Abstract: A method for calibrating a pressure sensor in a fuel metering system and a corresponding device, which enable the pressure sensor to be calibrated as precisely as possible. For this purpose, the instantaneous cooling-water temperature of the internal combustion engine is measured and the drop in the cooling-water temperature is derived therefrom as a measure for the standstill time of the internal combustion engine, the pressure sensor first being calibrated when the standstill time exceeds a predefinable minimum. Thus, an arrangement for monitoring the cooling-water temperature already present per se in the vehicle may be used to reliably and precisely calibrate the pressure sensor. Therefore, this is able to be realized very quickly and almost without extra expenses, in particular without using an additional timing supervision for measuring the standstill time.

Abstract: The injectors (6i) allocated to the cylinders are supplied with fuel by a common injection train and their opening time is calculated and controlled by a computer. According to the invention, a) any possible overlap in the opening time of at least two injectors (6i) is detected, b) in the absence of an overlap, the fuel pressure in the train outside the opening time of the injector concerned is determined, c) if an overlap is present, the pressure of the fuel when the injector concerned is opened is determined and d) the measurement established is corrected according to a predetermined variation in the pressure of the fuel caused by the injector(s) opening.

Abstract: A fuel delivery device for a fuel delivery system incorporates an electronic compensation device that either incorporates information that is relevant to the specific fuel delivery device or includes a processor that generates an actuator control signal that is based at least in part upon the information contained in the memory device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (10) is operated by a method wherein the fuel is supplied via a magnetic valve (28) having a coil (34). The injected fuel quantity is influenced by the duration of the drive of the magnetic valve (28). In the method, the temperature (evtmod) of a region (26) of the magnetic valve (28) is determined and the drive duration is corrected in dependence upon temperature. In order to make the correction still more precise, a temperature (evtmod) of the magnetic valve (28) is determined from at least one usually measured temperature (tans, tmot) and the drive duration (ti_tvu_w) is so corrected (tvsp_w) that the temperature dependency of the characteristics of the magnetic coil (34) of the magnetic valve (28) is considered. Furthermore, a model is suggested in which (starting from an operating temperature) the temperature trace is simulated after shut-off of the engine and/or for the restart of the engine by means of two factors for the warmup and cool down.

Abstract: There is a time delay between the moment of fuel injection and the moment when air with the injected fuel is drawn into cylinders. At the time of fuel injection, air-mass that will be drawn into cylinders after the delay time is estimated on the basis of expectation values of throttle opening, air-mass drawn into an intake-manifold, and intake-manifold pressure. Fuel amount is in turn calculated based on the estimated air-mass.

Abstract: An engine incorporates a fuel injector to supply fuel to a combustion chamber defined in an engine body. At least one fuel rail defines a fuel passage through which fuel is supplied to the fuel injector. The fuel rail is mounted to the engine body. A fuel pump pressurizes the fuel. A sensor unit is elastically mounted to the fuel rail. The sensor unit has a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the fuel pressurized by the fuel pump. The engine body has bosses that project therefrom. The engine body defines bolt holes that extend through the bosses and into the engine body adjacent to the bosses. A threaded section is formed in each bolt hole in the engine body adjacent to the corresponding boss. A bolt is screwed down into each threaded section. A portion of each bolt is spaced apart from an inner surface of a corresponding bolt hole to reduce the effects of thermal expansion of the engine body and the fuel rail.

Abstract: There is a time delay between the moment of fuel injection and the moment when air with the injected fuel is drawn into cylinders. At the time of fuel injection, air-mass that will be drawn into cylinders after the delay time is estimated on the basis of expectation values of throttle opening, air-mass drawn into an intake-manifold, and intake-manifold pressure. Fuel amount is in turn calculated based on the estimated air-mass.

Abstract: In a system and a method for purging a vapor storage canister having adsorbed fuel vapor (or hydrocarbon vapor) by drawing air through the storage canister the storage canister being coupled with an engine having a system for controlling the amount of fuel provided to the engine, the amount of fuel vapor in the purge is determined by subtracting from a known total flow rate of air and vapor from the canister a measured air flow rate of air into the canister. The total flow rate of air and vapor from the canister may be obtained, for example, by knowing the intake manifold vacuum, by using a pump at a given flow rate capacity to draw the air and vapor through the canister, or by using a valve having a given flow rate that limits the flow rate of the air and vapor mixture drawn from the canister. An ECM or PCM can use the information of fuel vapor flow from the canister obtained in this way for better fuel control.

Abstract: The flow meter is a device having a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) which measures the instantaneous center line velocity of fluid flow in a pipe and processes the instantaneous velocity so obtained to compute the volumetric flow rate, mass rate, and other flow characteristics as instantaneous quantities and/or integrated over a time interval using an electronic processing method which provides an exact solution to the Navier-Stokes equations for any periodically oscillating flow. The flow meter is particularly adapted for measuring the flow characteristics of high pressure automotive fuel injection systems. Three embodiments of the flow meter are described, including a stationary stand for off-line bench testing flow rate in a fuel injection system, a portable flow meter for inline testing in a vehicle's fuel line, and an on-board flow meter sensor connected to an engine control module.

Abstract: Our invention is new to the art of fuel injection because it enables the fuel injection system to evaluate the properties of the fuel in the system and then modify the quantity of fuel or time the injector is open for any given location on the fuel injection map with regards to and in relation to the fuel that is to be injected. The amount of fuel that is injected will be more accurate or a better match to the fuel that is going to be injected. We will have a more precise amount of fuel injected and their by have better fuel economy better power output and lower emissions. The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a method and system to achieve better fuel economy, lower emissions and better performance, than is available in today's fuel injection systems. As disclosed herein, after one or more sensors evaluates the fuel, the control module will modify the amount of fuel that is going to be injected. This modification will be in relation to the fuel's properties.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine is provided with at least one fuel injection valve for injecting fuel supplied from a fuel tank into an intake pipe of the engine. The fuel injection amount is controlled by controlling the valve opening period of the at least one fuel injection valve. A pressure difference between the pressure of fuel to be supplied to the at least one fuel injection valve and the pressure in the fuel tank is controlled such that the difference is at a constant value. The pressure in the fuel tank and the pressure in the intake pipe are detected. A correction amount is calculated according to the pressure in the fuel tank and the pressure in the intake pipe, and the valve opening period of the at least one fuel injection valve is corrected using the calculated correction amount. A required amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine is calculated according to an operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing any arbitrary mixture ratio of multiple fuel gases having differing combustion characteristics, such as natural gas and hydrogen gas, within an internal combustion engine. The gaseous fuel composition ratio is first sensed, such as by thermal conductivity, infrared signature, sound propagation speed, or equivalent mixture differentiation mechanisms and combinations thereof which are utilized as input(s) to a “multiple map” engine control module which modulates selected operating parameters of the engine, such as fuel injection and ignition timing, in response to the proportions of fuel gases available so that the engine operates correctly and at high efficiency irrespective of the gas mixture ratio being utilized. As a result, an engine configured according to the teachings of the present invention may be fueled from at least two different fuel sources without admixing constraints.

Abstract: A valve using a pressure control cavity to control valve position can implement a pressure to sensor to determine the pressure within the control cavity to determine whether pressure is presently acting upon the valve. The pressure sensor can provide a feedback signal to a control module allowing the control module to control timing of the valve.

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.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure detecting method for controlling an internal combustion engine, which can detect atmospheric pressure and takes the atmospheric pressure as one of control conditions of the internal combustion engine without using a throttle sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor, is provided; wherein a maximum value and a minimum value of intake pipe pressure generating while the internal combustion engine performs one combustion cycle are detected; wherein an absolute value of a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the intake pipe pressure is detected as an intake pipe pressure change quantity; and wherein the maximum value of the intake pipe pressure is taken as a detection value of atmospheric pressure when the intake pipe pressure change quantity is equal to or less than a set value.

Abstract: A method of controlling the fuel pressure within a fuel delivery system having a fuel pump that delivers fuel to a fuel rail of an internal combustion engine includes providing a set-point fuel pressure, generating a feed forward signal having a set of fuel pump motor control parameters based upon the set-point fuel pressure and the desired fuel flow rate, providing a pressure sensor to measure the fuel rail pressure, comparing the fuel rail pressure to the set-point fuel pressure and generating an error value based upon the difference between the fuel rail pressure and the set-point fuel pressure, providing a feed back controller adapted to receive the error value and to generate a feed back control signal, combining the feedback control signal and the feed forward control signal to generate a motor controller signal.

Abstract: A valve using a pressure control cavity to control valve position can implement a pressure to sensor to determine the pressure within the control cavity to determine whether pressure is presently acting upon the valve. The pressure sensor can provide a feedback signal to a control module allowing the control module to control timing of the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process are provided for determining a temperature at a predetermined location in an internal combustion engine. The temperature at a bridge between two exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine can be measured only with great effort during operation. It is proposed to measure a temperature at a location in the internal combustion engine that is easier to access and to determine the bridge temperature with the aid of a computation model on the basis of the engine rpm, the quantity of injected fuel, the temperature of the charge air, and the coolant temperature.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine in a vehicle. The method includes adjusting a fuel injection amount during engine crank based on a barometric pressure. The barometric pressure is determined from at least one signal received from at least one transmitter external from the vehicle.

Abstract: In a multiple cylinder four-stroke engine with fuel injection, an interference oscillation (C) is generated briefly on the flywheel on starting by varied fuel supply to different cylinders. After oscillation analysis of the resultant oscillation (A′) of the flywheel, phase positions of the superimposed interference oscillation (D) and of the interference oscillation (C) are compared. If predetermined phase positions of the oscillations appear, the engine is considered to be operating in the correct cycle position, but otherwise a control unit is initiated to correct its cycle position so that the correct cycle position of the engine is obtained.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an output signal of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor in operative communication with an induction system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining an engine speed value, determining a maximum MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, detecting a mean MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, and correlating the MAF output signal with an airflow rate value as a function of the MAF output signal value, mean MAF output signal value and engine speed. The present invention is particularly suited to improving the MAF sensor output of internal combustion piston engines having pulsating airflow including gaseous-fueled engines.

Abstract: The ECU controls at least one component of a fuel injection system by outputting a control signal in accordance with a fuel pressure. The ECU is initially designed based on a basic pattern of an output characteristic of a common rail pressure sensor defined between a fuel pressure and an output signal. The output characteristic may vary in each sensor element. The ECU detects an output signal corresponding to an atmospheric pressure to determine and learn the actual output characteristic of the common rail sensor, and corrects a control characteristic for the component in accordance with the leaned actual output characteristic. For example, the ECU changes the output characteristic to the learned one. Control accuracy in a common rail fuel injection system can considerably be improved while achieving a considerable reduction in cost of fabricating the common rail pressure sensor.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure detecting method for controlling an internal combustion engine, which can detect atmospheric pressure and takes the atmospheric pressure as one of control conditions of the internal combustion engine without using a throttle sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor, is provided; wherein a maximum value and a minimum value of intake pipe pressure generating while the internal combustion engine performs one combustion cycle are detected; wherein an absolute value of a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the intake pipe pressure is detected as an intake pipe pressure change quantity; and wherein the maximum value of the intake pipe pressure is taken as a detection value of atmospheric pressure when the intake pipe pressure change quantity is equal to or less than a set value.

Abstract: A control for a camless engine is provided with a plurality of modules each associated with an individual cylinder. The modules are programmed to operate their respective cylinders once on each of two revolutions of a crankshaft. Thus, the control modules must have an indication of the point in the rotational cycle of the crankcase, but also a signal of which of the two revolutions in the two-revolution cycle is ongoing for the crankshaft. The crankshaft preferably provides a uniform signal for each of the two revolutions. The uniform signal is modified by a signal modification method such that the signal sent to the modules is distinct for each of the two revolutions. In a preferred embodiment the signal is provided with a space which is indicative of a particular point in each revolution. A modifier is controlled by a switch which alternates between one of two positions, and which modifies the space in one of the two positions.

Abstract: In a thermal air flow sensor, an air flow measuring element and an intake air temperature sensing element of an intake air temperature sensor are mounted on a single support member so as to be positioned within an intake passage. The support member is made of a glass-ceramic material for example and is held by a holder secured to the wall of an intake pipe. The support member has a structure whereby both sides of a portion of the support member located on the side away from the intake pipe wall are easy to be taken away their heat by an air flow moving through the intake pipe. The air flow measuring element and the intake air temperature sensing element are disposed on such a heat-removed surface of the support member and are electrically connected respectively to conductors disposed on the support member, with their electric connections being sealed with resin, whereby the intake air temperature sensor and the air flow sensor can be rendered integral with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a needle lift estimation system of a common-rail injector on the basis of solenoid voltage and measured current. In addition, the present invention provides a method for estimating a needle lift that comprises: measuring a current that is supplied to a solenoid; estimating an armature lift and an armature speed on the basis of the current of the solenoid; and estimating a needle lift from a state equation having the measured solenoid current, the estimated armature lift, and the estimated armature as state variables.

Abstract: The swirl injector for an internal combustion engine is an electronic fuel injector for a direct injection engine, either gasoline or diesel. The injector has a housing defining a fluid channel, a needle valve disposed in the fluid channel with a spring biasing the valve to a closed position, and a solenoid disposed in the housing encircling the fluid channel. The injector has a nozzle with a conical valve seat and a cylindrical discharge orifice. The needle tip is ball shaped, and the needle body has a plurality of helical grooves which are rectangular in cross section having a width to depth ratio of 1.5:1 at about a 46° angle adjacent the tip. The valve lift is 50 &mgr;m in 60 &mgr;s. The penetration, swirl speed, and pitch angle are controllable through the injection pressure, providing an enhanced fuel injector for dual mode fuel injection.

Abstract: The flow meter is a device having a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) which measures the instantaneous center line velocity of fluid flow in a pipe and processes the instantaneous velocity so obtained to compute the volumetric flow rate, mass rate, and other flow characteristics as instantaneous quantities and/or integrated over a time interval using an electronic processing method which provides an exact solution to the Navier-Stokes equations for any periodically oscillating flow. The flow meter is particularly adapted for measuring the flow characteristics of high pressure automotive fuel injection systems. Three embodiments of the flow meter are described, including a stationary stand for off-line bench testing flow rate in a fuel injection system, a portable flow meter for inline testing in a vehicle's fuel line, and an on-board flow meter sensor connected to an engine control module.

Abstract: An air-assisted fuel injection system for an engine includes an air compressor to be driven by the engine and having an air inlet and an air outlet connected with air-assisted fuel injectors for the engine. An air pressure regulator is also connected with the compressor outlet for controlling air pressure by exhausting excess air delivered by the compressor to the outlet. A throttle valve in the compressor inlet is operated by a controller to variably restrict inlet air flow to the compressor. An air flow sensor, responsive to an indicator of the flow of excess air exhausted by the air pressure regulator, is connected with the controller for variably closing the throttle in response to increasing excess air flow, thereby reducing the amount of excess air delivered by the compressor and limiting parasitic losses from pumping of excess air by the compressor.

Abstract: A vehicle fluid directing includes an engine control unit (ECU) mounted directly to the intake manifold to provide engine management and diagnostic functions. A case encloses the ECU to hermetically seal and protect the circuit board and attached components. Sensors preferably extend through the case and into the intake manifold to receives a direct input to the medium passing through the intake manifold. In another embodiment, a sensor such as an accelerometer which does not extend from the case receives vibration input. As the entire circuit board is directly mounted to the intake manifold, the vibrations are received as input to the sensor.

Abstract: A thermal type air flow rate sensor is formed with at least a heating resistor and a temperature measuring resistor on a semiconductor substrate via an electric insulation film, by forming the heating resistor and the temperature measuring resistor with an impurity doped silicon (Si) semiconductor thin film, and by performing high concentration doping process so that an electric resistivity (&rgr;) of the silicon (Si) semiconductor thin film is less than or equal to 8×10−4 &OHgr; cm, with simplified fabrication process for formation of the silicon (Si) semiconductor thin film at the same impurity concentration simultaneously in a lump at low cost.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for controlling an internal combustion engine. Using at least one model, an oxygen quantity (MO22) flowing into the internal combustion engine is determined on the basis of at least one manipulated variable and at least one measured variable which characterizes the condition of the air in an intake manifold. The oxygen quantity (MO22) is determined on the basis of at least one temperature variable (T2), one pressure variable (P2), one speed variable (N), one fuel-quantity variable (ME) and one air variable (ML21).

Abstract: A method of controlling a hydraulic system is preferably applied to common rail fuel injection systems. The problem in these systems is to control pressure in the common rail while at the same time maintaining the fluid supply to the rail in a way that precisely meets the dynamically changing consumption demands on the hydraulic system. In order to control the hydraulic system, the present invention contemplates the combination of a standard feedback controller with observer models of the various hardware items that make up the hydraulic system. Using this strategy, the system can generally be thought of as controlling fluid supply in an open loop type fashion based upon the consumption rates estimated by the various observer models, and utilizing a conventional feedback controller to make the slight pump adjustments needed to control pressure and to correct for any errors between the actual hardware performance and that predicted by the observer models.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a pressure sensor in a fuel metering system and a corresponding device, which enable the pressure sensor to be calibrated as precisely as possible. For this purpose, the instantaneous cooling-water temperature of the internal combustion engine is measured and the drop in the cooling-water temperature is derived therefrom as a measure for the standstill time of the internal combustion engine, the pressure sensor first being calibrated when the standstill time exceeds a predefinable minimum. Thus, an arrangement for monitoring the cooling-water temperature already present per se in the vehicle may be used to reliably and precisely calibrate the pressure sensor. Therefore, this is able to be realized very quickly and almost without extra expenses, in particular without using an additional timing supervision for measuring the standstill time.

Abstract: The following conditions are used as requirements for executing a fuel property detection: an intake air temperature is lower than a restart judging value; a water temperature is in a predetermined range; and it is in an idle operation. In a case that the requirements are established, an injection amount of fuel and a combustion amount of fuel are calculated. After that, the injection amount is corrected by using a learned value for correcting an error of system, and the combustion amount is corrected according an intake pressure. A fuel property parameter for evaluating the fuel property is calculated based on a ratio of an accumulated value of the combustion amount relative to an accumulated value of the injection amount during a predetermined time. A command value of the injection amount for a fuel injection valve is corrected according to the fuel property parameter calculated above. As a result, the fuel property is reflected in the command value of the injection amount.

Abstract: A system, apparatus including on-board diagnostics, and methods are provided for sensing the effects of differing fuel quality in charge-by-charge, and cylinder-by-cylinder variation, and using a sensor and feedback to adjust the fueling to reduce the variation between charges in each cylinder to improve performance, reduce emissions, and increasing the operative life of a compression ignition engine.

Abstract: In fuel injection control apparatus and method for an engine having a variably operated engine valve in which at least a closure timing of an intake valve is variably controlled, a controller determines whether an actual closure timing of the intake valve is in a steady state, calculates a volume of a cylinder calculated from a target control value of the closure timing of the intake valve when determining that the actual closure timing is in the steady state and a fresh-air rate within the cylinder, calculates a mass air quantity sucked into the cylinder on the basis of a mass air quantity within an intake manifold calculated by income and outgo calculations of inflow and outflow quantities of a mass air within the intake manifold and a volume of the manifold, and calculates a fuel injection quantity on the basis of the mass air quantity sucked into the cylinder.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine is provided with at least one fuel injection valve for injecting fuel supplied from a fuel tank into an intake pipe of the engine. The fuel injection amount is controlled by controlling the valve opening period of the at least one fuel injection valve. A pressure difference between the pressure of fuel to be supplied to the at least one fuel injection valve and the pressure in the fuel tank is controlled such that the difference is at a constant value. The pressure in the fuel tank and the pressure in the intake pipe are detected. A correction amount is calculated according to the pressure in the fuel tank and the pressure in the intake pipe, and the valve opening period of the at least one fuel injection valve is corrected using the calculated correction amount. A required amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine is calculated according to an operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: The thermal-type airflow meter comprises airflow meter body 86 and measuring part 87. Both of the frame 31 of the housing 3 accommodating therein the electronic circuit 6 and the subpassage member 4 having the heating resistor 1 etc. positioned within a subpassage of air are arranged on the metallic base 5. Further, the frame 31, the subpassage member 4, the metallic base 5 and the cover 9 are adhered to respectively different member more than one. The connector 32 of the housing 3, the frame 31 and the subpassage member 4 are formed in a flat shape to form the measuring module 87. The measuring module 87 is inserted through the insertion hole 83 to locate the heating resistor 1 within the main air passage 81, and the fixing flange 36 of the housing 3 is fixedly attached to the airflow meter body 86.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a crankshaft without the use of a signal from a dedicated crankshaft position sensor. The method includes the steps of providing a pulse sensor for generating a signal in response to the transmission of vibrations through the engine block; evaluating the signal generated by the pulse sensor to identify a series of combustion events, the series of combustion events being made up of a series of individual combustion events occurring in the plurality of cylinders, the individual combustion events taking place in a predetermined order; and evaluating the series of combustion events to identify a reference crankshaft position by correlating at least one of the individual combustion events to an associated one of the plurality of cylinders.

Abstract: An air induction system for an engine is provided with a flow meter to sense a flow amount of air introduced into a combustion chamber of the engine. The air induction system includes an improved construction that can protect the flow meter from rigorous environment. The construction includes a primary intake passage through which the air flows. A secondary intake passage extends from the primary passage to communicate with the primary passage. At least a portion of the air flows through the secondary passage. A filter is disposed in the secondary passage to filtrate the portion of the air. The flow meter is positioned downstream of the filter in the secondary passage.

Abstract: A fuel-injected internal combustion engine and a method for calculating mass air flow in the fuel-injected internal combustion engine having an electronic control of the air fuel ratio employing a throttle for air flow control, including a device for sensing air pressure downstream of the throttle. The method for calculating mass air flow includes measuring the speed of the fuel-injected internal combustion engine, measuring the opening of the throttle, and, omputing total intake mass air flow using algorithms, which includes the product of two terms, a first term substantially representing a function of the downstream air pressure and a second term being substantially a function of the speed of said fuel-injected combustion engine and the throttle opening.

Abstract: A control for a camless engine is provided with a plurality of modules each associated with an individual cylinder. The modules are programmed to operate their respective cylinders once on each of two revolutions of a crankshaft. Thus, the control modules must have an indication of the point in the rotational cycle of the crankcase, but also a signal of which of the two revolutions in the two-revolution cycle is ongoing for the crankshaft. The crankshaft preferably provides a uniform signal for each of the two revolutions. The uniform signal is modified by a signal modification method such that the signal sent to the modules is distinct for each of the two revolutions. In a preferred embodiment the signal is provided with a space which is indicative of a particular point in each revolution. A modifier is controlled by a switch which alternates between one of two positions, and which modifies the space in one of the two positions.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle in particular is provided with a control unit for determining a quantity of fuel to be supplied to a cylinder. An injection valve is provided for injecting the quantity of fuel to be supplied. The control unit determines whether combustion has taken place in the cylinder. The quantity of fuel supplied to the cylinder where no combustion has taken place is determined by the control unit.

Abstract: A process for determining the pressure prevailing in a fuel injection manifold of an internal combustion engine includes supplying the feeding pump (11) with fuel such that the injection manifold will be supplied with fuel at the feeding pressure, measuring the pressure prevailing in the injection manifold (14) with the pressure sensor (18) when the fuel is at the feeding pressure, deducing therefrom the percentage of error (e) of the pressure sensor, and memorizing this error, establishing a law of linear decrease of this error, between the feeding pressure and the lower limit of the range of maximum precision of the sensor, and deducing therefrom, for each value of pressure measured by the sensor between the feeding pressure and the lower pressure limit, the real value of the pressure of the fuel in the injection manifold, to correct the quantity of injected fuel.

Abstract: An engine includes an improved sensor arrangement that can decrease the possibility of damage to sensors relating to fuel injection control. The engine includes a cylinder block defining first and second banks of cylinder bores extending separately from each other. Pistons reciprocate within the respective cylinder bores. Cylinder head members are arranged to close respective ends of the first and second banks of the cylinder bores. The cylinder head members define combustion chambers together with the cylinder bores and the pistons. An air induction system is arranged to introduce air to the combustion chambers. The induction system includes first and second intake units with the first intake unit allotted to the first cylinder bank and with the second intake unit allotted to the second cylinder bank. The first and second intake units define first and second intake passages, respectively, through which the air flows. Fuel injectors are arranged to spray fuel for combustion in the combustion chambers.

Abstract: A method of continuously estimating barometric pressure values for use in an engine control system. The vehicle includes an manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor, ambient air temperature sensor and a throttle position sensor. The method comprises the steps of determining the manifold absolute pressure, ambient air temperature, and throttle position. When the throttle position is at wide-open throttle, the method generates a barometric pressure value ({circumflex over (P)}anew) as a function of the manifold absolute pressure value (P) and previously estimated barometric pressure. Otherwise, the method generates a barometric pressure value as a function of the manifold absolute pressure value (P), and an estimated intake manifold pressure ({circumflex over (P)}) and estimated mass airflow (). In a further embodiment, a mass airflow sensor is also used to generate the estimated barometric pressure value when the engine is not operating at wide-open throttle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel injection system and method of operating the fuel injection system. The fuel injection system includes at least one hydraulically actuated fuel injector fluidly connected with a source of high pressure actuation fluid. A viscosity sensor determines the viscosity of the hydraulically actuated fuel injector. A controller in communication with the fuel injector and the viscosity sensor is configured to determine the rate of change of the viscosity of the high pressure hydraulic actuation fluid. The supply of high pressure actuated fluid to the fuel injector is based, at least in part, on the rate of change of the determined viscosity of the high pressure actuation fluid.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the on-time of each hydraulically-actuated fuel injector within a hydraulically-actuated fuel injection system is disclosed. At least two spray tests are performed on the fuel-injector prior to its installation in a fuel injection system. The fuel injector is marked with a bar-code capable of representing these results. Immediately prior to installing the fuel injector into the fuel injection system, the bar-code on the fuel injector is scanned and the results of the spray tests are stored in a memory unit accessible to the electronic control module. These results are used to develop a unique electronic trim solution for the fuel injector. The performance of the fuel injector is then adjusted using the electronic trim solution to enable the performance of the fuel injector to approach that of a nominal injector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing any arbitrary mixture ratio of multiple fuel gases having differing combustion characteristics, such as natural gas and hydrogen gas, within an internal combustion engine. The gaseous fuel composition ratio is first sensed, such as by thermal conductivity, infrared signature, sound propagation speed, or equivalent mixture differentiation mechanisms and combinations thereof which are utilized as input(s) to a “multiple map” engine control module which modulates selected operating parameters of the engine, such as fuel injection and ignition timing, in response to the proportions of fuel gases available so that the engine operates correctly and at high efficiency irrespective of the gas mixture ratio being utilized. As a result, an engine configured according to the teachings of the present invention may be fueled from at least two different fuel sources without admixing constraints.