Method and apparatus for operation of an internal combustion engine in a true closed loop fuel control
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the fuel delivery rate at which fuel is supplied to the fuel intake of an internal combustion engine while the engine is operating at a desired angular speed, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- measuring a quantity of air being inducted into the internal combustion engine and then processing a resulting signal to determine a measured engine load value;
comparing said engine load value with a table of desired engine load values to produce an indication of when said load value is either less than or greater than a desired value;
responding to an onset of each indication of a load value greater than that desired by increasing fuel delivery to the engine intake until the load value is equal to or less than said desired load value; and
responding to an onset of each indication of a load value less than that desired by decreasing fuel delivery to the engine intake until the load value is equal to or greater than said desired load value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A true closed-loop air/fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine which uses a cylinder air charge percentage value also known as a cylinder or engine load value, is used to control the air/fuel ratio of said engine in response to the difference of said measured load value and a predetermined optimum load value. This process allows true closed-loop fuel control immediately following a cold or warm engine start without need of a traditional exhaust gas sensor. As this process automatically compensates for all fuel utilized by the engine, even during cold starting and idles, the problems associated with fuel vapor purge systems are eliminated. This process can reduce government regulated emissions from said engine considerably and improve fuel economy a significant percentage particularly when operated net lean of stoichiometric. Elimination of currently required engine hardware for traditional systems can allow for a considerable cost savings. The process allows for a significant calibration and control robustness increase without compromising emissions or causing an operational instability. The second mathematical derivative of the command control function is utilized to determine the control stability of operation with the corrections to the target load values. These values are then updated accordingly. Other modes of operation allow this use in special situations or in alternative conditions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the fuel delivery rate at which fuel is supplied to the fuel intake of an internal combustion engine while the engine is operating at a desired angular speed, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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measuring a quantity of air being inducted into the internal combustion engine and then processing a resulting signal to determine a measured engine load value; comparing said engine load value with a table of desired engine load values to produce an indication of when said load value is either less than or greater than a desired value; responding to an onset of each indication of a load value greater than that desired by increasing fuel delivery to the engine intake until the load value is equal to or less than said desired load value; and responding to an onset of each indication of a load value less than that desired by decreasing fuel delivery to the engine intake until the load value is equal to or greater than said desired load value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing an optimally maintained feedback controlled air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine during multiple operating phases, the engine including an air intake, a plurality of fuel injectors supplying individual cylinders, and an air exhaust, said system comprising:
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an engine control module; a plurality of intake sensors located within the air intake and connected to said engine control module for determining an engine load value representative of a percentage of possible air charge into a cylinder of the engine; an exhaust gas sensor located within the exhaust prior to a catalytic converter and providing a signal to said engine control module representative of a rich air/fuel ratio or a lean air/fuel ratio as compared to a desired air/fuel ratio; said engine control module determining a desired fuel control correction factor based upon a measured difference between said representative rich or lean air/fuel ration and said desired air/fuel ratio; and an idle air control valve responsive to an output signal of said engine control module to adjust said engine load value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification