Rotational turbocharger speed detector

• US 6,298,728 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Finger, Karsten, Fekete, Nicholas, Welte, Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US09/296,470
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 736/60, 734/88, 735/143.9, 734/93, 324/162, 324/166
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1528 for turbocompressed engine
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/48 by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage in general G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/4802 by using electronic circuits in general
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An arrangement for detecting the turbocharger rotational speed on internal-combustion engines is provided with at least one piezoelectric acceleration sensor fixed on the turbocharger and with an analyzing circuit having an analog filter arrangement for filtering the output signals of the acceleration sensor. The output signals of the filter arrangement are fed by way of a frequency-to-voltage converter in the form of an analog voltage, or directly in the form of frequency signals, as input signals to an electronic control unit of the internal-combustion engine or to a measuring and/or display unit. As a result, the turbocharger rotational speed can be detected at a reasonable cost with a small and robust arrangement suitable for mass production and requiring no constructional changes on the turbocharger.

Claims

1. A rotational speed detector for a turbocharger arranged of two turbochargers on an internal-combustion engine, comprising:

at least one piezoelectric acceleration sensor fixed on each of the turbochargers and constructed as a knock sensor, the sensor providing output signals;

an analyzing unit receiving the output signals and including an analog filter arrangement which filters the output signals from the acceleration sensor to provide filtered output signals; and

wherein the filtered output signals are provided as input signals to an electronic control unit of the internal-combustion engine or a measuring unit either by way of a frequency-to-voltage converter in the form of an analog voltage or directly in the form of frequency signals wherein said analyzing unit or said control unit comprises means for forming a differential rotational signal.

2. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one acceleration sensor is fixedly arranged on a compressor housing of the turbocharger.

3. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the filter arrangement is a band pass filter.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a limiter circuit is assigned to the acceleration sensor.

5. The detector according to claim 4, wherein the limiter circuit is connected directly behind the acceleration sensor and receives the output signals.

6. The detector according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing unit further comprises a comparator, coupled behind the filter arrangement.

7. The detector according to claim 6, wherein the comparator includes a hysteresis.

8. The detector according to claim 6, wherein the frequency-to-voltage converter is connected in the analyzing circuit behind the comparator.

9. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the frequency-to-voltage converter is connected in the analyzing circuit behind the filter arrangement.

10. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the filtered output signals are provided by a frequency-to-voltage converter and wherein the analyzing unit further comprises a low-pass filter connected to an output of the frequency-to-voltage converter.

11. The detector according to claim 1, further comprising a connection cable coupling the acceleration sensor with an input of the electronic control unit or the measuring unit.

12. The detector according to claim 11, wherein the analyzing unit is integrated in a housing of the acceleration sensor, and further wherein an input of at least one of the electronic control unit and measuring and/or display unit is configured as one of a frequency and analog input.

13. The detector according to claim 11, wherein the analyzing unit is integrated in a plug of the cable and further wherein an input of at least one of the electronic control unit and measuring and/or display unit is configures as one of a frequency and analog input.

14. The detector according to claim 11, wherein the analyzing unit is arranged in one of the electronic control unit and measuring and/or display unit, and further wherein an input of said one electronic control unit or measuring and/or display unit is configured as an input of the analyzing unit.