US4391130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for communicating the operating condition of an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1981-09-18
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2001-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A feedback operation check signal which indicates whether or not the feedback amount determined depending the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to control the air-fuel ratio is within a predetermined range is fed to an information output terminal, when the throttle valve is in the idling position. On the other hand, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position, an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor is fed to the same information output terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jiro Nakano
- 👤 Hironobu Ono
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:19
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1486; F02D41/1488; F02D41/149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine havng a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, and a feedback control system for producing, depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, a loop feedback signal and for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the produced loop feedback signal, said method comprising the steps of: detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; in response to the idling detection signal, discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within a predetermined range and supplying an electrical signal which indicates whether the loop feedback signal is within the predetermined range, to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position; and in response to the idling detection signal, supplying an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
216 words
A method of communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine havng a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, and a feedback control system for producing, depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, a loop feedback signal and for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the produced loop feedback signal, said method comprising the steps of: detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; in response to the idling detection signal, discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within a predetermined range and supplying an electrical signal which indicates whether the loop feedback signal is within the predetermined range, to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position; and in response to the idling detection signal, supplying an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
135 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discriminating step includes the steps of: discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is larger than the largest value of said predetermined range and producing a first electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is larger than said largest value; discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is smaller than the smallest value of said predetermined range and producing a second electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is smaller than the smallest value; and discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within said predetermined range and producing a third electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is within said predetermined range, one of said first, second and third electrical signals being fed to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first electrical signal is a signal having a predetermined logic level, said second electrical signal is a signal having the inverted logic level of the first electrical signal, and said third electrical signal is a signal having an alternating logic level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third electrical signal alternates at a predetermined interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third electrical signal alternates in synchronism with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discriminating step includes a step of calculating the average value of the loop feedback signal, said discrimination being performed by discriminating whether the calculated average value is within a predetermined range and supplying to said information output terminal an electrical signal which indicates whether the calculated average value is within the predetermined range, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, a feedback control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, and a diagnosis system for detecting abnormal operations of the engine to produce diagnosed signals which indicate the detected abnormal operations, said method comprising the steps of: detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; in response to the idling detection signal, feeding one of the diagnosed signals to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position; and in response to the idling detection signal, feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, a feedback control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, and a diagnosis system for detecting abnormal operations of the engine to produce diagnosed signals which indicate the detected abnormal operations, said method comprising the steps of: detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; in response to the idling detection signal, feeding one of the diagnosed signals to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position; and in response to the idling detection signal, feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, and a feedback control system for producing, depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, a loop feedback signal and for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the produced loop feedback signal, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; and processing means responsive to said idling detection signal, for (1) discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within a predetermined range and supplying an electrical signal which indicates whether the loop feedback signal is within the predetermined range, to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position, and (2) feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, and a feedback control system for producing, depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, a loop feedback signal and for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the produced loop feedback signal, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position and producing an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; and processing means responsive to said idling detection signal, for (1) discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within a predetermined range and supplying an electrical signal which indicates whether the loop feedback signal is within the predetermined range, to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position, and (2) feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor to said information output terminal, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said processing means performs said discriminating function by: discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is larger than the largest value of said predetermined range and producing a first electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is larger than said largest value; discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is smaller than the smallest value of said predetermined range and producing a second electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is smaller than said smallest value; and discriminating whether the loop feedback signal is within said predetermined range and producing a third electrical signal when the loop feedback signal is within said predetermined range, one of said first, second and third electrical signals being fed to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said first electrical signal is a signal having a predetermined logic level, said second electrical signal is a signal having the inverted logic level of the first electrical signal, and said third electrical signal is a signal having an alternating logic level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said third electrical signal alternates at a predetermined interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said third electrical signal alternates in synchronism with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said processing means is also for determining the average value of the loop feedback signal, said processing means performing said discriminating function by discriminating whether the calculated average value is within a predetermined range only when the throttle valve is in the idling position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, a feedback control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, and a diagnosis system for detecting abnormal operations of the engine to produce diagnosed signals which indicate the detected abnormal operations, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position to produce an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; and processing means, responsive to the idling detection signal, for (1) feeding one of the diagnosed signals to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position, and (2) feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for communicating the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an information output terminal, an exhaust gas sensor for detecting the concentration of a predetermined component in the exhaust gas and producing an output signal which alternates in response to the change of the detected concentration, a feedback control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine depending upon the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, and a diagnosis system for detecting abnormal operations of the engine to produce diagnosed signals which indicate the detected abnormal operations, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in the idling position to produce an idling detection signal which indicates whether the throttle valve is in the idling position; and processing means, responsive to the idling detection signal, for (1) feeding one of the diagnosed signals to said information output terminal, only when the throttle valve is in the idling position, and (2) feeding an electrical signal which is synchronized with the output signal from the exhaust gas sensor, when the throttle valve is not in the idling position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4290107A
Cited
US4252098A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |