Combustion state detection system for internal combustion engine

• US 5,991,685 A
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ichihara, Takanobu, Fukuchi, Eisaku, Numata, Akihito
• Primary Examiner(s): DOMBROSKE, GEORGE M
• Application Number:
  US09/025,704
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 123/419, 123/436, 701/110, 701/111
• US Class Current: 701/110
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1015 Engines misfires
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/008 Controlling each cylinder individually
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1498 measuring engine roughness
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/11 by detecting misfire

Abstract

A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine in which a timing signal associated with the rotation of the crankshaft by a predetermined angle is detected and corrected, and a combustion state parameter is calculated from the timing signal. Further, the deviation of the calculated combustion state parameters for normal combustion is detected between the cylinders, and the correction amount of the timing signal is calculated. A reference cylinder is determined by the means for detecting the deviation. The deviation is detected between the combustion state parameter for normal combustion of the reference cylinder and the cylinder opposed thereto and the combustion state parameter for normal combustion of the remaining cylinders. The correction amount is calculated in such a manner as to control the correction amount to not more than a predetermined value or to zero from the detected deviation.

Claims

1. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

means for detecting a timing signal associated with the rotation of the crankshaft by a predetermined angle;

means for correcting said timing signal;

means for calculating a combustion state parameter from said timing signal;

means for detecting the deviation of the value of the calculated combustion state parameter for combustion between the cylinders;

means for calculating a correction amount of said timing signal; and

wherein said deviation detection means determines a reference cylinder and detects the deviation between the value of the combustion state parameter for normal combustion of a cylinder group including said reference cylinder and an opposed cylinder having the same crank phase as said reference cylinder and the value of the combustion state parameter for normal combustion of the remaining cylinders;

said correction amount calculation means calculates the amount of correcting said timing signal from said detected deviation; and

said timing signal correction means corrects said timing signal based on said correction amount.

2. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

said correction amount calculation means performs a PID action for determining the correction amount in such a manner that said deviation does not exceeds a predetermined value or reaches to zero.

3. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

said timing signal correction means uses said correction amount as a timing signal for the cylinders not opposed to said reference cylinder.

4. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

said deviation detection means detects the deviation between the average value of the combustion state parameters for normal combustion of the cylinder group including said reference cylinder and said opposed cylinder on the one hand and the average value of the combustion state parameters for normal combustion of the remaining cylinders on the other.

5. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1:

wherein an upper limit and/or a lower limit is set on said correction amount calculated by said correction amount calculation means.

6. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:

combustion state judging means for comparing said combustion state parameter with a decision level and thus judging whether a misfire has occurred or not.

7. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6:

wherein the decision level used for judging whether a misfire has occurred or not is provided by a map of engine speed and engine load.

8. A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

means for detecting a timing signal associated with the rotation of the crankshaft by a predetermined angle;

means for correcting said timing signal;

means for calculating a combustion state parameter from said timing signal;

means for detecting the deviation of the value of the calculated combustion state parameter for combustion between the cylinders;

means for calculating a correction amount of said timing signal; and

a correction amount calculation condition determining means for determining the conditions for calculating said correction amount in accordance with the engine speed, the engine load, the timing of a misfire, the ruggedness of the road on which the vehicle is running, and the timing when a misfire diagnosis is established.