Electronic control device for an internal combustion engine

• US 5,345,908 A
• Filed: 08/23/1993
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Yukinobu, Uchinami, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/110,204
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 123/422, 123/424, 123/491, 123/494, 123/339, 123/406, 123/478
• US Class Current: 123/339.14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0634 Determining a density, viscosity, composition or concentration F02D19/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0649 Liquid fuels having different boiling temperatures, volatilities, densities, viscosities, cetane or octane numbers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0611 Fuel type, fuel composition or fuel quality
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1451 the sensor being an optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

An electronic control device for an internal combustion engine having a control unit for detecting a running state of an engine, and which controls a fuel quantity or an ignition timing of the engine in accordance with the running state, where the electronic control device monitors the transient running state of the engine, and includes a fuel property sensor for detecting a fuel property, such that the fuel quantity or the ignition timing is corrected in accordance with the fuel property under the transient running state.

Claims

1. An electronic control device for an internal combustion engine having running condition detecting means for detecting a running state of an engine, which controls at least one of a fuel quantity and an ignition timing of the engine in accordance with the running state, wherein a single fuel is supplied to said internal combustion engine, said electronic control device comprising:

acceleration detecting means for detecting an acceleration state of the engine;

fuel property detecting means for detecting a specific weight of said fuel for characterizing said fuel as one of a heavy fuel and a light fuel based upon an index of refraction of said fuel and a temperature of said fuel; and

correcting means for correcting at least one of the fuel quantity and the ignition timing in accordance with the specific weight of said fuel under the acceleration state.

2. An electronic control device for an internal combustion engine having running condition detecting means for detecting a running state of an engine, which controls at least one of a fuel quantity, an ignition timing, and an air quantity in idling time of an engine in accordance with the running state, wherein a single fuel is supplied to said internal combustion engine, said electronic control device comprising:

detecting means for detecting a starting state of the engine;

fuel property detecting means for detecting a specific weight of said fuel for characterizing said fuel as one of a heavy fuel and a light fuel based upon an index of refraction of said fuel and a temperature of said fuel; and

correcting means for correcting at least one of the fuel quantity, the ignition timing, and the air quantity in idling time in accordance with the specific weight of said fuel during the starting state of the engine.

3. An electronic control device for an internal combustion engine having running condition detecting means for detecting a running state of an engine, which controls at least one of a fuel quantity, an ignition timing, and an air quantity in idling time of an engine in accordance with the running state, wherein a single fuel is supplied to said internal combustion engine, said electronic control device comprising:

detecting means for detecting a post-starting state of the engine;

fuel property detecting means for detecting a specific weight of said fuel for characterizing said fuel as one of a heavy fuel and a light fuel based upon an index of refraction of said fuel and a temperature of said fuel; and

correcting means for correcting at least one of the fuel quantity, the ignition timing, and the air quantity in idling time in accordance with the specific weight of said fuel during the post-starting state of the engine.