Idling detection device

• US 5,117,682 A
• Filed: 02/22/1991
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transtechnology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jatco Limited (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Amano, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US07/659,099
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/118.1, 74/854, 74/865
• US Class Current: 73/114.36
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/22 Idle position

Abstract

In order to obviate rapid on/off hunting of an engine idle detection circuit which is operatively connected with a throttle valve position sensor, the detection circuit outputs an idle indication when the throttle valve opening is indicated as having fallen below a first predetermined level which is proximate the fully closed one. The idle indication is maintained until such time as the throttle valve is indicated as having opened beyond a second predetermined level which is slightly greater than the first one.

Claims

1. An idling detection device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

means for producing a signal indicative of throttle position; and

means responsive to the output of the position detecting means for producing a first indication when the signal falls below a first predetermined value which is greater than a minimum position value, and for producing a second indication when the signal rises above a second predetermined value which is greater than the first predetermined value.

2. An idling detection device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

means for producing a signal indicative of throttle position; and

means responsive to the output of the position detecting means falling between (a) a predetermined range proximate a minimum position value and (b) the minimum position value, for producing an indication that the engine has entered an idling mode of operation, said predetermined range having upper and lower limits, the indication that the engine has entered an idling mode being maintained until the output of the the position detecting means rises above the upper limit of the range.

3. In an engine:

a throttle valve;

a throttle valve position sensor operatively connected with said throttle valve and arranged to output a signal indicative of the position of said throttle valve;

idling detection means operatively connected with said throttle valve position sensor and responsive to the signal output thereby, said idling detection means determining that the engine is idling when the signal output by the throttle valve position sensor falls below a first invariable value, said idling detection means maintaining the idling determination until such time as the signal output by said throttle valve position sensor increases above a second invariable value, the first invariable value being set a predetermined amount above the value indicative of a fully closed throttle position.

4. An idling detection device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

means for producing a signal indicative of throttle position;

means for comparing the signal with first, second and third fixed values, the first value being indicative of the throttle assuming a fully closed position, the second value being a predetermined amount higher than the first value and the third value being a predetermined amount higher than the second value, said comparing means issuing an engine idling indication when the signal falls below the second value and maintains the indication until the signal increases above the third value.