LASER IGNITION SYSTEM BASED DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20140316622A1
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas Raymond, Martin, Lauren Angelina
• Granted Patent: US 9,272,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/64 Drag run or drag torque compensation, e.g. motor to drive engine with drag torque or engine speed is brought to start speed before injection and firing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/022 using an optical sensor, e.g. in-cylinder light probe
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/009 using means for generating position or synchronisation signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/005 Aiding engine start by starting from a predetermined position, e.g. pre-positioning or reverse rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 23/04 Other physical ignition means, e.g. using laser rays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine diagnostics, including visual inspections of an engine cylinder, using existing hardware from a laser ignition system. Light pulses from a laser ignition device are received at a photodetector during non-combusting conditions and used to generate images of an inside of the cylinder that can be assessed by a service technician. An electric motor of the vehicle system can be used during a service mode of the vehicle to rotate the engine to, and hold the engine at, specified engine positions that enable the technician to perform selected diagnostic tests.

Claims

1. A method for a hybrid vehicle engine, comprising:

during selected non-combusting engine conditions in which the vehicle has been placed into a service mode, rotating the engine via an electric motor responsive to an operator input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator input is a requested engine position including a requested piston position of a specified cylinder of the engine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operator input is provided by the operator via a service diagnostic tool coupled to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operator input further includes a diagnostic test selected on a user interface of the vehicle displaying a plurality of diagnostic test options.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes a display on a center-console of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, measuring an initial engine position via a vehicle sensor, and wherein rotating the engine via the electric motor includes adjusting the electric motor based on a difference between the requested engine position and the measured initial engine position.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, maintaining the engine at the requested engine position via motor torque until an operator input indicating completion of the diagnostic test is received.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to the operator input indicating completion of the diagnostic test, shifting the vehicle from the service mode to an operation mode.

9. A method for a hybrid vehicle engine, comprising:

during a service mode of vehicle operation,

measuring an initial engine position using a vehicle sensor;

receiving an engine position request from an operator via a service diagnostic tool coupled to the vehicle; and

rotating the engine via an electric motor to the requested engine position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rotating includes operating the electric motor based on a difference between the initial engine position and the requested engine position to rotate the engine from the initial engine position to the requested engine position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the requested engine position includes a requested piston position of a specified cylinder of the engine.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving an engine position request from the operator includes receiving a diagnostic test selection from the operator via the service diagnostic tool on a user interface of the vehicle displaying a plurality of diagnostic test options, and wherein the requested engine position is based on the diagnostic test selection.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, maintaining the engine at the requested engine position via motor torque until an operator input indicating completion of the diagnostic test is received.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising, in response to receiving a further engine position request from the operator, rotating the engine via the electric motor to the further requested engine position;

and in response to receiving no further engine position request from the operator, rotating the engine via the electric motor to a default engine position and shifting the vehicle from the service mode to a non-service mode.

15. A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:

an engine including a cylinder with a piston;

an electric motor;

a driveline coupling the engine and the electric motor to each other and to drive wheels of the vehicle;

a center-console including a display for receiving operator input;

a sensor for measuring an engine position; and

a controller with computer-readable instructions for,

shifting the vehicle to a service mode during selected non-combusting conditions when a service mode is requested by an operator;

during the service mode, displaying a plurality of diagnostic test options to the operator on the display of the center-console;

receiving an operator diagnostic test selection on the display;

further receiving operator input regarding an engine position request via a service diagnostic tool; and

operating the electric motor to rotate the engine based on the engine position request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein operating the electric motor includes receiving an initial engine position estimate from the sensor and operating the electric motor based on a difference between the initial engine position estimate and the engine position request.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller includes further instructions for, after rotating the engine to the requested engine position, maintaining the engine at the requested engine position while a diagnostic test based on the operator diagnostic test selection is completed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operator diagnostic test selection includes one or more of a hydro-lock test, a compression test, a camshaft misalignment test, and a cylinder visual inspection.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller includes further instructions for:

after the diagnostic test is completed, if no further engine position request is received from the operator, resuming a non-service mode; and

if a further engine position request and a further diagnostic test selection is received from the operator, further rotating the engine via the electric motor based on the further engine position request, and maintaining the engine position until a diagnostic test based on the further diagnostic test selection is completed.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the engine position request includes a requested piston position of a specified cylinder of the engine.