Fuel/air mixture control device and method

• US 7,899,606 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfred Manuel Bartick
• Original Assignee: Alfred Manuel Bartick
• Inventors: Bartick, Alfred Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Jr.; Willis R
• Application Number:
  US12/288,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 123/472, 123/478, 123482-485, 123/488, 123/688, 701101-105, 701/109, 701/114, 701/115, 73/233.2, 7311471-11473
• US Class Current: 701/109
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1475 Regulating the air fuel ratio at a value other than stoichiometry

Abstract

In an automobile fuel control system having an EGO sensor which sends voltage to an ECM in order to adjust fuel/air ratio, the EGO sensor being disabled and replaced with a substitute signal generator circuit which stimulates the ECM toward lean-running.

Claims

1. A signal generator for use with an automotive engine having an electronic control module, comprising:

a free-running oscillator with a predetermined frequency, duty cycle, and output voltage levels wherein the predetermined frequency is between about 1 Hz and about 3 Hz;

the predetermined duty cycle is between about 70% to about 95%;

in the high state;

further comprising a housing and an electrical connector adapted for operative interconnection to the electronic control module'"'"'s upstream oxygen sensor input.

2. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein predetermined means with no facility for readily user adjustability during operation.

3. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein said free-running oscillator produces a square pulse train having a low voltage output level between about 0.0 V and about 0.35 V and a high voltage output level between about 0.75 and about 0.95 V.

4. The signal generator of claim 3 wherein predetermined comprises that all signal determining components are of a fixed value without adjustability.

5. An engine control system comprising:

a) an ECU having a first input connection for an upstream oxygen sensor and designed to operate in a closed loop Lambda mode based upon the signal received at that first input;

b) a signal generator operatively connected to the ECU'"'"'s upstream oxygen sensor input, the signal characteristic of said signal generator output comprises a periodic waveform with a frequency between about 1 Hz and about 3 Hz;

further, the signal generator having no operative requirement for connection to an oxygen sensor.

6. The engine control system of claim 5 wherein the signal characteristics are predetermined prior to use.

7. A method for controlling an air-to-fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine comprising in an open-loop manner:

a) oscillating a free-running electrical signal at predetermined frequency and duty cycle wherein the predetermined frequency is between about 1 Hz and about 3 Hz and the predetermined duty cycle is between about 70% to about 95% in the high state;

b) coupling, operatively, the signal to an engine electronic control unit upstream oxygen sensor input, in lieu of an oxygen sensor;

c) adjusting, automatically by the engine electronic control unit, the air-to-fuel mixture based upon the state of the input signal;

wherein free running and open loop, collectively limit the method, at least, to being without operative input from an upstream oxygen sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the oscillating comprises a square pulse train with the signal characteristics predetermined such that the characteristics remain substantially constant.