US4468949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for detecting operating data of an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1982-02-11
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Granted: 1984-09-04
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Expires: 2002-02-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is proposed for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine. It has an optical sensor whose output signal is delivered to an amplifier with a variable transmission behavior. As a result, it is possible to have either a stepped or a continuous adaptation of the sensor sensitivity to various operational points of the engine. It is particularly proposed that the amplification for the measurement signal be selected to be high in the case of an opto-electrical combustion chamber observation in a low load range, while it is selected to be low in a high load range, so that relatively equalized measurement results are available for use.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernst Linder
- 👤 Karl-Otto Linn
- 👤 Winfried Moser
- 👤 Klaus Muller
- 👤 Erich Zabler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:15
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/022; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1401; F02D41/1406; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/1455; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02D41/24; F02D41/26; F02D41/28; F02D2041/281; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means comprises an integration circuit connected to the amplifier to integrate the amplified optical sensor output and generate an output indicating a mean value for the amplified optical sensor output.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means comprises an integration circuit connected to the amplifier to integrate the amplified optical sensor output and generate an output indicating a mean value for the amplified optical sensor output.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluated the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied, and the varying means comprises a crankshaft angle detector connected to the crankshaft and the amplifier such that varying of the amplifier transmission behaviour occurs only upon occurrence of preselected crankshaft angles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluated the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied, and the varying means comprises a crankshaft angle detector connected to the crankshaft and the amplifier such that varying of the amplifier transmission behaviour occurs only upon occurrence of preselected crankshaft angles.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characterstics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means comprises a timing means connected to the amplifier such that varying of the amplified transmission behaviour occurs only during preselected times.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characterstics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means comprises a timing means connected to the amplifier such that varying of the amplified transmission behaviour occurs only during preselected times.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof and comprising a photo-diode connected to the combustion chamber to detect combustion flash and which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; a means to inhibit the varying means for changing the transmission behaviour of the amplifier; wherein during the output of the photo-diode to the amplifier the varying means generates a constant amplifier transmission behaviour.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof and comprising a photo-diode connected to the combustion chamber to detect combustion flash and which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; a means to inhibit the varying means for changing the transmission behaviour of the amplifier; wherein during the output of the photo-diode to the amplifier the varying means generates a constant amplifier transmission behaviour.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof and comprising a photo-diode connected to the combustion chamber to detect combustion flash and which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means is also connected to the engine to detect further operating characteristics such that varying of the amplifier transmission behaviour occurs according to the further operating characteristics.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for detecting operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber and a crankshaft, the apparatus having: an optical sensor connected to the engine to detect engine operating characteristics which generates an output indicative thereof and comprising a photo-diode connected to the combustion chamber to detect combustion flash and which generates an output indicative thereof; an amplifier connected to receive and amplify the optical sensor output; an evaluation circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified optical sensor output and to evaluate the operating characteristics of the engine as a function of the amplified optical sensor output; a varying means connected to the amplifier to vary the transmission behaviour thereof, whereby the amplification factor of the amplifier is varied; and the varying means is also connected to the engine to detect further operating characteristics such that varying of the amplifier transmission behaviour occurs according to the further operating characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the varying means is further connected to the engine and amplifier, such that the amplifier transmission behavior is increased at engine idling and is decreased at engine full load.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3067610A
Cited
US3754139A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-04 | 1988-03-05 | 1988-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-04 | 1992-03-05 | 1992-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-04 | 1996-03-05 | 1996-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |