Fuel injection control system for internal combustion engine

• US 5,388,562 A
• Filed: 04/30/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Shinagawa, Masahiko, Kitano, Yuichi, Sekiguchi, Akira, Kurihara, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelli, Raymond A.
• Application Number:
  US08/054,139
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 123/357, 123/358, 123/359, 123/479
• US Class Current: 123/690
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/226 Fail safe control for fuel injection pump
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/009 for maximum speed control
• 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: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/38 of the high pressure type

Abstract

In a fuel injection system for a vehicle engine, the fuel injection is controlled in a feedback mode when no abnormality occurs in the control system, and it is controlled in an open loop mode by a limp home circuit when any abnormality in the control system is detected by a watch dog timer. The vehicle may thus be slowly driven to a safe or proper place for servicing. The limp home circuit includes fuel cutoff means for interrupting the fuel supply to the engine in the open loop mode of operation when the rotational speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A fuel injection control system having a computer implemented feedback control for the fuel injection of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a) abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality of the feedback control; and

b) limp home circuit means for conducting an open loop control of the fuel injection of the engine in place of the feedback control when an abnormality of the feedback control is detected by said abnormality detection means to enable a reduced speed operation of the vehicle, said limp home circuit means including fuel cutoff means for interrupting a fuel supply to the internal combustion engine when a rotational speed thereof exceeds a predetermined value which varies as a function of an accelerator pedal depression.

2. The fuel injection control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limp home circuit means comprises a limp home circuit for determining one of an opening and a closing operation of said fuel cutoff means on the basis of a signal representing a rotation number of the internal combustion engine and a signal representing an accelerator opening degree, and outputting a signal representing the determined operation to said fuel cutoff means.

3. The fuel injection control system as claimed in claim 1, further including switch means for switching from the feedback control to the open loop control by said limp home circuit means when an abnormality of said feedback control is detected by said abnormality detection means.

4. The fuel injection control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said abnormality detection means comprises a watch dog timer for generating a reset signal when an abnormality is detected.

5. A fuel injection control method for controlling a fuel injection to an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

a) controlling the fuel injection in a feedback mode when a control system for implementing the fuel injection is in a normal state;

b) detecting an abnormality of the control system;

c) switching the fuel injection control from the feedback mode to an open loop mode when an abnormality of the control system is detected; and

d) interrupting a fuel supply to the internal combustion engine in the open loop control mode when the rotational speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined value which varies as a function of an accelerator pedal depression.