Having A Digital Memory Addressed By An Engine Parameter Patents (Class 123/486)
  • Patent number: 6688287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 6681745
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an engine includes various sensors (10), a control unit (20) and an injector (30). The control unit (20) includes a basic fuel injection quantity arithmetic means for determining a basic injection quantity conforming to the operation state, a data map (21) holding data for determining a regulating correction quantity in accordance with specific engine parameters (Th, Ne), and a correcting arithmetic means for determining the injection quantity by correcting the basic injection quantity with the data. The data map (21) includes plural areas for holding the data. Intermediate areas holding no data are provided between two adjacent data holding areas. The correcting arithmetic means includes a search means for determining interpolation data corresponding to the intermediate area through interpolation based on the data stored in two adjacent areas. The injection quantity for the intermediate area is determined by correcting the basic injection quantity with the interpolation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Hozuki
  • Patent number: 6679225
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by adjusting engine air/fuel [AF] ratio, as a function of fuel volatility, during engine start and initial operation. It is comprised of three detection tests to determine the volatility of the fuel and provide compensation to the AF ratio in proportion to that volatility during engine crank and initial operation. The method includes compensating for incomplete fuel vaporization as a function of predicted intake valve temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Robertson, Sergio Eduardo Garcia, Craig A. Carlson, Darrell W. Burleigh
  • Publication number: 20040000294
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jason Paul Frankl, Alan Chow, Vidya Shankar Somasundaram, Edward Thomas Williams
  • Publication number: 20030205217
    Abstract: Our invention is new to the art of fuel manufacturing, fuel identification, fuel handling, fuel transporting, fuel dispensing, and fuel injection because it will facilitate the delivery of the information about the fuel (the fuel's characteristics) along with the fuel. The fuel injection system will use this information (the data) to more accurately inject the fuel based on the fuel's characteristics into the engine, thus achieving better fuel economy, lower emissions, and more power output. As disclosed herein, after the data concerning the fuel's properties has been ascertained and preserved during transportation and delivery to the gas station it will be downloaded along with the fuel that is being pumped into the vehicle, the vehicle's fuel injection control module will then modify the amount of fuel that is going to be injected in relation to the fuel's properties to more accurately meter and inject the fuel being delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Gene McIntyre, Tracy Dean McIntyre
  • Publication number: 20030183203
    Abstract: Proposed is a method for adjusting an adaptive characteristics map of an adaptive engine-knock control system and a method for adaptively controlling engine knock, the adaptive characteristics map (20) being defined by at least one operating parameter (22, 24), the adaptive characteristics map (20) for each operating-parameter range (26) being made up of a precontrol component (bi) that characterizes the ambient conditions, and a residual component (ai) that results from the engine-knock control, the value of the adaptive characteristics map for each operating-parameter range being given by the sum of the precontrol component (bi) corresponding to the specific operating-parameter range, and the residual component (ai) corresponding to the specific operating-parameter range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Unland, Axel Heinstein, Michael Gundlach, Werner Haeming, Martin Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6626154
    Abstract: A fuel injection control for an engine includes an improved construction that can hold an accurate atmospheric pressure data during and after starting of the engine. The engine includes an air intake passage. A throttle valve is moveably disposed within the air intake passage. A first sensor is arranged to sense an opening degree of the throttle valve. A fuel injector is arranged to spray fuel toward a combustion chamber of the engine. A control unit is configured to determine an amount of the fuel at least based upon an opening degree data sensed by the first sensor. A second sensor is primarily arranged to sense an intake pressure of the air flowing through the air intake passage. The second sensor is positioned downstream the throttle valve. The control unit adjusts a fuel amount based upon a reference data corresponding to an atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kanno
  • Publication number: 20030150428
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an engine includes various sensors (10), a control unit (20) and an injector (30). The control unit (20) includes a basic fuel injection quantity arithmetic means for determining a basic injection quantity conforming to the operation state, a data map (21) holding data for determining a regulating correction quantity in accordance with specific engine parameters (Th, Ne), and a correcting arithmetic means for determining the injection quantity by correcting the basic injection quantity with the data. The data map (21) includes plural areas for holding the data. Intermediate areas holding no data are provided between two adjacent data holding areas. The correcting arithmetic means includes a search means for determining interpolation data corresponding to the intermediate area through interpolation based on the data stored in two adjacent areas. The injection quantity for the intermediate area is determined by correcting the basic injection quantity with the interpolation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Hozuki
  • Patent number: 6571773
    Abstract: The target peak current value, where a current value is reduced in conformity to a drop in the voltage of a battery 18 is stored in target peak current storage unit 68. ON-signals are sent from current control circuit 56 to power transistor 50 in response to the injection command pulse coming from engine controller 58 so that current is applied to coil 20. Then, the current flowing to coil 20 is detected by the current detecting resistor 52. Comparator 62 compares this detected current and the target peak current value read from the target peak current storage unit 68 conforming to the voltage of battery 18. If agreement is found between these two values, OFF-signals are sent to power transistor 50 from current control circuit 56 in response to the switching command coming from comparator 62. Then, On/Off signals to effect holding of the coil 20 are sent from current control circuit 56 to power transistor 50. The linearity of the injection volume despite changes in battery voltage can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Toshio Takahata, Hiromasa Kubo, Yasunaga Hamada, Yoshio Okamoto, Yuzo Kadomukai
  • Patent number: 6550457
    Abstract: An electronic fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is used for controlling a quantity of fuel injected from an injector into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine, includes a microcomputer which performs an arithmetical operation for determining a pressure within the above described intake pipe based on a throttle valve opening degree and a rotational speed, an arithmetical operation for determining a variation relative to an arithmetically operated reference value of the intake pipe pressure, an arithmetical operation for determining a correction coefficient used for correcting an injection time when this variation exceeds a set value, and an arithmetical operation for determining an actual injection time by multiplying a basic injection time by the correction coefficient arithmetically operated immediately before a timing where the fuel is injected, and controls the injector such that the fuel is injected during the arithmetically operated injection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kitagawa, Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Hiroyasu Sato
  • Patent number: 6543422
    Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoshi Kuragaki, Junichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6546321
    Abstract: When a vehicle control unit is to be exchanged, out of learning data stored in a control memory of the control unit to be exchanged, the learning data correlating to vehicle parts to be exchanged at the same time are corrected to initial values, and the learning data after correction processing are written to a control memory of a new control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuji Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20030062028
    Abstract: An electronic fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is used for controlling a quantity of fuel injected from an injector into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine, includes a microcomputer which performs an arithmetical operation for determining a pressure within the above described intake pipe based on a throttle valve opening degree and a rotational speed, an arithmetical operation for determining a variation relative to an arithmetically operated reference value of the intake pipe pressure, an arithmetical operation for determining a correction coefficient used for correcting an injection time when this variation exceeds a set value, and an arithmetical operation for determining an actual injection time by multiplying a basic injection time by the correction coefficient arithmetically operated immediately before a timing where the fuel is injected, and controls the injector such that the fuel is injected during the arithmetically operated injection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Yuichi Kitagawa, Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Hiroyasu Sato
  • Patent number: 6539923
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for mixing air and fuel in an internal combustion engine comprises at least two throttle bodies (2a, 2b) having an inlet and an outlet and at least two air chokes (8), each located at the inlet of one of the throttle bodies (2a, 2b) and coaxial with the throttle body (2a, 2b). Each air choke (8) has a portion (9) that is fixed and a portion (10) that moves coaxially relative to the fixed portion (9) between a first position in which the air choke (8) presents a first height (L1) and a second position in which the air choke (8) presents a second height (L2) that is greater than the first height (L1). The apparatus (1) further comprises at least two independent actuators (13) each moving one of the mobile portions (10) between the first and second positions, and at least two fuel injectors (11) located above the air chokes (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianluigi Mengoli
  • Publication number: 20030051710
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for mixing air and fuel in an internal combustion engine comprises at least two throttle bodies (2a, 2b) having an inlet and an outlet and at least two air chokes (8), each located at the inlet of one of the throttle bodies (2a, 2b) and coaxial with the throttle body (2a, 2b). Each air choke (8) has a portion (9) that is fixed and a portion (10) that moves coaxially relative to the fixed portion (9) between a first position in which the air choke (8) presents a first height (L1) and a second position in which the air choke (8) presents a second height (L2) that is greater than the first height (L1). The apparatus (1) further comprises at least two independent actuators (13) each moving one of the mobile portions (10) between the first and second positions, and at least two fuel injectors (11) located above the air chokes (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianluigi Mengoli
