Compression (i.e., Cylinder Pressure) Patents (Class 73/114.16)
  • Publication number: 20120324989
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within a combustion cylinder. An electronic controller is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, analyze the pressure signal by at least partially comparing the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure signal, and diagnose a failure of one or more piston ring seal(s), an intake valve, and an exhaust valve of the engine based on a difference between the pressure signal and the predetermined pressure signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Vipulkumar Patel, Lonny E. Johnson, Francis L. Clark, III, Darrel W. Berglund
  • Publication number: 20120303238
    Abstract: A sensor reset system includes an engine control module and a sensor reset circuit. The engine control module is configured to receive a sensor pressure signal from a cylinder pressure sensor. The sensor pressure signal indicates a pressure within a cylinder of an engine. The engine control module is further configured to: control operation of the engine based on the sensor pressure signal; determine whether to reset the cylinder pressure sensor and generate a reset signal; and encode the reset signal to generate an encoded reset signal. The sensor reset circuit is configured to adjust an output of the cylinder pressure sensor based on the encoded reset signal to reset the cylinder pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Kenneth J. Buslepp
  • Publication number: 20120297865
    Abstract: A cylinder pressure estimation device includes means for calculating a plurality of candidate values of a possible cylinder pressure at an intake-valve-closing time, means for calculating a plurality of candidates of a possible movement of the cylinder pressure from the intake-valve-closing time to a post-intake-valve-closing time on the basis of the candidate values of the intake-valve-closing-time cylinder pressure, means for calculating a movement of the cylinder pressure detected by the cylinder pressure sensor from the intake-valve-closing time to the post-intake-valve-closing time; and means for comparing the candidates of the cylinder pressure movement with the detected cylinder pressure movement, determining the candidate of the cylinder pressure movement to be deemed to correspond to the detected cylinder pressure movement and determining the candidate value of the intake-valve-closing-time cylinder pressure used for calculating the determined candidate of the cylinder pressure movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Takasu
  • Publication number: 20120279290
    Abstract: A testing apparatus for a turbocharger is provided. The turbocharger includes a turbine and a compressor, and a non-contact seal positioned between an oil cavity and one of the turbine and the compressor. In one embodiment, the testing apparatus includes a regulatable air input configured to couple to an outlet of the oil cavity, the regulatable air input coupled to an air supply, and a flow restrictor with at least one pressure gauge coupled to the regulatable air input. The kit includes media embodying instructions that specify correlating an amount of flow to a degree, rate, or amount of leakage past the non-contact seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Matthew John MALONE
  • Patent number: 8306765
    Abstract: Computer system and method for determining frequencies of various components of a volume choke volume dampener to be attached to a compressor. The method includes determining a sound spectrum of a cavity of the compressor without attaching the dampener to the compressor; calculating an acoustic wavelength of the cavity; receiving a length of a proximal nozzle of the dampener; and calculating, based on the acoustic wavelength of the cavity and the length of the proximal nozzle of the dampener, multiple order frequencies associated with the proximal nozzle of the dampener and the cavity of the compressor, wherein the proximal nozzle of the dampener is proximal to the cavity of the compressor when the dampener is attached to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holding S.p.A.
