Upstream gauge sensor, downstream absolute pressure sensor system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system through which gasses flow comprising:
- an orifice located in the gas flow;
a first gauge pressure sensor measuring pressure relative to atmospheric pressure coupled upstream of the orifice;
a second absolute pressure sensor coupled downstream of the orifice; and
a valve coupled upstream of said orifice;
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for estimating atmospheric pressure surrounding the system, said computer storage medium comprising;
code for indicating whether flow through the orifice and valve is less than a predetermined value; and
code for determining atmospheric pressure based on said upstream gauge pressure sensor and said downstream absolute pressure sensor in response to said indication.
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Abstract
A method for estimating pressure surround an engine uses a gauge pressure sensor upstream of an orifice and an absolute pressure sensor downstream of the orifice. In particular, atmospheric pressure can be determined when flow through the orifice is below a predetermined threshold.
29 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system through which gasses flow comprising:
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an orifice located in the gas flow;
a first gauge pressure sensor measuring pressure relative to atmospheric pressure coupled upstream of the orifice;
a second absolute pressure sensor coupled downstream of the orifice; and
a valve coupled upstream of said orifice;
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for estimating atmospheric pressure surrounding the system, said computer storage medium comprising;
code for indicating whether flow through the orifice and valve is less than a predetermined value; and
code for determining atmospheric pressure based on said upstream gauge pressure sensor and said downstream absolute pressure sensor in response to said indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for estimating atmospheric pressure surrounding an engine intake manifold coupled to an orifice, with a first relative sensor coupled upstream of the orifice and a second absolute sensor coupled downstream of the orifice, said relative sensor sensing a pressure relative to an unregulated reference pressure, said absolute sensor sensing pressure relative to a regulated reference pressure, said computer storage medium comprising;
code for indicating whether flow through the orifice is less than a predetermined value; and
code for determining atmospheric pressure based on the upstream relative pressure sensor and the downstream absolute pressure sensor in response to said indication. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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7. A method for estimating pressure surrounding an orifice, with a first sensor coupled upstream of the orifice and a second sensor coupled downstream of the orifice, comprising:
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indicating whether flow through the orifice is less than a preselected amount; and
calculating the surrounding pressure based on a first signal from the first sensor indicative of pressure relative to said surrounding pressure and a second signal from the second pressure sensor indicative of pressure relative to a known pressure, in response to said indication.
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8. A method for estimating atmospheric pressure surrounding an engine intake manifold coupled to an orifice, with a first gauge sensor coupled upstream of the orifice and a second absolute sensor coupled downstream of the orifice, comprising:
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indicating whether flow through the orifice is less than a preselected amount;
measuring a first pressure relative to atmospheric pressure from the first gauge sensor;
measuring a second pressure from the second absolute pressure sensor; and
determining atmospheric pressure based on said first measured pressure and said second measured pressure in response to said indication. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16)
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Specification