Combined With Engine Condition Responsive Means Patents (Class 123/679)
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Publication number: 20080283030Abstract: The invention concerns a method to determine the composition of a fuel from the components ethanol and gasoline of an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine by means of a fuel supply unit and via two fuel distributor rails; and the exhaust gas is discharged from the internal combustion engine by means of two exhaust gas manifolds of a first and a second exhaust gas system, which are separated from each other, wherein the first and second exhaust gas system have in each case at least one exhaust gas probe and wherein current changes in the ethanol content of the fuel are evaluated from the signal differences of lambda signals from the exhaust gas probes. With this method, a change in the ethanol content of the fuel can be detected, and an explicit condition for a change in fuel can be derived. Moreover, with the method, errors in the fuel-mixture can be distinguished from an altered fuel composition, which takes place after the tank has been filled (fueling).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Oliver Miersch-Wiemers, Georg Mallebrein, Carlos Koster, Stephan Uhl, Juergen Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20080264036Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine to maintain a predetermined combustion efficiency, comprises: measuring the concentration of CO in an engine-out emission; determining whether the measured concentration of CO is above or below a target CO concentration for the engine under the operating conditions in use; and if the concentration of CO is above the target CO concentration, adjusting one or more engine and/or combustion parameters so as to reduce the concentration of CO in the engine-out emission, and if the concentration of CO is below the target CO concentration, adjusting one or more engine and/or combustion parameters so as to increase the concentration of CO in the engine-out emission; wherein the target CO concentration is determined on the basis of a correlation with indicators of combustion efficiency under known engine operating conditions. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is one such engine and/or combustion parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventor: Nicholas J. Bellovary
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Patent number: 7438066Abstract: A method and device for controlling an internal combustion engine, in which the fuel quantity to be injected into the engine is limited to a limiting value. The limiting value is predefined on the basis of the output signal of a closed-loop controller or an open-loop controller and a precontrol value. Furthermore, the precontrol value is corrected.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Michalske, Sascha-Juan Moran Auth
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Publication number: 20080184978Abstract: In one embodiment, when control of a throttle opening degree is limited due to the occurrence of an electronic throttle failure, a determination is made of whether or not an intake manifold negative pressure of an engine is inadequate, and when determined that intake manifold negative pressure is inadequate, a gear ratio of an automatic transmission is shifted (for example, downshifted) to a gear ratio that increases an intake pipe negative pressure, thus increasing the intake pipe negative pressure (absolute value).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ayumu Sagawa, Koji Oshima
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Publication number: 20080167791Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine, a fuel system configured to provide a flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system configured to provide a flow of recirculated gas to the engine which includes exhaust gases. The system also includes an engine controller configured to control the fuel system and the EGR system, such that the engine receives a mixture which includes the hydrogen fuel, the ambient air and the recirculated gas in a stoichiometric fuel/air ratio that meets the torque demand on the engine. A method includes the steps of providing a flow of gaseous hydrogen fuel, a flow of ambient air, and a flow of recirculated exhaust gas to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Justin Fulton, Franklin Earl Lynch
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Patent number: 7380547Abstract: A control system for adjusting levels of emissions exiting an engine includes a NOx sensor that generates a NOx signal in response to oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in an exhaust gas and a control module that communicates with the cam phaser. The rotational position of the cam phaser controls an actuation time when the camshaft opens the exhaust valve during rotation of the camshaft. The control module further receives the NOx signal, and calculates a NOx level of the exhaust gas based on the NOx signal. The control module compares the NOx level to a predetermined threshold range and adjusts the cam phaser to achieve a rotational position that releases a desired level of NOx from the engine when the NOx level exceeds the predetermined threshold range. The control module further stores the rotational position in a storage device when the NOx level is within the predetermined threshold range.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: Victoriano Ruiz
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Publication number: 20080099002Abstract: A method is provided for an engine capable of burning gaseous fuel, the engine also including a combustion chamber, a fuel supply system with at least one fuel tank, at least one intake valve, and at least one exhaust valve, an injector to directly inject gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber, and an exhaust oxygen sensor. The method comprises directly injecting fuel from the injector into the chamber at a variable supply pressure which decreases as fuel tank pressure decreases; and adjusting at least one of an injection time and duration based at least on said variable pressure and information from the exhaust oxygen sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Brad Boyer, William Stockhausen
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Patent number: 7363920Abstract: A fuel supply control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake pipe or a combustion chamber of the engine. A flow rate of air supplied to the engine and an air-fuel ratio are detected. A demand fuel injection amount is set according to an operating condition of the engine. An injection amount command value of fuel injected by at least one fuel injection valve according to the demand fuel injection amount. An amount of fuel burned in the engine is calculated according to the detected intake air flow rate and air-fuel ratio. At least two correlation parameters, which indicate a relationship between the estimated burned fuel amount and the injection amount command value, are identified. The injection amount command value is then corrected according to the at least two identified correlation parameters.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaki Ueno
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Patent number: 7305977Abstract: A control system and method for controlling torque output of an engine include an air control module that receives an actual airflow and a desired airflow and outputs an adjusted actual airflow based on the actual airflow and the desired airflow. A fuel control module receives the adjusted actual airflow and controls fuel output based on the adjusted actual airflow, a ratio (?) of an operating air-fuel mixture to an ideal air-fuel mixture, and an operating curve (?traj).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: David J. Stroh
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Publication number: 20070272210Abstract: In order to operate an internal combustion engine, a value of an operating variable of the internal combustion engine is determined depending on at least one measured quantity of the internal combustion engine. A test is carried out to determine whether or not the value of the operating variable is plausible depending on at least one second measured quantity of the internal combustion engine. If the value of the operating variable is implausible, a test is carried out to determine whether or not the internal combustion engine is currently being operated in lean operation. If the internal combustion engine is currently being operated in lean operation, a changeover to the quasi-stoichiometric operation of the internal combustion engine is implemented. After the changeover to the quasi-stoichiometric operation, the value of the operating variable is determined anew and tested anew. A changeover to lean operation is carried out anew if the newly determined value of the operating variable is plausible.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Markus Kraus, Kai Wollenschlager
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Publication number: 20070261671Abstract: An engine controller comprises a combustion state detection or estimation means for detecting or estimating a combustion state in the combustion chamber, a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation means for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber according to an exhaust air-fuel ratio and the detected or estimated combustion state, and a means for calculating engine control parameters according to the estimated combustion air-fuel ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
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Patent number: 7293555Abstract: A controller approximates an output characteristic of an air flow meter using at least one parameter, and approximates a characteristic of a fuel injection characteristic of an injector using at least one parameter. These parameters are determined and updated based on an exhaust air-fuel ratio acquired by an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust passage, so that the exhaust air-fuel ratio approaches a target air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoto Kato, Shuntaro Okazaki
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Publication number: 20070227518Abstract: This invention is a method and system for controlling engine-out exhaust species of a combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders by providing a means for controlling combustion parameters in individual cylinders, grouping the individual cylinders into a lean set and a rich set of one or more cylinders, combusting the lean set in a lean combustion parameter condition having a lean air:fuel equivalence ratio, combusting the rich set in a rich combustion parameter condition having a rich air:fuel equivalence ratio, and providing a means for adjusting the lean set and the rich set of one or more cylinders to generate net-lean combustion. The exhaust species have elevated concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventors: Brian H. West, Ronald L. Graves, Shean P. Huff, James E. Parks
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Publication number: 20070227121Abstract: Air-fuel ratio control system for an engine having a catalyst purifying exhaust gases, first oxygen sensor disposed upstream of the catalyst, and second oxygen sensor disposed downstream. Intake air flow rate is detected. An amount of oxygen flowing into the catalyst is calculated using oxygen concentration detected by the first sensor and the detected intake air flow rate. The air-fuel ratio is alternately controlled to lean and rich by comparison between the calculated oxygen amount and target values. A rich oxygen amount and a lean oxygen amount are calculated. A correction amount for correcting the first sensor output is calculated based on the rich oxygen amount, the lean oxygen amount, and an accumulated value of the detected intake air flow rate. The oxygen concentration corrected with the correction amount is used for calculating the inflowing oxygen amount, the rich operation oxygen amount, and the lean operation oxygen amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Jun Iida, Yukio Suehiro, Hidetaka Maki
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Publication number: 20070199552Abstract: An engine control device and method that prevents fuel injection quantity from becoming unstable due to a rapid change of a correction quantity even in a predetermined operation state such as acceleration time and thus stabilizes an air-fuel ratio. Under a predetermined operating state, even when feedback control of oxygen in exhaust gas is stopped, a correction quantity immediately before the predetermined operating state is held by a correction quantity storage part and the correction of the fuel injection time is performed based on the correction quantity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Harumi FURUKAWA, Yoshitsugu KOSUGI
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Patent number: 7255098Abstract: An engine emissions control system is provided. The system may include an exhaust producing engine and an exhaust system through which the exhaust produced by the engine may flow. The system may also include a NOx sensor configured to take a NOx measurement of the amount of NOx in the exhaust produced by the engine. The system may further include a charge density sensing system configured to measure the charge density of a combustion mixture of the engine. In addition, the system may include a controller configured to receive information related to the measurement of the amount of NOx. The controller may be further configured to control a charge density of the combustion mixture with which the engine operates based on the NOx measurement and the charge density measured by the charge density sensing system.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Boley, Stuart Niese, Ryan E. Meister
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Publication number: 20070181096Abstract: This invention is a method of achieving stable, optimal mixtures of HCCI and SI in practical gasoline internal combustion engines comprising the steps of: characterizing the combustion process based on combustion process measurements, determining the ratio of conventional and HCCI combustion, determining the trajectory (sequence) of states for consecutive combustion processes, and determining subsequent combustion process modifications using said information to steer the engine combustion toward desired behavior.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventors: Robert M. Wagner, Charles S. Daw, Johney B. Green, Kevin D. Edwards
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Patent number: 7234455Abstract: A system for a vehicle comprising of an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Kerns
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Publication number: 20070137629Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders and a changing mechanism the changes a timing at which an intake valve provided for each of the cylinders closes, comprising: a control portion that controls the changing mechanism so that the intake valve closes at a timing within a predetermined range from a bottom dead center; and a detection portion that detects at least one of an air-fuel ratio of each of the cylinders and a value corresponding to the air-fuel ratio when the changing mechanism is controlled so that the intake valve closes at the timing within the predetermined range from the bottom dead center.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Takashi Hamada
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Patent number: 7201160Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor monitor is provided which is designed to monitor reactive characteristics or response rates of an air-fuel ratio sensor when an air-fuel ratio of a mixture to an internal combustion engine is changing to a rich side and to a lean side. The monitored response rates are used in determining whether the sensor is failing or not, in determining the air-fuel ratio of the mixture accurately, or in air-fuel ratio control of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Naoki Yoshiume, Yukihiro Yamashita
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Patent number: 7191772Abstract: Method of regulating an internal combustion engine in order to reach presettable nitrogen oxide emission values of the internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine is supplied at least some of the time with a first fuel and at least some of the time with a second fuel, the quantity of the first fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine per unit of time being controlled according to a preset control actual value or kept constant and the quantity of the second fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine per unit of time to reach a presettable nitrogen oxide emission value being regulated according to at least one recorded engine parameter.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OHGInventors: Reinhard Robitschko, Herbert Schaumberger, Johann Hirzinger, Albert Fahringer
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Patent number: 7167791Abstract: Automotive vehicles are increasingly being equipped with remote starting devices. If the vehicle is within a space which is very well sealed, it is possible that the concentration of the exhaust gases may exceed desirable levels. A method and system are disclosed in which a mass-based determination of air/fuel ratio is compared with the air/fuel ratio being maintained by the exhaust gas oxygen sensor. When the air/fuel ratio based on a mass measurement deviates from the air/fuel ratio based on the exhaust gas oxygen sensor by more than a threshold difference, the remotely started vehicle is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd Kappauf, Diana D. Brehob
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Patent number: 7044118Abstract: There is described a method of controlling injection in a vehicle internal combustion engine, wherein the intake air flow and exhaust lambda are measured to estimate the fuel quantity actually injected into the engine and perform a closed-loop control whereby the estimated fuel quantity is made to substantially equal the nominal fuel quantity calculated to meet vehicle user requirements. More specifically, the difference between the nominal fuel quantity and the estimated fuel quantity is used to calculate a correction factor by which to correct the nominal fuel quantity.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Marco Tonetti, Andrea Ruggiero
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Patent number: 7036982Abstract: The invention provides a control strategy and a control system to control a gas sensor to a target operating temperature. It relies upon both feedback and model-based feedforward control systems to achieve and then maintain the sensor at the target operating temperature. The mechanization includes a gas sensor with a heating element in a feedstream. The control strategy employs a control system for the heating element that is based upon the target operating temperature, the temperature of the heating element, and an effect of the feedstream and mounting structure on the temperature of the sensor. The control strategy enables the control system to optimize the heating of a sensor during warm-up and steady state operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Craig Smith, Wayne Richard Moore, Matthew G. Foster
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Patent number: 7004125Abstract: A valve train system for operating an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, in which an operation amount of the intake valve is controlled. When it is determined that there is a need of improving a fuel efficiency by increasing the compression ratio within the combustion chamber on the basis of an engine operating state, an exhaust valve is opened and subsequently closed after an intake stroke until the pressure within the exhaust chamber becomes equal to the pressure within the exhaust passage so as to increase the compression ratio within the exhaust valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiaki Asada
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Patent number: 6985809Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for eliminating a slippage in control timing between the input/output of a controlled object, even when the control object exhibits a relatively large dynamic characteristic such as a phase delay, a dead time, or the like, to improve the stability and the controllability of the control. The control apparatus comprises a state predictor for calculating a predicted value of a value indicative of an output of a controlled object based on a prediction algorithm, and a DSM controller for calculating a control input to the controlled object based on one modulation algorithm selected from a ? modulation algorithm, a ?? modulation algorithm, and a ?? modulation algorithm for controlling the output of the controlled object in accordance with the calculated predicted value.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Yasui
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Patent number: 6932052Abstract: The invention provides a system that controls the air intake pressure of a venturi mixer in an air/fuel ratio control system for gaseous fueled engines to match the fuel vaporizer/regulator output pressure (negative pressure) or to a desired set point of a fuel vaporizer/regulator connected to the fuel inlet of the venturi mixer. A differential pressure control valve in the air intake upstream of the venturi is used, which results in negative pressure vaporizer/regulators being compatible with the constant air/fuel ratio fluidic control principle of the venturi mixer. A differential pressure sensor or estimated differential pressure based on airflow and valve position is used in one embodiment to control the venturi intake air pressure to the desired set point. The set point may be zero or biased by an outer control loop of an engine controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Woodward Governor CompanyInventor: Justin L. Fulton
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Patent number: 6918362Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a humidity sensor with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is described. Specifically, information from the humidity sensor is used to adjust a desired air-fuel ratio to reduce engine misfire while improving vehicle fuel economy. Further, such information is also used to adjust timing and/or lift of the valve in the engine cylinder. Finally, diagnostic routines are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Michael J. Cullen
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Patent number: 6868326Abstract: There are provided a control apparatus capable of controlling a controlled object with reduce dead time in sign inversion between the input to and the output from one of ?? and ?? modulation algorithms, thereby attaining improved convergence of the output from the controlled object to a target value and improved controllability. An ECU of the control apparatus calculates a limiting value DSMVO2L of a reference input DSMVO2, as DSMVO2L=?1 when DSMVO2<?1, DSMVO2L=1 when 1<DSMVO2, and DSMVO2L=DSMVO2 in the other cases. By inputting the limiting value DSMVO2L to a ? ? modulation algorithm, a DSM output is calculated, according to which the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine is controlled such that output from an oxygen concentration sensor converges to a target value.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Yasui
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Patent number: 6840237Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a ?-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual ?-value with the selected ?-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said ?-values in order to obtain the selected ?-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
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Patent number: 6827069Abstract: An engine control system that identifies fuel dynamical steady state (FDSS) includes a cylinder and a controller that determines a detection period. The controller monitors a mass of fuel ingested by the cylinder during the detection period. The controller identifies FDSS if the mass of fuel remains within a predetermined range during the detection period.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Kenneth P. Dudek, Ronald A. Davis
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Patent number: 6826471Abstract: An operating internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder (2), and a piston (12), which can move in an alternating manner therein, is used to compress a fuel mix in a combustion chamber (11). In order to determine the nitrogen oxide content in oxygen-containing exhaust gases, the quantity of fuel fed to the cylinder (2) and the air mass flowing in an induction pipe (15) are recorded and are fed to an electronic circuit (6). The center of gravity (S) of the combustion is determined from at least one current measured value for the engine operation, and the level of nitrogen oxide emissions is calculated from the value for the center of gravity (S) of the combustion, including the values for the recorded fuel quantity and air mass.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2003Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Helmut Daudel, Guenther Hohenberg
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Patent number: 6814067Abstract: A control system for a plant, having an identifier and a controller. The identifier identifies model parameters of a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controller calculates a control input to the plant so that an output from the plant coincides with a control target value, using the identified model parameters. The controller calculates a self-tuning control input, using the model parameters identified by the identifier. The controller further calculates a damping control input according to the rate of change in the output from the plant or the rate of change in a deviation between the output from the plant and the control target value. The controller calculates the control input to the plant as a sum of the self-tuning control input and the damping control input.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Yasui, Yoshihisa Iwaki
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Publication number: 20040182377Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving combustion in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine. The method comprises the first step of receiving a measured air-to-fuel ratio value. Further, the method comprises the step of receiving at least one estimated air-to-fuel ratio value. The air-to-fuel ratio estimate is generated in dependence of a predetermined fuel deposit factor. Furthermore, the method comprises the step of establishing a fuel volatility value in dependence of said measured air-to-fuel ratio value and said air-to-fuel ratio estimate. Finally the method comprises the step of controlling combustion in dependence of said fuel volatility value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventor: Anders H. Johnsson
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Publication number: 20040182375Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the transient response of a spark-ignited fuel-injected internal combustion engine is disclosed. This is accomplished by employing one or more novel capillary fuel injectors. These devices are port fuel injectors modified by inserting one or more relatively small diameter heated tubular capillaries between the fuel line and a conventional injector. Sufficient heating can be produced so that flash vaporization occurs as the fuel exits the injector. The heaters are turned on using control algorithms that can be based on exhaust gas oxygen concentration, load on the engine, and accelerator pedal position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventors: Jan-Roger Linna, Peter Palmer, John Paul Mello, Stuart Bennett Sprague
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Publication number: 20040182376Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
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Publication number: 20040139951Abstract: An emission control device for use with stationary or mobile gas-fueled internal combustion engines is described, which is placed in the fuel supply line and operates with full fuel authority. An oxygen sensor measures exhaust oxygen content. The valve internally houses a programmable microprocessor, a pressure transducer and a fuel flow conduit throttled by a balanced poppet valve. Signals to the microprocessor from the oxygen sensor, the pressure transducer indicating outflow gas pressure cause the microprocessor to motivate an actuator to move the valve within the gas stream and thus regulate the outlet pressure and also the gas flow rate to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio to the engine and keep exhaust emissions at an optimum level consistent with the engine operating load requirements and characteristics. Finite incremental control of valve position, preferably assisted by an internal position transducer, permits close control of the exhaust emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: C. Ross Fisher, David G. Fisher, Kristian W. Yates, William A. Hoie
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Patent number: 6758201Abstract: A fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine is capable of expanding a correction allowable range employed in correcting a fuel injection quantity when refueling is detected. The fuel injection control system estimates a fuel property of fuel injected into the internal combustion engine after the correction allowable range is expanded and sets the correction allowable range on the basis of the estimated fuel property.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigehito Hosoi
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Publication number: 20040065278Abstract: A control device for a multicylinder spark-ignition engine includes a flow path switching unit for switching intake and exhaust flow paths between a two-cylinder interconnect configuration and an independent cylinder configuration and an air-fuel ratio control unit. In a low-load, low-speed operating range, the flow path switching unit switches the engine to the two-cylinder interconnect configuration, and the air-fuel ratio control unit produces a lean mixture having an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a specific amount in preceding cylinders by injecting fuel thereinto and an air-fuel ratio approximately equal to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in following cylinders by supplying fuel together with burned gas of a lean mixture state discharged from the preceding cylinders into the following cylinders to perform combustion in special operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Kouji Asanomi, Kouji Sumida, Takayoshi Hayashi
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Publication number: 20040050034Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for eliminating a step in a control input before and after switching between control processing based on one modulation algorithm selected from a &Dgr; modulation algorithm, a &Dgr;&Sgr; modulation algorithm, and a &Sgr;&Dgr; modulation algorithm and control processing based on a response specified control algorithm to avoid a sudden change in the output of a controlled object in the event of the switching.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Yasui
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Publication number: 20040045278Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes the step of measuring emission values of at least two pollutant components of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. A value of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine is changed in order to decrease an emission value of a first pollutant component if the emission value of the first pollutant component exceeds a given maximum threshold value. An emission value of a second pollutant component is monitored in order to determine whether the emission value of the second pollutant component remains below a maximum value for the second pollutant component and whether an increase in the emission value to the maximum value for the second pollutant component is permitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
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Patent number: 6698186Abstract: A target air-fuel ratio KCMD for an exhaust gas upstream of a catalytic converter is sequentially determined to converge the output VO2/OUT of an O2 sensor downstream of the catalytic converter to a target value VO2/TARGET, and the amount of fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine is controlled to converge the output KACT of an air-fuel ratio sensor to the target air-fuel ratio KCMD. While the amount of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is being thus controlled, the value of a deterioration linear function &sgr; whose variable components are represented by time-series data of the output VO2/OUT of the O2 sensor is determined. A central value of the square &sgr;2 of the value of the deterioration linear function &sgr; is determined as a deterioration evaluating parameter. A deteriorated state of the catalytic converter is evaluated on the basis of the value of the deterioration evaluating parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Ueno, Shusuke Akazaki, Yoshihisa Iwaki, Hiroshi Kitagawa
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Patent number: 6684868Abstract: There is provided a fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which includes an O2 sensor and a feedback controller that performs a feedback control of the injection quantity of fuel to the internal combustion engine. The feedback controller performs the feedback control such that the feedback gain set at the time of starting the feedback and which gives operation constant for performing feedback until the air/fuel ratio becomes optimum, is set larger than the feedback gain set for the normal operation period and which gives operation constant for performing feedback in a stable state, and the feedback gain is changed between the control start time and the normal operation period, thereby reducing the time required to attain a stable feedback state and therefore quick transition to the stable state upon starting the control and thus enabling effective reduction of harmful components in exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadayuki Saga
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Patent number: 6626164Abstract: A four-cycle engine is provided with valve timing adjusters for adjusting opening and closing timing an and an exhaust valve. In medium- to high-speed ranges in medium- to high-load regions of the engine, a closing point (ExC) of the exhaust valve defined as a point of transfer from an acceleration portion to a constant speed portion on its valve lift characteristics curve is set to a point a specific period before an intake top dead center, and an opening point (InO) of the intake valve defined as a point of transfer from a constant speed portion to an acceleration portion on its valve lift characteristics curve is set to a point after the intake top dead center. In addition, the period from the closing point (ExC) of the exhaust valve to the opening point (InO) of the intake valve is made longer in the medium-speed range than in the high-speed range in the medium- to high-load regions of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Yasushi Matsushita, Tadashige Ohba
