Position Sensors At Separate Shafts Patents (Class 123/406.62)
  • Patent number: 11946424
    Abstract: A processing method for a camshaft sensor including a toothed wheel, rotationally integral with a camshaft, rotating in front of a fixed sensing element capable of transmitting a signal indicating the profile of the toothed wheel, the method including the following steps: receiving a tooth edge, identifying the corresponding index, performing at least one first processing operation using each index, further including the following steps: qualifying an index and performing at least one second processing operation using the index, if it is qualified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Stéphane Eloy, Benjamin Marconato
  • Patent number: 11873773
    Abstract: Systems and methods for early camshaft position detection in an encoded crankshaft system are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a crankshaft angular position of a crank pulse wheel based on electronic signals received from vehicle sensors. The crank pulse wheel is associated with a cycle including a first crankshaft rotation and a second crankshaft rotation. The method also includes determining a crankshaft angular position from electronic signals received from vehicle sensors. The method yet further includes receiving a sensed camshaft value for a camshaft wheel having a camshaft rotation in the cycle. The method then includes determining if the cycle is in the first crankshaft rotation or the second crankshaft rotation of the crank pulse wheel based on the crankshaft angular position of the crank pulse wheel and the sensed camshaft value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Philip R. Weber
  • Patent number: 10634111
    Abstract: An electronic device for the ignition system of an engine, which may incorporate circuitry for voltage amplification via transformer action, while also containing circuitry for sensing operational parameters, circuitry for calculation of derived values from the sensed data or operational parameters, circuitry for storage of the data and derived values, circuitry for engine system control, and circuitry for the wireless communication of data and derived values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Bykowski, Michael R. Kleczewski, Pezaan S. Patrawala
  • Patent number: 9638130
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, detects a rotating direction of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a crank angle sensor for outputting a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of a crankshaft. The crank angle sensor outputs at the time of reverse rotation of the crankshaft a pulse signal POS having a wider pulse width than that at the time of forward rotation. A control unit receiving pulse signal POS calculates a difference between a present value and a previous value of a pulse width of pulse signal POS and detects switching of a rotating direction of the crankshaft based on a magnitude of this difference. Thus, it is possible to suppress lowering of detection accuracy of a rotating direction of the crankshaft under the influence of variation of measurement values of the pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9239014
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive control device and a period measurement method for measuring a period of a pulse signal input from outside. The automotive control device processes the pulse signal input from outside using an analog filter in parallel with a digital filter. When a difference between a measured value of a period of an output signal of analog filter and a measured value of a period of an output signal of digital filter is less than a threshold value, the automotive control device selects the measured value of the period of the output signal of analog filter as the period of the pulse signal. Meanwhile, when the difference between the measured values is greater than the threshold value, the automotive control device selects the measured value of the period of the output signal of digital filter as the period of the pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamazaki, Naoto Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9140584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of microsensors, and particularly to a passive and reversible deformation sensor, specifically cycles of deformations in a direction OX of a structure, specifically during cycles of temperatures or mechanical stresses to which the structure is subjected, this sensor including elements (4, 5, 6) for detecting and, preferably, counting cycles of variations in the distance between two points or areas of a structure, these elements including a support having first and second portions (41, 44) attachable to, respectively, either of the two points or areas of the structure, wherein the detecting elements are associated with each of the first and second portions of the support, sensor characterized by in that the detecting elements include elements (541, 542, 543, 551, 552, 553, 561, 562, 563) for distinguishing between at least two different thresholds of cycles of variations in distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: ETAT FRANCAIS REPRESENTE PAR LE DELEGUE GENERAL POUR L'ARMEMENT, SILMACH
    Inventors: Pierre-Francois Louvigne, Patrice Minotti, Paul Vescovo, Vincent Walter
  • Patent number: 8818685
    Abstract: A rotation detecting device and a rotation detecting method determines normal rotation/reverse rotation of a rotating shaft based on a rotation signal different between the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of the rotating shaft. The rotation signal is set to have a pulse width different between the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of a crankshaft that is an output shaft of an internal combustion engine. By determining whether or not the pulse width is greater than a threshold value, the normal rotation or the reverse rotation of the crankshaft is detected. Whether or not the crankshaft is rotating normally is determined based on engine rotating speed, a cylinder in which a piston is in a predetermined position, an engine load, a starter switch, intake pressure, battery voltage, and the like. When the condition for the normal rotation is satisfied, the threshold of the pulse width is set based on a pulse width of a rotation signal measured at this time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8447498
    Abstract: Even when an engine is started in various combustion states, an excessive increase in engine speed at the start of the engine is suppressed without an influence of the combustion states and with an excellent responsiveness. Ignition timing (or a combustion injection amount) at the start of an internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with a crank angle cycle ratio which is a ratio of a combustion period crank angle cycle and a reference crank angle cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Minoru Okubo, Takao Miyake, Tomohiro Ohisa
  • Patent number: 8015962
    Abstract: A crankshaft detection system includes a pickup element mounted to an end of a crankshaft and disposed within a rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase. The crankshaft detection system also includes pickup element sensor secured to a mounting location formed in the rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase and disposed in proximity to the pickup element. As the crankshaft rotates the pickup element relative to the pickup element sensor, the pickup element causes the pickup element sensor to generate a signal indicative of the angular velocity and rotational position of the crankshaft. In order to optimize engine performance, in response to the signal, the controller controls a spark event associated with each the cylinder assembly of the engine such that ignition of the fuel and air mixture occurs within each cylinder assembly at a time prior to each piston of each cylinder assembly reaching a top dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corporation
    Inventor: Forrest Ross Lysinger
  • Patent number: 7543564
    Abstract: A method of protecting an intake manifold of an engine of a hybrid propulsion system including an electric motor comprises detecting a reverse rotation of an engine. A fuel injector of the engine that is rotating in reverse is commanded to cease operation. A spark plug of the engine that is rotating in reverse is commanded to cease operation. The ceasing of reverse rotation of the engine is then confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ralph Holm, Jason Thomas Davis
  • Publication number: 20070246012
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus and related control method for an engine are disclosed wherein cylinder discrimination is executed based on a crank signal and a cam signal under a normal signal mode. If a failure occurs in either the crank signal or the cam signal, the cylinder discrimination is executed based on a normal one of the crank signal and the cam signal. A starter device is driven to crank up the engine until judgment is made that the engine enters a running state. A duration time for the starter device to be driven is measured and if the duration time reaches a limit time, the driving state of the starter device is interrupted. When either the crank signal or the cam signal encounters the failure, the limit time is set to a longer time than a preset time for the normal signal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 6895931
    Abstract: A method for determining the crankshaft position of an internal combustion engine is described with which, in the event of failure of the crankshaft sensor, the crankshaft position may be determined with relative precision at all times. For this purpose, the camshaft position is continuously detected by an absolute angle sensor, preferably in a defined time grid. By analyzing the camshaft positions detected in that way, a value for the instantaneous crankshaft position is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ingolf Rupp, Michael Lehner, Elmar Pietsch
  • Patent number: 6885932
    Abstract: A method and system for a misfire detection acquires (301) a series of acceleration data (302) representative of acceleration behavior of an engine. The data is sampled (304) to obtain acceleration data samples at a rate sufficient to obtain up to fourth-order perturbations of the data. The samples are filtered (322) to provide bandwidth limited samples, which are provided to at least two channels (325, 329). The samples are pattern matched (332) in a first channel to enhance harmonic phenomena and pattern canceled (330) in a second channel to enhance random phenomena. Hard and random misfires are detected (334) dependent on a magnitude of the filtered acceleration data samples. Preferably, a third channel (335) is added to detect multiple misfires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Yizhang Liu, Richard J. Gilbert, Donald P. Kultgen, Jeffrey D. Naber, Hanlong Yang
  • Publication number: 20040236497
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle has the steps of determining angular positions of a crankshaft and a camshaft from signals of two detecting devices, monitoring a relative angular position of one of the shafts relative to the other of the shafts, and, depending on whether a change of the determined actual relative position is located outside the tolerance region, releasing an action, and also a computer program, a storage medium, a control and/or regulating unit, and an internal combustion engine with the use of inventive method are proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Ingolf Rupp, Bernd Kesch, Christof Thiel, Juergen Foerster, Tae Jeon Kwon
  • Patent number: 6775611
    Abstract: A crank sensor outputs a crank signal including an angle indicating part and a reference position indicating part. A cam sensor outputs a cam signal including an angle indicating part and a reference position indicating part. A microcomputer executes a cylinder determining processing using the crank signal alone, and also executes a cylinder determining processing using the cam signal alone. In addition, the microcomputer detects abnormality of the crank signal and the cam signal. The cylinder determining processing using the crank signal alone is prohibited when both the crank signal and the cam signal become abnormal while operating the engine. Then, the prohibition of the cylinder determining processing is withdrawn on the condition that the cam signal is recovered to normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kobayashi, Ken Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6766242
