Detection Of O2 Concentration Patents (Class 701/109)
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Patent number: 8706386Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Eric Kurtz
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Patent number: 8706385Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation device of an internal combustion engine (1) including a low-pressure EGR passage (20), a high-pressure EGR passage (21), a low-pressure EGR valve (23) and a high-pressure EGR valve (24) further includes an air-fuel ratio sensor (12) that is disposed in the exhaust passage (4) upstream of the position of its connection with the low-pressure EGR passage (20). In the case where a predetermined fuel-cut condition is satisfied, an ECU (30) estimates the flow amounts of exhaust gas flowing in the low-pressure EGR passage (20) and the high-pressure EGR passage (21), on the basis of the oxygen concentrations acquired by the air-fuel ratio sensor (12) at timings at which the exhaust gases recirculated into the intake passage (3) via the low-pressure EGR passage (20) and via the high-pressure EGR passage (21) reach the air-fuel ratio sensor (12), respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeki Nakayama, Akio Matsunaga, Tomomi Onishi, Akiyuki Iemura
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Patent number: 8700290Abstract: When the ratio of the amount of vaporized fuel (purge amount) to be introduced into an intake passage of an engine from a fuel tank through a purge passage pipe, a purge control valve, etc. to the total amount of fuel (total fuel amount) to be supplied to the engine is large, an abnormality determination system acquires, as a parameter Pon, the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value that increases as the difference between the air-fuel ratios of the respective cylinders increases. When the purge amount is small relative to the total fuel amount, the determination system acquires the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value as a parameter Poff. When the difference between the parameters Pon and Poff is less than a predetermined value and at least one of these parameters is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the determination system determines that an inter-cylinder air intake amount variation abnormality is occurring.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Miyamoto, Yasushi Iwazaki
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Patent number: 8695568Abstract: An inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality determination device includes a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a pre-catalyst sensor; a post-catalyst sensor; an air-fuel ratio control unit that performs main air-fuel ratio control based on an output of the pre-catalyst sensor and auxiliary air-fuel ratio control based on an output of the post-catalyst sensor; a control amount calculation unit that calculates a control amount in the auxiliary air-fuel ratio control based on the output of the post-catalyst sensor; a revolution speed variation detection unit that detects a revolution speed variation of the engine; an abnormality determination unit that performs imbalance abnormality determination for determining whether an inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality has occurred based on a detected value of the revolution speed variation; and a guard range reduction unit that reduces a guard range of the control amount during the imbalance aType: GrantFiled: February 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuya Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8700288Abstract: A method for assessing a method of functioning of a fuel injector in response to the application of a control voltage to at least one actuator of the fuel injector, including the steps of applying the control voltage to the at least one actuator of the fuel injector for a no-torque-generating injection into an engine, determining a fuel content in an exhaust tract disposed at an engine, comparing the determined fuel content with a specified comparison value, and assessing the method of functioning of the fuel injector based on the comparison result. Furthermore, also described is an evaluation device for assessing a method of functioning of a fuel injector in response to the application of a control voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Huber, Thomas Breitbach, Rainer Peck, Christian Kriechbaum
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Patent number: 8694197Abstract: A method of diagnosing vehicle NOx sensor faults that includes sensing that an exhaust gas recirculating (EGR) valve is closed and that fuel flow to a vehicle engine is above a predetermined rate using an electronic control unit (ECU) located on a vehicle; recording the output received from an NOx sensor relative to an amount of fuel consumption over a period of time using the ECU; calculating the mean of the NOx sensor output relative to fuel consumption recorded over the period of time using the ECU; performing a least-squares estimation (LSE) using the ECU for more than one calculated mean based on an expected NOx sensor output; generating a NOx sensor gain for the NOx sensor using the ECU based on the LSE; and determining whether the NOx sensor gain is above or below a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Yue-Yun Wang, Scott T Feldmann
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Publication number: 20140090363Abstract: A heater control device of an oxygen concentration sensor is provided in which even in a case where an internal combustion engine is automatically stopped by idle stop control after cold start-up, it is possible to start energization of a heater at an appropriate time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: BOSCH CORPORATIONInventors: Keiichi Takeda, Ken Noguchi
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Patent number: 8682569Abstract: A system for diagnosing a switchable roller finger follower (SRFF) and an oil control valve (OCV) includes a signal monitoring module and a fault detection module. The signal monitoring module receives at least one of an individual cylinder fuel correction (ICFC) signal and an air/fuel ratio imbalance (AFIM) signal when: an engine speed signal is within a predetermined range of speed; an engine load signal is within a predetermined range of load; and a charcoal canister vapor signal is within a predetermined range of flow rate. The fault detection module detects a fault of at least one of a SRFF and an OCV based on an exhaust gas recirculation value and at least one of the ICFC and AFIM signals. The ICFC and AFIM signals are generated based on: an engine position signal; and at least one of an oxygen signal and a wide range air fuel signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Inventors: Andrew P. Bagnasco, Joshua D. Cowgill, Joseph R. Dulzo, Raymond Claude Turin, Matthew A. Wiles
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Patent number: 8670919Abstract: A method for diagnosing a condition of a system for supplying fuel to a fuel injected controlled-ignition internal combustion engine, of a type including an electric control device that makes use of an oxygen probe for closed-loop regulation of a value of an air/fuel ratio admitted to the combustion chambers of the engine, and according to which a signal delivered by the oxygen probe is analyzed, the method a) deducing from the signal a change in injection time correction factor ALPHACL_MEAN making it possible to regulate richness of exhaust gases leaving the engine; b) comparing ALPHACL_MEAN against predetermined minimum and maximum threshold values THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX; c) diagnosing a defective condition when ALPHACL_MEAN is outside of a window included between THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventors: Nicolas Protin, Michel Leporcq
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Patent number: 8670917Abstract: An inter-cylinder air-fuel-ratio imbalance determination apparatus includes an air-fuel-ratio sensor in an exhaust passage of an engine. The air-fuel-ratio sensor functions as a limiting-current-type wide range air-fuel-ratio sensor when a voltage is applied, and functions as a concentration-cell-type oxygen concentration sensor when no voltage is applied. The determination apparatus causes the air-fuel-ratio sensor to function as the limiting-current-type wide range air-fuel-ratio sensor, and executes air-fuel ratio feedback control on the basis of the output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor. When an imbalance determination parameter is obtained, the determination apparatus causes the air-fuel-ratio sensor to function as the concentration-cell-type oxygen concentration sensor, and obtains, as the imbalance determination parameter, a value corresponding to the differentiated value of the output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Yasushi Iwazaki
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Patent number: 8670920Abstract: A method of determining an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine in real-time includes: calibrating sensitivity of a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor to a plurality of gases; inputting to a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller a molecular composition of Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen which comprise a combustion fuel in use in the internal combustion engine; calculating with the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller an air-to-fuel ratio by performing a chemical balance equation calculation based on the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor sensitivity calibration and the input combustion fuel molecular composition; and transmitting the calculated air-to-fuel ratio to an engine control unit in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: BG Soflex, LLCInventors: Bruce A. Bowling, Albert C. Grippo
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Patent number: 8649956Abstract: The fact that “with respect to a process in which the output value of a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor (sensor output value) is inverted from the minimum output value to the maximum output value during execution of an active control, the local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value is widely affected by the size of the response delay of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor and the size of the degree of the degradation of the three-way catalyst” is utilized. By preliminarily acquiring and memorizing, as maps, these relations obtained through an experiment, and applying the “local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value” calculated from the transition of the sensor output value acquired during execution of the active control to the maps, the response delay (time constant) of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is acquired.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Kawamura, Takuya Matsumoto, Takashi Nakamura, Makoto Sato, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Yasushi Iwazaki
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Patent number: 8645046Abstract: In view of a difference in detectability of an air-fuel ratio sensor with respect to each cylinder, a first exhaust system model and a second exhaust system model are defined. The first exhaust system model outputs an air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion based on an air-fuel ratio in a cylinder. The second exhaust system model outputs a detection value of the exhaust gas sensor based on the air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion. A confluent-portion-air-fuel ratio estimating portion designed based on the second exhaust system model estimates the air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion. A combust-air-fuel ratio estimating portion designed based on the first exhaust system model estimates a combust-air-fuel ratio in each cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Yasuhiro Kawakatsu
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Patent number: 8621864Abstract: A method for controlling charge flow in an internal combustion engine includes operating an engine having a VGT. The method includes determining a target and current charge flow and EGR flow. The method further includes determining an error term for the charge flow and the EGR flow, and determining an exhaust pressure feedback command in response to the error terms. The exhaust pressure feedback command is combined with an exhaust pressure feedforward command, and the VGT is controlled in response to the exhaust pressure feedback command. The method additionally includes determining the exhaust pressure feedback command in response to a current EGR valve position. The method further includes controlling an EGR flow rate with the EGR valve at relatively closed EGR valve positions, and controlling the EGR flow rate with exhaust pressure at relatively open EGR valve positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Andrew W. Osburn, Mert Geveci, Martin T. Books
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Patent number: 8620565Abstract: A control system (36) for comparing engine speed data to an engine speed threshold above which the engine is considered to be running (40), for comparing engine temperature data to an engine temperature threshold (60), and once engine speed data has become greater than the engine speed threshold, for causing engine torque to be limited to an engine torque limit until the first to occur of: engine temperature data exceeding the engine temperature threshold, a first timer (44), started upon engine speed data having become greater than the engine speed threshold, having timed to a time that is a function of engine temperature data, and a second timer (54), started upon engine speed data having become greater than the engine speed threshold and engine oil pressure data having become greater than an engine oil pressure threshold, having timed to a time that is also a function of engine temperature data.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.Inventor: Stephen L. Kadolph
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Patent number: 8607548Abstract: In one implementation of the disclosed technique, a NOx sensor polynomial algorithm is used to discriminate between NOx and ammonia emission. The polynomial algorithm uses the SCR's time constant property to infer the “loading state” of the SCR and estimate both the NOx conversion and quantity of ammonia slip. The polynomial algorithm assesses this by differentially analyzing the upstream and downstream NOx sensor signals through a comparison of the polynomial coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: AVL North America, Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Michael Zayan
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Patent number: 8612118Abstract: A method for operating an engine, including, adjusting a target load, which lies below a full load; operating at least one cylinder in a first cylinder group with a first load, which is reduced with respect to the target load; operating at least one cylinder in a second cylinder group with a second load, which is increased with respect to the target load; selecting the first and second loads such that a resulting load is the target load; and selecting the first and second loads such that at least one environmental parameter value is improved, wherein the environmental parameters include at least one of a fuel consumption, a nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas, and a particle content in the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventor: Alfred Elsäβer
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Patent number: 8600647Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus includes a catalytic converter disposed at a position downstream of an exhaust gas aggregated portion; a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust passage at a position downstream of the catalytic converter; first feedback amount updating means for updating a first feedback amount to have an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor coincide with a target downstream-side air-fuel ratio based on the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor; and a learning means for updating a leaning value of the first feedback amount in such a manner that the leaning value brings in a steady-state component of the first feedback amount based on the first feedback amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takayuki Demura
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Patent number: 8590289Abstract: The invention provides a deterioration diagnostic device for diagnosing a degradation condition of an exhaust gas purifier disposed in an exhaust passage in an engine based on a sensor value of an exhaust gas sensor that is disposed downstream of the purifier. The device includes detecting-signal generating unit for generating a detecting-signal having particular frequency components and multiplying the generated signal to a basic fuel injection amount so as to calculate a fuel injection amount and exhaust gas purifier evaluating for extracting a frequency response corresponding to the detecting-signal from an output of the exhaust gas sensor of the engine, the output being in response to the calculated fuel injection amount, so as to determine a condition of the purifier based on the extracted frequency response.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2004Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hidetaka Maki
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Patent number: 8583350Abstract: A microprocessor controlled automated, multi-fuel apparatus to blend hydrogen, bio-fuel and/or natural or propane gases. This novel multi-stage apparatus first converts cooking oils into bio-fuel. The system automatically blends the bio-fuel with at least one of or both hydrogen gas, generated by a self-contained on-board hydrogen electrolyzer, and/or natural or propane gases. This blended “Hyenrich” gaseous fuel drives various processes including, but not limited to, cogeneration systems and electrical generators to produce “green” electricity by utilizing an adaptive and predictive learning algorithms to significantly reduce cost per kilowatt and lessen dependency on the over taxed utility grid, while simultaneously reducing emissions of CO, CO2 and NOx, making the method and apparatus an environmentally-friendly energy device.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: HyCogen Power, LLCInventors: Christopher Lee Sagar, Eric Michael Maskrey
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Patent number: 8583349Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a stage transition module and a control module. The stage transition module generates a command signal based on a fuel control signal. The command signal commands a fuel system of the engine to intrusively transition between rich and lean states during a diagnostic test that includes first, second, and third stages. The first, second, and third stages are defined based on transitions between the rich and lean states. The control module during the second and third stages detects: an error with a first oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the command signal and a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor; an error with a second oxygen sensor based on a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor; and an error with a catalytic converter based on the first and second oxygen signals and a manifold absolute pressure signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2009Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Inventors: Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen, Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Jeffry A. Helmick, John F. Van Gilder
