Abstract: A sensor that detects a fuel property of a mixed fuel of a biofuel and a hydrocarbon fuel includes: a light emitting device that emits light with a wavelength of 250 nm to 400 nm onto the mixed fuel; and a light receiving device that receives light emitted by the mixed fuel under the effect of light from the light emitting device and generates an output corresponding to the received light. When the fuel property is determined, in a case where the mixed fuel is irradiated by light with a predetermined wavelength generated due to voltage application to the light emitting device, the light emitted by the mixed fuel is detected by the light receiving device. The fuel property of the mixed fuel is detected according to the detected light.

Abstract: At the time of shifting a fuel property value associated with a first imaginary passage cell as a fuel property value associated with a second imaginary passage cell located on the downstream side thereof, the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell is corrected in a controller by computing a difference between the fuel property value associated with the first imaginary passage cell and the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell and multiplying the difference by a correction coefficient. A stoichiometric air/fuel ratio is computed in the controller based on the fuel property value, which is associated with a last one of the imaginary passage cells. Fuel injection of an injector is controlled by the controller based on a computed injection quantity of fuel, which is computed based on the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A sensor that detects a fuel property of a mixed fuel of a biofuel and a hydrocarbon fuel includes: a light emitting device that emits light with a wavelength of 250 nm to 400 nm onto the mixed fuel; and a light receiving device that receives light emitted by the mixed fuel under the effect of light from the light emitting device and generates an output corresponding to the received light. When the fuel property is determined, in a case where the mixed fuel is irradiated by light with a predetermined wavelength generated due to voltage application to the light emitting device, the light emitted by the mixed fuel is detected by the light receiving device. The fuel property of the mixed fuel is detected according to the detected light.

Abstract: A particulate concentration detector including a detection mechanism having a light emission unit and light reception unit. The particulate concentration detector detects the concentration of particulates suspended in a liquid from the light amount detected by the detection mechanism. The detection mechanism includes a first light guide, a second light guide, a liquid chamber, and a third light guide. The first light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light emission surface of the light emission unit. The second light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light reception surface of the light reception unit. The liquid chamber is formed between the first light guide and second light guide and allows the liquid to flow therein. The third light guide is arranged in an oscillatable manner in the liquid chamber so as to face toward the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection apparatus that excels in durability and reliability and is capable of accurately detecting the biofuel concentration in a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and biofuel with a compact and simple configuration. A fuel property sensor 22 includes a light-emitting device 28 and a light-receiving device 32, which detect the optical transmittance of a fuel in a fuel path 26; and a light-emitting device 36 and a position sensitive device 38, which detect the refractive index of the fuel. As the optical transmittance correlates with the RME concentration of the fuel, the RME concentration can be calculated from the detected optical transmittance. As the refractive index correlates with the cetane number of the fuel, the cetane number can be calculated from the detected refractive index. The optical transmittance is detected through the use of light within a wavelength range of 640 nm to 680 nm.

Abstract: A particulate concentration detector including a detection mechanism having a light emission unit and light reception unit. The particulate concentration detector detects the concentration of particulates suspended in a liquid from the light amount detected by the detection mechanism. The detection mechanism includes a first light guide, a second light guide, a liquid chamber, and a third light guide. The first light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light emission surface of the light emission unit. The second light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light reception surface of the light reception unit. The liquid chamber is formed between the first light guide and second light guide and allows the liquid to flow therein. The third light guide is arranged in an oscillatable manner in the liquid chamber so as to face toward the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: At the time of shifting a fuel property value associated with a first imaginary passage cell as a fuel property value associated with a second imaginary passage cell located on the downstream side thereof, the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell is corrected in a controller by computing a difference between the fuel property value associated with the first imaginary passage cell and the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell and multiplying the difference by a correction coefficient. A stoichiometric air/fuel ratio is computed in the controller based on the fuel property value, which is associated with a last one of the imaginary passage cells. Fuel injection of an injector is controlled by the controller based on a computed injection quantity of fuel, which is computed based on the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection apparatus that excels in durability and reliability and is capable of accurately detecting the biofuel concentration in a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and biofuel with a compact and simple configuration. A fuel property sensor 22 includes a light-emitting device 28 and a light-receiving device 32, which detect the optical transmittance of a fuel in a fuel path 26; and a light-emitting device 36 and a position sensitive device 38, which detect the refractive index of the fuel. As the optical transmittance correlates with the RME concentration of the fuel, the RME concentration can be calculated from the detected optical transmittance. As the refractive index correlates with the cetane number of the fuel, the cetane number can be calculated from the detected refractive index. The optical transmittance is detected through the use of light within a wavelength range of 640 nm to 680 nm.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment system is mounted on a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Even when an internal combustion engine is stopped, a discharge of fuel vapor from a first canister to atmosphere can be detected. When the discharge of the fuel vapor from the first canister is detected, the internal combustion engine is started to perform a purge process. When it is detected that the purge process in the first canister is finished, the internal combustion engine is stopped to terminate the purge process.

Abstract: An ECU computes a transit time from a time when the fuel vapor passes the purge valve right after the purge valve is opened until a time when the fuel vapor reaches a vicinity of the fuel injector. Further more, the ECU computes a fuel vapor concentration at the vicinity of the fuel injector after the transit time has elapsed based on a first-order lag curve which is defined by a maximum variation of the fuel vapor concentration and a time constant. Correcting the fuel injection quantity according to the fuel vapor concentration at the vicinity of the injector restricts a disturbance of air-fuel ratio at a time of starting purge process.

Abstract: A fuel property detection device for detecting a property of fuel based on a detection signal output from a photoreceptor includes a light guiding member having a reflecting surface located in direct contact with the fuel. The light guiding member includes a light emitting surface through which measurement light from a light source is emitted from the light guiding member into the fuel, a light incident surface through which the measurement light emitted from the light emitting surface and passing through the fuel enters again the light guiding member, and the reflecting surface from which the measurement light incident from the light incident surface is reflected toward the photoreceptor. The light incident surface and the light emitting surface are opposite to each other to have a space therebetween in the light guiding member, and the space is provided to be filled with the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment system is mounted on a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Even when an internal combustion engine is stopped, a discharge of fuel vapor from a first canister to atmosphere can be detected. When the discharge of the fuel vapor from the first canister is detected, the internal combustion engine is started to perform a purge process. When it is detected that the purge process in the first canister is finished, the internal combustion engine is stopped to terminate the purge process.

Abstract: A leak detecting apparatus includes a canister adsorbing a fuel vapor evaporated in a fuel tank, a measure passage, a pump connected with the canister through the measure passage, and a pressure senor detecting a pressure in the measure passage. The pump depressurizes the measure passage, the canister, and the fuel tank so that a leakage of the fuel vapor is detected. When a blow-by of the fuel vapor is arisen, the pump is stopped to forcibly terminate a depressurization.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a first canister purges fuel vapor into an intake passage of an engine through a purge passage, which communicates with a first detection passage having a throttle. A second canister is located on an opposite side of the purge passage with respect to the throttle, and communicates with the first detection passage. A gas flow generating unit generates gas flow by reducing pressure in a second detection passage communicating with the second canister. A pressure detecting unit detects pressure correlated with the throttle and the gas flow generating unit. An exhaust detecting unit detects exhaust of fuel vapor from the second canister to the second detection passage. A purge control unit controls purge of fuel vapor from the purge passage to the intake passage in accordance with detection results of the pressure detecting unit and the exhaust detecting unit.

Abstract: A fuel property detection device for detecting a property of fuel based on a detection signal output from a photoreceptor includes a light guiding member having a reflecting surface located in direct contact with the fuel. The light guiding member includes a light emitting surface through which measurement light from a light source is emitted from the light guiding member into the fuel, a light incident surface through which the measurement light emitted from the light emitting surface and passing through the fuel enters again the light guiding member, and the reflecting surface from which the measurement light incident from the light incident surface is reflected toward the photoreceptor. The light incident surface and the light emitting surface are opposite to each other to have a space therebetween in the light guiding member, and the space is provided to be filled with the fuel.

Abstract: An ECU computes a transit time from a time when the fuel vapor passes the purge valve right after the purge valve is opened until a time when the fuel vapor reaches a vicinity of the fuel injector. Further more, the ECU computes a fuel vapor concentration at the vicinity of the fuel injector after the transit time has elapsed based on a first-order lag curve which is defined by a maximum variation of the fuel vapor concentration and a time constant. Correcting the fuel injection quantity according to the fuel vapor concentration at the vicinity of the injector restricts a disturbance of air-fuel ratio at a time of starting purge process.

Abstract: A leak detecting apparatus includes a canister adsorbing a fuel vapor evaporated in a fuel tank, a measure passage, a pump connected with the canister through the measure passage, and a pressure senor detecting a pressure in the measure passage. The pump depressurizes the measure passage, the canister, and the fuel tank so that a leakage of the fuel vapor is detected. When a blow-by of the fuel vapor is arisen, the pump is stopped to forcibly terminate a depressurization.

Abstract: In a detection of an alcohol concentration, a first light and a second light are irradiated to a mixed liquid including a fossil fuel, an alcohol, and water, and the alcohol concentration is calculated based on amounts of the first light and the second light permeated through the mixed liquid. In the detection, a difference of a transmittance of the fossil fuel with respect to the first light and each transmittance of the alcohol and water with respect to the first light is larger than a first value. In addition, a difference of a transmittance of water with respect to the second light and each transmittance of the fossil fuel and the alcohol with respect to the second light is larger than a second value.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel treatment apparatus is disclosed that includes a fuel tank and a purge passage that fluidly couples the intake path of an internal combustion engine and the fuel tank. The apparatus also includes a purge valve that is installed in the purge passage and controls the quantity of evaporative fuel purged from the fuel tank into the intake path. Furthermore, the apparatus includes an evaporative fuel status measuring device that measures a density-based status of evaporative fuel in the fuel tank. Additionally, the apparatus includes a purge valve controlling device that controls the purge valve based on the density-based status of the evaporative fuel measured by the evaporative fuel status measuring device.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel treatment system is disclosed that includes a canister, a detection passage having a reduced area portion, and switching device that switches fluid communication. Also included is a depressurizing device for depressurizing the detection passage coupled to the detection passage on a side of the reduced area portion opposite to the switching device, and a pressure detecting device. Moreover, the system includes an evaporative fuel state calculating device for calculating an evaporative fuel state in the mixture based on a cutoff pressure, an air pressure, and a mixture pressure of a mixture of air and the evaporative fuel. In one embodiment, the cutoff pressure, the air pressure, and the mixture pressure are detected independently and discontinuously. In another embodiment, the cutoff pressure and the air pressure are detected on a continual basis during purge of the evaporative fuel.