With Fail-safe, Backup, Or Malfunction Means Patents (Class 123/690)
  • Patent number: 11754016
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device and a fuel injection control method for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention correct a basic pulse width by a cylinder-specific correction value that is based on injection variations among fuel injection valves to specify a cylinder-specific pulse width, determine whether or not a split number is acceptable based on a minimum pulse width and a pulse width per one injection calculated from the cylinder-specific pulse width and the split number to modify the split number based on a result of the acceptance determination, modify an acceptance determination reference value which is used in the acceptance determination based on the correction value for each cylinder, and execute split injection based on the split number, the basic pulse width, and the correction value for each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11643989
    Abstract: A determination device for an internal combustion engine executes a partial fuel cut-off process. The determination device determines that exhaust gas characteristics have deteriorated when the misfire rate of the internal combustion engine is greater than or equal to a determination threshold. The determination device sets the determination threshold to a first determination threshold when the calculated misfire rate is a misfire rate in a period of non-execution of the partial fuel cut-off process. Also, the determination device sets the determination threshold to a second determination threshold, which is less than the first determination threshold, when the calculated misfire rate is a misfire rate in a period of execution of the partial fuel cut-off process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11624335
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine is provided. An exhaust valve actuation fault is detected for a first exhaust valve associated with a first cylinder during a first working cycle. In response to the detection of the exhaust valve actuation fault, fueling to at least the first cylinder is cut off. Actuation of the first exhaust valve is attempted in second working cycles that follow the first working cycle, wherein the second working cycles are not fueled. Whether or not the first exhaust valve actuated properly during the second working cycles is determined. Operation of the first cylinder is resumed when it is determined that the first exhaust valve actuated properly. Operation of the first cylinder is not resumed when it is determined that the first exhaust valve did not actuate properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wang, Louis J. Serrano, Shikui Kevin Chen
  • Patent number: 11459970
    Abstract: Fuel leak detection systems and methods are disclosed. A method for detecting a fuel leak for a fuel system of an engine includes detecting a ramp up of the engine. The method includes measuring rail pressure of a fuel rail during the ramp up. The method also includes determining a fuel leak exists in the fuel system based on the measured rail pressure during the ramp up. In accordance with a determination that a fuel leak exists, the method includes outputting an indication of the fuel leak in the fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Dereck G. Heffron, Ryan M. Hinrichsen
  • Patent number: 11424933
    Abstract: A method and to an apparatus for achieving cryptographic protection of a plurality of messages in a message exchange, for example, in particular the cryptographic protection being implemented by means of digital signatures and nonces is provided. The nonces are not transmitted directly, but rather can be reproducibly calculated from preceding messages, wherein a checksum of a previous message is also considered for each nonce. Consideration is implemented in such a way that cryptographical calculations in particular intended for the creation of the digital signature and the nonce may be calculated one single time and not separately for the nonce and the digital signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Hans Aschauer, Steffen Fries
  • Patent number: 11111870
    Abstract: A method of determining an abnormality of a differential pressure sensor which is configured to detect a pressure differential between an upstream side and a downstream side of an EGR valve provided to an EGR passage of an engine, is provided. The method includes the steps of controlling an opening of the EGR valve based on an output value of the differential pressure sensor, determining the abnormality of the differential pressure sensor based on the output value of the differential pressure sensor, controlling at least a throttle valve of the engine toward a closed side so that the pressure differential is maintained at a given pressure or higher when determining, and prohibiting the execution of the abnormality determination when an engine speed is a given engine speed or higher, and permitting the execution of the abnormality determination when the engine speed is less than the given engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokuni Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11078859
    Abstract: Vehicle oxygen sensor heater diagnostic techniques comprise, upon detection of a set of cold start conditions of the vehicle, measuring an initial resistance of each of a set of two or more oxygen sensor heaters and determining whether any of the measured initial resistances is outside of a nominal resistance range. In response to an outlier oxygen sensor heater being outside of the nominal resistance range, each of the set oxygen sensor heaters is provided with an equal voltage for a period, the resistance of each of the set of oxygen sensor heaters is monitored during the period, and a malfunction of the outlier oxygen sensor heater is detected or matured when a difference between its resistance and the resistances of the other oxygen sensor heaters after the period is greater than a calibrated threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Atheel A Saleem
  • Patent number: 10876451
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, an electrical heated type catalyst device provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and including a conductive substrate generating heat upon energization and a catalyst heated through the conductive substrate, and a control device, the control device comprising an internal moisture calculating part calculating an amount of internal moisture comprised of an amount of moisture present at an inside of the catalyst device and an engine output control part controlling the output of the internal combustion engine based on a required vehicle output and the amount of internal moisture. The engine output control part is configured so that if moisture is present at the inside of the catalyst device, it restricts the output of the internal combustion engine to a lower output when the internal moisture is large compared to when it is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo Korenaga
  • Patent number: 10808639
    Abstract: Diagnostic systems and methods for a fuel system of an engine of a vehicle utilize a fuel rail pressure sensor, an engine speed sensor, an exhaust oxygen (O2) sensor, and a controller configured to perform a diagnostic routine for the fuel system during which fuel injectors of the fuel system do not need to be removed from the engine. The diagnostic routine comprises operating the engine at a set of predetermined operating points and detecting one or more malfunctions of one or more of the fuel injectors based on measured fuel rail pressure, measured engine speed, and measured O2 concentration at each of the set of predetermined operating points. Any fuel injector malfunctions detected during the diagnostic routine could be output to a diagnostic device operated by a human technician, e.g., in a single diagnostic report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Louai Faied
  • Patent number: 10767586
    Abstract: A method, computer program product and apparatus for the pilot control of a mixture preparation for an internal combustion engine are disclosed, which include determining a configuration of the internal combustion engine. The configuration is determined by a combination of discrete positions of a plurality of actuators which influence at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. The method, computer program product and apparatus additionally determine a constant adaptation component of the mixture preparation which is fed back by an exhaust gas probe of the internal combustion engine, and store the constant adaptation component and the associated configuration in memory. The pilot control of the mixture preparation is performed with the constant adaptation component when the internal combustion engine is operated in the same configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Jan-Richard Lenk, Sebastian Viehöver
  • Patent number: 10527569
    Abstract: Provided is a method of suitably judging necessity of a recovering process carried out on a mixed-potential gas sensor based on an extent of reversible deterioration occurring in a sensing electrode. The method includes the steps of: (a) performing impedance measurement between a sensing electrode exposed to a measurement gas and a reference electrode exposed to a reference atmosphere, which are provided in the gas sensor; and (b) judging necessity of a recovering process based on electrode reaction resistance or a diagnosis parameter correlating with the electrode reaction resistance wherein the electrode reaction resistance and the diagnosis parameter are obtained based on a result of the impedance measurement. The two steps are intermittently or periodically repeated during use of the gas sensor, and it is judged that a recovering process is necessary when the judge parameter satisfies a predetermined threshold condition in the step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Yuki Nakayama, Kosuke Monna, Osamu Nakasone
  • Patent number: 10301991
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an electric heater configured to increase a temperature of an exhaust catalyst positioned in an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a method comprises diagnosing the electric heater by activating the electric heater, routing air flow from the exhaust system to an intake of the engine, and indicating the electric heater is degraded based on a test temperature in the intake being below a threshold temperature. In this way, the electric heater may be diagnosed without inclusion of costly sensors in the exhaust catalyst, and where such diagnosis conducted periodically may reduce release of undesired emissions to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10180120
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a vehicle intake humidity sensor positioned in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. In one example, a method is provided, comprising in response to shutdown of the engine, and further responsive to conditions being met for calibrating the intake humidity sensor, requesting a humidity estimate from one or more weather devices, and calibrating the intake humidity sensor based on at least a confidence level in the one or more weather devices. In this way, the intake humidity sensor may be regularly calibrated, under conditions where accurate and robust calibration may be achieved, and where regularly calibrating the intake humidity sensor may improve engine operation and increase fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9970372
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine exhaust are provided. In one example, a method comprises categorizing each respective concentration of a plurality of exhaust gas constituents measured by a gas analyzer into one of oxidants or reductants, the gas analyzer receiving exhaust gas flow from an engine. The method also includes determining an exhaust air-fuel ratio based on the categorized concentrations and validating output from an exhaust gas sensor receiving exhaust gas flow from the engine based on the determined exhaust air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Patent number: 9863354
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system comprises an exhaust purification catalyst, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor and a control device. The control device makes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas change to an air-fuel ratio at a rich side from the prior air-fuel ratio as air-fuel ratio rich increasing control when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made a rich air-fuel ratio and the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor is maintained at a lean judged air-fuel ratio or more, and judges that the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor suffers from an abnormality, when, due to the air-fuel ratio rich increasing control, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made to change to the rich side air-fuel ratio and the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor changes to the lean side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Kenji Suzuki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Yuji Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 9707908
    Abstract: A driving device 5 includes: a fault detection device 11 that determines a fault in an actuator 6; a serial interface 7 that communicates with an MCU 2; a memory device 10 that stores a program received from the MCU 2 and a fault determination result by the fault detection device 11; a CPU 9 that causes the fault detection device 11 to execute the fault determination according to a fault determination request from the MCU 2; a timer device 16 that measures a limit time over which fault determination is performed and a determination period of fault determination; and a counter device 17 that counts the number of repeats of fault determination and the number of fault occurrences in the actuator 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Kurimoto, Yuki Iwagami
  • Patent number: 9354191
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor controlling apparatus includes: a controller configured to obtain a degradation index of a detection element; obtain a sensor output; detect an internal resistance of the detection element by causing a temporary change between electrodes of the detection element; successively obtain a target resistance value corresponding to the internal resistance using a first sensor output that is a value of the sensor output obtained at a time before or after a period when the temporary change occurs and the degradation index; and feedback control energization of the heater so that the internal resistance becomes the target resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichi Kawaguchi, Yoshinori Hibino, Ryosuke Ichida
  • Patent number: 9004050
    Abstract: Embodiments for indicating fuel rail temperature sensor degradation are provided. In one embodiment, an engine method comprises delivering gaseous fuel to a cylinder based on feedback from a fuel rail temperature sensor, and during select conditions, indicating fuel rail temperature sensor degradation based on a difference between measured fuel rail temperature and an expected temperature. In this way, measured fuel rail temperature may be correlated with other engine temperatures to detect sensor degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8965665
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders determining apparatus according to the present invention obtains an output Vabyfs of an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed at a portion downstream of an exhaust gas aggregated portion of an exhaust gas passage, and obtains a second-order differential value d2AF (a change rate of a change rate of a detected air-fuel ratio abyfs) of a detected air-fuel ratio abyfs represented by the air-fuel ratio sensor output Vabyfs. The imbalance determining apparatus determines that an air-fuel ratio imbalance state among cylinders is occurring when a detected air-fuel ratio second-order differential corresponding value (for example, a second-order differential value d2AF per se) obtained in accordance with the second-order differential value d2AF is larger than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Fumihiko Nakamura, Hiroshi Sawada, Toru Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 8958974
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. The method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a difference between a first set of estimated parameters of a rich operation model and a second set of estimated parameters of a lean operation model, the estimated parameters based on commanded lambda and determined lambda values collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, sensor degradation may be indicated with data collected in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael Casedy, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Patent number: 8939134
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine executes air-fuel ratio feedback control based on a detection result of an exhaust gas sensor and when the engine is shut down, stops energization of a heater of the exhaust gas sensor at a predetermined timing after shutdown of the engine, heater control of the exhaust gas sensor is executed, which is suitable for a case in which shutdown time of the engine is set long, and thus the exhaust gas sensor is protected from thermal shock. The control apparatus sets timing for stopping energization of a heater of an exhaust gas sensor after shutdown of the engine, to a point in time when a predetermined time set based on outside air temperature has elapsed, or a point in time when cooling water temperature of the engine has dropped to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Teruaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8939010
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an error period module and a sensor diagnostic module. The error period module determines an error period based on an amount of time that a first air/fuel ratio and a desired air/fuel ratio are different. A first oxygen sensor generates a first signal indicating the first air/fuel ratio. The sensor diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the first oxygen sensor when the error period is greater than a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Levijoki, Thomas J. Majcher, John W. Siekkinen, Michael John Dokter, Scott Jeffrey
  • Patent number: 8924132
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the enabling of a system which is assigned to an internal combustion engine, in which the readiness for operation of the system is dependent on an operating temperature, is characterized in that a fault in the enabling of the system is inferred (106) if operation of the system cannot be detected on expiry of a predeterminable time period after the starting of the internal combustion engine or on the recurrence of readiness for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Damien Bouvier, Tobias Pfister, Joerg Linke, Frank Kluever
  • Patent number: 8909457
    Abstract: A dual fuel common rail system may be operated in a regular mode in which a relatively large charge of gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a relatively small injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel. The dual fuel system may be operated in a single fuel limp home mode in which liquid diesel fuel is injected at higher pressures. When transitioning from the single fuel limp home mode to the dual fuel regular mode, accumulated leaked liquid fuel in the gaseous nozzle chamber of each fuel injector is purged and burned in the respective engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Puckett, Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi
  • Patent number: 8909413
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for using a feedback correction factor to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system. If the feedback correction factor is within a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a judging mode. If the feedback correction factor is outside a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. Methods and systems for using an engine oil temperature to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system are disclosed. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is below a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is above a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a judging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony P. Mortensen
  • Publication number: 20140238370
    Abstract: Embodiments for diagnosing a humidity sensor are provided. One example method comprises adjusting an engine operating parameter based on humidity of a first gas flow measured by a humidity sensor, and indicating degradation of the humidity sensor if a humidity of a second gas flow measured by the humidity sensor is different than an expected humidity. In this way, degradation of the humidity sensor may be indicated if the humidity of the second gas flow measured by the humidity sensor is different than expected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar
  • Publication number: 20140238369
    Abstract: Embodiments for testing a humidity sensor are provided. One example method comprises indicating degradation of a humidity sensor based on a humidity sensor output and output from an intake gas composition sensor. In this way, output from the intake gas composition sensor may be used to determine if the humidity sensor is degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Timothy Joseph Clark, Imad Hassan Makki, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 8788235
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an actuator for a boost pressure system of an internal combustion engine, in which the actuator is controlled using a triggering signal, and a state variable of the boost pressure system which is at least an indirect function of the triggering signal is detected. The triggering signal is periodic, and a curve of the values of the state variable is analyzed with regard to at least one periodic characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bleile, Thomas Oertel
  • Patent number: 8725391
    Abstract: In order to locate errors of the rail pressure sensor (38) when starting problems occur, the following method steps are proposed: determination of whether starting problems occur in the engine and if this is the case, an engine state is induced, in which the engine controller is already active but the starting phase of the engine has not yet commenced; substitution of the measured rail pressure sensor value used by the engine controller with a substitute value; start attempt of the engine and determination whether the engine has achieved an independent operation; and identification of an error function of the rail pressure sensor if the starting problems only occur when the measured rail pressure sensor value is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carl-Eike Hofmeister, Michael Käsbauer, Matthias Stampfer
  • Patent number: 8725389
    Abstract: A control device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine executes feedback control such that an air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio detecting unit becomes a target air-fuel ratio, carries out external EGR, and, when an abnormal deviation that an air-fuel ratio of at least any one of cylinders deviates from the target air-fuel ratio has occurred during the feedback control, detects the abnormal deviation and an abnormal cylinder. When the abnormal deviation has been detected during feedback control and external EGR, the control device corrects the target air-fuel ratio to compensate for a detection error of the air-fuel ratio detecting unit due to the influence of specific components of exhaust gas. The control device changes the correction mode on the basis of whether the abnormal cylinder causes more intensive gas flow or equal or less intensive gas flow against the air-fuel ratio detecting unit than the other cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yuuichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8695568
    Abstract: An inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality determination device includes a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a pre-catalyst sensor; a post-catalyst sensor; an air-fuel ratio control unit that performs main air-fuel ratio control based on an output of the pre-catalyst sensor and auxiliary air-fuel ratio control based on an output of the post-catalyst sensor; a control amount calculation unit that calculates a control amount in the auxiliary air-fuel ratio control based on the output of the post-catalyst sensor; a revolution speed variation detection unit that detects a revolution speed variation of the engine; an abnormality determination unit that performs imbalance abnormality determination for determining whether an inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality has occurred based on a detected value of the revolution speed variation; and a guard range reduction unit that reduces a guard range of the control amount during the imbalance a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuya Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8554450
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a first detector that detects air/fuel ratio in an exhaust passageway on an upstream of an exhaust gas-controlling catalyst in multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a second detector that detects the air/fuel ratio in the exhaust passageway on a downstream of the catalyst; a feedback controller that executes a feedback control so that a first detected value based on the first detector output follows to be equal as a first predetermined target value and so that a second detected value based on the second detector output follows to be equal as a second predetermined target value that corresponds to the first predetermined target value during an initial state; an abnormality detection device configured to detect a variation abnormality in the air/fuel ratio among the cylinders; and a change device that changes the second predetermined target value when the variation abnormality is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norifumi Takada, Tomoaki Honda
  • Patent number: 8521405
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio diagnostic device for an internal combustion engine. The device includes an air-fuel ratio that detects oxygen concentration in the exhaust. A determination unit determines a variation in air-fuel ratio between engine cylinders based on a detection value of the air-fuel ratio sensor. A change amount in the detection value for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a lean side peak value toward a rich side peak value is defined as a rich change rate. A change amount in the detection for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a rich side peak value toward a lean side peak value is defined as a lean change rate. The determination unit determines a degree of variation between the cylinders based on the rich and lean change rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8490610
    Abstract: An EG-ECU suspends fuel cutoff when the fuel cutoff is being carried out and the engine speed NE becomes lower than or equal to the resumption engine speed NErtn. The EG-ECU forcibly opens and closes an EGR valve when the fuel cutoff is being carried out, and performs abnormality diagnosis for an EGR device based on a change amount of pressure in an intake pipe caused by opening and closing the EGR valve. The EG-ECU suspends the diagnosis when the diagnosis is being carried out and the engine speed NE becomes lower than or equal to a forcible suspension engine speed NEoff. When the diagnosis is being performed, the EG-ECU sets the forcible suspension engine speed NEoff to a smaller value when the EGR valve is not in a forcibly opened state than when the EGR valve is in the forcibly opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8494755
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention comprises a controller for forming a speed signal arranged to receive speed measurement data of the internal combustion engine as well as speed reference data. The apparatus additionally comprises a module for forming the internal speed reference value instead of the speed reference value set to be used when forming the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: Tom Kaas, Tom Troberg, Johan Pensar
  • Patent number: 8485167
    Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus includes: an air/fuel ratio control portion that performs a control of fluctuating the air/fuel ratio between rich and lean states; a data acquisition portion that acquires, as data for detecting abnormality, a parameter that corresponds to responsiveness during change of output of the A/F sensor between rich and lean peaks during the control; a straight line setting portion that sets a straight line that represents a tendency of change of the parameter relative to change in intake air amount of the engine based on the data acquired by performing acquisition of the data a plurality of times; and an abnormality determination portion that determines the presence/absence of abnormality of the A/F sensor based on comparison between the gradient of the set straight line and an abnormality criterion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Ogiso, Hiroaki Tsuji, Yuya Yoshikawa, Keiko Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8447502
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating engine pre-ignition based on a feed-forward likelihood of pre-ignition and feedback from a pre-ignition event. In response to an indication of pre-ignition, a cylinder may be enriched while an engine load is limited. The enrichment may be followed by an enleanment to restore exhaust catalyst feed-gas oxygen levels. The mitigating steps may be adjusted based on engine operating conditions, a pre-ignition count, as well as the nature of the pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Roy Jentz, Robert Sarow Baskins, Karen Willard
  • Patent number: 8442745
    Abstract: In control executed by a fuel supply apparatus having a delivery passage that delivers fuel to a fuel injection valve, a fuel pump that pumps the fuel from a fuel tank to the delivery passage, and a check valve that allows the fuel to flow out of the delivery passage into the fuel tank, that opens when a first fuel pressure on the delivery passage is higher than a second fuel pressure on the fuel tank by at least a set pressure, when the first fuel pressure is lower than a lower limit pressure being higher than the set pressure in a case where fuel injection is to be stopped, the fuel pump is controlled so that the first fuel pressure rises to or above the lower limit pressure, and after the first fuel pressure has reached or exceeded the lower limit pressure, the abnormality diagnosis is executed on the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Publication number: 20130047969
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine has a perturbation control which oscillates the air-fuel ratio with a first frequency. A first difference signal is generated indicative of a difference between a present value and a first past value from an air-fuel ratio sensor detected at a timing of a first specific period which is set to reduce a specific frequency component corresponding to a specific frequency different from the first frequency. A first frequency component is extracted. A second difference signal is generated indicative of a difference between a present value and a second past value detected at a timing of a second specific period which is set to reduce the first frequency component. The specific frequency component is extracted. A failure of the control system is determined by a relationship between intensities of the first frequency component and the specific frequency component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Sekiguchi, Atsuhiro Miyauchi, Takeshi Aoki, Michinori Tani, Takashi Yanagiura, Seiji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8381708
    Abstract: An engine ECU calculates a rotational variation based on a required rotation time when a complete misfire occurs in a cylinder, a required rotation time when complete combustion occurs in the cylinder, and a required rotation time during the current combustion stroke, and integrates the calculated rotational variation. If it is determined that the number of times the rotational variation has been integrated has reached a predetermined number, the engine ECU calculates an amount of learning value deviation from the integrated rotational variation. If the amount of learning value deviation is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the engine ECU corrects a learning value of a sub-feedback control with respect to the air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Katayama, Naoto Kato, Shuntaro Okazaki, Kenji Kimura, Masashi Hakariya, Hiroaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8353273
    Abstract: A control module and method for operating the same includes a diurnal control valve module that opens a diurnal control valve (DCV) and an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) diverter valve control module that switches on an ELCM diverter valve. The control module includes a correlation module performs a correlation of a ELCM pressure signal and a fuel tank pressure signal and that generates a fault signal in response to the correlation when the DCV valve is open and the ELCM diverter valve is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventors: Kurt D. Mc Lain, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout, Miles K. Maxey, Robert Jackson, Kenneth J. Kalvelage
  • Patent number: 8290688
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. In order to maintain operation during a fuel cut-off situation, the sensor malfunction monitor is arranged to control the fuel cut-off sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Watson
  • Patent number: 8285469
    Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a variable valve operating mechanism which is capable of accurately and effectively identifying an abnormality-occurring cylinder during operation while preventing the deterioration of a catalyst. A fuel injection valve which is capable of injecting fuel for each cylinder is provided. Variable valve operating mechanisms which are capable of halting the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in the closed state for each cylinder are provided. An abnormality evaluation index value is acquired during the operation of the internal combustion engine and, based on the abnormality evaluation index value, an abnormality which has occurred in at least one cylinder in the internal combustion engine is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Sano, Kazuhiro Wakao, Takashi Nishikiori, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8265859
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating engine pre-ignition based on a feed-forward likelihood of pre-ignition and feedback from a pre-ignition event. In response to an indication of pre-ignition, a cylinder may be enriched while an engine load is limited. The enrichment may be followed by an enleanment to restore exhaust catalyst feed-gas oxygen levels. The mitigating steps may be adjusted based on engine operating conditions, a pre-ignition count, as well as the nature of the pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz, Robert Sarow Baskins, Chris Paul Glugla, Karen Willard
  • Patent number: 8187454
    Abstract: A degradation detector of an exhaust gas sensor is disclosed. The detector comprises a first heater resistance estimator (16) for estimating a resistance of a heater that heats the exhaust gas sensor, based on a device resistance of the exhaust gas sensor; a heater resistance calculator (17) for calculating a resistance of the heater, based on a heater current of the heater; and a degradation determiner (18) for determining whether the exhaust gas sensor is degraded, by comparing the estimated resistance of the heater and the calculated resistance of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8145409
    Abstract: A method for determining degradation of an exhaust gas sensor positioned in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided. The method includes sensor response durations to rich-to-lean and lean-to-rich transitions, as well as the symmetry of sensor response durations and delays to such transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 8103430
    Abstract: With an internal combustion engine (1) there is the problem that the fuel-air mixture directed into the combustion chamber of the cylinders (2) can be substantially influenced by manufacturing tolerances and ageing of the fuel injectors and uneven distribution is thus created. The uneven distribution is individually determined for each cylinder (2) depending on the operating mode of the internal combustion engine (1) (homogenous operation, stratified operation), wherein either the exhaust gas is analyzed and a corresponding emission value is determined therefrom or that a value is individually determined for each cylinder (2) for the operational roughness of the internal combustion engine (1). These values are compared with a limit value predetermined for the internal combustion engine (1) and upon exceeding of the predetermined limit value a fault entry in a fault memory (9) is made for the cylinder (2) concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Reza Aliakbarzadeh
  • Patent number: 8091538
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an internal combustion engine having first and second fuel injectors, if a misfire is detected, the following steps are performed in sequence: a first fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the first fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of a first fuel quantity in the first step; a second fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the second fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of the second fuel quantity in the third step; and an engine error is diagnosed if a misfire was detected in the second or in the fourth step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hartmann, Winfried Langer, Armin Huber
  • Patent number: 8079351
    Abstract: A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is disclosed. In one example, characteristics of an oxygen sensor are a basis for determining degradation of a temperature sensor. In this way, the system can provide redundant exhaust gas temperature sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, Michael Igor Kluzner, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8073613
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating engine pre-ignition based on a feed-forward likelihood of pre-ignition and feedback from a pre-ignition event. In response to an indication of pre-ignition, a cylinder may be enriched while an engine load is limited. The enrichment may be followed by an enleanment to restore exhaust catalyst feed-gas oxygen levels. The mitigating steps may be adjusted based on engine operating conditions, a pre-ignition count, as well as the nature of the pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz, Robert Sarow Baskins, Chris Paul Glugla, Karen Willard