Method and apparatus for detecting failure of pressure sensor in internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A method of detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the pressure in said cylinder by means of said pressure sensor to provide a cylinder pressure;
setting a maximum permissible value and a minimum permissible value for said cylinder pressure;
comparing said cylinder pressure with said maximum permissible value;
comparing said cylinder pressure with said minimum permissible value; and
determining that said pressure sensor suffers from a failure if said cylinder pressure exceeds said maximum permissible value or if said cylinder pressure becomes lower than said minimum permissible value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein. Decision as to occurrence of a failure in the pressure sensor is made on the basis of the cylinder pressure detected by the pressure sensor through comparison with a prescribed reference value or range. Failure of the pressure sensor is determined if the detected cylinder pressure deviates from the reference value or range by a predetermined amount. Upon detection of a pressure sensor failure, an engine control parameter such as ignition timing for controlling the associated cylinder in dependence on the pressure sensor output is set to a fixed value or the operation of the cylinder is stopped.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the pressure in said cylinder by means of said pressure sensor to provide a cylinder pressure; setting a maximum permissible value and a minimum permissible value for said cylinder pressure; comparing said cylinder pressure with said maximum permissible value; comparing said cylinder pressure with said minimum permissible value; and determining that said pressure sensor suffers from a failure if said cylinder pressure exceeds said maximum permissible value or if said cylinder pressure becomes lower than said minimum permissible value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 15, 17, 19, 20)
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4. A method of detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the pressure in said cylinder by means of said pressure sensor at a first and a second predetermined crank angle, respectively, to provide a first and a second cylinder pressure; setting a maximum permissible value for said first cylinder pressure and a minimum permissible value for said second cylinder pressure; comparing said first cylinder pressure with said maximum permissible value; comparing said second cylinder pressure with said minimum permissible value; and determining that a failure takes place in said pressure sensor if said first cylinder pressure exceeds said maximum permissible value or if said second cylinder pressure becomes lower than said minimum permissible value. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the pressure in said cylinder by means of said pressure sensor at a first and a second predetermined crank angle, respectively, to provide a first and a second cylinder pressure; determining a difference between said first and second cylinder pressures; setting a threshold value as a reference for said difference; comparing said difference with said threshold; and determining that said pressure sensor suffers from a failure if said difference is less than said threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting a failure of a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine for detecting the pressure therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the pressure in said cylinder by means of said pressure sensor on a power stroke of said cylinder to provide a cylinder pressure; detecting a peak crank angle corresponding to a peak value of said cylinder pressure; determining peak position information on the basis of said peak crank angle; setting a maximum permissible value and a minimum permissible value for said peak position information; comparing said peak position information with said maximum permissible value; comparing said peak position information with said minimum permissible value; and determining that said pressure sensor suffers from a failure if said peak position information is above said maximum permissible value or if said peak position information is below said minimum permissible value. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in response to occurrence of a failure in a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a failure has occurred in said pressure sensor on the basis of the pressure in said cylinder detected by said pressure sensor; and fixing an engine control parameter to suppress the pressure in said cylinder to a level below a predetermined level if it is decided that a failure has occurred in said pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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16. A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in response to occurrence of a failure in a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a failure has occurred in said pressure sensor on the basis of the pressure in said cylinder detected by said pressure sensor; fixing an engine control parameter if it is determined that a failure has occurred in said pressure sensor; determining whether said failure is a mechanical failure; and stopping the control of said cylinder if said failure is determined to be the mechanical failure.
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18. An apparatus for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine in response to occurrence of a failure in a pressure sensor provided in association with a cylinder of said engine, said apparatus comprising:
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means for determining whether a failure has occurred in said pressure sensor on the basis of the pressure in said cylinder detected by said pressure sensor; and means for controlling an engine control parameter such that the pressure in said cylinder is suppressed to a level below a predetermined level if it is determined that said pressure sensor has suffered from a failure.
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Specification