Engine misfire detection system
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting combustion inefficiency in an engine having multiple cylinders, comprising:
- detecting oxygen levels in an exhaust stream with a sensor;
connecting the sensor to an external probe;
comparing sensor readings to a database of fingerprints associated with the external probe, wherein the database of fingerprints comprises fingerprints of engines having combustion inefficiencies; and
providing an indication as to which cylinder has the combustion inefficiency.
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Abstract
An engine misfire detection system includes a database of engine fingerprints, each fingerprint corresponding to a known misfire condition. A technician uses software to compare the fingerprints in the database to an engine with a combustion inefficiency to determine which cylinder in the engine has the combustion inefficiency. The fingerprints are generated by evaluating an output from a lambda sensor and a timing reference. An alternate embodiment associates oxygen sensors with each of the cylinders in the engine and infers combustion inefficiency when a given sensor detects a peak in the amount of oxygen.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of detecting combustion inefficiency in an engine having multiple cylinders, comprising:
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detecting oxygen levels in an exhaust stream with a sensor; connecting the sensor to an external probe; comparing sensor readings to a database of fingerprints associated with the external probe, wherein the database of fingerprints comprises fingerprints of engines having combustion inefficiencies; and providing an indication as to which cylinder has the combustion inefficiency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium having software stored thereon, said software adapted to detect combustion inefficiency in an engine having multiple cylinders by:
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accepting data from a sensor through an external probe; comparing sensed oxygen levels from the sensor coupled with a timing reference to a database of fingerprints, wherein the database of fingerprints comprises fingerprints of engines having combustion inefficiencies; and providing an indication as to which cylinder has the combustion inefficiency. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of detecting a misfire in an engine having multiple cylinders comprising:
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connecting an external probe to a sensor associated with an exhaust path of the engine; collecting readings from the sensor relating to oxygen levels within the exhaust path; comparing, through software, the oxygen levels collected from the sensor to a database of fingerprints; and providing an indication as to which of the multiple cylinders is misfiring. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification