Acceleration Or Deceleration Responsive Patents (Class 123/675)
  • Patent number: 11673572
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided. The vehicle control apparatus comprises a load unit for loading a load; a weight sensor for estimating a position of a center of mass of the load; a drive unit; and a control unit for controlling autonomous travelling of a vehicle by controlling the drive unit, wherein the control unit estimates a position of the center of mass of the load based on a weight measured by the weight sensor, and controls an acceleration rate of the vehicle in accordance with the position of the center of mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 10808634
    Abstract: Values of at least one energy utilization characteristic, which represents a first energy utilization process in a first vehicle, are determined. Furthermore, values of at least one parameter, which represents at least one boundary condition of the energy utilization in the first vehicle during the first energy utilization process, are also determined. A mathematical relationship between at least one or more values provided for the at least one energy utilization characteristic and the corresponding values of the parameters is determined and a profile record comprising a record and/or learning data is provided on the basis of at least one mathematical relationship determined. Depending on the profile record, at least one operating parameter of the drive system of the first vehicle and/or of a second vehicle is adapted in a second energy utilization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alexander Augst
  • Patent number: 10563606
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine exhaust with an upstream sensor and a downstream sensor. The method comprises adjusting a set-point for the downstream sensor based on a rate of change of air mass flow upstream of the engine and adjusting fuel injection to control exhaust fuel-air ratio (FAR) at the downstream sensor to the adjusted set-point, and to control exhaust FAR at the upstream sensor to an upstream sensor set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Magner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Patent number: 10508610
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a peak value storage register, a threshold value storage register, a peak determination circuit, and an end timing determination circuit. The peak determination circuit determines whether or not to update a value stored in the peak value storage register. Further, the peak determination circuit ends an operation if the end timing determination circuit determines that an end timing has arrived. The peak value storage register updates a storage value if the peak determination circuit determines to perform updating. The end timing determination circuit determines that the end timing of the operation of the peak determination circuit has arrived if the value of an input signal becomes smaller than a value obtained by decreasing or increasing the value stored in the peak value storage register by a value corresponding to a threshold value stored in the threshold value storage register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Otsuji
  • Patent number: 10457284
    Abstract: A method adapts an energy supply of a vehicle drive system, where values of at least a first energy utilization characteristic variable which represents a first energy utilization process in the vehicle are determined, and values of at least one parameter which represents at least one peripheral condition of the energy utilization during the first energy utilization process are determined. A mathematical relationship is determined between these values, after which a profile data record is made which contains a data record and/or learning data on the basis of the mathematical relationship. As a function of the profile data record, at least one adaptation information item for adapting the energy supply of the drive system of the vehicle for a second energy utilization process is determined, and/or an adaptation information item for adapting the energy supply of the drive system of a second vehicle for an energy utilization process is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alexander Augst
  • Patent number: 10316786
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel injection of an engine that includes a cylinder receiving fuel from two different fuel injectors is disclosed. In one example, a transfer function or gain of a direct fuel injector is adjusted in response to an exhaust lambda value and a first pulse width of two pulse widths provided to an injector of a cylinder during a cylinder cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10190520
    Abstract: A signal conditioning module for a wide-band oxygen sensor and methods of installing the same. One signal conditioning module includes an electronic processor, a first electrical coupling, and a second electrical coupling. The first coupling is configured to be coupled to a port of an electrical harness. The power is configured to receive an electrical coupling of a narrow-band oxygen sensor signal for providing power to the narrow-band oxygen sensor. The second coupling is configured to be coupled to the wide-band oxygen sensor. The electronic processor receives power over the first coupling, powers the wide-band oxygen sensor over the second coupling using the received power, receives first data over the second coupling from the wide-band oxygen sensor, converts the first data to second data, and outputs the second data over the first coupling to the electrical harness for transmission to an electronic control unit coupled to the electrical harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Zellner, Scott A. Koerner, Thomas Carl
  • Patent number: 10161340
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a vehicle propulsion system includes an injector driver module that applies power to a fuel injector of an engine in the vehicle propulsion system for a fuel injection event, a voltage measuring module that measures first and second voltages at first and second electrical connectors of the fuel injector, a voltage difference module that determines a difference between the first and second voltages, and a diagnostic module with a pattern based neural network that determines whether the fuel injector injected fuel based on the difference between the first and second voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J Lucido, Jonathan T Shibata
  • Patent number: 9903298
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust purification catalyst able to store oxygen, and a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor arranged at a downstream side of the exhaust purification catalyst in a direction of exhaust flow. The control system performs feedback control of an amount of fuel fed to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine so that an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst becomes a target air-fuel ratio and performs learning control to correct a parameter relating to the feedback control based on an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor. The target air-fuel ratio is alternately switched between a rich set air-fuel ratio and a lean set air-fuel ratio leaner. When a condition for learning acceleration, which is satisfied when it is necessary to accelerate correction of the parameter by the learning control, is satisfied, a rich degree of the rich set air-fuel ratio is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Norihisa Nakagawa, Yuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9670862
    Abstract: A method for correcting injection behavior of a fuel injector includes calculating a nominal value of a fuel injector family characteristic for an average fuel injector from a family of fuel injectors as a multi-variable function of engine operating conditions, calculating a corrected value of the fuel injector family characteristic as a function of the nominal value, and employing the corrected value when actuating the fuel injector to inject fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventors: Alain M. J. Touchette, Timothy N. Lennox
  • Patent number: 9518522
    Abstract: For an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine, an exhaust gas temperature control method is provided during operation of the UAV engine to protect exhaust components, particularly lightweight aluminium components, from overheating or melting. The engine is operated with a leaner than stoichiometric air-fuel ratio during low or part engine load conditions. Transition to a richer than stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is made as engine load or engine speed, or both engine load and engine speed, increase(s). At sufficiently low engine loads, the air-fuel ratio can be maintained in a lean ratio region. As demand on the engine causes engine speed and load to increase, the amount of excess air available reduces. The ability to operate lean is reduced and the exhaust gas temperature increases as the mixture becomes richer. In order to obtain the demand power, and keep exhaust temperature below an exhaust gas temperature limit, the air-fuel ratio is transitioned to a richer than stoichiometric region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ORBITAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Terran Ambrose Barber, Geoffrey Paul Cathcart, John Howard Tubb, Callan Murray Bleechmore
  • Patent number: 9518893
    Abstract: In a method for determining a dead time in the response characteristic of an exhaust gas sensor in order to determine an exhaust gas state quantity in an exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine, the dead time is determined from a measured output signal of the exhaust gas sensor and a comparison signal. An undelayed comparison signal is determined, and a cross-correlation is formed between the measured output signal and the comparison signal delayed by a model dead time selected in such a way that the cross-correlation function assumes a maximum, and the dead time of the measured output signal is set equal to the selected model dead time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Michalske
  • Patent number: 8997725
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of systems and methods for reducing the production of harmful emissions in combustion engines. One method includes correlating combustion chamber temperature to acceleration of a power train component, such as a crankshaft. Once the relationship between acceleration/deceleration of the component and combustion temperature are known, an engine control module can be configured to adjust combustion parameters to reduce combustion temperature when acceleration data indicates peak combustion temperature is approaching a harmful level, such as a level conducive to the formation of undesirable oxides of nitrogen. Various embodiments of the methods and systems disclosed herein can employ injectors with integrated igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: McAllister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8606487
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to enable a torque as required to be realized without being influenced by an operation state of an IN-VVT, which is a variable valve timing mechanism which changes a valve timing of an intake valve. For this purpose, a control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention stores data that defines a relationship between an air quantity and a torque in an MBT in association with the operation state of the IN-VVT, and calculates a target air quantity for realizing a required torque based on the data. The control device calculates an actual air quantity which is actually realized by an operation of a throttle when operating the throttle to realize the target air quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takagi, Hiromitu Seo, Eiichiro Kido, Takamitsu Mizutani, Hirokazu Ando
  • Patent number: 8554447