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Patent number: 8577568Abstract: This disclosure provides a thermal management system and method that can recommend operational behavior to an operator of an engine system to optimize fuel economy over a period of time in which a components of the engine system is in a warm up and/or regeneration state. In one representative embodiment, the expected temperature change of the engine component at a later time is determined based on inefficient operation of the engine, such as a transmission down shift resulting in higher engine speed and lower engine torque, and the expected temperature change of the engine component resulting from operating the engine under current conditions or expected conditions at that later time is determined. A determination is made as to whether the inefficient engine operation is the optimal operation in view of fuel economy and a recommendation is generated for the operator based if optimal operation is determined.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula, Kenneth Follen, An Wu, Barty L. Moffett
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Patent number: 8560209Abstract: The present invention includes an automobile including an enrichment delivery system. The enrichment delivery system includes an engine, a catalytic converter, multiple sensors, a memory, and a control unit. The engine includes an enrichment delivery unit, which delivers base fuel and enrichment to the engine. The engine generates an output which can be received by the catalytic converter. Reactions occur within the catalytic converter, and are outputted by the catalytic converter. The sensors detect an air-fuel ratio from the output of the engine, and the output of a catalytic converter. The sensors detect temperature data for the catalytic converter. The memory stores an enrichment curve indicating that an amount of enrichment supplied to the engine should be gradually increased based on the enrichment curve until a target enrichment amount is reached, or a predetermined target enrichment time is reached.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Heraldo F. Stefanon
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Patent number: 8555863Abstract: A control device is applied to an internal combustion engine capable of using CNG and gasoline by switching therebetween, and the CNG and the gasoline are associated, as fuel for use, with one and the other of two driving areas respectively, the driving areas being different from each other. The control device exceptionally switches the fuel for use from gasoline to CNG and implements an air-fuel ratio imbalance inspection (S6, S7), when the air-fuel ratio imbalance inspection is required for a CNG mode using CNG (S1), the engine is driving in a driving area (AR2) correlated to gasoline as fuel for use (S2), and gasoline mode using gasoline as fuel for use is ongoing (S3).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Nakayama, Yoshihisa Shinoda, Keisuke Sano
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Patent number: 8554446Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus, which can successfully suppress that deterioration of combustion is caused in response to inflow of a large amount of blow-by gas to cylinders at the time of a valve return from a valve stop state in an internal combustion engine including a positive crankcase ventilation system and a variable valve operating mechanism that is capable of stopping at least one valve of an intake valve and exhaust valve in a closed state. A valve stop control is performed which stops the intake valve and exhaust valve in a closed state when a fuel cut of the internal combustion engine is executed. A deviation amount ?A/F between a predetermined target air fuel ratio and an actual air fuel ratio detected by an A/F sensor at the time of a valve return is obtained. A correction is performed to decrease a fuel injection amount by a fuel amount equivalent to the deviation amount ?A/F at the time of the subsequent valve returns.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Sano, Kazuhiro Wakao, Takashi Nishikiori, Takashi Watanabe
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Patent number: 8554450Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a first detector that detects air/fuel ratio in an exhaust passageway on an upstream of an exhaust gas-controlling catalyst in multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a second detector that detects the air/fuel ratio in the exhaust passageway on a downstream of the catalyst; a feedback controller that executes a feedback control so that a first detected value based on the first detector output follows to be equal as a first predetermined target value and so that a second detected value based on the second detector output follows to be equal as a second predetermined target value that corresponds to the first predetermined target value during an initial state; an abnormality detection device configured to detect a variation abnormality in the air/fuel ratio among the cylinders; and a change device that changes the second predetermined target value when the variation abnormality is detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norifumi Takada, Tomoaki Honda
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Patent number: 8554447Abstract: Provided is an internal combustion engine system controller, including a sub-feedback learning section, a state determining section, and a learning update-speed setting section. The state determining section determines, to which of at least three states including: (a) a stable state in which a fluctuating state of a sub-feedback learning value is stable; (b) an unstable state in which the fluctuating state greatly fluctuates; and (c) an intermediate state between the stable state and the instable state (may be referred to as sub-stable state), the fluctuating state corresponds. The learning update-speed setting section sets an update speed of the sub-feedback learning value in accordance with the result of determination by the state determining section. Further, the learning update-speed setting section suppresses the occurrence of hunting of the sub-feedback learning value.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Koji Ide
