Combined With Engine Condition Responsive Means Patents (Class 123/679)
  • Patent number: 11181054
    Abstract: An intake-air temperature controlling device for an engine is provided, which includes an engine body, an intake passage, an air intake part, an intake air temperature adjuster configured to adjust air temperature taken in through the air intake part to the passage, and a controller. An operating range in which the CI combustion is performed has a lean operating range in which A/F of mixture gas formed inside the cylinder, or G/F that is a relationship between the total weight G of gas inside the cylinder and a weight F of fuel fed to the cylinder is relatively low, and a rich operating range in which the A/F or G/F is relatively high. When the engine is in the lean operating range, the controller outputs a control signal to the intake air temperature adjuster so that the air temperature is increased, as compared in the rich operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Hikitani, Hajime Umehara, Naoki Nagano, Kenji Sugasaki, Shin Kodama, Hiromasa Nakagawa, Tomokuni Kusunoki, Taiga Kamiji, Masanobu Koutoku, Toshinori Ueno, Katsuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 11053144
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the installation load, or the maintenance or the management load of a measurement device for ballast water that is measured for plural times, and to simplify the linkage between ballast water process equipment and a ballast water measurement device that are installed in a ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Fukuzawa, Kaname Harada, Kazuhiko Tsunoda, Minoru Yagi
  • Patent number: 10724464
    Abstract: An estimation device is applicable to a combustion system in which relative movement of a piston to a cylinder is lubricated with a lubricating oil. An estimation device includes a mixing acquisition unit and a piercing force estimation unit. The mixing acquisition unit acquires a mixing ratio of various components contained in a fuel injected into the combustion chamber. The piercing force estimation unit estimates a piercing force of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber according to the mixing ratio acquired with the mixing acquisition unit to manage reach of the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, at least one of the cylinder and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Hoshi, Atsunori Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 10330037
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a particulate matter sensor. In one example, the sensor may include a concave inlet for admitting exhaust gas from an exhaust passage downstream of a particulate filter into the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10322786
    Abstract: A method for controlling a marine engine's operating mode includes operating the engine in an initial operating mode according to an initial set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve an initial fuel/air equivalence ratio of an air-fuel mixture for combustion. If measured operating conditions of the engine meet lean-burn mode enablement criteria, the engine is operated in lean-burn mode according to a lean-burn set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a lean-burn fuel/air equivalence ratio that is less than the initial fuel/air equivalence ratio. If the measured engine operating conditions no longer meet the lean-burn mode enablement criteria, the engine is operated in the initial operating mode. Transitions between the lean-burn mode and the initial operating mode are monitored. If the transitions indicate that the engine's operating mode is unstable, the engine is prevented from operating in the lean-burn mode until after a reset condition has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Robert R. Osthelder, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Patent number: 10175193
    Abstract: A potentiostat/galvanostat employs a controller for providing digital control signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates an analog output signal in response to digital control signals. A high current driver produces a high current output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC. A high current monitor monitors the output from the high current driver to produce a feedback signal for the high current driver to control the current produced by the high current driver and to produce an output dependent on the current supplied from the high current driver for monitoring by the controller. A counter electrode contact for a counter electrode is connected with the output of the high current monitor. A working electrode contact for a working electrode is electrically connected with a fixed stable voltage potential to enable electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ashwin-Ushas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Chandrasekhar, Yanjie Chai
  • Patent number: 10138830
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting spark timing and fueling in an engine in response to an indication of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system degradation due to a disconnected upstream hose of an EGR differential pressure sensor. In one example, a method may include, responsive to an integrated knock intensity being greater than a threshold intensity and a fuel control correction being greater than a threshold enrichment, setting an EGR rate to zero and triggering an EGR differential pressure sensor upstream hose diagnostic routine to be performed. Further, spark timing and fueling may be set for zero EGR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9995236
    Abstract: A delay module, based on a base request received for a first loop, sets a delayed base request for a second loop. A first period between the first and second loops corresponds to: a first delay period of an oxygen sensor; and a second delay period for exhaust to flow from a cylinder of an engine to the oxygen sensor. A closed loop module determines a closed loop correction for the second loop based on: the delayed base request for the second loop; a measurement from the oxygen sensor; the closed loop correction for the first loop; and the closed loop correction for a third loop. A second period between the second and third loops corresponds to the first delay period of the oxygen sensor. A summer module sets a final request for the second loop based on the base request plus the closed loop correction for the second loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 9890720
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which has: an intake section and an engine with an number of cylinders and a receiver which is arranged upstream of the cylinders wherein the intake section has: a supercharging system with a compressor and a bypass for bypassing the supercharging system, and wherein the receiver is assigned an engine throttle, and the bypass is assigned a compressor bypass throttle; and a setting of the engine throttle and/or of the compressor bypass throttle is set as a function of the operation in order to influence a charge fluid. The intake section is assigned an intake section model by which at least a mass flow and/or state of the charge fluid upstream of the engine are/is determined and on the basis of a determination result the compressor bypass throttle is set as a function of the engine throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Flohr, Andreas Geller, Alexander Bernhard
  • Patent number: 9657628
    Abstract: A method for purging a reductant supply system for an engine is provided. The reductant supply system includes a reservoir to store a reductant. The reductant supply system further includes an injector to inject reductant in an exhaust conduit of the engine. The reductant supply system also includes a conduit coupled between the reservoir and the injector to supply the reductant. The method for purging the reductant supply system includes initiating purging of the injector and the conduit such that the reductant in the injector and conduit flows to the reservoir. The method further includes monitoring of the dilution of the reductant during purging and indicating a completion of the purging when the dilution of the reductant in the reservoir reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cole, Kevin L Dea, Johnathan Trundt, Dirk DeDecker
  • Patent number: 9632059
    Abstract: A potentiostat/galvanostat employs a controller for providing digital control signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates an analog output signal in response to digital control signals. A high current driver produces a high current output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC. A high current monitor monitors the output from the high current driver to produce a feedback signal for the high current driver to control the current produced by the high current driver and to produce an output dependent on the current supplied from the high current driver for monitoring by the controller. A counter electrode contact for a counter electrode is connected with the output of the high current monitor. A working electrode contact for a working electrode is electrically connected with a fixed stable voltage potential to enable electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ashwin-Ushas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Chandrasekhar, Yanjie Chai
  • Patent number: 9599600
    Abstract: A sensor control apparatus controls a gas sensor by means of digital control and restrains a decrease in accuracy of pump current control. A gas detection system includes such a sensor control apparatus. The sensor control apparatus includes a reference voltage generation section, and can change the maximum current range of pump current Ip in the current DA conversion section. The sensor control apparatus can set the maximum current range of the pump current Ip to a proper range in accordance with the type or characteristic of a gas sensor to be controlled. Namely, in the case where a gas sensor has a small sensor maximum current, the maximum current range of the current DA conversion section is changed to a range determined in consideration of the sensor maximum current of the gas sensor, which restrains a decrease in the accuracy in controlling the pump current Ip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuzo Higuchi, Tomonori Uemura
  • Patent number: 9567925
    Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of outgassing of a fuel from a lubricant located in an intake section housing of an internal combustion engine may include (a) setting a first coil current through the housing, (b) measuring a first output value of a lambda controller, (c) setting a second coil current through the housing, the second coil current having a different current strength than the first coil current, (d) measuring a second output value of the lambda controller and (e) determining the quantity of outgassing of the fuel based on the measured first and second output values. In addition, a method for adapting a lambda value for a fuel/air mixture to be burnt in an internal combustion engine during a lower load range may include the above-mentioned method of determining the quantity of outgassing of a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Nilsson, Sebastian Viehöver, Jan-Richard Lenk
  • Patent number: 9562841
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control system including an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder configured to perform combustion of an air/fuel mixture therein during a drive cycle. An electronic engine control module is configured to selectively execute at least one soot-based diagnostic operation that diagnoses the internal combustion engine based on exhausted soot. An electronic diagnostic evaluation module is in electrical communication with the engine control module and is configured to disable the at least one soot-based diagnostic operation based on at least one transient drive event of the internal combustion engine during the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Vincent J. Tylutki, John Coppola, Christopher Whitt
  • Patent number: 9386633
    Abstract: A heater control method and apparatus for a gas sensor which can quickly activate a detection element while reducing load due to heating even when a higher power supply voltage is applied. A heater element is connected to a power supply whose voltage is higher than 16 V, and power is supplied under PWM control such that a temperature rise of the heater element follows a temperature rise curve obtained when a voltage of 12 V is applied to the heater element. Even though a higher voltage is applied, the temperature rise per unit time during the ON time of the PWM control is decreased. This is because the ON time per cycle is shortened by increasing the PWM frequency to 30 Hz or higher. Thus, the temperature rise per cycle is kept low, whereby the temperature rise per 0.1 second is rendered less than 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ai Igarashi, Hiroyuki Hayashi, Tomohisa Terui, Kaoru Hisada
  • Patent number: 9151204
    Abstract: Disclosed is an abnormality determination device capable of checking for abnormal particulate matter detection by a particulate matter detection sensor. The particulate matter detection sensor 10 includes a sensor element section 12, which comes into contact with particulate matter in exhaust gas in an exhaust pipe 6 of an internal combustion engine 2, and changes its output in accordance with the amount of particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12. A heater for the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is capable of heating the sensor element section 12 to a particulate matter elimination temperature (T3) at which the particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12 is eliminated from the sensor element section 12. An ECU 50 determines, in accordance with output changes (S1 to S4) occurring in the particulate matter detection sensor 10 during heater control, whether or not the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Hashida, Hiroki Nishijima
  • Patent number: 8983754
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an internal-combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio detector, a fluctuation signal generating device, an air-fuel ratio fluctuation device, a 0.5th-order frequency component strength calculator, a fluctuation frequency component strength calculator, a reference component strength calculator, and an imbalance fault determining device. The reference component strength calculator is configured to calculate strength of a reference component in accordance with strength of a first frequency component and strength of a second frequency component. The imbalance fault determining device is configured to make a determination of an imbalance fault in which air-fuel ratios of a plurality of cylinders vary beyond a tolerance limit on a basis of a relative relationship between strength of the 0.5th-order frequency component and the strength of the reference component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Watanabe, Tooru Sekiguchi, Hiroyuki Ando, Atsuhiro Miyauchi, Takeshi Aoki, Michinori Tani, Soichiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20150068506
    Abstract: A system includes a controller operable to communicate with at least one sensor and an engine. The controller responds to one or more signals received from the sensor and influences engine operation based on determined engine operation threshold limits and information regarding a first fuel and a second, different fuel. The controller is configured to change or maintain engine operation based on the one or more signals compared to the threshold limits, and to change or maintain an engine fuel supply to control specific fuel consumption of at least one of the first and second fuels and to achieve values for the one or more signals in a determined range relative to the threshold limits. The one or more signals indicate an exhaust emissions parameter or at least one of pre-turbine temperature, fuel injection pressure, turbocharger rotational speed, peak firing pressure, rate of pressure rise, or knock intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Manoj Prakash Gokhale, Adam E. Klingbeil
  • Publication number: 20150053190
    Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Robert Walter McCabe, Eva Thanasiu, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 8818690
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio sensor having an output characteristic which is nonlinear with respect to the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas. An output deviation converter is configured to convert an output deviation to a first predetermined value if an output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor is on a richer side of a predetermined target value and to a second predetermined value if the output value is on a leaner side of the target value. A control input calculator is configured to calculate a control input to feedback-control the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor such that the output deviation converted by the output deviation converter is to be zero. An air-fuel ratio controller is configured to control the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas using the control input calculated by the control input calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michinori Tani, Kenichi Maeda, Atsuhiro Miyauchi, Seiji Watanabe, Soichiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8807110
    Abstract: A system and method for sampling fluid from a top land piston crevice of a reciprocating piston engine. Access into the crevice is via a length of tubing inserted into a bore through the piston wall. Two valves, first a relief valve and then a piloted check valve, operate together to capture a sample of fluid from the crevice at a time just before TDC of the piston on its compression stroke. The sampled fluid flows from the check valve into a sample container. The valves further cooperate to close fluid communication from the crevice after a sample is taken, which allows the engine to operate normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Mitchel A. Smolik, Dustin B. Kramer, Timothy L. Haby
  • Patent number: 8784264
    Abstract: A method and a system for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine exhaust after treatment device is cooled at an opportunistic time. The approach may provide improved cooling for exhaust after treatment devices and it may also improve vehicle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Dennis Graig Reed
  • Patent number: 8773143
    Abstract: A method for identifying cable faults at the terminals of a broadband lambda probe comprising a Nernst cell and a pump cell in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine. The broadband lambda probe has a reference electrode terminal RE, an internal pump electrode terminal IPE and an external pump electrode terminal APE. A pump current is applied to the broadband lambda probe and a pulsed reference pump current is applied to the broadband lambda probe. Cable faults are identified by the evaluation of potential swings in current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Ledermann
  • Patent number: 8725387
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining an air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders based on an output value of an air-fuel ratio sensor, an imbalance determination parameter which becomes larger or smaller as a difference among air-fuel ratios becomes larger, and performs determining an air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders based on a result of a comparison between the imbalance determination parameter and a imbalance determination threshold. The determining apparatus calculates a purge correction coefficient which compensates for a change in the air-fuel ratio due to an evaporated fuel gas which is generated in a fuel tank, while the evaporated fuel gas is being introduced into an intake passage, and corrects a fuel injection amount with the purge correction coefficient FPG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Fumihiko Nakamura, Hiroshi Sawada, Toru Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 8706383
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine control module that generates fuel injector command signals for fuel injectors of an engine and engine parameter signals that indicate operating characteristics of the engine. A fuel injector control module communicates with the engine control module via a network. The engine control module transmits the engine parameter signals to the fuel injector control module via the network. The fuel injector control module generates compensated fuel injector signals based on the fuel injector command signals and the engine parameter signals. The engine control module may generate fuel injector command signals for a gaseous fuel mode based on signals received from the fuel injector control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Sauve, Louis A. Avallone, Karl H. Kozole
  • Publication number: 20140014081
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing an individual cylinder diagnosis with respect to pollutant emissions within a predefined operating range of an internal combustion engine, meeting at least one predefined condition. During the performing of the individual cylinder diagnosis, a forced activation, by means of which a predefined air/fuel ratio to be set is activated, is prescribed in a manner synchronous to the cylinder segment. The excitation is carried out such that each individual cylinder is subjected during subsequent working cycles to a mixture that is either richer or leaner in comparison to the predefined air/fuel ratio to be set due to the forced excitation. Depending on the forcibly activated air/fuel ratio to be set, the corresponding injection valves are actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Reza Azadeh
  • Patent number: 8543312
    Abstract: A system for controlling a continuous variable valve lift actuator of a diesel engine and a method thereof stabilize exhaust gas and improve performance by variably controlling lift and timing of intake and exhaust valves based on combustion state and driving purpose. The method may include, recognizing a driving purpose and combustion state by detecting driving conditions, temperature of exhaust gas at predetermined locations on an exhaust pipe, and NOx concentration contained in the exhaust gas, determining target position and timing of intake and exhaust valves by applying the driving purpose and the combustion state to a predetermined map table, controlling position and timing of the intake and exhaust valves by actuating a CVVA, detecting combustion pressure in a combustion chamber, and modifying fuel injection amount according to the combustion pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jong Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8387592
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one cylinder, with which an injection valve for metering fuel is associated and an exhaust system with an exhaust gas catalytic converter. A first exhaust gas probe is disposed upstream of or in the exhaust gas catalytic converter, and a second exhaust gas probe is downstream. A lambda controller determines a regulating variable as a function of the first probe and a control variable acting on a fuel mass to be metered using the injection valve. A trim regulator determines a regulating variable thereof as a function of the second probe and the first trim control variable thereof as a function of a P regulator component and the second trim control variable thereof as a function of an I regulator component. A function of a predetermined evaluation of the first trim control variable decides whether the second trim control variable is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Rodatz, Gerd Rösel
  • Patent number: 8384397
    Abstract: A particulate filter control system and method for controlling the same is disclosed. The particulate filter load monitoring system may transmit radio frequency signals through the resonant cavity and filter medium across a frequency range sufficient to generate more than one resonant mode. The system may contain additional sensors for monitoring additional exhaust characteristics and parameters. Further, a control unit may be configured to determine the amount of material accumulated in the particulate filter, detect failures and malfunctions of the exhaust after-treatment system and its associated components, and initiate an action based on the amount of material accumulated in the particulate filter, the determination of a system failure or malfunction, or input from one or more exhaust sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Filter Sensing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Sappok, Peter Koert
  • Patent number: 8384396
    Abstract: A system and method for determining loading of a filter having a first dielectric constant with a material having a different dielectric constant, is disclosed. The filter is contained within a metallic container forming a microwave cavity, and microwave or RF energy is created within the cavity and changes in the cavity microwave response are monitored. The changes in cavity microwave response are related to filter loading. In a preferred embodiment, the microwave energy includes multiple cavity modes thereby allowing determination of spatial distribution of the contaminant material loading. In one embodiment, the microwave cavity response includes a shift in frequency of a resonant mode. Alternatively, the microwave cavity response includes a shift in quality factor Q of a resonant mode. The microwave cavity response may include a shift in amplitude or peak width of the microwave's signal at resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Filter Sensing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Alexander Sappok, Peter Koert, Ronald Parker
  • Patent number: 8293180
    Abstract: An apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent which judges empty with a higher precision than heretofore is provided. The apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent is provided with a concentration sensor and a liquid-level sensor in storage tank of liquid reducing agent, and is characterized in that empty is judged by utilizing the liquid-level based on the liquid-level sensor in addition to the concentration based on the concentration sensor (step 3 and step 5). Even if a bubble is adhering to the concentration sensor and an erroneous signal indicative of empty is output although the residual quantity of liquid reducing agent is sufficient, the liquid-level sensor does not output a signal indicative of empty. Consequently, erroneous judgment is prevented and accurate judgment can be made as compared to heretofore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Yoshikuni Satou, Takashi Yamamoto, Takeo Sasanuma
  • Patent number: 8215293
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine with a supercharger includes a bypass valve control module controlling a bypass valve for the supercharger having a bypass flow area in response to a desired manifold absolute pressure, an inlet valve control module controlling an inlet throttle for a supercharger in response to a bypass flow area and a port throttle control module controlling a port throttle in response to the desired mass airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: John R Bucknell
  • Patent number: 8050852
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device for an internal combustion engine capable of performing abnormality detection with accuracy, and an air/fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of performing air/fuel ratio control with accuracy. An estimated value of the amount of intake air at a valve closing time at which an intake value is closed, is computed. The in-cylinder air/fuel ratio in a cylinder is computed by using the estimated value. The obtained in-cylinder air/fuel ratio is used as an input air/fuel ratio to identify a parameter in a primary delay element. Determination as to the existence/nonexistence of an abnormality in a pre-catalyst sensor (A/F sensor) is made on the basis of the obtained parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8015967
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine including a variable lift mechanism which changes a lift amount of an intake valve. An oxygen sensor, which outputs a signal indicating an oxygen concentration in exhaust gas, is provided downstream of an exhaust gas purification catalyst in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. Air-fuel ratio control is performed to correct the fuel injection amount command value using the correction amount that is set based on the value output from the oxygen sensor. The relationship among the deviation of the correction amount from its reference value, the learned small lift value, the learned medium lift value, and the lift amount is learned. The learned deviation value is calculated based on the lift amount, using the learned relationship. Then, the fuel injection amount command value is corrected by the correction amount including the calculated learned deviation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuto Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7987839
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method to determine the composition of a fuel from the components ethanol and gasoline of an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine by a fuel supply unit and via two fuel distributor rails; and the exhaust gas is discharged from the internal combustion engine by two exhaust gas manifolds of a first and a second exhaust gas system, which are separated from each other, wherein the first and second exhaust gas system have in each case at least one exhaust gas probe and wherein current changes in the ethanol content of the fuel are evaluated from the signal differences of lambda signals from the exhaust gas probes. With this method, a change in the ethanol content of the fuel can be detected, and an explicit condition for a change in fuel can be derived. Moreover, with the method, errors in the fuel-mixture can be distinguished from an altered fuel composition, which takes place after the tank has been filled fueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Miersch-Wiemers, Georg Mallebrein, Carlos Koster, Stephan Uhl, Juergen Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20110168129
