Method and device for determining operating parameters in an internal combustion engine

• US 5,739,417 A
• Filed: 08/21/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Reuter, Uwe, Scherrbacher, Klaus, Maienberg, Uwe, Grob, Ferdinand
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noori, Max H.
• Application Number:
  US08/700,903
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 73/35.03, 73/35.04, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/119 A
• US Class Current: 73/35.03
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1432 the system including a filter, e.g. a low pass or high pass filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/281 between sensors and control unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/025 Engine noise, e.g. determined by using an acoustic sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/028 by determining the combustion timing or phasing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/401 Controlling injection timing F02D41/402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/403 with pilot injections
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/225 circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method and a device for controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel gasoline engine. The output signal from at least one structure-borne noise sensor is supplied to at least one first and one second filter means, which exhibit different response characteristics. On the basis of the output signals from the filmer means, at least two quantities that characterize the combustion and/or the injection in the internal combustion engine are able to be determined.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

supplying a sensor output signal from a sensor to first and second filters, the sensor including at least one of a structure-borne noise sensor and a knock sensor, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics;

determining at least two values corresponding to at least one of a combustion parameter and an injection parameter of the engine as a function of first and second output signals from the first and second filters, respectively; and

determining a control value indicative of a time when at least one of a first value of the first output signal and a second value of the second output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the engine being controlled as a function of the control value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engine is a diesel gasoline engine.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of evaluating the first output signal to characterize the injection.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of evaluating the second output signal to characterize the combustion.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of using the signals for at least one of diagnostics and closed-loop control of the engine.

5. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

supplying a sensor output signal from a sensor to first and second filters, the sensor including at least one of a structure-borne noise sensor and a knock sensor, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics;

determining at least two values corresponding to at least one of a combustion parameter and an injection parameter of the engine as a function of first and second output signals from the first and second filters, respectively; and

deriving a signal indicative of at least one of a start of injection and an end of injection as a function of the first output signal.

6. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

supplying a sensor output signal from a sensor to first and second filters, the sensor including at least one of a structure-borne noise sensor and a knock sensor, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics;

determining at least two values corresponding to at least one of a combustion parameter and an injection parameter of the engine as a function of first and second output signals from the first and second filters, respectively; and

deriving a signal indicative of a start of combustion as a function of the second output signal.

8. A device for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one structure-borne noise sensor providing a sensor output signal;

first and second filters receiving the sensor output signal and providing first and second output signals, respectively, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics; and

a control unit determining at least two values corresponding to at least one of a combustion parameter and an injection parameter of the engine as a function of the first and second output signals,

wherein the control unit determine a control value indicative of a time when at least one of a first value of the first output signal and a second value of the second output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the engine being controlled as a function of the control value.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the engine is a diesel gasoline engine.

10. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

supplying a sensor output signal from a sensor to first and second filters, the sensor including at least one of a structure-borne noise sensor and a knock sensor, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics and generating first and second output signals, respectively;

determining a first operating signal indicative of at least one of a start time of injection and an end time of injection as a function of the first output signal; and

determining a second operating signal indicative of a start time of combustion as a function of the second output signal.

11. A device for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one structure-borne noise sensor providing a sensor output signal;

first and second filters receiving the sensor output signal and providing first and second output signals, respectively, the first and second filters exhibiting different response characteristics; and

a control unit determining a first operating signal indicative of at least one of a start time of injection and an end time of injection as a function of the first output signal, the control unit determining a second operating signal indicative of a start time of combustion as a function of the second output signal, the control unit controlling the engine as a function of the first and second operating signals.