Having Microprocessor Patents (Class 123/480)
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Patent number: 6802299Abstract: A control system and a control method for an internal combustion engine have a cylinder including an intake valve and an exhaust valve with a fully variable valve-gear assembly. An engine control unit determines setpoint values with regard to a fresh gas charge, an internal residual gas charge, a torque reduction, an EGR control strategy, and a charging strategy. In addition, a transmission device is provided which transmits setpoint values determined by the engine control unit to a valve control unit in synchronization with the crankshaft angle. The valve control unit controls the fully variable valve-gear assembly of the intake and exhaust valve of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the setpoint values determined by the engine control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Karsten Mischker, Rainer Walter, Bernd Rosenau, Udo Diehl, Hermann Gaessler, Juergen Schiemann, Christian Grosse, Georg Mallebrein, Volker Beuche, Stefan Reimer
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Publication number: 20040194765Abstract: To provide a method of processing intake air pressure signals for accurately detecting the engine load including the accelerating state and the intake air flow rate from the intake air pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventor: Michihisa Nakamura
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Patent number: 6792927Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus of an internal combustion engine calculates a basic fuel injection amount according to a predicted in-cylinder intake air amount based on a predicted operating state quantity of the engine, calculates an actual in-cylinder intake air amount from the actual engine operating state quantity, and calculates a feedforward fuel injection amount by correcting an excess or shortage of fuel due to an error in the predicted in-cylinder intake air amount by using a feedforward correction amount. The control apparatus also calculates a feedback correction amount based on a detected air/fuel ratio and an air/fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture determined by the feedforward fuel injection amount, and obtains a final fuel injection amount by correcting the feedforward fuel injection amount with the feedback correction amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6779511Abstract: A method of controlling the fuel quantity injected into an internal combustion engine having a number of injectors; for each injection, the method including the steps of determining a nominal energization time; determining a correction energization time; determining, in the event the required nominal fuel quantity is below a predetermined threshold, a corrected energization time by correcting the nominal energization time as a function of the correction energization time; and exciting an injector for the corrected energization time; the correction energization time being determined by: performing, in the presence of a predetermined series of operating conditions of the engine, a succession of energizations of the injector of gradually increasing energization times; determining a quantity related to the output torque of the engine; and calculating the correction energization time as a function of the quantity related to the output torque.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzoniInventors: Marco Tonetti, Enrico Lanfranco
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Diagnostic system and method to temporarily adjust fuel quantity delivered to a fuel injected engine
Patent number: 6775607Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to adjust temporarily the quantity of fuel delivered to the cylinders of a fuel injected engine. The present invention allows a service technician to temporarily adjust the quantity of fuel being delivered to each cylinder or all cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having therein an electronic control unit capable of controlling the fuel quantity delivered to each cylinder and a general service computer connectable thereto and capable of transmitting data to the ECU. When instructed by the service technician, the service computer sends signals to the ECU to adjust fuel injector data to the fuel injectors of so as to increase or decrease the amount of fuel being delivered to the fuel injected engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventor: Scott A. Koerner -
Patent number: 6766241Abstract: An engine has cylinders, a fuel injection unit with a valve operable in response to a valve control signal to cause fuel to be injected into the cylinders, and a control unit which generates the valve control signal. A method of controlling the valve includes sensing a time associated with movement of the valve corresponding to start of a fuel injection event, and modifying the valve control signal as a function of the sensed time. The method further includes determining a rise time of the valve control signal, determining a valve operation delay time as a function of the rise time, determining a difference time representing a difference between a desired valve operation time and the sensed time, comparing the valve operation delay time to the difference time, and adjusting timing of the valve control signal as a function of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Gary John Treichel
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Publication number: 20040134464Abstract: With an increase in torque demand, the internal combustion engine of the invention successively changes over a combination of a compression ratio, an air-fuel ratio, and a boost status of an air-fuel mixture from (1) settings of a high compression ratio, a lean air-fuel ratio, and a non-boosting state, (2) settings of the high compression ratio, the lean air-fuel ratio, and a boosting state, (3) settings of a low compression ratio, the lean air-fuel ratio, and the boosting state, to (4) settings of the low compression ratio, a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and the boosting state. The changeover strategy desirably widens a driving area of the internal combustion engine at the high compression ratio of a high thermal efficiency or at the lean air-fuel ratio. Under the condition of a large torque demand, the internal combustion engine is driven with boosting the stoichiometric air-fuel mixture at the low compression ratio to output a sufficiently large torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kazuhisa Mogi
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Patent number: 6760656Abstract: A control method and system according to the present invention for a displacement on demand engine estimates cylinder air charge and/or predicts cylinder air charge for future cylinder interrupts. A model is provided that estimates cylinder air charge and/or predicts cylinder air charge for future cylinder interrupts. The model includes a history vector of inputs and states. The history vector of inputs and states are updated when a cylinder firing interrupt occurs. An operating mode of the engine is determined. Based on the operating mode, model parameters and model inputs are selected. The cylinder air charge is estimated and predicted for future cylinder interrupts.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Gregory Paul Matthews, Charles Henry Folkerts
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Patent number: 6755181Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in using an injector supplied with fuel whereof the pressure (Pcarb) is an increasing function of the amount of fuel (Q) to be injected, the opening of the injector being electromagnetically triggered by energizing the electric coil integral with the injector with a current peak of predetermined duration (T1). The invention is characterized in that the duration (T1) of the current peak in an increasing function of the pressure (Pcarb) of the fuel. Thus, the dynamics of the injector is increased.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Siemens VDO AutomotiveInventor: Alain Aubourg
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Patent number: 6752128Abstract: A throttle opening range is divided into regions corresponding to the opening positions, and a deviation between an actual intake air suction state and a predetermined suction state provided for each of the divided regions is calculated. Intake system abnormality such as air cleaner clogging or intake pipe leakage is determined, if the deviation changes in a predetermined increasing or decreasing direction over a plurality of the divided regions. The air suction state may be represented by an intake pipe pressure or intake air flow quantity.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Jun Ozeki, Junya Morikawa
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Patent number: 6748928Abstract: It is known that the performance of actual fuel injectors tends to deviate from performance of nominal fuel injectors in both quantity and timing of each fuel injection event. These deviations in timing and/or quantity can be a function of such variables as the on-time itself, rail pressure in the case of hydraulically actuated fuel injectors, and engine temperature. In addition, these variations in performance can change over the life of the fuel injector. Therefore, in order to accurately correct for performance deviations in each individual fuel injector, the invention can include an up-to-date diagnostic of that deviation in performance. The present invention includes in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance deviations in both quantity and timing, and further includes software strategies for applying control signal adjustments to make all of the fuel injectors in a given engine behave more uniformly and more like a nominal fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: Ronald D. Shingole
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Publication number: 20040107946Abstract: A fuel injection amount control apparatus estimates an intake air amount for a present or coming suction stroke of a cylinder based on an estimated throttle opening, and calculates a pre-correction estimated necessary fuel amount based on the intake air amount. The apparatus also calculates an actual intake air amount based on an actual throttle opening at the end of the previous suction stroke, and calculates an actual necessary fuel amount based on the actual intake air amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Kazunori Kojima
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Patent number: 6748314Abstract: A fuel transportation lag model has a fuel transportation lag element A (FTLEA) due to adhesion of an injected fuel onto wall faces and a first-order lag element B (FOLEB) for compensating a model error of the (FTLEA). A fuel correction amount has a (FTLEA) compensation term and a (FOLEB) compensation term. By a compensation term for the (FTLEA), a first wall adhesion correction amount is obtained by multiplying a deviation between the wall face adhesion fuel amount (WFAFA) in a steady driving mode and a (WFAFA) at a present time with a first reference adaptation parameter and a first correction factor. By a compensation term for the (FOLEB), a second wall adhesion correction amount is obtained by multiplying a deviation between a required fuel amount of a present time and a required fuel amount of last time with a second reference adaptation parameter and a second correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Hisayo Dohta
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Patent number: 6742505Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, the fuel reaches a combustion chamber via at least one fuel-injecting device. The fuel-injecting device includes a piezo actuator. The drive energy (U), which is necessary for a specific stroke (h) of the piezo actuator, is determined from at least one function (34 to 40) which couples the stroke (h), the drive energy (U) and the drive time (t) of the piezo actuator with each other. In order to more accurately adjust the stroke of the piezo actuator, it is suggested that a function (34 to 40) be used for the determination of the drive energy (U). These functions (34 to 40) were previously determined for a typical collective load (L1, L2) to which a piezo actuator is subjected.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Uwe Liskow
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Publication number: 20040099252Abstract: Apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an estimating or controlling unit to determine an oil-diluting fuel quantity of an engine oil-diluting fuel which is fuel leaking out through a clearance between a piston and a cylinder of the engine and diluting an engine oil. The unit calculates a variation of the engine oil-diluting fuel quantity, and determines the oil-diluting fuel quantity in accordance with the variation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hatsuo Nagaishi, Takashi Nakazawa, Kazuhiko Abe
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Publication number: 20040099251Abstract: Immediately following the cranking of an engine, a fuel step is provided (309). The fuel step (305) is an amount of fuel that is less than the cranking fuel amount for an engine, and is provided for a fixed time period (219) once a transition from crank to run in the engine is detected (301). Engine start-up is improved by maintaining engine speed to prevent the engine from stalling, thereby reducing the necessity to restart the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Victor H. Miranda, David V. Rodgers, James T. Beaucaire
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Publication number: 20040094119Abstract: According to this method, a) a series of sparks is emitted into an engine cylinder (1), filled with an air/fuel mixture to be ignited, at predetermined successive instants, b) one of said sparks that initiates the ignition of said mixture is identified, c) the difference separating the instant of emission of said spark from a predetermined ignition instant able to ensure that said engine supplies a predetermined mechanical power is evaluated, and d) the instant of opening of said fuel injector (3) is corrected as a function of said difference, so as to initiate subsequent ignitions of the air/fuel mixture in said cylinder (1) at said predetermined instant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2004Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Franz Dietl, Holger Rukwid, Frederic Galtier
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Patent number: 6736103Abstract: A system for the management of fuel and fuel vapors in the cold start fuel passageway of an internal combustion engine which has a cold start fuel injector which, when activated, introduces fuel into the cold start fuel passageway. The system includes an engine control unit (ECU) which determines the probability of fuel within the cold start passageway. Different procedures programmed in the ECU are then utilized to dissipate the fuel from the cold start passageway. These procedures include delaying the initiation of the spark ignition for the engine, maintaining the heater associated with the cold start fuel injector activated for a period of time following deactivation of the cold start fuel injector, maintaining revolution of the internal combustion engine for a predetermined time period, as well as other strategies.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.Inventors: Frank Warren Hunt, Shigeru Oho, Ayumu Miyajima
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Publication number: 20040089273Abstract: A method of controlling the fuel quantity injected into an internal combustion engine having a number of injectors; for each injection, the method including the steps of determining a nominal energization time; determining a correction energization time; determining, in the event the required nominal fuel quantity is below a predetermined threshold, a corrected energization time by correcting the nominal energization time as a function of the correction energization time; and exciting an injector for the corrected energization time; the correction energization time being determined by: performing, in the presence of a predetermined series of operating conditions of the engine, a succession of energizations of the injector of gradually increasing energization times; determining a quantity related to the output torque of the engine; and calculating the correction energization time as a function of the quantity related to the output torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Marco Tonetti, Enrico Lanfranco
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Patent number: 6732715Abstract: A control method for controlling the timing of fuel injection in a fuelling system for an engine comprising a fuel injector supplied with fuel from a source of fuel at high pressure, comprises varying a drive current which is supplied to the fuel injector at a first time so as to initiate or terminate a primary injection of fuel and monitoring the pressure of fuel within the source so as to detect when a variation in fuel pressure occurs. A time delay is measured, which represents the difference in time between the first time and a second, later time at which a variation in fuel pressure within the source is detected.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Abdolreza Fallahi, Martin A P Sykes
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Patent number: 6729304Abstract: A fuel injection control system including an ECU, for an internal combustion engine which is capable of changing a valve overlap period by changing a cam phase. The ECU calculates a cam phase difference between the present value and the immediately preceding value of the cam phase (amount of change in the valve overlap period), calculates a wall surface temperature of intake ports, and sets a basic fuel injection time period based on an intake pipe absolute pressure and an engine rotational speed. The ECU also calculates a final fuel injection time period by correcting the basic fuel injection time period according to the cam phase difference and wall surface temperature of the intake ports.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuuji Fujiki, Manabu Niki, Osamu Takizawa
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Patent number: 6725842Abstract: A fuel injection control device for an internal combustion engine, includes a rotational speed sensor for detecting rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, intake air quantity sensor for detecting an air quantity taken into the internal combustion engine, atmospheric pressure sensor for detecting atmospheric pressure, and an engine control unit for estimating an inlet pipe pressure of the internal combustion engine from the detected rotational speed and intake air quantity, computing a fuel injection quantity fuel pressure correction coefficient according to a difference between the estimated inlet pipe pressure and the detected atmospheric pressure, and correcting a fuel injection quantity based on the computed fuel injection quantity fuel pressure correction coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Norio Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6728625Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining a desired charge density for an engine having an inlet air pathway. A first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine is determined. A second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine is determined. A third characteristic indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway. A value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine is determined as a function of the first, second, and third characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Sean R. Strubhar, William C. Boley
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Patent number: 6725148Abstract: A diesel engine injection timing signal interceptor module comprised of a micro-controller-based control module and interface circuitry that intercepts engine speed and position signals from engine sensors and produces output signals which are shifted in time (advanced or retarded) relative to the sensor signals. By controlling the amount of time shift, the interceptor manipulates fuel injection timing. Use of the interceptor module provides the ability to reduce NOx emissions while achieving acceptable fuel consumption, without having to change the engine's sensors, electronic controller or fuel injectors.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: CSXT Intellectual Properties CorporationInventors: Ted E. Stewart, Daniel J. Podnar
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Publication number: 20040065303Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system directs exhaust gasses from an exhaust manifold to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gasses travel from the exhaust manifold, first passing through a flow control valve and then through a measuring orifice before entering the intake manifold. Pressure upstream of the orifice is used, along with correction pressure downstream of the orifice, to measure and control exhaust gas flow. Further, manifold pressure is determined from downstream pressure and the used along with the measured exhaust gas flow to calculated a cylinder air charge amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: John D. Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Freeman Carter Gates
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Patent number: 6718253Abstract: A method for forming an actuating variable to be output periodically by a control unit in output periods for controlling an apparatus, in particular the ignition or fuel injection of internal combustion engines, includes reading output signals of at least two sensors into the control unit and ascertaining individual components of the actuating variable based on the output signals. The sensor output signals are read-in and the individual components are determined periodically at intervals of one read-in period or one determination period being equal to or a multiple of the output period of the actuating variable. The read-in period of a sensor output signal is dependent on a speed of variation of the sensor output signal, and in particular it increases as the maximum speed of variation of the sensor output signal decreases. The determination period of each individual component is dependent on the read-in periods of the sensor output signals involved in each individual component.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Helmut Wellnhofer, Reinhold Dirnberger
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Patent number: 6708678Abstract: The invention provides an electronic control device for an internal combustion engine and a control method thereof in which more stable control is attained on the internal combustion engine in association with change in EGR amount due to change in atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideki Hagari
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Publication number: 20040050368Abstract: An electronic control system for an internal combustion engine comprising a controller having a fuel injection control section to control an injector of a fuel injection unit to supply fuel to the engine and an electric power source section to apply a driving power from a generator driven by the engine to the fuel injection unit and the controller, the controller having a first injection command generation section to generate an injection command when an output voltage of the generator reaches a set value whereby a first fuel injection at a start of the engine is made when the first fuel injection command generation section generates the injection command.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Yuichi Kitagawa, Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Hiroyasu Sato
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Publication number: 20040045536Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for trimming an internal combustion engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller in electrical communication with the engine, the controller being operable to detect the operating mode of each injector of the engine and alter each injector operating mode as desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Gregory G. Hafner, Brian G. McGee
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Publication number: 20040045535Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for determining a fuel wall film mass in an internal combustion engine (1) having intake manifold injection. The method and arrangement provide a precise as possible transition compensation also for the case wherein the fuel injection into the open inlet valve (5) of a cylinder (20) takes place. The fuel wall film mass is determined starting from a fuel injection which takes place completely in advance of opening of the inlet valve (5) of the cylinder (20) of the internal combustion engine (1) into the intake manifold (10). The value so determined for the fuel wall film mass is corrected in dependence upon the ratio between the fuel mass, which is injected via the open inlet valve (5) into the combustion chamber (15) of the cylinder (20), and the total injected fuel mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Werner Mezger, Lutz Reuschenbach, Faouzi Takni
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Patent number: 6704640Abstract: To simplify a constitution of an engine control device operated using another fuel different from a predetermined fuel. The engine control device includes: a main computer 1 to output a signal on the supposition that the predetermined fuel is used; and a sub computer 2 to calculate and output only an injection signal on the supposition that another fuel is used. The sub computer conducts injection control on another fuel according to the injection signal or ignition signal outputted from the main computer and further according to the output of a sensor. Control, except for injection control, is conducted according to a signal outputted from the main computer.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Fujitsu Ten LimitedInventor: Akira Miki
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Patent number: 6701244Abstract: A basic target excess air factor tLAMBDA0 and a target fresh air intake amount tQac are set base upon the operation condition of an engine (30). A target excess air factor tLAMBDA is calculated by multiplying the ratio of a real fresh air intake amount rQac as detected by a sensor (16) and the target fresh air intake amount tQac by the basic target excess air factor tLAMBDA0. A fuel injector (9) is controlled so that the amount of fuel injected thereby converges to a target fuel injection amount tQf which corresponds to the target excess air factor tLAMBDA. It is possible to prevent variation of the output torque of the engine (30) accompanying a rich spike by this control, even if the basic target excess air factor tLAMBDA0 varies abruptly, since the fuel injection amount varies in correspondence to the variation of the real fresh air intake amount rQac.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Oota, Hiroyuki Itoyama, Hiroshi Iwano, Kensuke Osamura, Takeshi Ishino
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Publication number: 20040025849Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple fuel injections during a single combustion cycle for a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a common rail fuel distribution system determine the beginning of injection for the pilot and main injections based on crankshaft position while post injections are based on the main injection timing and an injector turn off delay determined using actual rail pressure. A rail pressure setpoint is determined based on current engine operating conditions including one or more fluid temperatures and current operating mode to provide more accurate injection control.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: James A. West, James E. McCarthy
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Patent number: 6688287Abstract: In an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve operating apparatus which variably changes a valve operating characteristic of at least one of intake and exhaust valves, a reference intake pipe pressure and a reference fresh air ratio corresponding to a reference operating condition of the variable valve operating apparatus are computed based on the detection value of the engine operating condition, a fresh air ratio correction amount corresponding to an operating condition of the variable valve operating apparatus is computed based on the detection value of the intake pipe pressure and the reference intake pipe pressure, the reference fresh air ratio is corrected based on the computed fresh air ratio correction amount to compute a final fresh air ratio, and an operating amount of the control object in the internal combustion engine is computed based on the final fresh air ratio to operate the control object.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Unisia Jecs CorporationInventor: Kenichi Machida
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Patent number: 6687597Abstract: A powertrain controller of a vehicle provides fuel injection pulses based on gasoline operation. The pulse widths of the fuel injection pulses are modified with reference to air temperature, engine speed, and exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) content to control fuel injectors for an alternative fuel such as natural gas. The EGO content, based on alternative fuel operation, is detected and compared to a desired air-fuel ratio or desired fuel trims to provide error information that is used to adjust the modification of the pulse widths. In response to the error information, a neural network (as an example) dynamically adjust the pulse widths of the alternative fuel injection based on the weights of measured, detected engine speed, EGO, universal exhaust gas oxygen, or air temperatures. The engine operating on alternative fuel is provided with the proper mixture of alternative fuel and air to respond to various engine loads and meet emission standards.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Saskatchewan Research CouncilInventors: Michael Theodore Sulatisky, Sheldon George Hill, Yimin Song, Kimberley Allan Young, Gnanaprakash Gnanam
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Patent number: 6687554Abstract: Optimization control of a control system by improving evolution efficiency while retaining the advantages of genetic optimization is described. An optimizer for evolving control parameters affecting the characteristics of a control system uses actual user fitness evaluations of various control parameters or control parameters arranged as chromosomes. Parameters or chromosomes for a next generation are pre-processed using an evaluation model that estimates the fitness of new chromosomes before the chromosomes are presented to the user. Chromosomes that have a low estimated fitness value are modified or deleted, thereby reducing the number of low-quality chromosomes evaluated by the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoaki Kishi, Ichikai Kamihira
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Patent number: 6681744Abstract: In a diesel engine (1) provided with an exhaust gas recirculation mechanism (9, 10), a fuel injection timing is calculated by considering a delay of air aspirated by the cylinders of the engine (1) and a delay of exhaust gas recirculation. By performing fuel injection based on this fuel injection timing, conditions of combustion in a cylinder of the engine (1) are improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Itoyama, Takanobu Aikawa
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Publication number: 20040007211Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus of an internal combustion engine calculates a basic fuel injection amount according to a predicted in-cylinder intake air amount based on a predicted operating state quantity of the engine, calculates an actual in-cylinder intake air amount from the actual engine operating state quantity, and calculates a feedforward fuel injection amount by correcting an excess or shortage of fuel due to an error in the predicted in-cylinder intake air amount by using a feedforward correction amount. The control apparatus also calculates a feedback correction amount based on a detected air/fuel ratio and an air/fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture determined by the feedforward fuel injection amount, and obtains a final fuel injection amount by correcting the feedforward fuel injection amount with the feedback correction amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20040000294Abstract: A method of controlling an injector or the like suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, includes providing a first data map having a plurality of first data map points, each of the first data map points representing a first data map output value, and providing a function map comprising a second data map having a plurality of second data map points, each corresponding to a respective one of the first data map points, and wherein the second data map is divided into at least a first-type data map region containing second data map points representing second data map output values only of a first type and a second-type data map region containing second data map points representing second data map output values only of a second type, wherein a portion of the second data map defines a hysteresis region.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: Jason Paul Frankl, Alan Chow, Vidya Shankar Somasundaram, Edward Thomas Williams
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Patent number: 6671611Abstract: A bar code for a component, wherein the bar code has characteristics of the component encoded therein. The characteristics may have performance indicia for the component, which may be retrieved by a bar code scanner. Accordingly, the bar code may provide ready access to the characteristics for a variety of applications, such as an assembly process.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of AmericaInventor: Daniel E. Peltier
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Patent number: 6671613Abstract: An improved method for estimating cylinder flow in an internal combustion engine under all operating conditions is provided. If the MAF sensor is not operational, an estimation algorithm that is independent of a measured throttle flow is used. If the MAF sensor is operational, an estimation algorithm that incorporates a measured throttle flow is used. Further, in order to eliminate abrupt fluctuations that may occur due to switching between two different types of estimates, a “switchover coordinator” algorithm is used to smoothly transition from one type of estimate to another.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Anatoljevich Stotsky, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
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Patent number: 6668804Abstract: A control system 14 for a bi-fuel engine 12 is provided. The control system 14 includes a powertrain controller 52 and a bi-fuel controller 54. The controller 52 has a set of fuel injector drivers 92. The controller 50 has a set of gasoline fuel injector drivers 104 and a set of alternate fuel (AF) fuel injector drivers 106. Each of drivers 92 in controller 52 is electrically connected to a driver 104 and a driver 106 in controller 50. Thus, a control signal generated by a single driver 92 can be utilized by either of drivers 104, 106 to generate a corresponding control signal for controlling a gasoline fuel injector 38 or a AF fuel injector 40, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allen Dennis Dobryden, John Milton Lapetz, Peter Douglas Kuechler
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Patent number: 6666191Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a fuel priority type internal combustion engine, including a means of directly or indirectly detecting a variation in air density, for correcting a maximum value of the desired fuel volume on a basis of a result of the detection so as to adjust the relationship between an accelerator opening degree and the desired fuel volume, or a shaft torque value and a desired fuel volume are determined in accordance with a fuel volume corresponding to an internal loss and a fuel volume corresponding to a maximum value of the desired fuel volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Ohsuga, Toshio Hori, Hidefumi Iwaki
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Patent number: 6659054Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a variable valve control device that varies a lift degree of an intake valve, an air intake passage led to an intake port of the engine that is incorporated with the intake valve and a fuel injection valve arranged to inject fuel into the intake port. The fuel injection valve has a first injection mode wherein each fuel injection shot is entirely carried out during opening period of the intake valve and a second injection mode wherein each fuel injection shot entirely finishes prior to opening action of the intake valve. A control unit is further employed by the engine, which allows the fuel injection valve to select one of the first and second injection modes in accordance with the lift degree of intake valve effected by the variable valve control device.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takanobu Sugiyama, Shinichi Takemura, Tsuneyasu Nohara
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Patent number: 6651629Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a plurality of fuel injectors (22), each of which may have a different performance characteristic. After the performance characteristics have been determined, an internal, energizable voltage or current source (28) is provided within the injector housing (23). Each time the vehicle ignition is turned on, a controller (26) queries each injector (22) to obtain a signal from the individual, internal, energizable voltage or current sources (28). The controller (26) then uses the output of the internal voltage or current source (28) as an indication of the performance characteristics of each injector (22). The controller then customizes the power signal supplied to each injector to accommodate for different performance characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Inventors: John C. McCoy, Lou Vierling
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Patent number: 6644275Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an engine responds to the switching of combustion mode from stoichiometric combustion to lean-fuel combustion to vary the target throttle opening in step-wise fashion, causing the quantity of intake air to increase in a fashion of first-order delay. The base fuel injection quantity and base ignition timing are computed based on the response of intake air quantity. Consequently, the torque shock can be reduced and the quick combustion mode switching can be performed. Based on the quick passage of the air-fuel ratio zone in which a large amount of NOx arises, the amount of NOx emission can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Wakichi Kondo
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Patent number: 6640785Abstract: In a method and device for fuel injection intended for an internal combustion engine with a wide range of speeds of revolution and with high requirements for rapid response such as, for example, the engine in a motor cycle, the fuel injection to the internal combustion engine comprising an intake pipe (1) with at least one intake valve (2) and one or more injectors is controlled in such a manner that a first fuel injection in order to obtain a well prepared air/fuel mixture occurs early in the working cycle of the engine following the closure of the intake valve and a second fuel injection in order to obtain an optimal amount of fuel for the cycle, a process known as “transient compensation”, occurs late in the working cycle before closure of the intake valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: SEM ABInventor: Göran Almkvist
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Publication number: 20030200957Abstract: It is known that the performance of actual fuel injectors tends to deviate from performance of nominal fuel injectors in both quantity and timing of each fuel injection event. These deviations in timing and/or quantity can be a function of such variables as the on-time itself, rail pressure in the case of hydraulically actuated fuel injectors, and engine temperature. In addition, these variations in performance can change over the life of the fuel injector. Therefore, in order to accurately correct for performance deviations in each individual fuel injector, the invention can include an up-to-date diagnostic of that deviation in performance. The present invention includes in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance deviations in both quantity and timing, and further includes software strategies for applying control signal adjustments to make all of the fuel injectors in a given engine behave more uniformly and more like a nominal fuel injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventor: Ronald D. Shinogle
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Patent number: 6637412Abstract: Method and arrangement for operating an internal combustion engine (10) which is operable in several operating modes, especially an internal combustion engine (10) having direct injection or intake manifold injection and having a control apparatus (11). The control apparatus (11), that is, its software has a plurality of functions (12) and a scheduler (13) for activating the functions (12). The executability of the functions (12) is determined in dependence upon the operating-mode dependent and operating-mode independent conditions and, with the aid of a bridging signal, the determination of the operating-mode dependent conditions can be disabled.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Peter Klee, Gholamabas Esteghlal, Gudrun Menrad, Andreas Pfender, Hans Hillner, Georg Mallebrein
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Patent number: 6637413Abstract: An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high DI fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. The usage of high DI fuel is detected during an engine idle period following starting by monitoring the engine speed to identify an engine speed excursion more than a calibrated percentage below the desired idle speed. The detection method is enabled under specified environmental conditions, provided the engine run time is greater than a specified time and the engine temperature is within a specified range. Additionally, the method is disabled for a prescribed period following commanded load transitions associated with the air conditioning system and the automatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter James Maloney, In Kwang Yoo, Andrew D. Herman, Hallett D. Breidenbach, Deog H. Yoo, Craig A. Carlson