    Abstract: An engine with a high flow capacity brake booster is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is turbocharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Thomas Alan Brewbaker, Michael Hopka, Douglas Kuhel, David Joseph Dronzkowski
  • Patent number: 7930147
    Abstract: A sensor response time acceleration method including the steps of reading a signal step and an operating on the signal step. The reading a signal step includes reading a signal from a sensor, the signal representative of an environmental attribute as detected by the sensor. The operation on the signal step includes operating on the signal with a function of an inverse model of the sensor and a function representative of a desired sensor model to yield an accelerated output representative of the environmental attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Taner Tuken
  • Patent number: 7885753
    Abstract: In a first operating state, the fuel metering of one of the cylinders is controlled in first metering pulses with the same pulse characteristic during a respective one working cycle, and the metering of fuel into the other cylinders by at least one second metering pulse with a different pulse characteristic. The first pulse number and characteristic is predefined such that the same fuel mass should be metered based on an assumed injection valve characteristic as with the one second metering pulse. Depending on the measurement signal, a correction value for the one cylinder is determined. To meter the fuel based on the assumed injection valve characteristic, a single first metering pulse would be generated during a respective one working cycle. The correction value for the one cylinder is used during the rest of the operation to adapt the first metering pulse in the second operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Dirk Baranowski, Carlos Eduardo Migueis, Paul Rodatz
  • Patent number: 7869912
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hybrid vehicle controlling device and method of using the device, in which an engine torque proportion (which is transmitted from an engine to a driving shaft) of a total sum of torque transmitted to the driving shaft is calculated. An allowed surge torque value, which is an upper limit of a surge torque allowed to the engine, is set to a larger value as the engine torque proportion is reduced. Then a predetermined parameter of the engine is changed so that the engine is controlled in a range in which the surge torque of the engine does not go beyond the allowed surge torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 7841326
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine working according to the Otto principle, in which fuel, particularly gasoline, is injected directly into a combustion chamber and is inflamed by self-ignition. A characteristic quantity characterizing the stability of combustion of an air/fuel mixture located in the combustion chamber is ascertained, and, as a function of the characteristic quantity, a residual gas proportion in the cylinder associated with the combustion chamber is set, in particular minimized, the residual gas proportion being reduced, preferably iteratively, as long as the characteristic quantity does not fall below a specifiable stability boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Karrelmeyer, Christina Sauer, Wolfgang Fischer, Juergen Haering
  • Patent number: 7742868
    Abstract: A direct injection spark ignition multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode includes a direct fuel injection system, a spark ignition system and a controllable engine valve system. The air/fuel ratio in the exhaust gas feedstream and an intake mass air flow are measured and an actual air/fuel ratio is calculated based upon the intake mass air flow and engine fueling. Magnitude of a negative valve overlap period between an exhaust valve closing and an intake valve opening is adjusted based upon the measured mass air flow. Timing of pre-injection fueling is adjusted during the negative valve overlap period based upon the measured air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 7597092
    Abstract: The invention relates to n internal combustion engine and method for controlling a supercharged internal combustion engine, wherein a deviation of the actual lambda value from a calculated lambda value is detected. The value for the exhaust back pressure is corrected subject to the detected deviation for the event of a valve overlap, when the gas exchange valves of the burner head are simultaneously open. The corrected value for the exhaust back pressure is used to determine the air volume in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7540279
    Abstract: A power system including a stoichiometric compression ignition engine in which a roots blower is positioned in the air intake for the engine to control air flow. Air flow is decreased during part power conditions to maintain the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the engine at stoichiometric, thus enabling the use of inexpensive three-way catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen. The roots blower is connected to a motor generator so that when air flow is reduced, electrical energy is stored which is made available either to the roots blower to temporarily increase air flow or to the system electrical load and thus recapture energy that would otherwise be lost in reducing air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Comapny
    Inventors: Richard Edward Winsor, Scott Allen Chase
  • Publication number: 20090133678
    Abstract: The invention deals with a method for operating an internal combustion engine with engine oil as the lubricant, wherein a fuel mass flow outgassing from the engine oil is ascertained and is taken into account via a map-based pilot control during the metering of a quantity of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine and wherein a fuel/air ratio supplied to the internal combustion engine is determined. Provision is made in the method according to the invention for a mass flow offset determined from the deviation of the fuel/air ratio supplied to the internal combustion engine from a nominal value to be taken into account when the metering of the quantity of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine occurs during an effective duration of the map-based pilot control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Mallebrein, Federico Buganza, Carlos Koster, Kai Jakobs, Juergen Pfeiffer, Emilie Hincker-Piocelle, Pierre-Yves Crepin
  • Patent number: 7533662
    Abstract: A technique of controlling an air-fuel ration for an engine, in which an air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient ? to correct an amount of fuel injection into the engine is computed based on an output from an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed on an upstream side of a catalytic converter. A gain of the air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient ? in respect to a detection result of the air-fuel ratio sensor is decreased as a delay in a transient response of the air-fuel ratio sensor occurs. Thus, an excessive increase in the amount of fuel injection immediately after fuel cuts is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kiyomura, Hisanori Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7516618
    Abstract: An engine air supply control method relating to a turbocharged engine including an intake manifold (20) which is disposed downstream of the compressor of the turbocharger (14) and an exhaust manifold (22) which is disposed upstream of the turbine of the turbocharger (14). The method includes determining the mass air flow supplying the engine and/or the pressure in the intake manifold (20) and the temperature in the exhaust manifold. The pressure in the exhaust manifold (22) is determined as a function of the pressure in the intake manifold (20), the engine speed, the temperatures in the cylinders (4) and in the exhaust manifold (22), the pressure in the intake manifold (20) being optionally determined from the mass air flow. Inversely, the pressure in the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Roger Rouphael
  • Patent number: 7472697
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine including a variable lift mechanism which changes a lift amount of an intake valve. An oxygen sensor, which outputs a signal indicating an oxygen concentration in exhaust gas, is provided downstream of an exhaust gas purification catalyst in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. Air-fuel ratio control is performed to correct the fuel injection amount command value using the correction amount that is set based on the value output from the oxygen sensor. The relationship among the deviation of the correction amount from its reference value, the learned small lift value, the learned medium lift value, and the lift amount is learned. The learned deviation value is calculated based on the lift amount, using the learned relationship. Then, the fuel injection amount command value is corrected by the correction amount including the calculated learned deviation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuto Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7474955
    Abstract: The air fuel ratio of an engine adapted to run on a mixture of alcohol and gasoline can be adapted by a method wherein the air fuel ratio is controlled using an ethanol adaptation value, including reducing the enrichment factor from an initial value until a lean switch from rich conditions to lean conditions is detected, determining a first enrichment factor value at which the lean switch occurs, increasing the enrichment factor until a rich switch from lean conditions to rich conditions is detected, determining a second enrichment factor value at which the rich switch occurs, calculating the average value between the first enrichment factor value and the second enrichment factor value, adjusting the air fuel ratio using the average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wittefeldt, Richard Backman, Erik SunnegÄrdh, Staffan Seth
  • Patent number: 7469693
    Abstract: A method and system controls engine-out exhaust species of a combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The method typically includes various combinations of steps such as controlling combustion parameters in individual cylinders, grouping the individual cylinders into a lean set and a rich set of one or more cylinders, combusting the lean set in a lean combustion parameter condition having a lean air:fuel equivalence ratio, combusting the rich set in a rich combustion parameter condition having a rich air:fuel equivalence ratio, and adjusting the lean set and the rich set of one or more cylinders to generate net-lean combustion. The exhaust species may have elevated concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald L. Graves, Brian H. West, Shean P. Huff, James E. Parks, II
  • Patent number: 7469685
    Abstract: The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine increases a fuel injection amount under predetermined conditions, such as after the start of the internal combustion engine, at cold time, at acceleration requiring time, at gear shifting time from a neutral to a D-range, for example. When the fuel injection amount is increased during execution of air/fuel ratio feedback control, the feedback control follows the increase amount, and executes correction corresponding to the increase amount. Then, at the point of time when the correction corresponding to the increase amount is completed, the increase of the fuel injection amount is stopped quickly. Thereby, the increase of the fuel injection amount is not continued unnecessarily, and therefore useless consumption of the fuel can be suppressed. Also, it becomes possible to start other controls early by finishing increase quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akinori Osanai