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Publication number: 20030150441Abstract: There is provided a fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which includes an O2 sensor and a feedback controller that performs a feedback control of the injection quantity of fuel to the internal combustion engine. The feedback controller performs the feedback control such that the feedback gain set at the time of starting the feedback and which gives operation constant for performing feedback until the air/fuel ratio becomes optimum, is set larger than the feedback gain set for the normal operation period and which gives operation constant for performing feedback in a stable state, and the feedback gain is changed between the control start time and the normal operation period, thereby reducing the time required to attain a stable feedback state and therefore quick transition to the stable state upon starting the control and thus enabling effective reduction of harmful components in exhaust gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tadayuki Saga
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Patent number: 6604502Abstract: A method of controlling an engine 12 during engine shutdown to reduce evaporative emissions is provided. The method includes a step 50 of shutting off a fuel pump 28 of the engine 12. The method also includes a step 52 of burning off the fuel from a fuel rail 24 in a cylinder 18 of the engine 12 after the fuel pump 28 is shut off. During the burning off of the fuel, a duty cycle of each fuel injector 22of engine 12 is controlled to allow the engine 12 to operate generally cyclically about a predetermined air/fuel ratio. The predetermined air/fuel ratio is preferably stoichiometric. By burning off the fuel in the fuel rail 24 after the fuel pump 28 is shut off, the fuel pressure in the fuel rail 24 is reduced. The reduced fuel pressure in the fuel rail 24results in reduced evaporative emissions from the engine 12.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Darren Bisaro, David Lee Boggs, Mark William Peters, Stephen Richard Burke, Stephen John Kotre
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Patent number: 6581571Abstract: A system and method of controlling an engine includes sensing a concentration of NOx in exhaust gases produced by the engine and generating a sensed NOx value representative thereof, and controlling an engine control set point as a function of the sensed NOx value. The system also calculates a NOx difference value by subtracting a base NOx value from the sensed NOx value, and if an absolute value of the difference value exceeds a threshold, modifying the set point as a function of the NOx difference value. The method also includes sensing engine RPM, sensing engine manifold absolute pressure (MAP), determining the NOx value as a function of sensed engine RPM and MAP.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: John Thomas Kubesh, Daniel James Podnar, John Phillip Latusek, Donald Lee McCaw
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Publication number: 20030106544Abstract: A method for air/fuel operation of an engine. The engine is supplied fuel from both a fuel purging system to purge fuel in a fuel supply and feed such purged fuel to an intake manifold of the engine and a fuel injection system to inject fuel from such fuel supply into a cylinder of such engine. The method includes producing a first air/fuel ratio control signal in accordance with measured exhaust gas oxygen emission from the engine; producing a second air/fuel ratio control signal in accordance with fuel transport delay through the fuel purging system; combining the first and second air/fuel ratio control signals into a composite control signal; and feeding such composite control signal to the fuel injection system. Producing the first air/fuel ratio control signal comprises determining fuel flow rate through the purge system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Leighton Ira Davis, Lee Albert Feldkamp, Fumin Yuan, Gerald Jesion
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Patent number: 6571783Abstract: The present invention relates to an ignition control device for the control of an ignition coil device for an internal combustion engine having an engine speed detection device for detecting the engine speed of the internal combustion engine at a detection instant within the ignition cycle of a given cylinder; a determination device for determining a predetermined ignition angle corresponding to the detected engine speed, a charging time corresponding to the detected engine speed and an appropriate start-of-charging angle; an ignition control value output device to output the start-of-charging angle and the charging time in a charging time output mode and to output the start-of-charging angle and the ignition angle in an ignition output mode to the ignition coil device; a detection device for detecting critical power loss states of the ignition control device driver stage in ignition angle output mode; and an ignition control mode determination device for selecting an ignition control mode from among the igniType: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helmut Denz, Martin Haussmann
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Patent number: RE40431Abstract: Method of regulating an internal combustion engine in order to reach presettable nitrogen oxide emission values of the internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine is supplied at least some of the time with a first fuel and at least some of the time with a second fuel, the quantity of the first fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine per unit of time being controlled according to a preset control actual value or kept constant and the quantity of the second fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine per unit of time to reach a presettable nitrogen oxide emission value being regulated according to at least one recorded engine parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OHGInventors: Reinhard Robitschko, Herbert Schaumberger, Johann Hirzinger, Albert Fahringer