    Inventor: William C. Egan
  • Patent number: 8297114
    Abstract: Device for measuring cylinder pressure of an internal combustion engine includes a pressure sensor that includes a piezoelectric element associated with a capacitive element, and an output generating a first voltage representative of the cylinder pressure. A filtering module of the device filters parasitic low-frequency voltages and generates a second voltage free of these parasitic voltages. A control module delivers a control signal that is dependent on a switching parameter correlated with a stroke. A switching module, in response to the control signal, disconnects the input of the filtering module from the output of the pressure sensor during the first stroke and connects the input of the filtering module to the output of the pressure sensor during the second stroke. The first stroke corresponds to a compression stroke or to a combustion-expansion stroke, and the second stroke corresponds to an intake stroke or to an exhaust stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Michel Suquet, Simon-Didier Venzal
  • Patent number: 8291751
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing combustion within a direct-injection, internal combustion engine including a plurality of combustion chambers and operative lean of stoichiometry includes monitoring pressure readings in the plurality of combustion chambers across engine crank angles, estimating a mass fraction burn percentage for each pressure reading, determining respective crank angles corresponding to a predetermined mass burn percentage for each combustion chamber, comparing said determined crank angles for sequential ones of the plurality of combustion chambers, and indicating an abnormal combustion event if compared crank angles differ by a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Chol-Bum M. Kweon, Frederic Anton Matekunas, Paul Anthony Battiston
  • Patent number: 8256279
    Abstract: A device for detecting a combustion chamber pressure of an internal combustion engine, in particular a gasoline engine. The device includes a sensor housing, the sensor housing being set up to be at least partially introduced into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. At least one mechanical-electrical transducer element is accommodated inside the sensor housing, which is separated from the sensor housing by at least one sensor holder, in particular a sensor holder which at least partially encloses the mechanical-electrical transducer element. The sensor holder has an at least partially rigid design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Petra Siegenthaler, Holger Scholzen, Christian Doering, Markus Ledermann, Sven Zinober
  • Patent number: 8250909
    Abstract: A pressure measuring device suitable for disposition in a chamber of an internal combustion engine. The pressure measuring device has a housing, a force transmitting element that is effectively connected to a pressure sensor, and a sensor cage that surrounds the pressure sensor. The sensor cage is connected to the housing by a circumferential weld seam only at one connection segment of the housing. In this way, it is possible to achieve a defined pre-tensioning of a metal diaphragm that is connected on the one hand to the sensor cage and on the other hand to the force transmitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Christoph Kern, Reinhold Hess, Reiko Zach, Michael Kleindl, Peter Wolfer, Steffen Schott, Claudio Cavalloni, Pavlo Saltikov, Michael Mueller, Andrea Bertola
  • Patent number: 8229655
    Abstract: Systems and methods useful for detecting a combustion fault in a combustion engine include determining cylinder power density values for cylinders present on the engine during its operation and determining cylinder imbalance parameters for the cylinders, based on the cylinder power density values. The cylinder imbalance parameters are compared with a provided diagnostic threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Chol-Bum M. Kweon, Frederic Anton Matekunas, Paul Anthony Battiston
  • Publication number: 20120174660
    Abstract: A combustion chamber pressure sensor is provided for recording a pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the combustion chamber pressure sensor has a housing having an inner space that is at least partially enclosed by the housing. At least one mechanical-electrical transducer element, for recording the pressure, is accommodated in the housing. The housing has at least one housing opening. The housing opening is sealed by at least one diaphragm. The diaphragm has at least one convex curvature towards the inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Christian DOERING, Janpeter WOLFF
  • Patent number: 8205490
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for measurements in a chamber of an internal combustion engine, in particular a pressure-measuring glowplug, comprises a housing, a pressure element for picking up a pressure, and a measuring element arranged in the housing downstream of the pressure element in the direction of the pressure and having a sensor element and a diaphragm. This diaphragm is permanently connected at its first end to the pressure element, and at its second end it is directly or indirectly permanently connected to the housing at a connection, with the pressure element being supported on the measuring element via the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventor: Michael Müeller
  • Patent number: 8200415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the operating mode of an internal combustion engine (1) comprising several cylinders (3) and an injection system (4) with one injection unit (5) per cylinder (3). According to said method: a digital measuring signal, which characterizes the combustion of fuel (6) in the internal combustion engine (1), is first determined; said digital measuring signal is then transformed into a frequency range; a misfiring of the ignition is detected using the amplitude information of the transformed measuring signal and if a misfiring has occurred, the injection of the individual cylinders (3) is deactivated sequentially for a predefined period and for each cylinder the corresponding digital measuring signal that characterizes said cylinder is determined and transformed into the frequency range and a misfiring cylinder (3) is identified during the evaluation of the transformed measuring signal using the amplitude information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Hagel, Mehmet Tuna, Emmanuel Routier, Kayhan Goeney
  • Publication number: 20120109544
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system for measuring the cylinder compression of an engine is provided The system may include a microprocessor; a sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor, the sensor configured to measure a pressure; a memory operatively connected to the microprocessor, the memory configured to store a pressure detected by the sensor; and a database operatively connected to the microprocessor, the database configured to a store baseline pressure associated with an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: James FISH, Jennifer Otto, Dennis Hanson
  • Publication number: 20120079877
    Abstract: A compression tester adapter is provided. The compression adaptor includes a generally cylindrical plug fitting, including a pilot segment, an external thread, a cylinder segment, a gasket located between the external thread and the cylinder segment and a plug end; and a connector fitting including an attachment interface; and a hose attached to the plug fitting. A method of adapting a compression tester spark plug hose for use with a spark plug socket is provided. The method includes; engaging a threaded spark plug socket in an internal combustion engine cylinder head; attaching a compression tester spark plug hose; and transmitting a compressed gas to the compression tester spark plug hose wherein the spark plug socket thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 12 millimeters; and creating a substantially airtight seal against a periphery of a tapered seat near a inner extreme of the spark plug socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Holl
  • Patent number: 8146409
    Abstract: A pressure monitoring system for a combustion engine includes, but is not limited to of combustion chambers and pressure sensors associated to at least some of the combustion chambers. A multiplexer has inputs connected to at least a first one and a second one of the pressure sensors. A non-zero phase shift exists between the operating cycles of first and second ones of the combustion chambers associated to the first and second pressure sensors. A controller controls the multiplexer to output data from the first pressure sensor while the first combustion chamber is in a predetermined portion of its operating cycle and pressure data from the second pressure sensor while the second combustion chamber is in the predetermined portion of its operating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alessandro Catanese, Filippo Parisi, Eugenio Pisoni, Claudio Monferrato
  • Publication number: 20120046852
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the viscosity of liquid fuel delivered from a fuel tank to the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine. A viscosity sensor is placed in the fuel line, or in a bypass fuel line, in close proximity downstream the fuel injectors. A heat exchanger is placed on the fuel line downstream the sensor. The sensor is a rotating cylinder having a nominal rotation velocity, and is configured to rotate such that the nominal rotation velocity increases or decreases in response to fuel viscosity. The sensor delivers a measurement signal to a control unit, which performs a closed loop algorithm to adjust the heat provided by the heat exchanger until the measured rotation matches a target rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Terrence F. ALGER, II
  • Patent number: 8096170
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the cylinder internal pressure of internal combustion engines and, in particular, of gas engines, said apparatus having a first valve (5) which opens into the cylinder interior space, a measurement chamber (6) which can be connected to the cylinder interior space (1a) and can be disconnected from the latter by means of the first valve (5), and a pressure sensor (8) which is arranged in the region of the measurement chamber (6) in order to measure the pressure in the cylinder interior space when the first valve (5) is open. Permanent operation without thermal overload is enabled in such a way that at least one second valve (13) is provided in the region of the measurement chamber (6), said second valve being able to be changed to a closed position at least when the first valve (5) is open in order to seal off the measurement chamber (6) towards the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Mayrhofer
  • Patent number: 8068971
    Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for determining the composition of a fuel mixture from a first fuel and a second fuel or for determining the quality of a fuel for operating a combustion engine with at least one cylinder pressure sensor in at least one cylinder of the combustion engine for determining the pressure history during a combustion process and a cylinder pressure based motor regulation for regulating the load and the combustion situation of the combustion engine. It is thereby provided that the determination of the composition of the fuel mixture or the quality of the fuel takes place with the aid of regulator information of the cylinder-pressure-based motor regulation. The procedure enables the continuing determination of the composition of the fuel mixture and the quality of the fuel at cylinder-pressure-based motor regulations without additional components as for example an ethanol sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Haris Hamedovic, Axel Loeffler, Wolfgang Fischer, Roland Karrelmeyer, Gerald Graf
  • Patent number: 8065909
    Abstract: A device for measuring the effective volumetric ratio of at least one cylinder in a variable compression-ratio engine, includes at least one target passage sensor (91) attached on the cylinder casing (100) and detecting the passage of at least one target (92) connected to the piston (2) of the engine, the target passage sensor interacting with at least one angular position sensor of the crankshaft (93) of the engine, and one calculator (94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Vianney Rabhi
  • Publication number: 20110246044
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a cylinder pressure sensor and a control module. The cylinder pressure sensor measures pressure within a cylinder of an engine, generates increases in a cylinder pressure signal based on the pressure, selectively generates a predetermined profile in the cylinder pressure signal, and selectively resets the cylinder pressure signal to a predetermined reset level after generating the predetermined profile in the cylinder pressure signal. The control module receives the cylinder pressure signal, detects the predetermined profile of the cylinder pressure signal, and detects the resetting of the cylinder pressure signal to the predetermined reset level when the predetermined profile is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo
  • Publication number: 20110214494
    Abstract: A device includes a pressure sensor (11-13) for measuring pressures inside the combustion chamber of a cylinder in an internal combustion engine. The device includes: an outer body (1); a lug (5) extending partially into the combustion chamber; an inner housing (14) inserted into the body and surrounding an upper portion of the lug, the housing being secured to the lug and to the body and having an elastically deformable portion (17) between the two securing areas, characterised in that the housing (14) is secured to the body (1) at a securing area (18) extending in the upper portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, FEDERAL-MOGUL ITALY SRL
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, John Burrows, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20110209533
    Abstract: A minute amount of fuel is injected into a combustion chamber during fuel cut, and a cylinder pressure is detected when the minute amount of fuel is being combusted. Then a combustion ratio is calculated based on the detected cylinder pressure, and a determination crank angle, which is used for determining a cetane number based on the combustion ratio, is determined. The cetane number is determined based on the determination crank angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7975533
    Abstract: In a monitoring system and method for monitoring pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a sensor is operable to sense movement of a valve while the valve is in its closed position. The sensor generates data indicative of the sensed movement of the valve. A control system is in communication with the sensor to receive the data indicative of the sensed movement of the valve in the closed position thereof. The control system is operable to determine the pressure in the combustion chamber based at least in part on the sensed movement of the valve. In other aspects, operation of the engine is adjusted based at least in part on the determined pressure in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Michael John Andrie
  • Patent number: 7974768
    Abstract: (EN) The invention concerns a device for controlling an internal combustion engine (601), comprising means (600) for generating a signal for controlling the internal combustion engine (601), a sensor (602) for supplying a pressure measurement signal of a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (601), and a filtering device (603) for generating a filtered pressure signal, said filtering device (603) being made from analog electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Lionel Cordesses, Didier Martinez
  • Patent number: 7963154
    Abstract: A sensor unit for measuring a measurement variable in a medium, in particular in an aggressive liquid or gaseous medium, comprises a sensor that is arranged in a sensor capsule and has a sensor region that is arranged on a base body. In order to detect the measurement variable in the sensor region, a measurement opening is provided in the sensor capsule. On a side facing the measurement opening, the sensor region has a measurement surface that is provided with measurement electronics. An electrical supply line is provided on the sensor for the purpose of transmitting a sensor signal that is generated by the measurement electronics. A plated-through hole is provided in the base body. The plated-through hole is used to connect the measurement electronics to the electrical supply line via signals through the base body, on a base side of the sensor that faces away from the measurement opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Ernst Obermeier, Biswajit Mukhopadhyay, Jochen Von Berg, Ulrich Albicker, Marco Gnielka, Claudio Cavalloni
  • Publication number: 20110113869
    Abstract: An abnormal combustion detection method is disclosed for spark-ignition internal-combustion engines, from combustion indicators. Combustion indicators, such as CA10 and MIP, are determined which are converted to new indicators having lower dispersions than those of indicators for normal combustions that are not converted. A parameter characterizing a distribution of N values of the new combustion indicators, acquired over N cycles preceding the cycle in progress, is then determined. The start of an abnormal combustion is thereafter detected by comparing this parameter with a threshold, and the course of the abnormal combustion detected in the combustion chamber is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Laurent DUVAL, Alexandre Pagot, Benoist Thirouard, Jean-Marc Zaccardi
  • Patent number: 7945364
