Laser ignition system based diagnostics

• US 9,272,706 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas Raymond, Martin, Lauren Angelina
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US13/865,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/64 Drag run or drag torque compensation, e.g. motor to drive engine with drag torque or engine speed is brought to start speed before injection and firing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/022 using an optical sensor, e.g. in-cylinder light probe
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/009 using means for generating position or synchronisation signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/005 Aiding engine start by starting from a predetermined position, e.g. pre-positioning or reverse rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 23/04 Other physical ignition means, e.g. using laser rays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine diagnostics, including visual inspections of an engine cylinder, using existing hardware from a laser ignition system. Light pulses from a laser ignition device are received at a photodetector during non-combusting conditions and used to generate images of an inside of the cylinder that can be assessed by a service technician. An electric motor of the vehicle system can be used during a service mode of the vehicle to rotate the engine to, and hold the engine at, specified engine positions that enable the technician to perform selected diagnostic tests.

Claims

1. A method for a hybrid vehicle engine, comprising:

during selected non-combusting engine conditions in which a vehicle has been placed into a service mode, receiving an operator input via a coupleable and uncoupleable service diagnostic tool coupled to the vehicle, wherein the operator input is a requested engine position including a piston position of a specified cylinder, and rotating the engine via an electric motor responsive to the requested engine position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the piston position includes positions ranging from near a top of the specified cylinder to a bottom of the specified cylinder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein rotating the engine includes operating the electric motor to rotate the engine from an initial engine position to the requested engine position, wherein a speed, torque, or power setting of the electric motor is based on a difference between the initial engine position and the requested engine position with the motor rotated faster when the difference is higher, and the motor rotated slower when the difference is lower.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator input further includes a diagnostic test selected on a user interface of the vehicle displaying a plurality of diagnostic test options, wherein once the engine is in the requested position, the selected diagnostic test is initiated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes a display on a center-console of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising measuring an initial engine position via a vehicle sensor, and wherein rotating the engine via the electric motor includes adjusting the electric motor based on a difference between the requested engine position and the measured initial engine position.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the engine at the requested engine position via motor torque until an operator input indicating completion of the diagnostic test is received.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to the operator input indicating completion of the diagnostic test, shifting the vehicle from the service mode to an operation mode.

9. A method for a hybrid vehicle engine, comprising:

during a service mode of vehicle operation,

measuring an initial engine position using a vehicle sensor;

receiving an engine position request from an operator via a coupleable and uncoupleable service diagnostic tool coupled to a vehicle;

rotating the engine via an electric motor to the requested engine position; and

initiating a selected diagnostic test once the engine is in the requested position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rotating includes operating the electric motor based on a difference between the initial engine position and the requested engine position to rotate the engine from the initial engine position to the requested engine position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the requested engine position includes a piston position of a specified cylinder of the engine, the piston position including positions ranging from near a top of the specified cylinder to a bottom of the specified cylinder.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the engine position request from the operator includes receiving the selected diagnostic test from the operator via the service diagnostic tool on a user interface of the vehicle displaying a plurality of diagnostic test options, and wherein the requested engine position is based on the selected diagnostic test.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, maintaining the engine at the requested engine position via motor torque until an operator input received from the diagnostic tool indicating completion of a diagnostic test is received.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising, in response to receiving a further engine position request from the operator, rotating the engine via the electric motor to the further requested engine position;

and in response to receiving no further engine position request from the operator, rotating the engine via the electric motor to a default engine position and shifting the vehicle from the service mode to a non-service mode.