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus receives a rotation signal composed of a train of pulses at every interval of a predetermined angle and having a reference position intermediate of the pulse train. A microcomputer in the apparatus executes a detection of the reference position by an interrupt at every effective edge of the rotation signal. Moreover, the microcomputer detects the crankshaft angle position on the basis of the detection result at the beginning of the start of the engine, and on the basis of the reference position signal after the engine start when it is determined that a signal processing circuit is normally operating, by making the reference position signal from the signal processing circuit effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Honda
  • Patent number: 6745121
    Abstract: A crank angle position signal is generated which corresponds to rotational angles of a crankshaft and includes a specific signal for obtaining reference crank angle positions of cylinders. A cylinder identification signal is generated corresponding to the respective cylinders in accordance with the rotation of at least one of an intake-side cam and an exhaust-side cam which are subjected to VVT control. Correlation between the reference crank angle positions and cylinder groups is specified based on a combination of the reference crank angle positions and the cylinder identification signal. Cylinder identification ranges of a prescribed angular length in consideration of an advance angle and a retard angle are set based on the reference crank angle positions. The cylinders are identified based on the reference crank angle positions whose correlation with cylinder groups within each of the cylinder identification ranges has been specified, and the cylinder identification signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuo Watanuki, Eiji Kanazawa, Shiro Yonezawa, Tomokazu Makino
  • Patent number: 6691690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for preventing reverse rotation operation of an engine using a system that includes a crank angle sensor (CAS), a cam position sensor (CPS), and an engine control unit for receiving signals from the CAS and the CPS to perform engine control. The method includes determining if a piston in a specific cylinder is at a predetermined location using a level of a CPS signal at a leading edge and a trailing edge of a CAS signal; determining if the engine is rotating in reverse using the CPS signal level at the leading edge and trailing edge of the CAS signal in the case where it is determined that the piston of the specific cylinder is at the predetermined location; and discontinuing operation of the engine if it is determined that the engine is undergoing reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun-Jin Shin
  • Patent number: 6679223
    Abstract: An engine control system executes fuel injection and ignition in accordance with a detected engine rotational position. The engine control system has a crank sensor on a crankshaft and a cam sensor on a camshaft. The crank sensor generates a first reference position signal at intervals of 360 degrees CA. The cam sensor generates a second reference position signal at a rotational position different from the crank sensor. The engine control system also includes a means for controlling the engine on the basis of the first reference position signal and a means for controlling the engine on the basis of the second reference position signal. When the engine is started, either of the signals is detected so that it is possible to control the engine in accordance with a rotational position of the engine early. The cam sensor is also used in control of a variable valve timing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6644273
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus can reliably detect abnormality in a crank angle position signal to ensure a fail safe function upon occurrence of the abnormally. A fuel injection signal and an ignition signal is generated based on the result of cylinder identification performed by a cylinder identification part and the crank angle position of the crank angle position signal. An abnormality determination part determines whether the crank angle position signal is abnormal. The cylinder identification part includes a cylinder identification resetting part for resetting the current content of the cylinder identification performed by the cylinder identification part upon determination of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Hagari, Yasuyoshi Hori, Akira Furuta, Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Shiro Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 6640778
    Abstract: Controlled variable computing apparatus for an internal combustion engine 101 includes, a revolution signal generating unit 111, 112, 121, 122 for outputting a revolution signal in synchronism with revolution of the internal combustion engine and a control unit 150 for computing a controlled variable for a control target time the revolution signal is inputted, in which the control unit 150 includes, a controlled variable computing unit for computing a driving timing and a driving time period for the control target, and a driving control unit for controlling the driving of the control target each time the revolution signal is inputted, in which if the operation time period of the controlled variable computing unit overlaps the operation time period of the driving control unit, the driving control unit is prioritized to perform its operation by suspending an operation of the controlled variable computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Hori
  • Patent number: 6609498
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the switching states of a target wheel used in an internal combustion engine, the method including providing a camshaft, providing a target wheel having teeth coupled to the camshaft, providing a sensor to detect the teeth of the target wheel, providing a cam phaser to phase the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, homing the cam phaser to a known position relative to the crankshaft, rotating the crankshaft and camshaft, detecting the switching of the teeth by the sensor, referencing switching information detected by the teeth to crankshaft position information to produce a calibration for the target wheel, and storing the calibration in a controller to be use for control of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David Stewart Mathews, Donald Clayton Warner, Jason Thomas Davis
  • Patent number: 6588404
    Abstract: A method of providing engine timing information for an engine having a plurality of cylinders including detecting a fault for a crankshaft sensor generating engine timing information with a camshaft sensor, providing spark and fuel with the engine timing information generated by the camshaft sensor, and shutting off fuel to at least one of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David Stewart Mathews
  • Patent number: 6591184
    Abstract: A cylinder identifying system for an internal combustion engine enables fuel injection and ignition controls for individual cylinders to be speedily performed upon starting of engine. A cylinder identifying means (10) operating on the basis of a crank angle signal (SGT) and a cam signal (SGC) includes a pulse signal number storage means (12) for dividing an ignition control period of each cylinder into plural subperiods for counting for storage signal numbers of specific pulses generated over plural subperiods, and a subperiod discriminating means (14) for determining discriminatively a sequential order of the plural subperiods on the basis of combinations of the numbers of the specific pulses generated during the plural subperiods. The combinations of the numbers of specific pulses generated during the plural subperiods differ one another correspondingly to the plural subperiods independently from the start points thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Yonezawa, Atsuko Hashimoto, Hirofumi Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 6560528
    Abstract: A computerized 2 and 4 cycle internal combustion engine control and optimization/tuning system is disclosed, wherein fuel injector control is optimized to increase horsepower and fuel economy. The system is comprised of an on-board engine controller with communications software allowing technicians to change external sensors via an external computer. The technician may tune engine parameters on the fly as the engine is running. The engine control system displays engine-operating parameters in real time. Fuel mapping can be for the operator's choices of acceleration, maximum speed, gas mileage, altitude of operation and/or engine temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Internal Combustion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Gitlin, Darren O'Conner, Randy A. Gietzen
  • Publication number: 20030000498
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the switching states of a target wheel used in an internal combustion engine, the method including providing a camshaft, providing a target wheel having teeth coupled to the camshaft, providing a sensor to detect the teeth of the target wheel, providing a cam phaser to phase the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, homing the cam phaser to a known position relative to the crankshaft, rotating the crankshaft and camshaft, detecting the switching of the teeth by the sensor, referencing switching information detected by the teeth to crankshaft position information to produce a calibration for the target wheel, and storing the calibration in a controller to be use for control of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: David Stewart Mathews, Donald Clayton Warner, Jason Thomas Davis
  • Publication number: 20020157641
    Abstract: An engine control system executes fuel injection and ignition in accordance with a detected engine rotational position. The engine control system has a crank sensor on a crankshaft and a cam sensor on a camshaft. The crank sensor generates a first reference position signal at intervals of 360 degrees CA. The cam sensor generates a second reference position signal at a rotational position different from the crank sensor. The engine control system also includes a means for controlling the engine on the basis of the first reference position signal and a means for controlling the engine on the basis of the second reference position signal. When the engine is started, either of the signals is detected so that it is possible to control the engine in accordance with a rotational position of the engine early. The cam sensor is also used in control of a variable valve timing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Koji Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6446602
    Abstract: A cylinder identifying system for an internal combustion engine capable of establishing a complicated cam signal pulse pattern without need for setting specific periods for cylinder identification while enhancing control performance by reducing a crank rotation angle required for cylinder identification. A cylinder identifying means (10) for identifying discriminatively individual cylinders on the basis of a crank angle pulse signal (SGT) and a cam pulse signal (SGC) includes a pulse signal number storage means (12) for counting for storage signal numbers of specific pulses generated over a plurality of subperiods which are defined by dividing an ignition control period for each of the individual cylinders into plural subperiods, and an information series storage means (15) for storing information series each composed of a combination of the signal numbers generated during plural subperiods, respectively. The individual cylinders are identified on the basis of the information series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Yonezawa, Atsuko Hashimoto, Hirofumi Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 6405708
    Abstract: A dual ignition system for a truly opposed piston engine providing offsets from the standard timing separation, which is 1440 degrees divided by the number of pistons. Timing is obtained from a timing mark on the flywheel. An ignition transformer is provided on each cylinder. Each transformer has two output coils, and fires two cylinders on the same side of the engine that are separated by 360 degrees of timing plus or minus the offset. A cam position disk is provided on a camshaft of the engine. Half of its circumference is marked sensibly differently from the other half. A cam position sensor adjacent this disk provides input to a logic circuit that determines which of the two adjacent offset timings to send to each transformer depending on which half of the 720-degree engine cycle is in effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher L. Watson
  • Publication number: 20020050272
    Abstract: A cylinder identifying system for an internal combustion engine capable of establishing a complicated cam signal pulse pattern without need for setting specific periods for cylinder identification while enhancing control performance by reducing a crank rotation angle required for cylinder identification. A cylinder identifying means (10) for identifying discriminatively individual cylinders on the basis of a crank angle pulse signal (SGT) and a cam pulse signal (SGC) includes a pulse signal number storage means (12) for counting for storage signal numbers of specific pulses generated over a plurality of subperiods which are defined by dividing an ignition control period for each of the individual cylinders into plural subperiods, and an information series storage means (15) for storing information series each composed of a combination of the signal numbers generated during plural subperiods, respectively. The individual cylinders are identified on the basis of the information series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Shiro Yonezawa, Atsuko Hashimoto, Hirofumi Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 6357418
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control system comprising the steps of supplying a reference position detection pulse and a low revolution ignition position detection pulse generated by a single pulser coil of a crank shaft sensor at a reference position of each of cylinders and a low revolution ignition position thereof through respective waveform shaping circuits to a CPU of an electronic control unit and controlling the internal combustion engine so that all the cylinders are simultaneously ignited at an extreme low revolution area where it cannot be judged which of the cylinders each of the pulses generated by the crank shaft sensor corresponds to when the crank shaft sensor generates every reference position detection pulse near a top dead center in a compression stroke of each of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Uemura, Narutoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6341253
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus generates a 30° CA signal which rises per 30° CA rotation based on a rotational signal from a crank angle sensor and counts up a value CNT of a crank counter by the 30° CA signal. It also reads the level of a cylinder identification signal from a cam angle sensor every time when a reference position signal within the rotation signal is detected. It initializes the count value to 20 when the read level is low and to 8 when the read level is high. Although the apparatus carries out the cylinder discrimination based on the count value, it is also arranged so as not to initialize the count value when the previously read level is the same with the read level of this time. Thus, the cylinders can be identified correctly even if an abnormality occurs in a sensor for outputting a cylinder identification signal or in its wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Honda
  • Patent number: 6302085
    Abstract: A crank angle detecting apparatus of an engine is equipped with a camshaft sensor for outputting the same number of pulse signals CAM as the cylinder number at every stroke phase difference between the cylinders, and further equipped with a crankshaft sensor for outputting a position signal POS 10 at every unit crank angle. A signal of the output position signals POS 10 is omitted at the position where the leading pulse of the pulse signals CAM is generated. On the other hand, a counter CNTFST is equipped for counting up the generation of the position signals POS 10 which will be cleared every time the pulse signal CAM is generated. When the value of the counter CNTFST is equal to or above a threshold value at the time the pulse signal CAM is generated, then the pulse signal CAM is determined as a leading pulse, and the first position signal POS 10 output after the determination is set as the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignees: Unisia Sec's Corporation, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Sekine, Satoru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20010011205
    Abstract: In an engine control unit, a pulse interval in a crank signal having a pulse missing portion is measured. On the basis of the measured pulse interval, frequency multiplication signals of an integral multiple are generated by the next pulse. At the time of engine start, at least until the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control is performed in accordance with a cam signal specifying a cylinder position and the crank signal. At predetermined timing after the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control based on the frequency multiplication signals is executed while performing initialization at the pulse missing portion in the crank signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 6240900
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling knock in an internal combustion engine. The method utilizes an adaptive control scheme to tailor knock thresholds to the current engine operating conditions, as well as to identify the cylinder in which the knocking condition occurred. The method utilizes a modified spark advance to alter the spark timing for the engine cylinders if a knocking condition is detected and a predetermined set of conditions has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Thomas, William D. Rotramel, Howard W. Krausman, Gregory T. Weber, Joseph C. Umloff