    Abstract: Provided is an internal combustion engine system controller, including a sub-feedback learning section, a state determining section, and a learning update-speed setting section. The state determining section determines, to which of at least three states including: (a) a stable state in which a fluctuating state of a sub-feedback learning value is stable; (b) an unstable state in which the fluctuating state greatly fluctuates; and (c) an intermediate state between the stable state and the instable state (may be referred to as sub-stable state), the fluctuating state corresponds. The learning update-speed setting section sets an update speed of the sub-feedback learning value in accordance with the result of determination by the state determining section. Further, the learning update-speed setting section suppresses the occurrence of hunting of the sub-feedback learning value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Koji Ide
  • Patent number: 8534265
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel supply control apparatus and a fuel supply control method for controlling an electric fuel pump, in an internal combustion engine provided with the electric fuel pump for pumping fuel to a fuel injection valve and a pressure regulator for regulating fuel pressure at set pressure. When a learning condition of a drive voltage for the electric fuel pump is established, the drive voltage is temporarily reduced and a change amount ?AF of an air-fuel ratio at the time is detected. Then, if the change amount ?AF is within a first threshold ?AF1, the drive voltage is reduced, whereas, if the change amount ?AF is greater than a second threshold ?AF2 which is equal to or greater than the first threshold ?AF1, the drive voltage is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8387599
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of systems and methods for reducing the production of harmful emissions in combustion engines. One method includes correlating combustion chamber temperature to acceleration of a power train component, such as a crankshaft. Once the relationship between acceleration/deceleration of the component and combustion temperature are known, an engine control module can be configured to adjust combustion parameters to reduce combustion temperature when acceleration data indicates peak combustion temperature is approaching a harmful level, such as a level conducive to the formation of undesirable oxides of nitrogen. Various embodiments of the methods and systems disclosed herein can employ injectors with integrated igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy E. McAlister
  • Patent number: 8272367
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine for driving a vehicle, which controls an output torque of the engine, is provided. In this control system, a rapid change in a demand torque of the engine is detected, and a feedforward correction amount is generated during a correction period which is substantially equal to a resonance period of a powertrain of the vehicle, from a time when the rapid change in the demand torque is detected. An output torque control amount of the engine is corrected with the feedforward correction amount. A torque change amount integrated value is calculated by integrating an amount of change in the demand torque, and the feedforward correction amount is generated according to the torque change amount integrated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mahito Shikama, Ryuji Kohno, Eisei Yamazaki, Hidekazu Hironobu
  • Patent number: 8267076
    Abstract: The present invention performs correction appropriately according to errors in the fuel system and air system respectively and corrects both variations in the air-fuel ratio and torque. When the difference between a target air-fuel ratio and a real air-fuel ratio is equal to or below a predetermined value when feedback control based on the air-fuel ratio of an exhaust manifold 10A is in progress, the air-fuel ratio of a cylinder cyl—1 having the largest variation of angular acceleration is corrected to the rich side, for example, by increasing the amount of fuel. Angular acceleration per cylinder is then detected again and when the variation in angular acceleration among cylinders is not eliminated, it is judged that there is an error in the amount of air control of the cylinder having the largest variation and the amount of air, amount of fuel, ignition timing or the like are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kouzou Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 8229651
    Abstract: A fuel control system for a vehicle comprises a fuel delivery module, a torque ratio determination module, and a correction factor module. The fuel delivery module supplies first and second amounts of diesel fuel to a cylinder of an engine during first and second combustion cycles for the cylinder, respectively. The second combustion cycle occurs after the first combustion cycle. The torque ratio determination module determines a torque ratio based on torque output by the engine during the first combustion cycle and a torque requested for the first combustion cycle. The correction factor module determines a fuel correction factor based on the torque ratio and adjusts the second amount based on the fuel correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Lee C. Walker
  • Patent number: 7869912
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hybrid vehicle controlling device and method of using the device, in which an engine torque proportion (which is transmitted from an engine to a driving shaft) of a total sum of torque transmitted to the driving shaft is calculated. An allowed surge torque value, which is an upper limit of a surge torque allowed to the engine, is set to a larger value as the engine torque proportion is reduced. Then a predetermined parameter of the engine is changed so that the engine is controlled in a range in which the surge torque of the engine does not go beyond the allowed surge torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 7783409
    Abstract: A model-based estimation of mass airflow is provided which provides an accurate estimation of mass airflow without introducing undesirable time delays characteristic of filtered mass airflow signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Jyh-Shin Chen, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 7647160
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine which is designed to determine an instantaneous engine speed in a cycle of, for example, 30° CA of the engine to learn an actual injection quantity that is the quantity of fuel actually sprayed from a fuel injector. The system filters the instantaneous engine speed using a band-pass filter to extract a cyclic component which varies in synchronism with an engine operating cycle to produce an engine speed change which has arisen from the spraying of fuel into the engine from which unwanted noise components are removed and uses it to determine the actual injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Sugiyama, Koji Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7143577
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus of an internal combustion engine in which an exhaust gas purifying catalyst is disposed in an exhaust passage, comprises: fuel cut means which stops fuel supply to the internal combustion engine when it is determined that a number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine is higher than a fuel cut number of revolutions at the time of deceleration of the internal combustion engine; and changing means of the fuel cut number of revolutions for changing the fuel cut number of revolutions according to a physical amount which correlates with an amount of oxygen discharged from the exhaust gas purifying catalyst during the fuel increasing operation of the internal combustion engine such that as the amount of oxygen is greater, the fuel cut number of revolutions is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7059298
    Abstract: The present invention judges whether an internal combustion engine is operated by a special operation method in which a fuel cut is performed more frequently than predefined depending on the operation of an accelerator pedal. The present invention provides a shorter purge resumption period subsequently to recovery from a fuel cut when it is judged that the internal combustion engine is operated by the special operation method than when it is judged that the internal combustion engine is not operated by the special operation method. The purge resumption period is a period during which a purge gas flow rate is lower than during a steady operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ozaki, Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6880541
    Abstract: Air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an engine of automobile for controlling an air-fuel ratio to a desired value includes module (33) for computing a purge ratio (Pr) from a purge quantity (QPRG) and an engine operation state, module (35) for computing a purge air concentration (Pn) from the purge ratio (Pr) and an air-fuel ratio feedback correcting coefficient (CFB), module (36) for computing a purge air concentration correcting coefficient (CPRG) from the purge ratio and the purge air concentration, module (39) for computing a fuel injection quantity (Qf) supplied to the engine (6) from the purge air concentration correcting coefficient, and module (37) for detecting an accelerating state of the automobile. The purge air concentration correcting coefficient is reset to an initial value when the purge air concentration correcting coefficient is not greater than a predetermined value (indicating leanness) and when the acceleration is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoichi Hanazaki, Mitsuyasu Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 6837232
    Abstract: When in controlling an air-fuel ratio by a feedback control, a target air-fuel ratio is changed between normal time and at rich control time, a difference between a change amount of the target air-fuel ratio and a change amount of an air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient is learned as a sensor error in the rich control. A final detected air-fuel ratio is calculated by correcting a detected air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel ratio sensor in rich control based on the sensor error. Alternatively, the target air-fuel ratio or the air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient in the rich control may be corrected based on the sensor error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6799565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for preventing a lean Air/Fuel ratio that may occur when accelerating an engine. An engine is supplied with a base amount of fuel that is adjusted, or compensated, according to one or more compensation variables that are based on an oxygen sensor signal. If the compensation variables are reduced by more than a predetermined amount and the throttle valve open-angle exceeds a predetermined value, then the method and system of the invention prevent a lean Air/Fuel ratio that may occur by initializing the compensation variables for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the engine to perform smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang-Bum Cho
  • Patent number: 6687554
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kishi, Ichikai Kamihira
  • Publication number: 20030094165
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for preventing a lean Air/Fuel ratio that may occur when accelerating an engine. An engine is supplied with a base amount of fuel that is adjusted, or compensated, according to one or more compensation variables that are based on an oxygen sensor signal. If the compensation variables are reduced by more than a predetermined amount and the throttle valve open-angle exceeds a predetermined value, then the method and system of the invention prevent a lean Air/Fuel ratio that may occur by initializing the compensation variables for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the engine to perform smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Sang-Bum Cho
  • Patent number: 6390065