  • Publication number: 20030041843
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the application of map limits to compensate for injector variability in an electronically controlled fuel injection system is disclosed. Fuel quantity limiting maps are stored in memory within the electronic control module of an electronically controlled fuel injector system. The application of the fuel quantity limiting maps is adjusted for individual injector performance characteristics. If a fuel injector dispenses too much fuel at a particular on time, the quantity limited in the map limit is decreased. Similarly, if a fuel injector dispenses too little fuel at a particular on time, the quantity limited in the map limit is increased. As one result, limiting maps do not unduly limit fuel quantity for an injector dispensing too little fuel at that on time due to injector variability. As another result, limiting maps properly limit fuel quantity for an injector dispensing too much fuel at that on time due to injector variability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald Shinogle
  • Publication number: 20030029417
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine are described. At least one first partial injection and one second partial injection are provided per injection cycle. One of the two partial injections is shifted in response to certain operating conditions being active. A correction value for a variable characterizing the delivery period is determined as a function of the shift of the partial injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus Zimmermann, Tobias Lang, Jens Leideck, Klaus Sassen
  • Patent number: 6513485
    Abstract: There is disclosed a fuel injection control system for an in-cylinder fuel injection internal combustion engine, which is capable of properly determining a fuel injection time period such that the fuel injection time period reflects a fuel pressure and a deposition of fuel, thereby controlling the amount of fuel to be actually injected. Operating conditions of the engine are detected, and a required fuel amount is determined based on the detected operating conditions. At the same time, a deposited-fuel amount, i.e. an amount of fuel deposited in a combustion chamber, is determined based on the detected operating conditions, and the required fuel amount is corrected according to the determined deposited-fuel amount. Further, a fuel pressure of fuel to be injected into the cylinder is detected, and the fuel injection time period is determined by correcting the corrected required fuel amount according to the detected fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Ogawa, Isao Komoriya
  • Patent number: 6512974
    Abstract: An engine management system for an internal combustion engine. The engine management system comprises an engine control system calculating an engine operating control value, a palm-size computer transportable relative to the engine control system, and an external computer communicating with the palm-size computer. The engine operating control value is adapted to be supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary engine performance. The palm-size computer has height, width, and thickness dimensions that are no larger than approximately 6 inches by approximately 4 inches by approximately 1 inch. The palm-size computer runs a set of engine management tools that communicate engine management data to the engine control system. The external computer downloads to the palm-size computer engine management tools and engine management files, and uploads from the palm-size computer engine management files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Optimum Power Technology
    Inventors: Roy D. Houston, Glen F. Chatfield
  • Patent number: 6415769
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of improving performance characteristics of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes electronically coupling a fuel boost controller to a fuel delivery solenoid of a fuel injector. The boost controller measures a timed release of fuel from an activated fuel delivery valve of the fuel delivery solenoid into a cylinder and activates the fuel delivery valve an extended amount of time over a programmed time for injecting additional fuel over the programmed amount into the cylinder to improve the performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Blue Chip Diesel Performance
    Inventors: Charles P. Fisher, Jr., Tony Brock-Fisher
  • Patent number: 6401694
    Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoshi Kuragaki, Junichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6397821
    Abstract: For an internal combustion engine serving as a ship's propulsion unit or a generator drive, it is proposed, in operation within the range of the nominal output point, with the occurrence of a significant load change on the power take-off, to shift the injection start toward late. A significant load change on the power take-off is to be understood as the broaching of the ship's propulsion unit or the load rejection in generator operation. The shift of the injection start toward late provides the advantage that the speed control is additionally supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Spägele, Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 6398692
    Abstract: A diesel engine control system and method. A first data source provides data defining a current maximum limit for fueling the engine. A second data source provides data defining a torque request for the engine. A third data source providing data distinguishing between the occurrence and non-occurrence of a vehicle event, such as a traction- or transmission-related event, calling for change in value of maximum allowable engine torque from a preset value to a different value. When the third data source data indicates occurrence of a vehicle event calling for change in value of maximum allowable engine torque from the preset value to a different value, the data from the first data source and the data from the second data source are processes to develop data representing a value of maximum allowable engine torque different from the preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Emad S. Isaac
  • Patent number: 6360733
    Abstract: A self-adapting method of controlling the mixture ratio of an injection system, of an internal combustion engine. In each operating state of the engine and for each injector, the method determines a nominal quantity of fuel to be injected as a function of a number of engine parameters and operating conditions, an operating parameter as a function of a signal representing exhaust gas composition and of a proportional-integral regulating function and hot and cold correction coefficients indicating a correction to be made to the nominal quantity of fuel to take into account the effect on injection of different engines and different injection systems during hot and cold engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Uberti Bona Blotto, Luca Poggio, Marco Secco, Giorgio Bombarda
  • Patent number: 6360161
    Abstract: State-of-the-art fuel injectors can be defined by a third-order polynomial to define their performance curve and to optimize performance of the fuel injected engine. Such systems are preprogrammed to use a set of fixed coefficients when replacing fuel injectors. Therefore, these replacement fuel injectors must be manufactured with very precise tolerances so as to operate efficiently with these fixed coefficients. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that allows the use of production fuel injectors that are more economical since they can be manufactured with wider tolerances. The production fuel injectors are supplied with a computer program and a data file having a set of replacement coefficients that are determined especially for that particular fuel injector. The approach allows the restoration of the existing coefficients if the replacement fuel injector does not solve the service problem experienced by the user of the fuel injected engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
    Inventors: Dell C. Francis, Scott A. Koerner, Patrick R. Taylor, Patrick C. Tetzlaff
  • Patent number: 6354264
    Abstract: An engine control unit controls a self-ignition gasoline engine which is capable of changing a combustion condition of the engine between a self-ignition combustion and a spark-ignition combustion according to an engine operating condition. The control unit executes detecting an combustion condition in the engine, detecting a self-ignition limit of a region for executing the self-ignition combustion on the basis of the combustion condition, and varying a combustion parameter for the combustion during the self-ignition combustion so that the combustion condition approaches the self-ignition combustion limit and a self-ignition combustion operation is executed under a condition maintaining the self-ignition limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Iwakiri, Koudai Yoshizawa, Atsushi Teraji
  • Patent number: 6345607
    Abstract: An engine power train control method and control apparatus for a vehicle having an engine and an automatic transmission is capable of quickly changing an air-fuel ratio to meet the requirements for exhaust gas without producing shocks and without reducing engine torque. An air-fuel ratio command value is varied stepwise for transition between an air-fuel ratio for lean-burn operation and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and at the same time, the period following the completion of the stepwise variation of the air-fuel ratio command value, a basic fuel amount fed to the engine is varied stepwise from a value determined according to the air amount and an engine speed to a value determined according to a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle and the engine speed. In this way, shocks do not occur and the operability is improved, because the engine torque remains substantially constant through the air-fuel ratio transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Ozaki, Matsuo Amano, Hiroshi Ohnishi, Toshimichi Minowa
  • Publication number: 20020011237
    Abstract: An engine fuel injection control device whereby appropriate engine output is obtained without generation of smoke, by determining a smoke limit fuel injection amount, using an inferred air intake amount when the engine operating condition is in a transient state etc. An inferred air intake amount calculation device (42) calculates an inferred air intake amount by using the target fuel injection amount on the previous occasion and the engine rotational speed. If the air amount deviation between the inferred air intake amount and the detected air intake amount detected by a mass airflow sensor (34) is more than a prescribed value, the detected air intake amount is deemed to be subject to detection lag. Then, the inferred air intake amount is selected as the final air intake amount, and the final fuel injection amount is calculated in accordance with this final air intake amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventor: Koichiro Yomogida
  • Patent number: 6330877
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method for calibration or monitoring a combustion process in a combustion engine, wherein an injection device injects fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustion engine. A noise-detecting sensor at the engine detects a parameter which derives from the noise generated during the combustion process. A control unit receives signal values representing the parameter from the sensors and receives information on the rotation position of a crankshaft in the combustion engine. The control unit determines the crankshaft position when the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. Thereafter the injection device can be calibrated. Detecting the noise from combustion also makes it possible to assess whether combustion takes place at the intended time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Scania CV Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Mikael Nordin
  • Patent number: 6308698
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling fuel injection in a diesel engine to prevent generation of smoke even when an accelerator pedal is stamped during idling. A basic amount of fuel injection Qbase is determined from an engine revolution speed Ne and accelerator opening degree Ac. A maximum amount of fuel injection QMAF is determined from the engine revolution speed Ne and an intake air flow rate MAF. It is then determined whether a first condition of vehicle speed being zero and a second condition of accelerator opening degree being not zero both hold true. The maximum amount of fuel injection QMAF is corrected to a smaller value Qlmt when both the first and second conditions are met. In this case, the basic amount of fuel injection Qbase is compared with the reduced maximum amount of fuel injection Qlmt and the smaller one is selected as a target amount of fuel injection Qfnl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kenzo Shioi, Keiichi Iida, Tomoo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 6305351
    Abstract: An engine control unit and method of controlling the operation of a gas fuelled internal combustion engine of the kind having a gas injector for injecting gaseous fuel into each cylinder and an inlet manifold through which air flows into each cylinder of the engine, the inlet manifold having a manifold valve to control the flow of air into the inlet manifold. An improved control strategy employed by the engine control unit involves closed loop control of airflow through the inlet manifold of the engine. Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) (70) and manifold air temperature (MAT) (72) are employed to calculate air density (84) which is representative of the mass of air flowing through the inlet manifold (28). The detected air density (84) is compared to a desired air density (DAD) (86) and an air density correction (88) is calculated to adjust the manifold valve position (MVP) (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Orix Vehicle Technology Pty Ltd, Transcom NGVS Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Barry R. Neumann, William K. Wright, Daniel Nelson
  • Patent number: 6295970
    Abstract: To exactly obtain a volumetric efficiency or ignition timing corresponding to a shift amount in rotational angle or phase of a camshaft relative to a crank shaft operably connected therewith even if the opening/closing timing of an exhaust valve and an intake valve is changed so as to optimally control an fuel injection amount or ignition timing, the fuel injection amount or the ignition timing is controlled by calculating a fuel control parameter or an ignition timing control parameter on the basis of an intake pressure and a rpm of the engine. When the valve timing is changed, the amount of change in the valve timing is detected so that the fuel control parameter or the ignition timing control parameter is compensated for on the basis of the change amount thus detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20010020466
    Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoshi Kuragaki, Junichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6276337
    Abstract: A common-rail fuel-injection system is disclosed for finding controlled variables such as an initial quantity of fuel injected in accordance with a start-delay time and adjusting the controlled variables to their desired value to thereby help ensure the reliable control and also the compensation in scattering of the initial fuel-injection characteristics. When selecting an initial quantity of fuel injected as the controlled variable of the initial injection, a desired, initial quantity Qi0 of fuel injected is found on a lookup map C in accordance with the engine operating conditions, and a pull-in voltage Vp or current Ip is found on a lookup map D in compliance with the desired, initial quantity Qi0 of fuel injected. An initial quantity Qi of fuel injected is found on a data, having been obtained previously, in compliance with a start-delay time T spanning from a timing the injector is applied with an instruction to initiate the fuel injection till a timing of the start of an actual fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Akihiko Minato
  • Publication number: 20010010218
    Abstract: A stroke identifying unit, for an electronic fuel injection control system of an engine, can identify cylinder strokes without detection of the rotation of the engine's camshaft. The stroke identifying unit includes a crank pulse generator for detecting a phase of a crankshaft of the engine. In a four cylinder engine, an intake pressure sensor detects the combined intake pressures in the second to fourth intake pipes, communicating with the second to fourth cylinders. A fuel injection control unit identifies strokes of the first to fourth cylinders on the basis of a relationship between the detected phase of the crankshaft and the detected intake pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryutaro Yamazaki, Nobuhiko Ito, Yasuo Iwata
  • Patent number: 6260539
    Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoshi Kuragaki, Junichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6257200
    Abstract: In introducing fuel to a combustion chamber, the end of air (EOA) is established in the crank angle domain. For example, determination of the average or raw speed is utilize to determined an appropriate crank angle for the closing of the delivery injector (EOA). Once the end of air (EOA) is established in the crank angle domain, the start of air (SOA) may be set in the time domain (by a processor) at a time prior end of air (EOA) by duration equal to the time which the delivery is required to remain open. The required pulse width for the fuel metering injector and the desired fuel-air delay time may then be subtracted from the start of air (SOA) to obtain the start of fuel (SOF) and end of fuel (EOF) in the time domain. Other ways may be utilized to calculate SOA, SOF and EOF. For example, SOA may be estabished in the crank angle domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Orbital Engine Company (Australia) Pty Limited
    Inventor: David Richard Worth
  • Patent number: 6244243
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a direct injection engine provided with an injector for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber in a cylinder thereof and a throttle valve is switchable between a stratified charge combustion mode and a uniform charge combustion mode. The control device predicts switching to the uniform charge combustion mode based on a change in the target load Piobj during engine acceleration in the stratified charge combustion mode, and corrects the target load Piobj so that the opening of the throttle valve approaches the opening suited for the uniform charge combustion mode prior to the switching to the uniform charge combustion mode when such combustion mode switching has been predicted. This control device prevents torque shock due to the combustion mode switching during engine acceleration without causing a deterioration in fuel economy or in vehicle acceleration performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Mamiya, Michihiro Imada, Masayuki Tetsuno
  • Patent number: 6237567
    Abstract: A fuel-injection system for an engine is disclosed in which a standard conductive duration of the individual injectors required for a desired volume of fuel injected per cycle may be easily provided by correcting a standard conductive duration to a solenoid-operated valve, which has been found depending on a standard fuel-injection characteristic. A controller unit is stored with a standard fuel-injection characteristic A that is used for obtaining a standard actuating pulse width Pws for the standard conductive duration corresponding to a desired volume Qf of the injected fuel, which is required depending on the operating conditions of the engine. A specified operating point (Q1, Pw1) is a known data that has been previously observed for the individual injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Futoshi Nakano, Suzuhiro Saiki, Tadashi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6234149
    Abstract: An engine control system for optimizing a tradeoff between turbocharger lag and production of exhaust emissions including altitude and intake manifold air temperature compensation includes a turbocharger boost sensor, an engine speed sensor, an ambient pressure sensor and an intake manifold air temperature sensor, each providing appropriate sensor signals to a control computer. The control computer is operable to limit fueling signals supplied to the engine fuel system based on turbocharger boost, engine speed, ambient pressure and intake manifold air temperature to thereby optimize a tradeoff between turbocharger lag and production of black smoke and other exhaust emissions while compensating for changes in altitude and intake manifold air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Mills, Ward R. Edwards, John L. Hoehne, David A. Bolis, Gary C. Salemme, Lawrence H. Becker
  • Patent number: 6223119
    Abstract: Optimum control is performed in one cylinder of an internal combustion engine. By determining a desirable control operation stage for each cylinder in advance on the basis of engine parameters. Control operation is executed at the timing where the operation stage for each cylinder reaches the determined control operation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Miyoko Akasaka, Yoshiaki Hirakata, Masahiko Abe, Yasuo Iwata
  • Patent number: 6216669
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine adapted to precisely control an ignition position of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a revolution of the engine detected from an output of a pick up coil generating a signal in synchronism with a rotation of a crank shaft and an opening degree of a throttle valve by use of a microcomputer. Whenever an output of a throttle sensor is sampled, a three-dimensional map providing a relation among the revolution of the engine, the opening degree of the throttle valve and the ignition position is transferred into a two-dimensional map providing a relation between the revolution of the engine and the ignition position whereby the ignition position is determined by the two-dimensional map as soon as the revolution of the engine is detected so that the ignition is operated when the determined ignition position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Narutoshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6196196
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) are introduced and have actuators (3), which influence at least one control parameter relevant for the consumption of fuel of the engine. A control appearance forms an index L for the run-in state of the engine. The drive signals y of the actuators (3) are changed in dependence upon the above-mentioned index L in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Gras, Claus-Dieter Nusser, Guido Ehlers
  • Patent number: 6192867
    Abstract: In order for the process and the device to function with as small as possible a number of sensors for operating parameters, a program map (20) is provided from which the intake air pressure (AL) of the charger (3, 5) is derived as a function of the charging pressure (PL), the engine speed (n), and a fuel quantity preset (QK) corresponding to the accelerator position, and there is a device (21) which determines a limit value (QKG1) for the fuel quantity (QK′) metered to the engine (1) as a function of the intake air pressure (AL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Fenchel, Thomas Rueping
  • Patent number: 6178949
    Abstract: An improved engine control in which the fuel volatility is detected based on a measure of the fired-to-motored cylinder pressure ratio, and used to trim fuel and spark timing controls during engine warm-up and transient fueling periods. In a first embodiment, a matrix of empirically determined pressure ratio values that occur with fuels of differing volatility is stored and compared to the measured pressure ratio to identify the closest stored pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the fuel volatility associated with the identified pressure ratio. In a second embodiment, the actual fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio is computed based on the measured pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the deviation between the actual ratio and the desired fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Kirwan, Frederic Anton Matekunas, Scott Willis Jorgensen, Chen-Fang Chang
  • Patent number: 6145489
    Abstract: A torque controller for a direct-injection type internal combustion engine achieves the target engine torque accurately, without being affected by the combustion mode. The combustion efficiency is different depending on whether an engine combustion mode is in a homogeneous combustion mode or a stratified combustion mode. The torque controller calculates an eventual target intake air flow rate TTP2 based on the target intake air flow rate TTPO, the target air/fuel ratio tDML, and the combustion efficiency correction rate ITAF, which is calculated based on the combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Kazama, Hiroshi Iwano, Masayuki Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 6142123
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a motorcycle or off-road use with an improved engine, air inlet, exhaust and engine control management. The engine is an improved four-stroke engine with a monocoque cylinder and crank case. The air inlet has been moved to the head tube of the motorcycle frame. The engine is reverse flow with the exhaust coming out the rear side and being shortened to less than about 50 inches. The engine control management has been modified to include an ignition interrupt, gear based ignition timing and after market tuning capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Cannondale Corporation
    Inventors: Mario M. Galasso, Christopher P. D'Aluisio, Gary Robison
  • Patent number: 6082334
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electronically controlled fuel injection type two-stroke engine wherein the intake air amount can be determined with precision so that the fuel injection amount can be properly controlled in conformity with the varying conditions of the exhaust pressure, to thereby achieve an optimal air-fuel ratio and hence improve the output power, the fuel consumption and the exhaust performance.For the computation of the correction value to the fuel injection amount based on the intake passage pressure, the actual throttle opening and engine speed are detected, and the intake pressure value P is detected at the same time. Then the corresponding basic intake pressure value is selected from the basic intake pressure map so as to calculate the difference between the basic intake pressure value and the detected intake pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shomura, Yukihiro Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6032640
    Abstract: The control system disconnects the throttle from direct connection with the accelerator pedal, which sets the power requirements or demand. The demand signal passes to a computer control or microprocessor which electronically controls the throttle as a function of the engine operating conditions and pre-established values for controlled parameters stored in bitmaps in the microprocessor's memory. It is preferred to use a fuel injecting stratified charge spark plug in conjunction with the electronic control system and use the electronic control system to control the primary and auxiliary fuel injection systems as well as the ignition timing to permit the engine to run under very lean conditions to produce low levels of emissions such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventor: Robert Lancelot Evans
  • Patent number: 6029630
    Abstract: An engine control device comprising has a processor which receives a variety of operating state detection signals (such as an engine crank angle signal and an accelerator opening signal) and computes control quantities for an interrupt routine on the basis of a predetermined signal such as the engine crank angle signal or a signal generated at fixed basic intervals, in accordance with a predetermined program during a period of time between the predetermined signals. A means is provided for counting and/or limiting the number of times interrupt processing triggered by an activation signal for the routine is executed during the period of time between the predetermined signals whenever processing of the routine exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Takeshi Atago, Katsuya Oyama