Electronic engine controller with automatic hardware initiated A/D conversion of critical engine control parameters
First Claim
1. An electronic engine controller comprising, in combination:
- a primary control module which operates under stored program control to generate, as a function of a plurality of digital input variables each of which is indicative of an operating condition of the engine, a plurality of control signals to control at least a first operating parameter of the engine, said primary control module issuing a critical parameter request to receive a desired one of said digital input variables, which corresponds to an engine revolution in which said critical parameter request is issued; and
an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion means, responsive to a trigger signal which is generated at least once per engine revolution and to a plurality of input signals, each of said input signals being indicative of an operating condition of the engine, said A/D conversion means comprising,means for automatically generating a first of said digital input variables as a function of a first of said input signals upon each occurrence of said trigger signal, and for storing said first digital input variable,means responsive to said critical parameter request for transmitting the stored value of said first of said digital input variables, which corresponds to the value of said first of said digital input variables for an engine revolution prior to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued, if generation of said first digital input variable corresponding to the present engine revolution is incomplete, andmeans, responsive to said critical parameter request, for transmitting said first of said digital input variables corresponding to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued if generation of said first of said digital input variables corresponding to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued is complete.
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Abstract
An electronic engine controller includes a central processing unit (CPU) which controls the operations of the controller and an analog-to-digital (A/D)converter chip which receives analog signals generated by sensors which transmit signals indicative of vehicle and engine operating parameters. The A/D converter chip automatically performs a conversion on certain signals indicative of critical engine operating parameters to generate corresponding digital values upon each engine revolution. These digital values are stored for retrieval by the CPU. Digital values corresponding to other signals are generated and transmitted upon request by the CPU. The A/D converter chip and the CPU are coupled by a serial link which operates under one of several protocols to transmit digital values from the A/D converter chip to the CPU.
24 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electronic engine controller comprising, in combination:
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a primary control module which operates under stored program control to generate, as a function of a plurality of digital input variables each of which is indicative of an operating condition of the engine, a plurality of control signals to control at least a first operating parameter of the engine, said primary control module issuing a critical parameter request to receive a desired one of said digital input variables, which corresponds to an engine revolution in which said critical parameter request is issued; and an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion means, responsive to a trigger signal which is generated at least once per engine revolution and to a plurality of input signals, each of said input signals being indicative of an operating condition of the engine, said A/D conversion means comprising, means for automatically generating a first of said digital input variables as a function of a first of said input signals upon each occurrence of said trigger signal, and for storing said first digital input variable, means responsive to said critical parameter request for transmitting the stored value of said first of said digital input variables, which corresponds to the value of said first of said digital input variables for an engine revolution prior to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued, if generation of said first digital input variable corresponding to the present engine revolution is incomplete, and means, responsive to said critical parameter request, for transmitting said first of said digital input variables corresponding to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued if generation of said first of said digital input variables corresponding to the engine revolution in which the critical parameter request is issued is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic engine controller for controlling operation of an engine, comprising, in combination:
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a microprocessor, operating under stored program control to generate control values, for controlling operation of said engine, as a function of a plurality of digital input values; an input signal conditioning chip comprising, means for receiving a plurality of input operating parameter signals, each of said signals indicative of an engine operating parameter, said plurality of input signals comprising a first set of signals and a second set of signals; means, responsive to an engine revolution signal, which occurs upon each revolution of said engine, for generating a first plurality of digital values, each digital value corresponding to a signal in said first set of signals and for storing each of said first plurality of digital values in a corresponding critical parameter register; means, responsive to a conversion request by said microprocessor, for generating a second plurality of digital values, each digital value corresponding to a signal in said second set of signals and for storing each of said second plurality of digital values in an on-demand register; and prioritization means comprising means, responsive to said conversion request, for delaying initiation of said conversion request, if generation of said first plurality of digital values;
is incomplete, until completion of generation of said first plurality of digital values;means, responsive to said engine revolution signal, for delaying generation of said first plurality of digital values, if a conversion request by said microprocessor is incomplete, until completion of said conversion request; and means, responsive to a first conversion request and to a subsequent conversion request, for halting conversion of a digital value corresponding to said first conversion request and for initiating conversion of a digital value corresponding to said second conversion request.
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8. An electronic engine controller for controlling operation of an engine, comprising, in combination:
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a microprocessor, operating under stored program control to generate control values, for controlling operation of said engine, as a function of a plurality of digital input values comprising a plurality of demand values, and a plurality of critical parameter values which include an exhaust gas composition value, indicative of the composition of exhaust gas generated by said engine, a mass air flow value indicative of the mass flow rate of air entering the engine; an input signal conditioning chip comprising, means for receiving a plurality of input operating parameter signals, each of said signals indicative of an engine operating parameter, said plurality of input signals comprising a first set of signals and a second set of signals, said first set of signals including an exhaust gas sensor signal indicative of the composition of said exhaust gas, and a mass air flow signal indicative of said mass flow rate of air; means, responsive to an engine revolution signal, which occurs upon each revolution of said engine, for generating said critical parameter values upon each revolution of said engine and for storing each of said critical parameter values in a corresponding critical parameter register; means, responsive to a critical parameter request from said microprocessor, for retrieving each of said critical parameter values and for transmitting each of said critical parameter values to said microprocessor; means, responsive to a conversion request from said microprocessor which requests generation of one of said on demand values, for initiating generation of said requested on demand value as a function of a signal from said second set of signals, and for storing said requested on demand value in an on demand register and for delaying generation of said requested on demand value if generation of one of said critical parameter values is incomplete and for initiating generation of said requested on demand value upon completion of generation of said critical parameter values; means, responsive to said conversion request, and to a subsequent conversion request, which occurs during generation of an on demand value corresponding to said conversion request, for aborting generation of said on demand value corresponding to said conversion request and for initiating generation of an on demand value corresponding to said subsequent conversion request; and means, responsive to said conversion request and to the occurrence of said engine revolution signal subsequent to receipt of said conversion request, for delaying generation of said critical parameter values until completion of generation of the on demand value corresponding to said conversion request. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification