US4395905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensor trouble detecting method and apparatus
Assignee: Bosch Corp
•
Filing: 1981-10-16
•
Granted: 1983-08-02
•
Expires: 2001-10-16
Abstract
Abstract In a method for detecting the occurrence of a fault in a first sensor for producing first pulses of a repetitive time period related to a first condition to be detected or the occurrence of fault in a second sensor for producing second pulses indicative of a second condition to be detected at a ratio of one pulse to the production of N first pulses, the first pulses and the second pulses are used for monitoring each other and the detection of the occurrence of trouble in these sensors can be carried out with high reliability.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyoichi Fujimori
- 👤 Hidekazu Oshizawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:39
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B23/00; G01; G01D; G01D3/00; G01D3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting the occurrence of a trouble in a first sensor for producing first pulses of a repetitive time period related to a first condition to be detected and the occurrence of a trouble in a second sensor for producing second pulses indicative of a second condition to be detected at a ratio of one pulse to the production of N first pulses, said method comprising the steps of: applying said second pulses as preset pulses to a counter to which said first pulses are supplied as counting pulses so as to maintain the count value of said counter to within a predetermined range; monitoring the change of the value counted by said counter between periods starting with the time of occurrence of one of said second pulses and ending with the time of occurrence of the next second pulse thereby detecting the occurrence of trouble in said first sensor; and monitoring whether or not the value of the output from said counter reaches a predetermined count value outside of said predetermined counting range, whereby the occurrence of a trouble in said second sensor is detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting the occurrence of a trouble in a first sensor for producing first pulses of a repetitive time period related to a first condition to be detected and the occurrence of a trouble in a second sensor for producing second pulses indicative of a second condition to be detected at a ratio of one pulse to the production of N first pulses, said method comprising the steps of: applying said second pulses as preset pulses to a counter to which said first pulses are supplied as counting pulses so as to maintain the count value of said counter to within a predetermined range; monitoring the change of the value counted by said counter between periods starting with the time of occurrence of one of said second pulses and ending with the time of occurrence of the next second pulse thereby detecting the occurrence of trouble in said first sensor; and monitoring whether or not the value of the output from said counter reaches a predetermined count value outside of said predetermined counting range, whereby the occurrence of a trouble in said second sensor is detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring the change includes a first step of generating a signal in response to the non-production of said first pulse after the occurrence of one of the second pulses, a second step of detecting the count of said counter at the time of the occurrence of the next second pulse following said one second pulse, and a third step of generating a first trouble detecting signal when the count detected in said second step is equal to a value determined in advance for said counter when said signal exists.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said first sensor is a speed sensor for producing a pulse train of a repetitive time period which is varied in relation to changes in the speed of a diesel engine and said second sensor is a fuel injection timing sensor for producing pulses each of which indicates the actual timing of a fuel injection.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a trouble in a first sensor for producing first pulses of a repetitive time period related to a first condition to be detected or the occurrence of trouble in a second sensor for producing second pulses indicative of a second condition to be detected at a rate of one pulse to the production of N first pulses, said apparatus comprising: a first circuit for generating a first signal indicating whether or not said first pulse is generated after the occurrence of said second pulse; a second circuit for generating a second signal indicating whether or not said second pulse is generated after the occurrence of said first pulse; a counting means to which said first pulses are applied as counting pulses, said counting means being preset to a predetermined preset value each time the second pulse is input to said counting means; and a discriminating means for discriminating a trouble in said first or the second sensor on the basis of the count of said counting means, the state of said first signal and the state of said second signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a trouble in a first sensor for producing first pulses of a repetitive time period related to a first condition to be detected or the occurrence of trouble in a second sensor for producing second pulses indicative of a second condition to be detected at a rate of one pulse to the production of N first pulses, said apparatus comprising: a first circuit for generating a first signal indicating whether or not said first pulse is generated after the occurrence of said second pulse; a second circuit for generating a second signal indicating whether or not said second pulse is generated after the occurrence of said first pulse; a counting means to which said first pulses are applied as counting pulses, said counting means being preset to a predetermined preset value each time the second pulse is input to said counting means; and a discriminating means for discriminating a trouble in said first or the second sensor on the basis of the count of said counting means, the state of said first signal and the state of said second signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said discriminating means comprises a circuit for producing a third signal indicating that the output data from said counting means is equal to a first predetermined count value, a first detector for detecting the trouble in said first sensor on the basis of the states of said first signal and said third signal at the time of the occurrence of the next second pulse following said second pulse, and a second detector for detecting the trouble in said second sensor on the basis of the states of said second and said third signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said counting means operates as a count-down counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said producing circuit produces the third signal when said count value is equal to said preset value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises a circuit for producing a forth signal indicating that the output data from said counting means is equal to a second predetermined count value, and said second detector operates on the basis of the states of said second and said forth signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first sensor is a speed sensor for producing a pulse train of a repetitive time period which is varied in relation to changes in the speed of a diesel engine and said second sensor is a fuel injection timing sensor for producing pulses each of which indicates the actual timing of a fuel injection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-01 | 1987-01-31 | 1987-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-01 | 1991-01-31 | 1991-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-01 | 1995-01-31 | 1995-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |