Error cause detection or narrowing down of errors with the aid of error patterns in the air system

• US 9,501,612 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Bleile, Thomas, Michael, Stefan, Montvay, Andras, Hoepfner, Christina, Ringeisen, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, Eric S
• Application Number:
  US13/609,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 731/143.1, 731/143.2, 731/143.3, 731/143.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0402 the parameter being determined by using a model of the engine intake or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0411 Volumetric efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 28/00 Programme-control of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0072 Estimating, calculating or determining the EGR rate, amount or flow sensors in EGR systems F02M26/45
• 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: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/042 by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method for monitoring at least one part of an internal combustion engine based on a variable whose values characterize the operation of the part of the internal combustion engine during different states of the internal combustion engine, including: determining an actual pattern with the actual values of the variable during different states of the internal combustion engine which describe the actual operation of the internal combustion engine; providing a reference pattern for a known operation of the internal combustion engine, the reference pattern including reference values of the variable for different states of the internal combustion engine; and comparing the actual pattern to the reference pattern to determine a similarity between the actual operation and the known operation.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring at least one part of an internal combustion engine based on a variable, the device comprising:

an observation device, wherein the observation device is configured to;

detect actual values of the variable during different states of the internal combustion engine, the detected actual values characterizing an actual operation of the at least one part of the internal combustion engine during the different operating states, wherein the variable is a volumetric efficiency factor which indicates how much gas is taken in by the internal combustion engine during a combustion cycle in relation to a theoretically possible gas intake volume; and

output an actual pattern of the detected actual values;

a memory to store a reference pattern for a known operation of the internal combustion engine, the reference pattern including reference values of the variable for the different states of the internal combustion engine; and

an evaluation device to compare the actual pattern to the reference pattern to determine a similarity between the actual operation and the known operation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the observation device includes:

a sensor for detecting a measured variable as a function of the state of the internal combustion engine;

a modeling unit for outputting a model variable of the internal combustion engine; and

an arithmetic unit for calculating the actual values of the variable based on the model variable and the measured variable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the observation device is configured to assign the actual values to the corresponding operating states in the actual pattern, and the evaluation device is configured to compare the actual pattern to the reference pattern conditional upon that the actual pattern includes at least a predefined minimum number of actual values.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference pattern is a standard pattern whose reference values indicate an error-free operation of the internal combustion engine.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference pattern is an error pattern whose reference values indicate the operation of the internal combustion engine at a known error.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the reference pattern includes a plurality of reference patters to which the actual pattern is compared, the plurality of reference patterns including a standard pattern having reference values during an error-free operation of the internal combustion engine and at least one error pattern having reference values during operation of the internal combustion engine at a known error; and

the evaluation device is configured to;

(i) determine respective extents of difference between the actual pattern and the reference patterns; and

(ii) output an error signal when the extent of difference between the actual pattern and at least one of the at least one error pattern is less than the extent of difference between the actual pattern and the standard pattern.

7. An air system for supplying an internal combustion engine with gas for a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine, the air system comprising:

an observation device, wherein the observation device is configured to;

detect actual values of a variable during different states of the internal combustion engine, the detected actual values characterizing an actual operation of the internal combustion engine during the different states, wherein the variable is a volumetric efficiency factor which indicates how much gas is taken in by the internal combustion engine during a combustion cycle in relation to a theoretically possible gas intake volume; and

output an actual pattern of the detected actual values;

a memory to store a reference pattern for a known operation of the internal combustion engine, the reference pattern including reference values of the variable for the different states of the internal combustion engine; and

an evaluation device to compare the actual pattern to the reference pattern to determine a similarity between the actual operation and the known operation.