Abstract: A method for the dynamic monitoring of a first lambda probe arranged in an exhaust-gas duct of an internal combustion engine upstream of an exhaust-gas purification system. A period of an output signal of the first lambda probe is determined in a controller of the internal combustion engine, and a lambda regulating signal is determined from an output signal of a second lambda probe connected downstream of the exhaust-gas purification system. A first threshold value for a lengthening of the period of the output signal of the first lambda probe is predefined, in that a characteristic signal (46) is derived from the lambda regulating signal, in that a second threshold value for an inadmissible deviation of the characteristic signal (46) is predefined, and in that an inadmissible asymmetric delay of the first lambda probe is inferred if the lengthening of the period exceeds the first threshold value and the characteristic signal (46) deviates from the second threshold value outside predetermined limits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and corresponding device for diagnosing the dynamics of an exhaust gas sensor, which is disposed in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas upstream or downstream of a catalytic converter and with which the air/fuel ratio of the gas mixture supplied to the internal combustion engine is controlled via a control circuit. During diagnosis, provision is made for at least one actuator intervention to be specified by means of a control algorithm of a diagnostic controller specifically m the direction of an asymmetric behavior, which is achieved by an extension of one of the two ramps, until the actuator intervention is compensated by an asymmetric dynamic error of the exhaust gas sensor, a reaction to said actuator intervention being used as criterion for assessing an asymmetric dynamic error of said exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: A method for the dynamic monitoring of a first lambda probe arranged in an exhaust-gas duct of an internal combustion engine upstream of an exhaust-gas purification system. A period of an output signal of the first lambda probe is determined in a controller of the internal combustion engine, and a lambda regulating signal is determined from an output signal of a second lambda probe connected downstream of the exhaust-gas purification system. A first threshold value for a lengthening of the period of the output signal of the first lambda probe is predefined, in that a characteristic signal (46) is derived from the lambda regulating signal, in that a second threshold value for an inadmissible deviation of the characteristic signal (46) is predefined, and in that an inadmissible asymmetric delay of the first lambda probe is inferred if the lengthening of the period exceeds the first threshold value and the characteristic signal (46) deviates from the second threshold value outside predetermined limits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing the dynamics of an exhaust gas sensor embodied as a lambda probe, which is disposed in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas upstream or downstream of a catalytic converter and with which the air/fuel ratio of the gas mixture supplied to the internal combustion engine is controlled via a control circuit. During the diagnosis, provision is made in the method according to the invention for at least one actuator intervention to be specified by means of a control algorithm of a diagnostic controller specifically in the direction of an asymmetric behavior, which is achieved by an extension of one of the two ramps, until the actuator intervention is compensated by a possible asymmetric dynamic error of the exhaust gas sensor, a reaction to said actuator intervention being used as the criterion for assessing an asymmetric dynamic error of said exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a drive unit of a vehicle wherein maximum permissible value is pregiven for monitoring purposes for the output quantity for the drive unit. In this value, requirement values of at least one consumer and/or one ancillary function are included. The inclusion only takes place when the at least one consumer and/or the ancillary function is actually active. To determine whether the consumer and/or ancillary function is active, two pieces of data as to the activation state are evaluated, which pieces of data are independent of each other.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the torque of a drive unit of a motor vehicle. The desired torque or the actual torque of the drive unit is set into a relationship with a pregiven maximum permissible torque and the actual torque is limited or is reduced when the desired torque or the actual torque exceeds the maximum permissible torque. In one operating state, wherein the torque of the drive unit is increased by an additional loading, the maximum permissible torque is increased.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the lambda value of the air/fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine. The method utilizes the signal of a lambda probe as the measurement of an actual value with this actual value displaying discontinuities during the transistion from the rich to the lean lambda region. The switch-over of the control direction in the direction "rich" is undertaken when the actual value in the form of the probe voltage passes through the reference voltage; however, this only happens when the probe voltage had an previously climbed to a threshold value "rich". Correspondingly, the control direction is swiched over to the direction "lean" only when the reference value is passed through and when the probe voltage previously had dropped to a threshold voltage "lean". The apparatus which operates pursusant to the method no longer leads to undefined control oscillations when cylinder scatter effects occur.

Abstract: A control unit (7) for an internal combustion engine (ICE) (1) in a motor vehicle includes a control parameter computation unit 6 which provides output signals controlling the ignition instant of an ignition unit (5) and the fuel injection characteristics of the fuel injection unit 4, thereby controlling operation of the ICE. Depending on an operating parameter of the ICE (1), preferably load, the ignition angle is corrected by an ignition angle correction unit (11) by adding a correction factor, dynamically, as the load changes. The correction factor is determined, preferably, by sensing incremental changes in loading and, equally incrementally, changing the ignition angle, repetitively, as the loading changes. The method can be realized entirely by software within a known ignition angle correction unit (7).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for venting a fuel tank of internal combustion engines or the like, wherein fuel vapors developing in the tank are received in an intermediate storage unit containing an activated carbon filter and are delivered to the induction area of the engine in dependence upon operating conditions. The delivery is accomplished by an electrically controlled tank venting valve having a pass-through opening the cross section of which is continuously changed. This is achieved by changing the pulse duty factor of the drive pulse train for this valve. The pulse duty factor may be determined in the sense of a pure control using a family of characteristic fields in dependence on rotational speed and load of the engine, or by taking into account preferably averaged Lambda values with a reduction in the cross section of the pass-through opening of the tank vent valve as the mixture becomes richer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a mixture metering arrangement for an internal combustion engine and includes an exhaust-gas sensor which is exposed to the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust-gas sensor indicates the air ratio lambda and preferably has a two-level characteristic. The sensor output signals are acted upon by a follow-on controller which is preferably a PI-controller. The controller output quantity acts upon the mixture composition in a corrective fashion. In this arrangement, the control oscillation of the controller output quantity is adjusted to a predetermined amplitude by means of a superposed control. In particular, the integral component of the control oscillation is influenced in a manner causing it to have the same amplitude as the proportional component while in the steady operating condition. Thus, it is possible to maintain the maximum control frequency in any operating range of the internal combustion engine so that the controller always operates at its optimum.

Abstract: An electronic arrangement is disclosed for generating a fuel metering signal which is formed by applying the formula ti=f[x.sub.n, g (U.sub.Batt, y)]. Accordingly, the battery voltage is corrected by means of a characteristic field. In this arrangement, allowance can be made for particularly speed and/or load dependent values in addition to the battery voltage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for a fuel metering system for an internal combustion engine. The arrangement includes a computer unit for generating a fuel metering signal in dependence on the operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The arrangement includes an oxygen sensor and a filter to which the sensor signal is applied, and a subsequent evaluation circuit for additionally influencing the fuel metering signal, preferably in a multiplicative manner. The filter output quantity and engine speed information are utilized together for an additional additive speed-dependent and an additive speed-independent influencing of the fuel metering signal via at least one control function. This arrangement permits a nearly ideal anticipatory control of the fuel metering signal which has an advantageous effect on the engine operating behavior and the exhaust gas quality, in particular with the internal combustion engine in a state of transition and the lambda control circuit deactivated.

Abstract: A regulating device is proposed for a fuel metering system of an internal combustion engine having .lambda. regulation. The regulating device includes a P-I regulator, and the individual control variables of the regulator are stored in memory and are capable of being recalled in accordance with operating characteristics. By means of asymmetrical P and I components that is, different values at the transition from a lean to a rich mixture or vice versa, the average value for .lambda. can be shifted in a clearly-defined manner, so that the individual exhaust gas components are substantially adapted to the desired values at all operational points. The individual P and I components or regulator control variables are stored in memory in performance graphs, which preferably permit finely-distinguished regulator control during partial-load operation.

Abstract: An electronic control system for internal combustion engines which has signal generator circuits for the fuel metering and for the ignition. During starting, especially in the case of cold starting, three different phases are provided for controlling the injected fuel quantity and for regulating the fuel quantity downward; furthermore, the ignition angle is adjusted in accordance with temperature and rpm. In terms of the fuel metering, the boundary between the first and second phase is dependent on the rpm or on a maximum total number of revolution cycles, and the end of the second phase is predetermined by a minimum metering signal which is dependent on temperature. In the ignition system, there is an increasing adjustment toward "early" approximately in the rpm range between 200 and 600 revolutions per minute as well as an increasing adjustment toward "late" as the temperature increases.