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Patent number: 8544449Abstract: A device for feeding fuel from a fuel tank (33) to a multi-fuel engine (12) that uses fuel in which alcohol and gasoline are mixed in an arbitrary ratio. The internal volume of a connecting line (84) provided between a fuel pressure governor (85) and a fuel injection device (50) is a volume equal to or greater than the amount of fuel consumed from startup of the engine until an oxygen sensor (88) reaches a measurement-enabling temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasufumi Yokura, Atsushi Ito, Yoichi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Izaki
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Patent number: 8538659Abstract: A control system and method of controlling operation of an internal combustion engine includes a load determination module that determines an engine load, an equivalence ratio module that determines an equivalence ratio, a correction factor module that generates a correction factor based on the engine load, the equivalence ratio, and the engine speed and an engine operation module that regulates operation of the engine based on the correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Layne K. Wiggins, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Chao F Daniels
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Patent number: 8538665Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is provided for a motor vehicle. The gas sensor contains a digital controller and a detection circuit. The digital controller captures, by a feedback input, a value of the voltage applied to the inside of the gas sensor cell. The output of the digital controller provides a control value for the current flowing in the gas sensor cell. The detection circuit is used to detect the properties of the gas sensor cell and to adjust the dynamic control properties of the digital controller corresponding to the properties of the gas sensor cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Ekkehart-Peter Wagner
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Patent number: 8532912Abstract: An engine control system includes a unit which outputs a command for changing an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas, a unit which computes an in-cylinder oxygen concentration, a memory which stores a first value and a second value of parameters (ignition timing, injection pressure, pilot injection quantity). The first value is set in a case that the in-cylinder oxygen concentration is a first oxygen concentration. The second value is set in a case that the in-cylinder oxygen concentration is a second oxygen concentration which is higher than the first oxygen concentration. The values of the parameters are set in such a manner as to correlate to the in-cylinder oxygen concentration of during a transition period of the air-fuel ratio. The values of the parameters are obtained by an interpolation based on the first and the second value of the parameter and the in-cylinder oxygen concentration.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Jun Kawamura, Takahiro Ono
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Patent number: 8527186Abstract: A computer-implemented method is used to correct deviations between a predicted gas excess air ratio and a calculated excess air ratio in a dual fuel engine or other gas fueled compression ignition engine. The method includes determining gas excess air ratio for the engine based at least in part on at least one detected current operating parameter and calculating a predicted exhaust gas oxygen concentration engine based on the predicted gas excess air ratio. A time based filtered predicted exhaust gas oxygen concentration value may then be calculated and compared to a time-based filtered measured exhaust gas oxygen concentration value. The resultant oxygen concentration deviation value may be used to generate a corrected predicted gas excess air ratio.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Clean Air Power, Inc.Inventors: Hoi Ching Wong, Madhusudhan Chellappa, Carlos Gamez
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Patent number: 8521405Abstract: An air-fuel ratio diagnostic device for an internal combustion engine. The device includes an air-fuel ratio that detects oxygen concentration in the exhaust. A determination unit determines a variation in air-fuel ratio between engine cylinders based on a detection value of the air-fuel ratio sensor. A change amount in the detection value for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a lean side peak value toward a rich side peak value is defined as a rich change rate. A change amount in the detection for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a rich side peak value toward a lean side peak value is defined as a lean change rate. The determination unit determines a degree of variation between the cylinders based on the rich and lean change rates.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenya Maruyama
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Patent number: 8509984Abstract: A monitoring apparatus including a catalytic converter, an upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, and a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor; calculates a sub feedback amount to have an air-fuel ratio represented based on an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor coincide with a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio; and controls an fuel injection amount based on an output value of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor and the sub feedback amount, in such a manner that an air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to an engine coincides with the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2009Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Yasushi Iwazaki, Fumihiko Nakamura, Shuntaro Okazaki, Masanori Ishida
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Patent number: 8510017Abstract: A cylinder-to-cylinder air/fuel ratio imbalance determination system obtains an imbalance determination parameter that increases or decreases as a difference between the air/fuel ratios of different cylinders increases, based on output values of an air/fuel ratio sensor, and makes a cylinder-to-cylinder A/F imbalance determination, based on the result of comparison between the imbalance determination parameter and a threshold value for imbalance determination. The determination system changes the amount of fuel injected into one or more of the cylinders so as to create a forced imbalance condition in which the air/fuel ratio of a particular cylinder deviates from the air/fuel ratio of the remaining cylinders, and obtains an air/fuel ratio sensor evaluation parameter (e.g., rate of change ?AF of the detected air/fuel ratio) in this condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Sawada, Yasushi Iwazaki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Fumihiko Nakamura
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Patent number: 8504278Abstract: A system and method for controlling engine operation includes a timer module that determines a time period from when a catalyst light-off mode is entered to when an oxygen sensor signal reaches an oxygen sensor threshold and a comparison module that generates an error signal and determines when the time period is above a time threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Jonathan T. Shibata, Allen B. Rayl, Halim G Santoso, Kenneth J. Buslepp
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Patent number: 8499752Abstract: A system for compensating for changes in behavior of an oxygen sensor. In one embodiment, the system includes an oxygen sensor configured to produce an output indicative of an oxygen level in an exhaust stream produced by an internal combustion engine. An electronic control unit receives the output of the oxygen sensor and is configured to cause the internal combustion engine to operate in an overrun mode. The electronic control unit is programmed or otherwise configured to determine whether a change in oxygen level over time is approximately zero. When the change in oxygen level is approximately zero or near zero, the electronic control unit determines a compensation factor for the oxygen sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jan M. S. Bahlo, Dion Tims, Christine I. Wettig, Ulrich Seufert, Chai Kihyun
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Patent number: 8494753Abstract: An internal combustion engine can be operated by a fuel mixture consisting of a base fuel and an alternative fuel. Concentration values (ETH_PERC) of the alternative fuel are determined in at least two different ways for operating the internal combustion engine. A reliable concentration value of the alternative fuel is determined depending on the various determined concentration values (ETH_PERC).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Frank Hacker, Gerhard Haft
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Patent number: 8485167Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus includes: an air/fuel ratio control portion that performs a control of fluctuating the air/fuel ratio between rich and lean states; a data acquisition portion that acquires, as data for detecting abnormality, a parameter that corresponds to responsiveness during change of output of the A/F sensor between rich and lean peaks during the control; a straight line setting portion that sets a straight line that represents a tendency of change of the parameter relative to change in intake air amount of the engine based on the data acquired by performing acquisition of the data a plurality of times; and an abnormality determination portion that determines the presence/absence of abnormality of the A/F sensor based on comparison between the gradient of the set straight line and an abnormality criterion value.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeo Ogiso, Hiroaki Tsuji, Yuya Yoshikawa, Keiko Okamoto
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Patent number: 8489309Abstract: In a feedback control system in which a base gain having a constant value or a variable gain is set as a feedback gain in accordance with the state of the system and an input value is calculated based on a function having, as variables, a proportional term and an integral term, the integral term is recalculated when a discriminant value obtained by substituting a base proportional term calculated using the base gain for the proportional term and a normal integral term calculated using the feedback gain for the integral term in the function is larger than an upper limit value. The integral term is recalculated in such a way that a value obtained by substituting the base proportional term for the proportional term and the recalculated integral term for the integral term in the function becomes equal to or smaller than the upper limit value.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeki Nakayama
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Patent number: 8473182Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device is provided which can accurately estimate intake pipe temperature behavior during transient time even in an internal combustion engine embedded with a variable valve or a turbocharger. The internal combustion engine control device estimates transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature, on the basis of a flow rate (dGafs/dt) of gas flowing into the intake pipe, a flow rate (dGcyl/dt) of gas flowing from the intake pipe, an intake pipe pressure Pin, and a temporal changing rate (dPin/dt) of the intake pipe pressure. The device performs knocking control during transient time, on the basis of the estimated transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Seiji Asano
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Publication number: 20130151125Abstract: Certain embodiments of methods and systems for operating an internal combustion engine over a range of operating condition are disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes operating the engine at an initial O2 voltage setpoint; and automatically adjusting the O2 voltage setpoint to a new O2 voltage setpoint to reduce emissions. In certain embodiments a control system for controlling emissions in an internal combustion is provided. The control system includes at least one subsystem that controls an O2 voltage setpoint; at least one subsystem that measures NOx emissions in the engine exhaust; and at least one subsystem that initiates a lambda sweep to determine an optimal O2 voltage setpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: Scott K. Mann, Jared J. Wentz
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Patent number: 8463532Abstract: Provided is a control device for an engine which is capable of purifying NOx with high efficiency at a restart after an idle stop without deteriorating purification efficiency of HC and CO. At the restart after the idle stop, an air-fuel ratio is controlled to be rich, and an atmosphere inside of a catalyst is estimated on the basis of a required time ?T from a time point at which an output value (VO2—2) of first oxygen concentration detection means upstream of the catalyst exceeds a predetermined value A1 to a time point at which an output value (VO2—2) of second oxygen concentration detection means downstream of the catalyst exceeds a predetermined value A2, whereby an air-fuel ratio at next and subsequent restarts is corrected so that the atmosphere inside of the catalyst is optimized at the next and subsequent restarts.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kouzo Katougi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga, Hiroyuki Takamura
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Patent number: 8453431Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes monitoring engine operation including a parameter descriptive of NOx generation within the engine, determining a fast transient NOx estimate with a dynamic model based upon the monitored engine operation, and during a fast transient engine operation including an increase in an operating state of the engine and a substantial closing of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, controlling an engine system based upon the fast transient NOx estimate.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Yongsheng He, David B. Brown
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Patent number: 8452517Abstract: An air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises an air-fuel ratio sensor having a protective cover and an air-fuel ratio detection element accommodated in the protective cover, and imbalance determining means. The imbalance determining means obtains a detected air-fuel ratio abyfs based on an output Vabyfs of the air-fuel ratio sensor every elapse of a constant sampling time ts, and obtains, as an indicating amount of air-fuel ratio change rate, a difference (detected air-fuel ratio change rate ?AF) between a present detected air-fuel ratio abyfs which is newly detected and a previous air-fuel ratio abyfsold which was detected the sampling time ts ago, an average of the detected air-fuel ratio change rate ?AF, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Sawada, Fumihiko Nakamura, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Yasushi Iwazaki
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Patent number: 8443601Abstract: A method for controlling the wastegate in a turbocharged internal combustion engine including the steps of: determining, during a design phase, a control law which provides an objective opening of a controlling actuator of the wastegate according to the supercharging pressure; determining an objective supercharging pressure; measuring an actual supercharging pressure; determining a first open loop contribution of an objective position of a controlling actuator of the wastegate by means of the control law and according to the objective supercharging pressure; determining a second closed loop contribution of the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate; and calculating the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate by adding the two contributions.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.Inventors: Marco Panciroli, Francesco Alunni, Stefano Sgatti
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Patent number: 8434294Abstract: An exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given first rich air/fuel ratio (LAM1_SP) is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value (OSC1) is determined depending on the measured signals (MS1, MS2) from first and second exhaust probes. The exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given second rich air/fuel ratio is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value (OSC2) is determined depending on the measured signal from the first and second exhaust probe. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value (OSC_COR) is determined depending on the first and second oxygen storage capacity values (OSC1, OSC2).Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Tino Arlt, Krzysztof Korbel, Gerd Rösel
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Patent number: 8428809Abstract: A method of valve lift failure detection may include determining first and second intake air pressures in an engine having intake valve lifters that selectively operate intake valves in first and second lift modes. The first intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a first piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode and the second intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a second piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode. The method may further include determining a difference between the first and second intake air pressures and diagnosing an intake valve lifter failure when the difference exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Inventors: Alexander J. Roberts, Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble
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Patent number: 8423270Abstract: A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of an engine is disclosed. In one example, the engine air-fuel ratio is adjusted in response to a duty cycle and frequency of a post catalyst oxygen sensor. The method may improve catalyst efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Bruce Colby Anderson
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Patent number: 8417413Abstract: In an oxygen sensor control apparatus, after start of fuel cut, the weighted average Ipd of corrected values obtained by multiplying the output value of a mounted oxygen sensor by a correction coefficient Kp is obtained as a representative value Ipe, representing the corrected values in the fuel cut period (S19). In the case where the number of times the representative value Ipe is continuously judged not to fall outside a second range (S21: NO) and to fall outside a first range (S23: YES) reaches 10 (a first number of times) (S26: YES), a new correction coefficient Kp is computed (S27). In the case where the number of times the representative value Ipe is continuously judged to fall outside the second range (S21: YES) reaches 4 (a second number of times smaller than the first number of times) (S29: YES), a new correction coefficient Kp is computed (S30).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Katsunori Yazawa, Yuji Kimoto