    Abstract: A process of enabling and providing a service for improving haulage efficiency in a haulage system includes identifying a customer who may benefit from the service. Haulage vehicles of a fleet of haulage vehicles are equipped with a system for monitoring haulage parameters of the haulage vehicles. Equipment for gathering data on the monitored haulage parameters and for gathering information on haulage vehicle location along haul roads is provided. Target haulage parameters which result in desired haulage system performance are determined. The data is analyzed and deviations of actual haulage system performance from desired haulage system performance are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Schricker, Anthony R. Fratini, Jon R. Greiner, Christopher M. Sprock
  • Publication number: 20110088459
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining an in-cylinder pressure curve representative of the evolution of the pressure within a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a timeframe during the engine functioning, sampling pressure within at least two sensed cylinders of the engine, the samplings being performed during not contemporary sampling periods within the assumed timeframe, in order to acquire a partial in-cylinder pressure curve for each of said sensed cylinders, and using said partial in-cylinder pressure curves for reconstructing a whole in-cylinder pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Manuel TUGNOLO, Alessandro CATANESE, Simone BARBERO
  • Publication number: 20110083498
    Abstract: A pressure sensor diagnostic system of the present disclosure includes an excitation module, a frequency determination module, and a fault determination module. The excitation module excites an in-cylinder pressure sensor and causes the in-cylinder pressure sensor to oscillate. The frequency determination module determines an oscillation frequency of the in-cylinder pressure sensor. The fault determination module diagnoses the in-cylinder pressure sensor based on the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Kenneth J. Buslepp, Joseph R. Dulzo
  • Patent number: 7913545
    Abstract: A control module for determining a time and angle based cylinder pressure includes a crankshaft position determination module that determines a first crankshaft position in an engine at a first time, a time-based cylinder pressure determination module that determines N time-based cylinder pressures in the engine at N times, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and an angle-based cylinder pressure determination module that determines an angle-based cylinder pressure at the first crankshaft position based on the first time, the N cylinder pressures, and the N times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, Kenneth J. Buslepp
  • Publication number: 20110056448
    Abstract: A system includes a pressure signal adjustment module that generates a maximum pressure signal based on a fluid pressure signal from a pressure sensor of a camshaft phaser system of an engine. The pressure signal adjustment module detects a maximum peak value of the fluid pressure signal and maintains the maximum pressure signal at the maximum peak value for a peak and hold period. A diagnostic module detects a fault of the camshaft phaser system based on the maximum pressure signal during the peak and hold period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Joshua Cowgill, Scot A. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110030462
    Abstract: A device for measuring the cylinder pressure of an internal combustion engine, the operation of which comprises a plurality of successive cycles, each cycle being broken down into at least first and second strokes, the measuring device comprising at least one pressure sensor (1) consisting of at least one piezoelectric element associated with a capacitive element, and an output (10) generating a first voltage (V1) representative of a pressure (F) applied to the piezoelectric element, the device further comprising: a filtering module (2) comprising at least one input (20) and one output (21), capable of filtering parasitic low-frequency voltages present at its input (20), and of generating on its output (21) a second voltage (V2) free of these parasitic low-frequency voltages; a control module (3) capable of delivering a control signal (Scom) that is dependent on a switching parameter correlated with a stroke, among the first and second strokes, in which the engine is operating; a switching module (4), in resp
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Michel Suquet, Simon-Didier Venzal
  • Patent number: 7870846
    Abstract: A method for determining a point in time of a start of combustion in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes: providing a base compression pressure model which gives a curve of a compression pressure in the cylinder as a function of the operating point; adjusting the base compression pressure model using measured cylinder pressures of at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine at points in time at which no combustion is taking place in the cylinder, in order to obtain an adjusted compression pressure model; and determining a point in time of a start of combustion with the aid of a pressure curve determined by the adjusted compression pressure model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Weissenborn, Thomas Bossmeyer
  • Publication number: 20110005308
    Abstract: A pressure measuring device suitable for disposition in a chamber of an internal combustion engine. The pressure measuring device has a housing, a force transmitting element that is effectively connected to a pressure sensor, and a sensor cage that surrounds the pressure sensor. The sensor cage is connected to the housing by a circumferential weld seam only at one connection segment of the housing. In this way, it is possible to achieve a defined pre-tensioning of a metal diaphragm that is connected on the one hand to the sensor cage and on the other hand to the force transmitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Kern, Reinhold Hess, Reiko Zach, Michael Kleindl, Peter Wolfer, Steffen Schott, Claudio Cavalloni, Pavlo Saltikov, Michael Mueller, Andrea Bertola
  • Patent number: 7860670
    Abstract: A device for detecting a leak in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a piston in the cylinder, the piston being attached to a crankshaft, includes a time interval determining unit which is designed to determine a first time interval in which the crankshaft passes a preset first angle segment before reaching the ignition top dead center of the piston in the cylinder, and to determine a second time interval in which the crankshaft passes a preset second angle segment after reaching the ignition top dead center of the piston in the cylinder, and a cylinder leak determining unit which is designed to detect a leak in the cylinder as a function of the first time interval and as a function of the second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Bethmann
  • Patent number: 7853393
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with several cylinders, at least one cylinder is configured as a reference cylinder to which an active cylinder pressure sensor is allocated. A passive cylinder pressure sensor is allocated to each of the remaining cylinders. At least one actuating member is assigned to the cylinders. A crankshaft angle sensor is provided. During the quasi-stationary operating mode, the cylinder segment durations are equated, by an actuating member engaging in at least one actuating signal allocated to the respective cylinder. Furthermore, during the quasi-stationary operating mode, the measuring signal of the active sensor is allocated to the respective measuring signals of the passive sensors. As a result, the signal processing of the measuring signals of the passive sensors is adjusted depending on the respective measuring signals of the passive sensors captured during the quasi-stationary operating mode and on the allocated measuring signal of the active sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kettl, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100312456
    Abstract: The instantaneous interruption detection apparatus includes a noise removing section to remove a noise component from an in-cylinder pressure signal inputted thereto, and output a noise-removed in-cylinder pressure signal, a derivative signal calculating section to calculate a detection signal which is a function of a derivative value of the noise-removed in-pressure signal with respect to the crank angle of an internal combustion engine, an instantaneous interruption determining section configured to make determination that instantaneous interruption of the in-cylinder pressure signal has occurred when the detection signal has exceeded a detection threshold, and a threshold setting section configured to set the detection threshold to such a value that the instantaneous interruption determining section can make the determination in accordance with the noise-removed in-pressure signal which is dull compared to the in-cylinder pressure signal inputted to the noise removing section depending on a gain-frequency
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishimura, Shinya Hoshi, Youhei Morimoto, Kazuhiro Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20100307453
    Abstract: A method and a control module that includes a filter coefficient determination module that generates filter coefficients based upon an engine operating conditions. The control module includes a filter module that filters the in-cylinder pressure signal with a filter having the filter coefficients to form a filtered pressure signal and an engine control module that controls the engine using the filtered pressure signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Doughlas R. Verner
  • Publication number: 20100294028
    Abstract: A device for detecting a combustion chamber pressure of an internal combustion engine, in particular a gasoline engine. The device includes a sensor housing, the sensor housing being set up to be at least partially introduced into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. At least one mechanical-electrical transducer element is accommodated inside the sensor housing, which is separated from the sensor housing by at least one sensor holder, in particular a sensor holder which at least partially encloses the mechanical-electrical transducer element. The sensor holder has an at least partially rigid design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Petra SIEGENTHALER, Holger SCHOLZEN, Christian DOERING, Markus LEDERMANN, Sven ZINOBER
  • Publication number: 20100250089
    Abstract: A method and a control module for diagnosing an engine component function includes a comparison module comparing an in-cylinder pressure signal to a threshold and a fault indication module generating a diagnostic signal for an engine component in response to comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, Jonathan T. Shibata, Daniel G. Brennan, Joshua Cowgill
  • Publication number: 20100229624
    Abstract: An output correction apparatus that corrects offset drift of a cylinder internal pressure sensor, and a cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus that accurately detects cylinder internal pressure of an internal combustion engine through use of the output correction apparatus. The cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus includes a detection circuit section which detects a change in the resistance of a piezoresistor element as an electrical signal; an amplification circuit section which amplifies and outputs the electrical signal (output value); and a correction circuit section which corrects the output value. The correction circuit section includes a reset control section which resets the output value of the amplification circuit section to a reference value, and a reset timing detection section which determines a timing of the resetting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Yuzo Higuchi, Yoshinori Tsujimura
  • Publication number: 20100212621
    Abstract: A glow plug includes: a tubular body (2) having at one of its ends a plug head as well as a fixing zone including elements (12, 13) for being fixed in a bore, an arm (4) mounted on the body (2) of the plug at the end opposite to the plug head, and a pressure sensor (8) sealingly insulated from the corresponding cylinder. The arm (4) is fixed to an elastically deformable tubular zone (17) designed to project inside the cylinder. The pressure sensor (8) is mounted between the arm (4) and a support component (18) fixed inside the tubular body (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicants: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMOTIVE, FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION Srl
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Sandro Goretti
  • Patent number: 7757545
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining the trouble of a cylinder pressure sensor without increasing cost calculates the cylinder pressure of an internal combustion engine based on an output from the cylinder sensor installed in the engine and calculates a drift parameter indicating the drift amount of the cylinder pressure based on the cylinder pressure. When the drift parameter is not within a specified range, the device determines that the cylinder pressure sensor is defective. The specified range can be set based on the behavior of the cylinder pressure. A correction factor is obtained according to the operating state of the engine, and the drift parameter is corrected with the correction factor. A specified search signal is superimposed on the output from the cylinder pressure sensor. The cylinder pressure is calculated based on the output from the cylinder pressure sensor on which the search signal was superimposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Katsura Okubo, Koichiro Shinozaki, Yuji Yasui, Keiichi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20100162803
    Abstract: A method of detecting during a combustion cycle a peak value of pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes providing and installing on the engine body an accelerometer that generates an acceleration signal representing vibrations of the engine body. The acceleration signal is filtered by comparing the band-pass filtered replica of the acceleration signal to a threshold. When the threshold is surpassed, a pressure peak is detected and flagged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Taglialatela Scafati, Nicola Cesario, Domenico Porto, Bianca Maria Vaglieco, Simona Silvia Merola
  • Publication number: 20100147057
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the cylinder internal pressure of internal combustion engines and, in particular, of gas engines, said apparatus having a first valve (5) which opens into the cylinder interior space, a measurement chamber (6) which can be connected to the cylinder interior space (1a) arid can be disconnected from the latter by means of the first valve (5), and a pressure sensor (8) which is arranged in the region of the measurement chamber (6) in order to measure the pressure in the cylinder interior space when the first valve (5) is open. Permanent operation without thermal overload is enabled in such a way that at least one second valve (13) is provided in the region of the measurement chamber (6), said second valve being able to be changed to a closed position at least when the first valve (5) is open in order to seal off the measurement chamber (6) towards the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Norbert Mayrhofer
  • Patent number: 7726281
    Abstract: A control module comprising a cylinder torque determination module that determines an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, a cylinder torque balancing module that determines a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and a cylinder pressure error detection module that detects a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term. A method comprising determining an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, determining a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and detecting a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, David S. Mathews
  • Patent number: 7726269
    Abstract: A glow plug includes: a tubular body (2) having at one of its ends a plug head as well as a fixing zone including elements (12, 13) for being fixed in a bore, an arm (4) mounted on the body (2) of the plug at the end opposite to the plug head, and a pressure sensor (8) sealingly insulated from the corresponding cylinder. The arm (4) is fixed to an elastically deformable tubular zone (17) designed to project inside the cylinder. The pressure sensor (8) is mounted between the arm (4) and a support component (18) fixed inside the tubular body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Siemens VDO Automotive, Federal-Mogul Ignition Srl
    Inventors: Alain Ramond, Sandro Goretti
  • Publication number: 20100107746
    Abstract: A device for measuring the effective volumetric ratio of at least one cylinder in a variable compression-ratio engine, includes at least one target passage sensor (91) attached on the cylinder casing (100) and detecting the passage of at least one target (92) connected to the piston (2) of the engine, the target passage sensor interacting with at least one angular position sensor of the crankshaft (93) of the engine, and one calculator (94).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Vianney Rabhi
  • Patent number: 7681441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: self-tuning engine control algorithms using inputs from transducers that measure pressure in the engine cylinders, and from an engine crankshaft rotational position sensor; methods of processing the input signals to “self-tune” or learn accurate values for a) pressure transducer voltage offset, b) crank position encoder error and c) engine compression ratio; improved pressure-ratio-based algorithms for calculating cylinder heat release fraction as a function of crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Sinnamon, Mark C. Sellnau