Abstract: A method is proposed for monitoring operations of an internal combustion engine to detect combustion misses for internal combustion engines having dual spark coils. A method is provided for the primary-side monitoring of the spark voltage and/or of the spark duration, and a method is provided for detecting irregular operations. If a faulty ignition is detected in one cylinder at one spark plug by monitoring the spark voltage and/or the spark duration, the second spark plug in this cylinder is then cut off (de-energized) and the reaction to this cut-off is monitored by means of the method for detecting irregular running. If the irregular running detection confirms faulty operation of the internal combustion engine, then the faulty ignition at the first spark plug of a cylinder was correctly recognized and appropriate emergency measures are introduced.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for controlling the operating characteristic quantities of an internal combustion engine, with a characteristic set up with operating quantities of the internal combustion engine for pre-control of engine variables influencing the operating characteristic quantities, and with a control arrangement, responsive to at least one engine variable, for correctively influencing the characteristic values. The values stored in the characteristic field and selected in dependence on operating characteristic quantities of the internal combustion engine are modified via the control arrangement to correctively influence the characteristic values. In addition, the characteristic values lying within the defined region of the characteristic value modified are also changed in dependence on the modification of this particular characteristic value.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for metering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a characteristic field set up with operating quantities of the internal combustion engine for anticipatorily controlling engine variables that influence the air-fuel mixture and a control arrangement, responsive to at least one engine variable, for correctively influencing the characteristic field values. The characteristic field values are stored in the characteristic field and selected in dependence on operating quantities of the internal combustion engine. The characteristic field values are modified by means of different control methods to correctively influence the same. More specifically, the control methods include a control to a minimal specific fuel consumption in the lower and part-load ranges as well as a control to maximum power in the upper load range as may be necessary.

Abstract: A method of controlling fuel mixture supply to an internal combustion engine having fuel injection system in which the quantity of fuel is metered in dependency on gas pedal position and the quantity of air is subsequently metered in dependency on the position of the throttling plate. The method employs a preliminary control with superposed extreme value regulation. For this purpose, the injection time interval or the throttle plate position are adjusted in dependency on the gas pedal position and on the rotary speed of the engine. During the operation of the engine, test cycles are continuously established and according to the reaction of the engine to the tests, the adjustment of the injection time interval and of the throttle plate position are made. The method is suitable particularly for internal combustion engine used in motor vehicles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling the operating characteristic quantities of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a characteristic field for pre-controlling engine variables influencing the operating characteristic quantities. The characteristic field is made up of the operating characteristic quantities. The apparatus further includes a control arrangement for controlling to maximum power output of the engine. The control arrangement is superposed on the pre-control and includes means for determining corrective values from the control loop in a predetermined operating range of the engine. The corrective values are applied to influence all of the pre-control values of the characteristic field over all operating ranges. With the apparatus of the invention, it is possible in a simple manner to consider changes in the surrounding factors that influence the engine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for metering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine with an extreme-value control arrangement for controlling to a minimal specific consumption of fuel. The extreme-value control arrangement includes a test signal generator for acting upon the fuel metered to the engine. The rotational speed and a fuel metering signal are applied by the extreme-value control arrangement as actual information with respect to the minimal specific fuel consumption. In particular, the quantities of rotational speed change and the change in duration of fuel injection are utilized to determine the minimal consumption in the case of an internal combustion engine equipped with fuel injection. Further, for a minimal consumption control, it has been shown to be advantageous to consider information as to which gear of the transmission of the engine is in place.

Abstract: To provide a suitable number of display fields (e.g. ARRIVAL; TIME; etc.), each of which characterizes and identifies the significance or import or meaning of a displayed numerical value on a display device (16), the display fields are associated in groups or sets (11-15; 42-45) having a particular geometric position (columns; segmental), and a plurality of keys (21-25) are provided with each key being associated with a group or set of the display fields, and connected to a counter (61) to select a particular one of the display fields within the group or set by the number of key operations, the numerical value associated with the display field then being displayed on the numerical display (16).

Abstract: A method for determining adjustment values for a fuel supply device which supplies a fuel mixture to a fuel-burning engine for optimum performance by additionally influencing the preset adjustment values of the fuel supply device itself from values supplied by a storage means containing an engine performance log of adjustment values whereby said performance adjustment values are continuously changed and replaced by values which reflect instantaneous operating engine characteristics. Each replaced value forms the basis for computing a new value upon a change in engine operating characteristics.

Abstract: In the operation of an internal combustion engine, certain operating parameters, for example the length of fuel injection pulses, the ignition timing and the exhaust gas recycle rate can be adjusted on the basis of information related to state variables of the engine, for example the engine speed, the induction tube pressure, the air flow rate and the like. In particular, the injection pulse length may be determined from data stored in a memory and addressed by a pair of numbers related to the instantaneous values of engine speed and air flow rate. This type of open loop control is rapid and may be very exact but does not account for long-range changes in engine behavior due to wear, etc. For this reason, additional circuitry senses a further state variable, for example, the oxygen content of the exhaust gas or the engine roughness, and uses this information in a feedback loop to generate a correction signal which is then applied in a rate multiplier to the basic fuel injection datum.

Abstract: Certain intervals are determined in which output signals from an exhaust gas sensing device are sensed, and then applied to a control circuit, to control the fuel supply system (carburetor, or fuel injection system) in such a direction that a predetermined ratio of fuel and air is being supplied to the engine to provide exhaust gases of predetermined composition. The intervals are determined by a logic circuit which has applied thereto engine operating parameters such as operating time of the engine after having been started, engine speed, engine power condition (idling, or supplying power), engine temperature, or the like.

Abstract: An oscillator is connected to a backward counter to set the backward counter to a count number representative of its frequency of oscillation, the backward counter being stepped down by clock pulses recurring at a frequency high with respect to the cycling rate of the oscillator until it reaches a reference value, for example zero. The difference between the reference value and the count state of the counter when a predetermined counting period has elapsed, as determined by the duration of one cycle of the input signal, forms an error signal which is transmitted over a bi-directional counter to an integrator which, in turn, controls the oscillator. The system is particularly applicable for use in connection with vehicle wheel brake anti-lock arrangements, and permits determination of wheel speed by oscillation of the oscillator as well as acceleration and deceleration by sensing the error signal.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine which is provided with an exhaust gas treatment system, such as thermal or catalytic reactors, includes a primary regulating system for admitting fresh air to the exhaust system for the chemical processes taking place in the reactors. This fresh air regulation depends on the engine rpm and on the induction tube pressure. There is also provided a secondary air control system, including a three-way valve and an electronic controller and an oxygen probe, located in the exhaust manifold. The probe supplies the controller with a signal related to the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas and the controller uses this signal to actuate the three-way valve which admits either induction tube pressure or, alternatively, exhaust system pressure, to a control chamber in the primary regulating system, thereby influencing the quantity of fresh air supplied to the exhaust manifold of the engine.

Abstract: A sensing means is provided to monitor combustion of fuel and air supplied to an internal combustion engine, for example by sensing ignition pulses, combustion pressure, or cylinder temperature. Signals, as sensed, are evaluated and if one of these signals is beyond a certain threshold (e.g. extreme with respect to a set value, or with respect to an average of all signals) as sensed by threshold switches, supply of the combustible fuel-air mixture to the specific cylinder is interrupted.

Abstract: To supervise operational effectiveness of catalytic reactors included in exhaust emission detoxification systems, an oxygen sensor is located downstream of the reactor to determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, the oxygen sensor comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte forming an ion concentration chain and having catalytically inactive contacts, connected to a detection circuit which provides an output signal in dependence on a signal from the sensor, the output signal operating an alarm, or a transducer which interferes with proper engine operation to force the operator to have the reactor repaired. Preferably, two ion conductive chains are used, in a single sensor, or in two sensors, one being exposed to exhaust gases upstream of the catalytic reactor and the other downstream of the catalytic reactor, the output signals being provided to a differentially connected operational amplifier, to balance out extraneous influences.

Abstract: The inlet and outlet ends of a catalytic reactor are instrumented with oxygen sensors. A change of the fuel-air concentration of the combustible mixture is indicated by a jump in the output voltage of the sensors; the voltage of the inlet sensor changes before that of the outlet sensor and the greater the time difference between these changes, the higher is the catalytic activity of the reactor. When a repeatable and constant engine condition is reached, the fuel-air mixture is abruptly changed and an electronic circuit enables a logical circuit which controls a signal lamp. If, during a predetermined time interval, the outlet sensor also changes its output voltage, indicating a time difference which is too short, the warning signal is energized and the operator is alerted to the insufficient level of reactor activity.

Abstract: To supervise operational effectiveness of catalytic reactors included in exhaust emission detoxification systems, an oxygen sensor is located downstream of the reactor to determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, the oxygen sensor comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte forming an ion concentration chain and having catalytically inactive contacts, connected to a detection circuit which provides an output signal in dependence on a signal from the sensor, the output signal operating an alarm, or a transducer which interferes with proper engine operation to force the operator to have the reactor repaired. Preferably, two ion conductive chains are used, in a single sensor, or in two sensors, one being exposed to exhaust gases upstream of the catalytic reactor and the other downstream of the catalytic reactor, the output signals being provided to a differentially connected operational amplifier, to balance out extraneous influences.

Abstract: Clock pulses are multiplied by a ratio less than 1 of which the numerator is controlled by a reversible counter. The multiplier output pulses initiate new countdown cycles of a second counter beginning with the clock pulse following the onset of an input frequency pulse and ending with the clock pulse following the onset of the next input frequency pulse. The state of the count at the end of the cycle determines whether the reversible counter will be left unchanged, advanced, or counted back and hence, whether the multiplier output frequency will be left unchanged, increased or reduced. The initial countdown value of the second counter is provided by a long term store which determines the frequency multiplication ratio. The circuit is usable to multiply a variable input frequency in a vehicle brake anti-lock system.