Engine knock control method and system with fail-safe mode
First Claim
1. Method of controlling operation of an internal combustion engine (ICE) (1) close to the knocking level of the engine, utilizinga computer (2);
- means (7) providing sensed operating parameter values from said engine (1) to said computer (2);
a knock sensor (5) providing knock signals, to the computer, which have characteristics which differ in dependence on whether the engine operates under knocking or non-knocking conditions;
a programmable memory (3), having at least a non-volatile memory section, coupled to the computer,the memory storing data representing functional relationships of operating parameters of the engine with respect to the then-pertaining operating conditions thereof,the computer (2) receiving data, from the memory (3), relating the operating parameters of the engine to then-pertaining operating conditions and providing output control signals (8) to the engine based on data from the memory to set the operating parameters such that the engine will operating under optimum, but non-knocking, conditions,comprising the steps ofproviding in the memory a basic functional relationship of operating parameters of the engine with respect to a set of operating conditions thereof;
determining, in said computer, based on operating experience, which control settings result in knocking, and thus where, along a range of control settings, a knocking limit lies,recording in the non-volatile section of the memory (3) adapting up-dating data which represents functional relationships associating operating parameter control setting values, under then-pertaining engine operating conditions, with engine operation just short of said knocking limit;
providing limiting values for modification of the stored functional relationships of the data in the memory;
testing whether said up-dating data have values within said limiting values and, if so, using said up-dating data to modify the functional relationship data stored in the memory, and, if not, providing a malfunction indication (9,4);
looking up in the non-volatile section of said memory (3), based on sensed operating parameter values, the thus-modified control setting data associated with operation short of the knocking limit,and then controlling the operating parameters of the engine in accordance with, selectively, said basic functional relationship or said modified functional relationship data, depending upon whether said malfunction indication is present or not.
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Abstract
To provide for adaptive change of the operating characteristics of an engine, so that it will operate at its optimum effectiveness, just below the knocking limit, while reliably preventing knocking thereof, a computer receives engine data from respective sensors and a knock sensor (5), from which the computer calculates, based on data stored in a memory (3), operating parameters for the engine (1). The engine is, for example, an Otto-type internal combustion engine (ICE) or a Diesel engine. The operating characteristics, as computer-modified based on sensed knocking, and the modification data, are then placed into the memory to modify the basic memory content. Preferably, the memory has a basic memory content section and a programmable differential or modification section, in which algebraic constants or modifying factors are stored, based on actual experience of operation of the engine, just under the knocking limit. Thus, the stored data on which the engine operation is controlled is continuously up-dated based on actual engine operating conditions, and thereby compensating for ageing, wear and tear of parts, different fuels, or environmental conditions or the like. The computer can likewise recognize substantial deviation of the modified characteristics from the basic characteristics and, if the modifications exceed a certain limit, provide an error or malfunction output signal to an error or malfunction output indicator (9, 4) and go into a fail-safe mode.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Method of controlling operation of an internal combustion engine (ICE) (1) close to the knocking level of the engine, utilizing
a computer (2); -
means (7) providing sensed operating parameter values from said engine (1) to said computer (2); a knock sensor (5) providing knock signals, to the computer, which have characteristics which differ in dependence on whether the engine operates under knocking or non-knocking conditions; a programmable memory (3), having at least a non-volatile memory section, coupled to the computer, the memory storing data representing functional relationships of operating parameters of the engine with respect to the then-pertaining operating conditions thereof, the computer (2) receiving data, from the memory (3), relating the operating parameters of the engine to then-pertaining operating conditions and providing output control signals (8) to the engine based on data from the memory to set the operating parameters such that the engine will operating under optimum, but non-knocking, conditions, comprising the steps of providing in the memory a basic functional relationship of operating parameters of the engine with respect to a set of operating conditions thereof; determining, in said computer, based on operating experience, which control settings result in knocking, and thus where, along a range of control settings, a knocking limit lies, recording in the non-volatile section of the memory (3) adapting up-dating data which represents functional relationships associating operating parameter control setting values, under then-pertaining engine operating conditions, with engine operation just short of said knocking limit; providing limiting values for modification of the stored functional relationships of the data in the memory; testing whether said up-dating data have values within said limiting values and, if so, using said up-dating data to modify the functional relationship data stored in the memory, and, if not, providing a malfunction indication (9,4); looking up in the non-volatile section of said memory (3), based on sensed operating parameter values, the thus-modified control setting data associated with operation short of the knocking limit, and then controlling the operating parameters of the engine in accordance with, selectively, said basic functional relationship or said modified functional relationship data, depending upon whether said malfunction indication is present or not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. System for adaptive, optimum control of an internal combustion engine comprising
a computer (2); -
means (7) providing sensed operating parameter values from said engine (1) to said computer (2); a knock sensor (5) coupled to the engine (1) and providing signals, to the computer, which have characteristics which differ in dependence on whether the engine operates under knocking or non-knocking conditions; a malfunction indicator (9,
4);a programmable memory (3) coupled to the computer, the memory storing data representing functional relationships of operating parameter control settings of the engine with respect to sensed operating conditions thereof, the computer (2) receiving, data from the memory (3), relating operating parameters of the engine to then-pertaining operating conditions, and providing output control setting signals (8) to the engine, based on data from the memory, to change the operation of the engine in a direction so that the engine will operate under optimum, non-knocking, conditions, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the memory (3) has at least a non-volatile memory section and a fixed memory section and is coupled to the computer to receive updating data from the computer representative of prior functional relationships of operating parameters of the engine short of knocking operation thereof, with respect to then-pertaining operating conditions, the computer (2) determines, based on said knock signals and on input signals representing sensed operating parameter values, which output control setting signals result in knocking operation and which result in operation short of a knocking limit and modifies the functional relationship data stored in said memory by recording updating data in the non-volatile section thereof, and further determines whether a malfunction is present, and said non-volatile programmable section of the memory, thereafter, provides modified control setting data to the computer, as a function of said sensed operating parameter values, until a malfunction is detected, in which case said fixed memory section provides control setting data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification