Multiprocessing microprocessor based engine control system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A multiprocessing microprocessor based engine control system for an internal combustion engine having: a plurality of sensors (30) adapted to be mounted on the engine, each of said sensors providing an output electrical signal representing one of a plurality of engine operating conditions; a power supply receiving means (40) adapted to receive power upon demand of the engine operator and to receive standby voltage during engine non-operating times; an A/D converter means (32) for converting the output signals from said sensors into digitally equivalent signals; an injector means (46) mounted on the engine upstream of the intake valves of the engine; a fuel supply means including a fuel pump adapted to supply fuel to said injector means; said system characterized by a first (26) and second (28) microprocessor having storage means (84, 86) therein, said microprocessors electrically connected together and adapted to receive input from said A/D converter means (32) and said power supply means (40) and operable to calculate fuel quantity electrical signals to operate said injectors (46) according to the electrical signals provided by said sensors (30) and predetermined data in said storage means (84, 86).

Claim 3

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 1 wherein said microprocessors (26, 28) are controlled from a single oscillator means (100) wherein said first microprocessor (26) assumes the master role and synchronizes the operation of said second microprocessor (28).

Claim 4

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 1 additionally including a programmable read only memory (PROM) means (44) operatively connected to one of said microprocessors (26) for supplying to said microprocessor signals representative of predetermined engine calibrations unique to the engine on which the system is to be used.

Claim 5

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 3 wherein said programmable read only memory means (44) is operatively connected to at least one of said input-output ports of said microprocessor (26) and is controlled by a control signal generated in said one microprocessor for transmitting data and control law constants from said programmable read only memory means (44) to said microprocessor (26) according to a master control program in said microprocessor.

Claim 6

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 1 wherein said first microprocessor (26) is assigned the task of calculating the fuel quantity signals and said second microprocessor (28) calculates control signals for operating various output electromechanical devices (52, 56, 58, 60) controlling emissions of the engine.

Claim 7

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 5 wherein said second microprocessor (28) operates in response to speed control signals from one of said sensors (74) and a timer means for controlling a plurality of electromechanical devices which are operable for supplying fuel and air to the engine for controlling engine emission devices and for controlling engine driven peripheral devices.

Claim 8

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 6 wherein said second microprocessor (28) calculates digital control signals for controlling said fuel pump (52), environmental control valves (58, 60) and spark advance control (22).

Claim 9

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 1 additionally including a timer means (42) responsive to said power supply receiving means (40) and engine non-operating times for removing standby voltage (80) from said microprocessor (26, 28) after a predetermined extended time period.

Claim 10

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 8 wherein said extended time period is greater than five days after the beginning of an uninterrupted engine non-operating time.

Claim 11

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system according to Claim 1 additionally including idle speed control means (48, 50) responding to control signals generated from one of said microprocessors (28) for varying the air intake to the engine during predetermined engine speed ranges as indicated by one of said sensors.

Claim 12

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system for an internal combustion engine having an electromechanical fuel injector means (46) located in the throttle body of the engine; a fuel supply means including an electrically responsive fuel pump (52) supplying fuel to the injector means (46); a plurality of engine coupled sensors (30) adapted to provide output electrical signals representing engine operating conditions; an analog to digital converter (32) adapted to receive said output signals from said sensors for generating multiple bit digital signals therefrom; a power supply means (40) adaptable to provide operational electrical power upon initiation of the operation of the engine and to provide standby voltage (80) during non-operation of the engine; said system characterized by; a programmable read only memory means (44) adapted to receive a set of calibration data characteristic of the engine; and a pair of microprocessors (26, 28) having volatile and nonvolatile memory means (84, 86), said microprocessors electrically connected together and independently operable for performing fuel injection computations in response to said multiple bit digital signals according to the fuel management control laws located in its nonvolatile memory (86), and the operational data from preceding engine operations located in its volatile memory (84), and the calibration data in said programmable read only memory means (44), each of said microprocessors (26, 28) sharing computational data with each other and each of said microprocessors controlling predetermined input-output components of the fuel injection control system, said microprocessors calculating the fuel quantity electrical signal for energizing the fuel injector means (46).

Claim 13

A multiprocessing microprocessor based system for an internal combustion engine having an electromechanical fuel injector means (46) located in the throttle body of the engine; a fuel supply means including an electrically responsive fuel pump (52) supplying fuel to the injector means (46); a plurality of engine coupled sensors (30) adapted to provide output electrical signals representing engine operating conditions; an analog to digital converter (32) adapted to receive said output signals from said sensors for generating multiple bit digital signals therefrom; a power supply means (40) adaptable to provide operational electrical power upon initiation of the operation of the engine and to provide standby voltage (80) during non-operation of the engine; said system characterized by; a programmable read only memory means (44) adapted to receive a set of calibration data characteristic of the engine; and a pair of microprocessors (26, 28) having volatile and nonvolatile memory means (84, 86), said microprocessors electrically connected together and independently operable for performing fuel injection computations in response to said multiple bit digital signals according to the fuel management control laws located in its nonvolatile memory (86), and the operational data from preceding engine operations located in its volatile memory (84), and the calibration data in said programmable read only memory means (44), each of said microprocessors (26, 28) sharing computational data with each other and each of said microprocessors controlling predetermined input-output components of the fuel injection control system, said microprocessors calculating the fuel quantity electrical signal for energizing the fuel injector means (46).

Claim 14

The system according to Claim 11 additionally including a single oscillator means (100) driving one of said microprocessors and said driven microprocessor synchronizing the other of said microprocessors thereto.

Claim 15

The system according to Claim 11 wherein the volatile memory (84) in said microprocessors updates the operational data therein during each engine operation and said volatile memory (84) receives power (80) from said power supply receiving means during both engine operating and non-operating times.

Claim 16

The system according to Claim 13 additionally including timer means responsive to an engine off signal (162) for calculating a predetermined time period for maintaining standby voltage (80) to said volatile memory in said microprocessors.