Detection Of O2 Concentration Patents (Class 701/109)
  • Patent number: 11836131
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to update a location stored at a server for an electric charger. A determination is made that an electric vehicle is being charged at an electric charger, and a location of the electric charger may be retrieved from a server storing a plurality of locations of electric chargers. A determination of a location of the electric charger may be made based on a positioning system of the electric vehicle. The location of the electric charger retrieved from the server may be compared to the location of the electric charger determined based on the positioning system of the electric vehicle. Based on the comparison, the location stored at the server for the electric charger, the location stored at a server for an electric charger may be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Kristoffer Gronowski
  • Patent number: 11281168
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for operating an energy plant. In one aspect, the system generates a regression model of a produced thermal energy load produced by a supply device of the plurality of devices. The system predicts the produced thermal energy load produced by the supply device for a first time period based on the regression model. The system determines a heat capacity of gas or liquid in the loop based on the predicted produced thermal energy load. The system generates a model of mass storage based on the heat capacity. The system predicts an induced thermal energy load during a second time period at a consuming device of the plurality of devices based on the model of the mass storage. The system operates the energy plant according to the predicted induced thermal energy load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Mohammad N. Elbsat, Michael J. Wenzel, Graeme Willmott, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 11199325
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section via a primary flowpath, a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor via the primary flowpath, and a plurality of fuel injectors disposed within the combustor. The plurality of fuel injectors including at least one start fuel injector. Also included is a controller having a memory and processor. The memory stores instructions configured to cause the at least one start fuel injector to pulse fuel through the start injector nozzle, thereby preventing stagnant fuel in the start injector nozzle from exceed a coking temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sami Chukrallah, Andre M. Ajami, Robert B. Davis
  • Patent number: 11035310
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for calibration and control of various engine subsystems using a target value approach. Under the target value approach, the control of each engine subsystem is separated or decoupled to include a set of target values, or a reference value set. A subsystem has a corresponding target determiner, which provides a target value set, or reference value set, in response to a basis variable set and optionally an overall subsystem target. The basis variable set includes parameters selected to robustly characterize the variables that affect the operation of the particular subsystem. The target determiner is optionally calibrated to provide a reference value set within specifications of the subsystem. A physical subsystem controller operates in response to the reference value set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Phanindra V. Garimella, Paul V. Moonjelly, Edmund P. Hodzen, Ming-feng Hsieh, Gayatri Adi, Gokul Vishwanathan
  • Patent number: 10982610
    Abstract: A controller for an engine estimates a temperature of the exhaust gas and controls the engine according to the estimated exhaust temperature. The controller changes the air-fuel ratio to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or leaner. The controller calculates the progress of combustion on the basis of signals of sensors, and estimates an exhaust temperature. In the case where the air-fuel ratio is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the controller estimates the exhaust temperature on the basis of the progress of the combustion, the engine temperature, and a first relationship that is at least defined between the progress of the combustion and the exhaust temperature, . In the case where the air-fuel ratio is lean, the controller estimates the exhaust temperature on the basis of the progress of the combustion, the engine temperature, and a second relationship that differs from the first relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Ohtsuka, Kentaro Kimura, Takeatsu Ito, Tomokuni Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 10890571
    Abstract: A control apparatus mounted on a diesel vehicle including an oxidation catalyst, a selective reduction catalyst, and a gas sensor includes an activation determination section, a concentration computation section, and a deterioration determination section. The concentration computation section computes the concentration of flammable gas from a sensor output in a period during which the activation determination section determines that the oxidation catalyst is not in the activated state and computes the concentration of ammonia gas from the sensor output in a period during which the activation determination section determines that the oxidation catalyst is in the activated state. The deterioration determination section determines whether or not the oxidation catalyst has deteriorated, on the basis of the concentration of the flammable gas computed by the concentration computation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 10774768
    Abstract: A method of providing a model which provides air/fuel ratio at a point of an air/fuel sensor located in an exhaust system of an engine includes a) providing a first model which provides a first air/fuel ratio which is outlet from an exhaust manifold of the engine; b) measuring or estimating volumetric flow through the exhaust; c) applying a transfer function to the first air/fuel ratio to provide a model of the air/fuel ratio at the sensor. The transfer function includes a first order filter and is dependent on the volumetric flow. The transfer function has a time constant equivalent to a filter coefficient which is 1/time constant which is determined based on the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SA
    Inventors: Damien Didiot, Julien Ardeois
  • Patent number: 10570847
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for diagnosing a fault in a CVVD system. The method includes collecting information necessary to determine whether a fault diagnosis mode entry condition of the CVVD system is satisfied, determining whether the fault diagnosis mode entry condition is satisfied based on the collected information, calculating prediction duration corresponding to a current engine RPM and manifold pressure when the fault diagnosis mode entry condition is satisfied, calculating current duration based on an output value of a motor sensor for detecting the RPM of the duration control motor of the CVVD system, comparing the manifold pressure-based prediction duration D1 with the sensor output-based duration D2, and determining an error of the motor sensor or whether the CVVD system has failed by comparing a duration difference cumulative value, that is, a cumulative value of difference values between the D1 and D2, with a previously stored threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soung-Woong An
  • Patent number: 10465605
    Abstract: A vehicle having a dimethyl ether (DME) fuel storage and delivery system for an internal combustion engine, includes a DME fuel filter in the DME fuel storage and delivery system, a DME fuel pump having a fuel inlet downstream of the filter, and, at least one sensor having at least one transducer, the at least one transducer being disposed at the filter and the at least one sensor being operable to detect a change in at least one electrical property of the at least one transducer for determining DME fuel quality according to a secondary effect of a DME fuel condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Dale Hoover
  • Patent number: 10359008
    Abstract: A method for use with an internal combustion engine having both donor and non-donor cylinder groups includes: injecting a fuel in one, or both, of the groups; injecting a second fuel in both groups at a first substitution rate; recirculating an exhaust emission from the donor cylinder group to both groups; combusting a mixture of air, the first fuel, the second fuel and the exhaust emission in both cylinder groups; and lowering the substitution rate of the second fuel in one, or both, of the cylinder groups. Other methods of controlling an engine and a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynn Jackson, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 10208696
    Abstract: Disclosed are engine torque and emission control (ETEC) systems, methods for using such systems, and motor vehicles with engines employing ETEC schemes. An ETEC system is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly. The system includes an engine sensor for monitoring engine torque, an exhaust sensor for monitoring nitrogen oxide (NOx) output of the ICE assembly, and an engine control unit (ECU) communicatively connected to the engine sensor, exhaust sensor, and ICE assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang
  • Patent number: 9976499
    Abstract: An engine system includes a plurality of cylinders including one or more donating cylinders and one or more non-donating cylinders. A control module controls an operation of the one or more donating cylinders relative to, or based on, the operation of the one or more non-donating cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sebastian Freund, Jassin Fritz, Robert Mischler, David Zielinski, Luke Michael Henry
  • Patent number: 9903289
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust gas recirculation in an engine. One embodiment for a system comprises an engine having first and second cylinder groups, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage coupled between the first cylinder group and an intake manifold of the engine, flow of EGR through the EGR passage controlled by one or more EGR exhaust valves, and a controller configured to maintain a target intake gas concentration by adjusting the one or more EGR exhaust valves and adjusting fuel injection amounts to the first cylinder group differently than the second cylinder group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Zielinski, Luke Michael Henry
  • Patent number: 9765718
    Abstract: A method of oxygen sensor heater control includes: exhausting an exhaust gas by operating an internal combustion engine; and stopping operation of the engine such that the exhaust gas is not discharged. The stopping operation of the engine includes heating a sensor element by operating a heater that is positioned adjacent to the sensor element, and the sensor element is configured to detect a characteristic of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Woong Yoo, Tae Soon Park
  • Patent number: 9719568
    Abstract: A method may be provided for correcting a raw signal supplied by a pressure sensor in an all wheel drive system having a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic fluid. The method may include measuring the raw signal supplied by the pressure sensor, determining when the all wheel drive system is in a state where the hydraulic fluid is at a known pressure determined independently from the pressure sensor, determining a new zero-point offset by comparing the raw signal to a voltage value associated with the known pressure, and creating a corrected voltage signal by adjusting the raw signal based on the new zero-point offset. This corrected voltage signal may be converted into a pressure reading for controlling the all wheel drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Steven P. Turner
  • Patent number: 9599002
    Abstract: In an engine control method for maintaining performance of oxidation catalyst, fuel of a compressed natural gas engine under a lean-burn condition with an air-fuel equivalence ratio less than or equal to 1 is burned. Activation of the oxidation catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas of the engine is determined. Necessity of a regeneration mode for recovering catalytic activation of the oxidation catalyst according to an activation state of the oxidation catalyst and an operating condition of the engine is determined. And, the air-fuel equivalence ratio is increased to a range of from 1.10 to 1.20 when the oxidation catalyst is inactive and an engine speed is lower than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-hyuk Im, Nam-il Choi, Jun-hee Won, Tae-hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9518518
    Abstract: A compression ignition engine is fueled from common rail fuel injectors that predominately inject natural gas fuel that is compression ignited with a small pilot injection of liquid diesel fuel. Before and after a rapid load loss transient, the liquid and gaseous rail pressures are controlled toward respective pressures based upon engine speed and load. During the transient, the liquid rail pressure is controlled relative to the gas rail pressure in order to maintain the liquid rail pressure greater than the gas pressure during the transient to avoid migration gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel side of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi, Daniel R. Puckett
  • Patent number: 9212584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine. According to the method, an exhaust gas produced by the internal combustion engine is conducted across a 3-way catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust duct. A lambda probe detects a value characteristic of an exhaust-gas lambda number upstream of the 3-way catalytic converter, and transmits said value to an engine control unit with an integrated PI or PID regulator. By means of the PI or PID regulator of the engine control unit, through the specification of a setpoint value, a substantially stoichiometric exhaust-gas lambda number is set, and the exhaust-gas lambda number is, with predefined periodic setpoint value variation, deflected alternately in the direction of a lean lambda number and a rich lambda number (lambda modulation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Hermann Hahn
  • Patent number: 9200583
    Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time engine control optimization are provided. A value of an engine performance variable is determined, a value of a first operating condition and a value of a second operating condition of a vehicle engine are detected, and initial values for a first engine control parameter and a second engine control parameter are determined based on the detected first operating condition and the detected second operating condition. The initial values for the first engine control parameter and the second engine control parameter are adjusted based on the determined value of the engine performance variable to cause the engine performance variable to approach a target engine performance variable. In order to cause the engine performance variable to approach the target engine performance variable, adjusting the initial value for the first engine control parameter necessitates a corresponding adjustment of the initial value for the second engine control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Donghoon Lee, Hakan Yilmaz, Anna Stefanopoulou
  • Patent number: 9097194
    Abstract: Control device of an internal combustion engine that determines whether or not to perform sensor element heating control of an air-fuel ratio sensor with high accuracy based on the mass of condensed water in an exhaust pipe. The control device computes the rate of change of condensed water mass in an exhaust pipe based on the saturated water vapor pressure and the water vapor partial pressure of exhaust gas, and computes the rate of change of evaporation mass in the exhaust pipe based on the amount of heat which the condensed water receives in the exhaust pipe. The control device updates the mass of condensed water based on the rate of change of condensed water mass and the rate of change of evaporation mass, and determines whether or not to perform heating control by a heating controlling unit based on the updated mass of condensed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Toshio Hori, Koji Matsufuji, Kenji Takada, Heikichi Kamoshita, Hiroshi Sekine
  • Patent number: 9032942
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a plurality of combustion chambers and a catalyst that cleans exhaust gases includes a controller configured to execute individual air-fuel ratio control in which an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture generated in at least one non-specific combustion chamber is controlled such that an average air-fuel ratio of the engine matches a target air-fuel ratio, based on an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture generated in at least one specific combustion chamber, the controller being configured to execute catalyst temperature increase control in which a temperature of the catalyst is increased, and the controller being configured to prohibit execution of the individual air-fuel ratio control when the catalyst temperature increase control is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9008949
    Abstract: A soot discharge amount is calculated by multiplying a “steady discharge amount” by a “transient correction value.” The steady discharge amount is a Soot discharge amount in a steady operation state, and is acquired through table search. For each of a plurality of factors which affect the Soot discharge amount, a steady value (value obtained through table search) of the factor and a transient value (current value) of the factor are substituted for a characteristic equation which represents a change in the Soot discharge amount with the value of the factor, whereby a steady characteristic value and a transient characteristic value are acquired. The “ratio between the steady characteristic value and the transient characteristic value” is then calculated for each factor. The transient correction value is obtained by multiplying together all values of the “ratio between the steady characteristic value and the transient characteristic value” obtained for the factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomomi Onishi
  • Patent number: 8997726
    Abstract: A method is provided for checking the functional capacity of a liquid-cooled exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, having an exhaust line connected to the exhaust manifold, in the course of which an exhaust gas sensor having an electrical heater is arranged. During the operation of the internal combustion engine, the electrical resistance of the exhaust gas sensor is determined, on the basis of which the current value of the exhaust gas temperature is evaluated, and compared to a target value of the exhaust gas temperature, which is expected at this point in the operation of the internal combustion engine. Depending on the result of the comparison, the functional capacity of the liquid-cooling of the exhaust manifold is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Paul Rodatz
  • Patent number: 9002624
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting cylinder valve timings to enable a group of cylinders to operate and combust while another group of cylinders on a second are selectively deactivated. Valve timing may be adjusted to allow flow of air through the inactive cylinders to be reduced, lowering catalyst regeneration requirements upon reactivation. The valve timing may alternatively be adjusted to enable exhaust gas to be recirculated to the active cylinders via the inactive cylinders, providing cooled EGR benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Uhrich
  • Patent number: 8996282
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method to operate an internal combustion engine comprising storing a fueling command map having fueling index values, each of the fueling index values defining values for a plurality of fueling parameters, and a plurality of predetermined non-linear relationships that directly relate fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values; determining a temporary fueling index value; determining an in-cylinder oxygen mass value; identifying a predetermined relationship that directly relates fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values from the plurality of predetermined relationships to provide an identified predetermined relationship; determining that a current relationship of the temporary fueling index value to the calculated oxygen mass value differs from the identified predetermined relationship; and adjusting the temporary fueling index value using at least one fueling correction model to provide a revised fueling index value that approaches the identified pred
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Vikram N. Iyengar, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Gary D. Neely
  • Publication number: 20150057910
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating water at an oxygen sensor based on power consumption of a heating element of the oxygen sensor. In one example, water may be indicated at an oxygen sensor positioned in an intake of an engine responsive to power consumption of the heating element of the oxygen sensor increasing above a baseline level. Engine operating parameters may then be adjusted based on the water indication and the power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Dan A. Makled, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Patent number: 8959892
    Abstract: An exhaust control system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The system may have an exhaust passage, an exhaust sensor located within the exhaust passage and configured to generate a first signal indicative of an exhaust parameter, and an operational sensor associated with the combustion engine and configured to generate a second signal indicative of an operational parameter. The system may have a controller associated with the combustion engine, the exhaust sensor, and the operational sensor. The controller may be configured to detect a change in the operational parameter based on the second signal and to detect a change in the exhaust parameter based on the first signal. The controller may measure an elapsed time between detection of the change in the operational parameter and the change in the exhaust parameter, and determine a placement-related parameter of the exhaust sensor based on the elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Darin James McCoy, Drew Douglas Wackerlin
  • Patent number: 8965662
    Abstract: An abnormality determining apparatus includes an air-fuel ratio controller, an output change period parameter calculator, an output change amount extremum calculator, and an abnormality determining device. The abnormality determining device is configured to determine an abnormality of an air-fuel ratio sensor based on a relationship between an output change period parameter and an output change amount extremum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Aoki, Atsuhiro Miyauchi, Michinori Tani, Seiji Watanabe, Tooru Sekiguchi, Hiroyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 8958974
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. The method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a difference between a first set of estimated parameters of a rich operation model and a second set of estimated parameters of a lean operation model, the estimated parameters based on commanded lambda and determined lambda values collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, sensor degradation may be indicated with data collected in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael Casedy, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Patent number: 8942912
    Abstract: Method for estimating NOx creation in a combustion process of an engine including a variable volume combustion chamber includes monitoring engine sensor inputs including a cylinder pressure within the combustion chamber. A mass fraction burn value for combustion can be modeled within the combustion chamber based upon said sensor inputs, wherein said mass fraction burn value indexes a crank angle at which a selected percentage of injected fuel is burned in a combustion cycle. The state of combustion within the combustion chamber can be estimated based upon the mass fraction burn value, the state of combustion including a combustion phasing and a combustion strength. NOx creation within the combustion chamber can be estimated with a non-linear function based upon said state of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Yongshen He
  • Patent number: 8935084
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a vehicle emission monitoring device and a method thereof. The method of the present invention comprises steps: obtaining an OBS instantaneous fuel consumption and a carbon dioxide emission from an on-board emission measurement system (OBS); working out an OBS fuel consumption-carbon dioxide emission relationship with a statistical method or a regression method; obtaining an OBD instantaneous fuel consumption from an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system; establishing an OBS-OBD fuel consumption relationship; and converting the OBD instantaneous fuel consumption into an carbon dioxide emission according to the OBS-OBD fuel consumption relationship and the OBS fuel consumption-carbon dioxide emission relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Test Center
    Inventors: Ke-Wei Lin, Shih-Chang Chen, Yu-Chi Shiue, Chih-Wei Chuang
  • Patent number: 8925299
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for operating an exhaust gas post-treatment device, particularly of a motor vehicle, wherein the arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of consumers (3-12) and a controller (2), wherein the controller (2) comprises at least one switching device (13) for switching the consumers (3-12) on and off. According to the invention, the consumers (3-12) are grouped according to function, and connected to one switch (17-21) each of the switching device (13). The invention further relates to a method for operating an exhaust post-treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schelling, Patrick Bauer, Mehmet Oencel, Ralph Bauer, Thomas Holst, Georg Hoegele
  • Patent number: 8918269
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve disposed in an intake passage of the engine is provided. A wide-open intake air amount, which is an intake air amount corresponding to a state where the throttle valve is fully opened, is calculated, and a theoretical intake air amount, which is an intake air amount corresponding to a state where no exhaust gas of the engine is recirculated to a combustion chamber of the engine, is calculated according to the wide-open intake air amount and the intake pressure. An air-fuel ratio correction amount and a learning value thereof are calculated according to the detected air-fuel ratio, and a reference intake air amount is calculated using the intake pressure, the engine rotational speed, the air-fuel ratio correction amount, and the learning value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Irie, Hisashi Ito, Hideharu Takamiya, Hirotaka Komatsu, Yasuhiro Motohashi
  • Patent number: 8909413
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for using a feedback correction factor to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system. If the feedback correction factor is within a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a judging mode. If the feedback correction factor is outside a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. Methods and systems for using an engine oil temperature to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system are disclosed. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is below a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is above a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a judging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony P. Mortensen
  • Patent number: 8903633
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, wherein in the control system, an in-cylinder oxygen amount is calculated and a compression end temperature, which is a temperature of the pressurized air-fuel mixture, is calculated according to an intake air temperature. A fuel injection parameter is determined according to the compression end temperature, the in-cylinder oxygen amount, and an engine rotational speed. The fuel injector is controlled based on the determined fuel injection parameter. By determining the fuel injection parameter according to the compression end temperature in addition to the in-cylinder oxygen amount, the combustion state is adjusted when the compression end temperature is low, thereby maintaining a stable combustion state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Jayant Sarlashkar, Gary D. Neely
  • Patent number: 8902062
    Abstract: A method for determining the displacement of or the tampering with a device is provided. The method includes determining an effective displacement in an X direction of a device, determining an effective displacement in a Y direction of the device, and determining an effective displacement in a Z direction of the device. The method also include determining if any one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, or the effective displacement in the Z direction is greater than a predetermined threshold, and when at least one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, and the effective displacement in the Z direction is great then the predetermined threshold, determining that the device has been displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: VenkataChalapathi Terugu, Vinayak Sadashiv Kore, Andrew G. Berezowski
  • Patent number: 8897995
    Abstract: A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8892295
    Abstract: A monitoring system and a monitoring method applied to the monitoring system, in which the monitoring system includes detectors detecting a state of a turbojet thrust reverser, a monitoring computer device controlling the reverser monitored by the computer as a function of information from the detectors provided to the computer by way of the control device, and a device regulating the turbojet monitored by the computer as a function of the information from the detectors provided to the computer by way of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Patrick Zaccaria
  • Patent number: 8874350
    Abstract: A method for determining a concentration of alcohol in a fuel mixture, where a characteristic curve for a parameter describing the dynamics of an injector, by which the fuel mixture is injected in an internal combustion engine, is ascertained; and where the concentration of alcohol is determined in light of a course of the characteristic curve. The invention also relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine and a system for determining a concentration of alcohol in a fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helerson Kemmer, Christian Reschke
  • Patent number: 8839746
    Abstract: An oxygen measuring apparatus (500) includes an inlet pipe (506) having a first end and a second end, an oxygen sensor (511) arranged inside the inlet pipe (506) between the first end of the inlet pipe and the second end of the inlet pipe, the oxygen sensor (511) having a communication medium (515) disposed thereon and extending through the second end of the inlet pipe (506), a filtering medium arranged (505) inside the inlet pipe between the oxygen sensor (511) and the first end of the inlet pipe, a housing (501) arranged against the second end of the inlet pipe, and a sensor control interface (512) arranged within the housing (501) and in communication with the communication medium (515) of the oxygen sensor (511).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Muhidin A. Lelic, Thomas Corti, Oduwa Osagiede, Kenneth M. Swanson, John R. Devine, Mike McCarron, Bryan Mills
  • Patent number: 8831803
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is configured to be capable of traveling with fuel and electric power serving as energy sources. A charger receives electric power from an external power supply connected to a charging port to charge a power storage device. An ECU calculates a distance traveled per unit amount of electric power supplied from the external power supply by the charger and a distance traveled per unit amount of fuel consumed by an engine. A notification unit notifies a user of each distance traveled, as calculated by the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8793975
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for diagnosing a technical apparatus which is particularly developed as an internal combustion engine. When specified states of the technical apparatus are present, the means of diagnosis are activated, and when at least one of the specified technical states is no longer present, the means of diagnosis are deactivated. Upon the deactivation, information is stored that identifies which technical state is no longer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kuentzle, Joerg Kieser
  • Patent number: 8798892
    Abstract: A method for the dynamic monitoring of a first lambda probe arranged in an exhaust-gas duct of an internal combustion engine upstream of an exhaust-gas purification system. A period of an output signal of the first lambda probe is determined in a controller of the internal combustion engine, and a lambda regulating signal is determined from an output signal of a second lambda probe connected downstream of the exhaust-gas purification system. A first threshold value for a lengthening of the period of the output signal of the first lambda probe is predefined, in that a characteristic signal (46) is derived from the lambda regulating signal, in that a second threshold value for an inadmissible deviation of the characteristic signal (46) is predefined, and in that an inadmissible asymmetric delay of the first lambda probe is inferred if the lengthening of the period exceeds the first threshold value and the characteristic signal (46) deviates from the second threshold value outside predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kersten Wehmeier, Michael Pfeil, Siyun Chu, Albrecht Clement
  • Publication number: 20140180561
    Abstract: A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8762032
    Abstract: A method is presented for compensating for combustion chamber-specific actual values of a parameter, which characterizes combustions, between a plurality of combustion chambers of an Otto engine (10) operated with homogeneous filling of the combustion chambers and homogeneous charge compression ignition, said Otto engine (10) operating with a direct fuel injection and a variable valve drive, wherein the combustion chamber-specific actual values are formed as a function of signals (S—40; S—42) of combustion chamber-specific sensors (40; 42) and wherein deviations of the combustion chamber-specific actual values from a set value are processed to manipulated variables, with which a valve lift of a gas exchange valve (28) of a combustion chamber (12) is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Loeffler, Wolfgang Fischer, Roland Karrelmeyer, Gerald Graf
  • Patent number: 8744729
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes: a catalyst element that oxidizes hydrogen contained in exhaust gas to remove the hydrogen; a first air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has not passed through the catalyst element; a second air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has passed through the catalyst element; and a unit that determines whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred based on an amount by which a value detected by the second air-fuel ratio sensor is leaner than a value detected by the first air-fuel ratio sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Fumihiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8731804
    Abstract: A device, which detects information about a hydrogen concentration level, includes an air-fuel ratio sensor, an air-fuel ratio controller, and a detecting portion. The detecting portion calculates either a ratio of response periods or a difference between the response periods to detect the hydrogen concentration level. One of the response periods is a period from the time the air-fuel ratio controller switches the target air-fuel ratio from rich to lean to the time the air-fuel ratio sensor detects this. The other of the response periods is a period from the time the air-fuel ratio controller switches the target air-fuel ratio from lean to rich to the time the air-fuel ratio sensor detects this. This allows the decisions of a variation between cylinders and an exhaust purifying catalyst degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichiro Aoki
  • Publication number: 20140136082
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine to help achieve a target air:fuel ratio based on data from an oxygen sensor, and related systems. At least one engine operating parameter and a sensed oxygen level are determined at two or more points in one of a rich and lean region based on data from the oxygen sensor. This information is used to help control engine operation in the other of the rich and lean regions without using directly sensed oxygen level data from that region. Thus, a control paradigm is developed in a first operating region based on oxygen level data from the oxygen sensor, and then used for control in a different second operating region without direct sensed oxygen level data in that second operating region. In some embodiments, the control paradigm may be adaptive based on changing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Kerdea Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Ervin Fosaaen
  • Patent number: 8725389
    Abstract: A control device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine executes feedback control such that an air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio detecting unit becomes a target air-fuel ratio, carries out external EGR, and, when an abnormal deviation that an air-fuel ratio of at least any one of cylinders deviates from the target air-fuel ratio has occurred during the feedback control, detects the abnormal deviation and an abnormal cylinder. When the abnormal deviation has been detected during feedback control and external EGR, the control device corrects the target air-fuel ratio to compensate for a detection error of the air-fuel ratio detecting unit due to the influence of specific components of exhaust gas. The control device changes the correction mode on the basis of whether the abnormal cylinder causes more intensive gas flow or equal or less intensive gas flow against the air-fuel ratio detecting unit than the other cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yuuichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8720187
    Abstract: An exhaust diagnostic control system comprises a test enabling module, an exhaust gas temperature management module in communication with the test enabling module, and a component management module configured for executing a test for determining a reduction efficiency associated with the after-treatment component. The test enabling module is configured for assessing a reliability of an estimated level of reductant load on an after-treatment component, and, based on the reliability, selectively facilitating disablement of a subsequent test for determining an efficiency of NOx reduction in the after-treatment component. The exhaust gas temperature management module is configured for selectively adjusting a temperature of the after-treatment component to a predetermined temperature range using intrusive exhaust gas temperature management. The test for determining reduction efficiency comprises determining a NOx reduction efficiency of the after-treatment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Janean E. Kowalkowski, Justin A. Shetney