Control method and apparatus for internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- ion current detecting means for detecting an amount of ions generated within an engine cylinder under control in terms of an ion current immediately after ignition in said engine cylinder;
decision value detecting means responsive to said ion current detecting means for determining a decision value reflecting a combustion state of said engine cylinder on the basis of a detected value of said ion currenta comparator for comparing said decision value to a reference value; and
correction control means responsive to said comparator for correcting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine when result of comparison of said decision value with the reference value indicates low output power of said internal combustion engine or degradation in the combustion efficiency.
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Abstract
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of optimizing a control parameter for the engine on the basis of information concerning combustion state of the engine by making use of a detected ion current which changes with a high sensitivity in dependence on combustion state within an engine cylinder, for thereby realizing an engine operation control to reduce fuel cost without degrading a control performance for obtaining a high engine output and drivability of a motor vehicle equipped with the engine. The apparatus includes an ion current detecting means (12) for detecting an amount of ions generated within an engine cylinder under control in terms of an ion current (i) immediately after ignition for the engine cylinder, a decision-destined value detecting means (2) for determining a decision-destined value corresponding to a combustion state of the engine cylinder on the basis of a detected value (Ei) of the ion current, and a correction control means (2) for correcting a control parameter for controlling operation of the internal combustion engine when result of comparison of the decision-destined value with a reference value therefor indicates at least one of lowering in output power of the internal combustion engine and degradation in the combustion state in the engine cylinder.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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ion current detecting means for detecting an amount of ions generated within an engine cylinder under control in terms of an ion current immediately after ignition in said engine cylinder; decision value detecting means responsive to said ion current detecting means for determining a decision value reflecting a combustion state of said engine cylinder on the basis of a detected value of said ion current a comparator for comparing said decision value to a reference value; and correction control means responsive to said comparator for correcting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine when result of comparison of said decision value with the reference value indicates low output power of said internal combustion engine or degradation in the combustion efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In an internal combustion engine including at least one engine cylinder, fuel injecting means for charging an air-fuel mixture into said engine cylinder and ignition means for triggering combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said engine cylinder,
a method of controlling operation of said internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: -
detecting an ion current generated within said engine cylinder upon combustion of said air-fuel mixture; determining a decision value reflecting efficiency of said combustion on the basis of said detected ion current; averaging a plurality of said decision values determined throughout a predetermined preceding time period to thereby determine a decision reference value; comparing said decision value with said decision reference value; and correcting either a timing for triggering combustion of said air-fuel mixture or a fuel injection quantity when result of said comparison indicates unsatisfactory combustion state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification