is determined on the basis of a comparison between an input signal corresponding to a desired engine condition and an actual engine condition signal when the engine controller, the engine condition adjusting device and a sensor for generating the actual engine condition signal operates normally, and is determined on the basis of the input signal while preventing the instruction signal from being determined on the basis of the comparison between the input signal and the actual engine condition signal when an abnormality of at least one of the engine controller, the engine condition adjusting device and the sensor is detected.

Abstract: A throttle opening range is divided into regions corresponding to the opening positions, and a deviation between an actual intake air suction state and a predetermined suction state provided for each of the divided regions is calculated. Intake system abnormality such as air cleaner clogging or intake pipe leakage is determined, if the deviation changes in a predetermined increasing or decreasing direction over a plurality of the divided regions. The air suction state may be represented by an intake pipe pressure or intake air flow quantity.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during sensor degradation uses a remaining active sensor. The engine has an exhaust gas recirculation system utilizing pressure sensors upstream and downstream of an orifice. The downstream pressure sensor is coupled to the engine intake manifold and is also used for engine air-fuel ratio control.

Abstract: A pressure sensor subsystem measures the pressure within a fuel pump and outputs an under-pressure signal when the measured pressure is below a predetermined threshold pressure value. A temperature sensor subsystem measures the temperature within the fuel pump and outputs an over-temperature signal when the measured temperature is above a predetermined threshold temperature value. A timing circuit monitors the pressure sensor subsystem and the temperature sensor subsystem for output of the under-pressure and over-temperature signals and outputs a pump disconnect signal when at least one of the signals is output for a prescribed time duration. A power controller disengages power from the pump upon output of a pump disconnect signal by the timing circuit.

Abstract: An abnormality detecting apparatus for an intake system of an internal combustion engine, which detects an abnormality of the intake system, is disclosed. The intake system has a throttle valve, a bypass passage bypassing the throttle valve, and an idling control valve for controlling the amount of air supplied through the bypass passage to the engine. A total intake air amount supplied to the engine is calculated. An amount of intake air supplied through the bypass passage is calculated based on a valve opening control quantity for the idling control valve. A parameter indicative of a leak air amount of the intake system is calculated according to the result of a comparison between the calculated total intake air amount and the amount of intake air supplied through the bypass passage.

Abstract: A fail-safe device includes an intake air amount sensor, a throttle position sensor for detecting a throttle opening degree of an electronic throttle controller, an accelerator position sensor for detecting an accelerator opening degree as an amount of pressing down on an accelerator, an intake air amount control unit for controlling the intake air amount to the engine, a target air-fuel ratio control unit for controlling a fuel injection amount to be supplied to the engine, a target ignition timing control unit for controlling ignition timing of air-fuel mixture inside a cylinder of the engine; and an electronic throttle control system abnormality warning unit for deciding, when a first requirement and a second requirement are satisfied based on the output of each sensor, that the electronic throttle controller is in failure, and for, prior to warning of the abnormality of the electronic throttle controller, controlling each of the control units.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus can reliably detect abnormality in a crank angle position signal to ensure a fail safe function upon occurrence of the abnormally. A fuel injection signal and an ignition signal is generated based on the result of cylinder identification performed by a cylinder identification part and the crank angle position of the crank angle position signal. An abnormality determination part determines whether the crank angle position signal is abnormal. The cylinder identification part includes a cylinder identification resetting part for resetting the current content of the cylinder identification performed by the cylinder identification part upon determination of abnormality.