Systems and methods for electronically controlling fuel-to-air ratio for an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a choke valve of an internal combustion engine using an electronic system comprising, in operable cooperation, a controller, a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature indicative of engine temperature, a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature indicative of ambient air temperature, and an actuator configured to move the choke valve, the method comprising:
- a) determining, with the controller, a starting position for the choke valve that is dependent on the first temperature;
b) performing a first choke opening stage that comprises moving, with the actuator, the choke valve from an initial position to the starting position;
c) determining, with the controller, a first ramp for opening the choke valve, wherein a first characteristic of the first ramp is dependent on the first and second temperatures; and
d) subsequent to completion of the first choke opening stage, performing a second choke opening stage that comprises moving, with the actuator, the choke valve toward a fully-open position in accordance with the first ramp.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for electronically controlling the fuel-to-air ratio of a fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engines are disclosed. In one aspect, electronic control systems and methods are provided that determine and automatically move a choke valve in accordance with a first ramp having a first characteristic that is dependent on engine temperature and ambient air temperature. In another aspect, an integrated ignition and electronic auto-choke module is provided. In yet another aspect, electronic control systems and methods are provided that dynamically control a movement characteristic of a choke valve using a feedback loop.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a choke valve of an internal combustion engine using an electronic system comprising, in operable cooperation, a controller, a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature indicative of engine temperature, a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature indicative of ambient air temperature, and an actuator configured to move the choke valve, the method comprising:
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a) determining, with the controller, a starting position for the choke valve that is dependent on the first temperature; b) performing a first choke opening stage that comprises moving, with the actuator, the choke valve from an initial position to the starting position; c) determining, with the controller, a first ramp for opening the choke valve, wherein a first characteristic of the first ramp is dependent on the first and second temperatures; and d) subsequent to completion of the first choke opening stage, performing a second choke opening stage that comprises moving, with the actuator, the choke valve toward a fully-open position in accordance with the first ramp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a choke valve of an internal combustion engine using an electronic system comprising, in operable cooperation, a controller, a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature indicative of engine temperature, a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature indicative of ambient air temperature, and an actuator configured to move the choke valve, the method comprising:
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a) determining, with the controller, a first ramp for opening the choke valve, wherein a first characteristic of the first ramp is dependent on the first temperature and a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; and b) performing a choke opening stage that comprises moving, with the actuator, the choke valve in accordance with the first ramp toward a fully-open position using the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling a choke valve of an internal combustion engine using an electronic system comprising, in operable cooperation, a controller, a feedback sensor configured to measure a parameter indicative of an air-to-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be or being combusted in the internal combustion engine, and an actuator configured to move the choke valve, the method comprising:
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a) the controller repetitively receiving signals from the feedback sensor that are indicative of the measured parameter during movement of the choke valve from a starting position toward a fully-open position; b) determining, with the controller, a rate at which the choke valve is to be moved toward the fully-open position based a most-recently received signal from the feedback sensor; c) moving, with the actuator, the choke valve toward the fully-open position at the rate most-recently determined during step b); and d) looping to step a) until it is determined, with the controller, that the choke valve is in the fully-open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification