Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines, characterized by a means (11) for detecting a flow rate of the air supplied into a cylinder (4) in an internal combustion engine, a means (7) for detecting an air-fuel ratio of a gaseous mixture supplied into said cylinder, a control means (8), for setting the air-fuel ratio to an optimum level on the basis of output signals from said air flow rate detecting means (11) and said air-fuel ratio detecting means (7) and a means (9) for controlling the supplying of the fuel into said cylinder, in accordance with an output signal from said control means (8) in such a manner that the air-fuel ratio is in an optimum level, said air-fuel ratio detecting means (7) consisting of a means for detecting the light generated by a flame in a combustion chamber, to determine the combustion condition, which corresponds to an actual air-fuel ratio, in said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines, characterized by a means (11) for detecting a flow rate of the air supplied into a cylinder (4) in an internal combustion engine, a means (7) for detecting an air-fuel ratio of a gaseous mixture supplied into said cylinder, a control means (8), for setting the air-fuel ratio to an optimum level on the basis of output signals from said air flow rate detecting means (11) and said air-fuel ratio detecting means (7) and a means (9) for controlling the supplying of the fuel into said cylinder, in accordance with an output signal from said control means (8) in such a manner that the air-fuel ratio is in an optimum level, said air-fuel ratio detecting means (7) consisting of a means for detecting the light generated by a flame in a combustion chamber, to determine the combustion condition, which corresponds to an actual air-fuel ratio, in said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 1, characterized in that said air-fuel ratio detecting means consists of a member (21, 5) for guiding the light generated by a flame in said combustion chamber, a filter unit (62, 63) for passing therethrough components of special wavelengths of the light introduced thereinto by said light-guiding member (21), photosensitive elements (64, 65) adapted to receive said components of the light passing through said filter unit and generate output signals, and a member (6) adapted to generate an output signal representative of the combustion condition on the basis of the output signals from said photosensitive elements (64, 65).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 2, characterized in that said light-guiding member includes a window formed in a plug (2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 2, characterized in that said filter unit (62, 63) includes at least two filters capable of passing therethrough the light having different, special wavelengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 4, characterized in that said photosensitive elements (64, 65) are disposed in opposition to said filters (62, 63) and adapted to generate electric signals, the levels of which correspond to the illuminance of the light passing through said filters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 4, characterized in that said device further includes a means (71-74) for generating a signal, the level of which corresponds to a ratio of the sum of said two electric signals to the difference therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air-fuel ratio controlling device for internal combustion engines according to Claim 3, characterized in that said window is formed so as to surround a central electrode (22) of said plug (2).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for controlling the air fuel ratio of internal combustion engines, characterized by following steps: a) detecting a flow rate of the air supplied into a cylinder; b) detecting an air-fuel ratio of a gaseous mixture supplied into said cylinder by detecting the light generated by a flame in a combustion chamber; c) setting the air-fuel ratio to an optimum level on the basis of the results of the detecting steps a) and b); d) determining the combustion condition corresponding to the setting of the actual air-fuel ratio in step c).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for controlling the air fuel ratio of internal combustion engines, characterized by following steps: a) detecting a flow rate of the air supplied into a cylinder; b) detecting an air-fuel ratio of a gaseous mixture supplied into said cylinder by detecting the light generated by a flame in a combustion chamber; c) setting the air-fuel ratio to an optimum level on the basis of the results of the detecting steps a) and b); d) determining the combustion condition corresponding to the setting of the actual air-fuel ratio in step c).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 8, characterized in that in step b) at least two different wavelengths of the light generated by a flame in a combustion chamber are detected.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that in step b) the air-fuel ratio is detected corresponding to the illuminance of the light of the two different wavelengths.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
39 words
A method according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that in step b) the air-fuel ratio is detected corresponding to a ratio of the sum of the ligth illuminance of the two different wavelengths to the difference therebetween.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the at least two different wavelengths are about 3064 Å and 4315 Å.