    Abstract: Method of reducing noxious or toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine (10) having a plurality of cylinders (12) cooperating with a crankshaft (13) to cause the crankshaft to rotate at a rotational speed when the cylinders (12) are provided with an air/fuel mixture having a lambda value and the mixture is ignited to generate pressure in the cylinders. The method includes measuring a parameter reflecting the pressure in a first cylinder during at least a part of a working stroke of the first cylinder when supplied with an air/fuel mixture having a first lambda value to thereby obtain a first parametric value. An air/fuel mixture is provided to a second cylinder, which air/fuel mixture has a second lambda value which is different to the first lambda value, to cause the second cylinder to perform a working stroke. A parameter is measured reflecting the pressure in the second cylinder during at least a part of the working stroke of the second cylinder to obtain a second parametric value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Göran Almkvist
  • Publication number: 20010027785
    Abstract: Method of reducing noxious or toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine (10) having a plurality of cylinders (12) cooperating with a crankshaft (13) to cause the crankshaft to rotate at a rotational speed when the cylinders (12) are provided with an air/fuel mixture having a lambda value and the mixture is ignited to generate pressure in the cylinders. The method includes measuring a parameter reflecting the pressure in a first cylinder during at least a part of a working stroke of the first cylinder when supplied with an air/fuel mixture having a first lambda value to thereby obtain a first parametric value. An air/fuel mixture is provided to a second cylinder, which air/fuel mixture has a second lambda value which is different to the first lambda value, to cause the second cylinder to perform a working stroke. A parameter is measured reflecting the pressure in the second cylinder during at least a part of the working stroke of the second cylinder to obtain a second parametric value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: G?ouml;ran Almkvist
  • Patent number: 6173694
    Abstract: In an in-cylinder injection internal combustion engine which is placed in a selected one of a compression stroke injection mode in which fuel injection is conducted during a compression stroke, and a suction stroke injection mode in which fuel injection is conducted during a suction stroke, depending upon operating conditions of the engine, a fuel control device cut a fuel to be supplied to a combustion chamber of the engine when a certain fuel cut condition set depending upon the operating conditions of the engine is established, and resumes fuel injection in a compression stroke injection mode when a predetermined fuel cut return condition is established. In this fuel control device, when the fully closed state of a throttle valve is detected by an idle switch, or the engine speed is reduced by a large degree, the fuel injection is resumed in an intake stroke injection mode upon return from the fuel cut, so as to prevent undershoot of the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kamura, Atsuyoshi Kojima, Hiroki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6102002
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the throttle and/or injection quantity of a motor vehicle combustion engine at the command of a vehicle driver, an adaption being made to the vehicle driver's driving style, the curve of angle throttle position and/or injection quantity over accelerator pedal position angle exhibiting a progressive characteristic when there is driving behavior recognized as conservative and a degressive characteristic when there is driving behavior recognized as sporty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Daimler Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Gimmler, Andreas Heidinger, Klaus Peter Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6098012
    Abstract: A system and method for use in a motor vehicles is disclosed for calculating a fuel multiplier during transient engine operation. The fuel multiplier modifies the amount of fuel released from a fuel actuator into an engine. The fuel control system uses neural network logic to establish the fuel multiplier. The neural network logic involves taking inputs from engine sensors, processing the inputs through an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer resulting in a fuel multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Stander, Sam K. Liu, Min Sway-Tin, William O. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6026793
    Abstract: A control system for a plant includes a sensor for detecting an output from the plant, an adaptive controller for controlling a manipulated variable applied to control of the plant in a manner such that an output from the sensor becomes equal to a desired value, and an adaptive parameter vector-adjusting mechanism for adjusting an adaptive parameter vector used by the adaptive controller. The adaptive parameter vector-adjusting mechanism is constructed such that an updating component for updating the adaptive parameter vector is added to an initial value of the adaptive parameter vector, and updates the adaptive parameter vector by multiplying at least part of preceding values of the updating component by a predetermined coefficient which is larger than 0 but smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Yusuke Hasegawa, Yoshihisa Iwaki, Shusuke Akazaki, Hiroshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6016794
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an injector control apparatus 120B for controlling a fuel injection amount toward a target fuel injection amount Fm. The injector control apparatus 120B includes an expected engine revolution number calculating means 9 for calculating an expected engine revolution number Nf for a predetermined interval based on the engine revolution number Ne, expected throttle opening degree calculating means 10 for calculating an expected throttle opening degree .theta.f for the predetermined interval based on a throttle opening degree .theta., expected drawn air amount calculating means 11 for calculating an expected drawn air amount Qf for the predetermined interval based on the expected engine revolution number and the expected throttle opening degree, and target fuel injection amount calculating means 12 for calculating a target fuel injection amount Fm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuko Hashimoto, Shiro Yonezawa, Hirofumi Ohuchi, Tatsuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6003489
    Abstract: In an in-cylinder injection internal combustion engine which is placed in a selected one of a compression stroke injection mode in which fuel injection is conducted during a compression stroke, and a suction stroke injection mode in which fuel injection is conducted during a suction stroke, depending upon operating conditions of the engine, a fuel control device cut a fuel to be supplied to a combustion chamber of the engine when a certain fuel cut condition set depending upon the operating conditions of the engine is established, and resumes fuel injection in a compression stroke injection mode when a predetermined fuel cut return condition is established. In this fuel control device, when the fully closed state of a throttle valve is detected by an idle switch, or the engine speed is reduced by a large degree, the fuel injection is resumed in an intake stroke injection mode upon return from the fuel cut, so as to prevent undershoot of the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kamura, Atsuyoshi Kojima, Hiroki Tamura
  • Patent number: 5954783
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an inverse model which includes a forward model and a feedback loop, wherein an actuating parameter, such as the quantity of fuel injected from a fuel injector, outputted from the forward model is used as a controlled variable, such as the air-fuel ratio in an exhaust system, inputted into the inverse model through the feedback loop. The forward model has preferably a learning function using condition-indicating factors such as engine speed and throttle angle. Accuracy of the inverse model is improved and appropriate engine control can be realized even during a transient state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Yoko Fujime
  • Patent number: 5941212
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine includes an ECU which cuts off fuel supply to the engine at deceleration thereof, measures a fuel cut-off period over which the fuel cut-off means cuts off fuel supply to the engine, and enriches the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine to a degree dependent upon the measured fuel cut-off period, at the restart of fuel supply to the engine immediately after termination of cutting-off of fuel supply to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Seiichi Hosogai, Shigeo Hidai, Eisaku Gosho
  • Patent number: 5915368
    Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control apparatus for executing auxiliary control of an air/fuel ratio by compensating an injected fuel amount set by a control system for maintaining the air/fuel ratio at a preset value. The air/fuel ratio control apparatus includes a state detecting unit for detecting a plurality of physical values which can be measured at low temperature and which show a state of an engine, an air/fuel ratio estimating unit for receiving a plurality of physical values detected by the state detecting means as input parameters and for estimating the air/fuel ratio using a neural network, and a compensatory fuel amount calculating unit for calculating a compensatory fuel amount for the injected fuel amount from the estimated air/fuel ratio. Here, low temperature refers to a temperature at which an air/fuel sensor cannot operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Ishida, Masuo Takigawa, Tatsuya Nakamura, Norihiro Fujioka
  • Patent number: 5878732
    Abstract: A method of determining a mass of fuel to be introduced into a suction pipe or into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine precontrols a basic injection time constituting a basic injection quantity, through a prescription of a lambda set point. The lambda set point is determined by a coordinated calculation through selecting a minimum and a maximum from a multiplicity of different lambda requirements which are derived from operating states of the internal combustion engine. Different priorities are allocated to the various lambda requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Engl, Willibald Schuerz, Johann Froehlich
  • Patent number: 5778865
    Abstract: An evaporative fuel control system for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve includes a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank, a purging passage for purging evaporative fuel into the intake system of the engine, and a purge control valve for controlling a flow rate of the evaporative fuel to be purged into the intake system through the purging passage. An ECU sets an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient applied in air-fuel ratio feedback control, based on the concentration of a specific component in exhaust gases emitted from the engine, calculates a first learned value of the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient during execution of the air-fuel ratio feedback control, and controls the purge control valve such that the flow rate of the evaporative fuel is changed according to the calculated first learned value. A second learned value of the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient suitable for the transient operating condition of the engine is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Tachibana, Toru Wada, Satoru Kubo
  • Patent number: 5778666
    Abstract: A managed fuel air mode control system is provided which operates in an open loop lean mode of operation whenever open loop enable criteria is met. During the open loop lean mode of operation, a rich A/F purge mode of operation is dictated when a NO.sub.x trap is determined to be full. After purging the trap, engine operation returns to stoichiometric and either enters a closed loop learning operation or returns to lean operation depending upon the time that has passed since the last learning operation. During the learning operation, an adaptive control algorithm learns or updates a long term correction factor that is used during the open loop lean A/F mode of operation. Also during open loop operation, the amount of SO.sub.x accumulated in the trap is calculated and the open loop mode is terminated when the amount of SO.sub.x exceed a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Cullen, David George Farmer, Gopichandra Surnilla, Susan Nicole Cok
  • Patent number: 5778850
    Abstract: The method includes the steps of generating a reference injection pressure value as a function of the speed of a diesel engine and of the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine, the reference injection pressure value defining an optimum injection pressure value for steady-state operation of the engine; generating an incremental injection pressure value as a function of the speed of the engine and the supercharge pressure of the engine, the incremental injection pressure value defining the maximum permissible variation in injection pressure between one engine cycle and the next during a transient operating state of the engine; and generating a desired injection pressure value as a function of the reference injection pressure value and the incremental injection pressure value, and such that the variation in injection pressure during the transient operating state of the engine does not exceed the maximum permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Riccardo Buratti, Alessandro Carlo
  • Patent number: 5690087
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptive transient fuel compensation in a cylinder of an engine (300) estimates a fraction of fuel evaporated in a fuel intake system of the engine (b.sub.v) by measuring a temporal delay (515) between when an identification fuel charge is injected (505) and when a binary-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor (315) switches state. An estimate of a fraction of fuel adhering to the fuel intake system of the engine (c) is derived from the estimate of evaporation wall-wetting parameter (b.sub.v). Fuel delivery to the engine is adjusted dependent on the estimates of the adhering wall-wetting parameter (c) and the evaporation wall-wetting parameter (b.sub.v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Darren A. Schumacher, Kevin J. Bush
  • Patent number: 5638802
    Abstract: A system for controlling fuel metering for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, having a feedback loop which has an adaptive controller and an adaptation mechanism coupled to the adaptive controller for estimating controller parameters .theta.. The adaptive controller calculates a feedback correction coefficient using internal variables that include at least said controller parameters .theta., to correct a basic quantity of fuel injection obtained by retrieving mapped data by engine speed and engine load, to bring a detected air/fuel ratio to a desired air/fuel ratio. In the system, the internal variables of the adaptive controller are set to predetermined values, when the supply of fuel is resumed after termination of the fuel cutoff, and the adaptive controller calculates the feedback correction coefficient based on the internal variables set to the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetaka Maki, Shusuke Akazaki, Yusuke Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 5598828
    Abstract: A fuel supply control device for an engine comprises a canister in which fuel vapor is temporarily stored and from which fuel vapor is purged into the engine. When the throttle valve is in the idling position and when the engine speed N is higher than the first reference speed N1, the fuel injection and the purging operation are stopped. During the stoppage of the fuel injection and the purging operation, if the throttle valve is out of the idling position or if the engine speed N is lower than the second reference speed N2, the fuel injection and the purging operation are restarted. The reference speeds N1 and N2 are set to become higher when the storing capacity of the canister becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akinori Osanai
  • Patent number: 5520160
    Abstract: A system for solving disturbances in the air-fuel ratio caused by a change in the normal correction factor, and permitting achievement of a highly accurate air-fuel ratio control. Fuel evaporative gas generated in a fuel tank is adsorbed in a canister, and then discharged into an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine. ECU calculates the fuel supply quantity to the internal combustion engine on the basis of the condition in which the internal combustion engine is operating, performs feedback control and learning control of an air-fuel ratio on the basis of a detection signal from an oxygen sensor, and corrects the fuel supply quantity by means of an air-fuel correction factor. ECU also controls fuel injection by an injector by decrement-correcting the fuel supply quantity in response to the quantity of discharged evaporative gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Aota, Junya Morikawa, Osamu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 5474052
    Abstract: An automated method for generating compensation values for use in an electronic engine controller during transient engine operation comprises an initial step of exposing an engine to an ambient temperature value to set the engine to an initial start temperature. The engine is started and operated in a predetermined manner until the engine reaches a stable operating temperature. The mass flow rate of air into an induction system of the engine is detected to generate a plurality of air flow values, the temperature of engine coolant is detected to generate a plurality of engine coolant temperature values and the composition of exhaust gas produced by the engine is detected to generate a plurality of exhaust gas values. The detected air flow values, engine coolant temperature values and exhaust gas values are stored in a data storage means. The engine is exposed to a plurality of ambient temperatures to generate data indicative of engine operation from a plurality of initial start temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Charles F. Aquino, John E. Bradley, Isis A. Messih