US4655181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air-fuel ratio control system
Assignee: Subaru Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-15
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Granted: 1987-04-07
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Expires: 2005-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine has an electromagnetic valve for correcting the air-fuel ratio of air-fuel mixture, and an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases. An engine coolant temperature sensor is provided for producing an engine temperature signal when the temperature is higher than a predetermined value, and an O 2 sensor condition detecting circuit is provided for producing a non-activation signal when the O 2 sensor is not activated. Engine restart operation is detected by the engine temperature signal and non-activation signal. When the restarting of the engine detected, pulses with a duty ratio of which is dependent on the coolant temperature are applied to the electromagnetic valve, so as to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Ohtaki
- 👤 Kazuo Hara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:18
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1486; F02D41/1488; F02D41/04; F02D41/06; F02D41/062; F02D41/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
In a vehicle having an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, means for supplying air-fuel mixture to the engine via the induction passage, an electromagnetic valve for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied by the supply means, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing the output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value and for producing an output signal responsive to the comparison, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to the output signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on the output signal of the comparator means, the first pulses being for driving the electromagnetic valve to correct the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: an engine restart detecting means including an engine speed detecting circuit for producing a restart signal when the engine speed signal is below a predetermined value; second pulse generating means responsive to a signal of the coolant temperature sensor for producing second pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on the coolant temperature; switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve, the second pulses operating the electromagnetic valve dependent on the coolant temperature so as to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
In a vehicle having an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, means for supplying air-fuel mixture to the engine via the induction passage, an electromagnetic valve for correcting the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied by the supply means, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing the output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value and for producing an output signal responsive to the comparison, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to the output signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on the output signal of the comparator means, the first pulses being for driving the electromagnetic valve to correct the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: an engine restart detecting means including an engine speed detecting circuit for producing a restart signal when the engine speed signal is below a predetermined value; second pulse generating means responsive to a signal of the coolant temperature sensor for producing second pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on the coolant temperature; switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve, the second pulses operating the electromagnetic valve dependent on the coolant temperature so as to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
The air-fuel ratio control system according to claim 1, further comprising a coolant temperature detecting circuit for producing a temperature signal when the coolant temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature; O 2 sensor condition detecting means for producing an activation signal when the output voltage of the O 2 sensor reaches an activating value, a flip-flop for driving said switching means, said flip-flop being responsive to the engine speed signal below said predetermined value and the temperature signal for also producing said restart signal for activating the switching means, and gate means responsive to the activation signal for producing a reset signal for resetting the flip-flop so as to reset the switching means to provide the feedback control by the feedback control circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The air-fuel ratio control system according to claim 2, wherein said gate means also produces said reset signal for resetting the flip-flop so as to reset the switching means to provide the feedback control by the feedback control circuit when the coolant temperature drops lower than said predetermined temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The air-fuel ratio control system according to claim 2, wherein said gate means also produces said reset signal for resetting the flip-flop so as to reset the switching means to provide the feedback control by the feedback control circuit when vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
230 words
In an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, air-fuel mixture supplying means including an electromagnetic valve for providing a desired air-fuel ratio via the induction passage to the engine, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator coupled to the engine for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing an output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to an output comparison signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on said comparison signal, and means for applying the first pulses to the electromagnetic valve to adjust the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: an engine speed detector of the engine speed signal for producing a restart signal when the engine speed signal is below a predetermined value; coolant signal means responsive to an output signal of the coolant temperature sensor for producing second pulses having a duty ratio which is a function of the coolant temperature; and switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve, thereby to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
230 words
In an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, air-fuel mixture supplying means including an electromagnetic valve for providing a desired air-fuel ratio via the induction passage to the engine, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator coupled to the engine for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing an output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to an output comparison signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on said comparison signal, and means for applying the first pulses to the electromagnetic valve to adjust the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: an engine speed detector of the engine speed signal for producing a restart signal when the engine speed signal is below a predetermined value; coolant signal means responsive to an output signal of the coolant temperature sensor for producing second pulses having a duty ratio which is a function of the coolant temperature; and switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve, thereby to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
214 words
In an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, air-fuel mixture supplying means including an electromagnetic valve for providing a desired air-fuel ratio via the induction passage to the engine, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator coupled to the engine for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing an output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to an output comparison signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on said comparison signal, and means for applying the first pulses to the electromagnetic valve to adjust the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: means for generating a restart signal when restarting the engine when the engine temperature is above a predetermined temperature, until the O 2 sensor is activated upon reaching its activation temperature; means for generating second pulses; and switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve so as to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
In an air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage, air-fuel mixture supplying means including an electromagnetic valve for providing a desired air-fuel ratio via the induction passage to the engine, an O 2 sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of the engine, an ignition pulse generator coupled to the engine for producing an engine speed signal, a coolant temperature sensor for sensing temperature of coolant of the engine, and a feedback control circuit including comparator means for comparing an output of the O 2 sensor with a reference value, the feedback control circuit including pulse generating circuit means responsive to an output comparison signal of the comparator means for generating first pulses having a duty ratio which is dependent on said comparison signal, and means for applying the first pulses to the electromagnetic valve to adjust the air-fuel ratio, the improvement comprising: means for generating a restart signal when restarting the engine when the engine temperature is above a predetermined temperature, until the O 2 sensor is activated upon reaching its activation temperature; means for generating second pulses; and switching means responsive to the restart signal for exclusively supplying the second pulses to the electromagnetic valve so as to prevent extreme enrichment of the air-fuel mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The air-fuel ratio control system according to claim 6, wherein said O 2 sensor is mounted on an exhaust system of the engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The air-fuel ratio control system according to claim 6, wherein said generating means is a coolant signal means responsive to an output signal of the coolant temperature sensor for producing said second pulses having a duty ratio which is a function of the coolant temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-06 | 1990-10-06 | 1991-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-06 | 1994-10-06 | 1995-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-06 | 1998-10-06 | 1999-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |