Abstract: A method to operate an electronic controlled internal combustion engine with an electronic controller having memory and tables resident therein to obtain and use sensor data beyond the Nyquist threshold.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting changes in the dielectric constant of a liquid is described. The sensor has two electrodes immersed in the liquid with dielectric surfaces substantially parallel with each other, and a ramp disposed on a support between the electrodes. The ramp intersects the surfaces at obtuse and acute angles respectively and provides a surface disposed at an angle relative to an electric field extending between the two electrodes, thereby reducing parasitic effects of the sensed dielectric content of the liquid. Slots in the electrode adjacent the lower end of the ramp reduce the strength of the field proximate to the ramp and thereby further reduce the parasitic effects.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting changes in the dielectric constant of a liquid is described. The sensor has two electrodes immersed in the liquid with dielectric surfaces substantially parallel with each other, and a ramp disposed on a support between the electrodes. The ramp intersects the surfaces at obtuse and acute angles respectively and provides a surface disposed at an angle relative to an electric field extending between the two electrodes, thereby reducing parasitic effects of the sensed dielectric content of the liquid. Slots in the electrode adjacent the lower end of the ramp reduce the strength of the field proximate to the ramp and thereby further reduce the parasitic effects.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring capacitance of a capacitor having a dielectric material, such as a lubricating oil, disposed between the electrodes of the capacitor, where the dielectric material causes a double layer effect within the capacitor. A variable source is provided in series with a resistor to induce a change in a current flowing through the capacitor. A sensor converts the resulting current flow into a current value readable by a processor. The processor records a plurality of current values. An initial value is recorded to correspond to the induced change in the current. A leakage value is recorded after the current has exponentially decayed to approximate steady state. Multiple other current values are also recorded during the exponential decay. An intermediate value is then selected from among the multiple other current values based upon the initial value and the leakage value.

Abstract: A method for determining quality of lubricating oil using electrodes in contact with the oil includes applying a potential having a first amplitude to the electrodes, wherein the first amplitude is sufficiently low such that substantially no solution current will flow; determining a first voltage phase lag with respect to the potential when the potential has the first amplitude; increasing amplitude of the potential to a second amplitude at which solution current flows; determining a second voltage phase lag with respect to the potential when the potential has the second amplitude; and determining the quality of the oil based on the voltage phase lags. A system for practicing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining quality of lubricating oil includes positioning first and second electrodes in the oil, wherein the electrodes are coated with an electrically insulating material; applying a symmetrically balanced time-varying potential to the electrodes, the potential having a predetermined amplitude; sweeping the potential over a range of frequencies from a first frequency to a second frequency greater than the first frequency; monitoring magnitude of amplitude modulation of the potential over the range of frequencies; and determining the quality of the oil based on variation of the amplitude modulation. A system for practicing the method is also provided.