Patent US4508388A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4715343A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4715343A
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Method and apparatus for controlling heater for heating air-fuel ratio sensor
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1986-09-16
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Granted: 1987-12-29
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Expires: 2006-09-16
Abstract
Abstract In an internal combustion engine, a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in the exhaust gas flow passage is controlled in accordance with a parameter of a driving condition of the engine. That is the heater for the air-fuel ratio sensor is turned ON when the parameter is not larger than a predetermined value, and the heater for the air-fuel ratio sensor is turned OFF when the parameter is larger than the predetermined value. The turning ON or turning OFF of the heater is delayed with a predetermined delay time. Thus the number of times that the heater is turned ON and OFF is decreased, thereby prolonging the life of the heater.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiaki Kinoshita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:53
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1477; F02D41/1481; F02D41/1493; F02D41/1494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, delaying the turning ON of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, delaying the turning ON of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining whether or not said engine is in a starting condition; and, decreasing said delay time immediately after said engine becomes in said starting condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: measuring a duration at which said heater is turned ON; determining whether or not said duration is longer than the predetermined time period; turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value and said duration is longer than said predetermined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: changing said delay time in accordance with said driving condition parameter of said engine and a speed of a vehicle on which said engine is mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said driving condition parameter of said engine is an intake air amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said delay time is 0.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a step of judging whether or not an engine rotational speed is larger than a predetermined speed, thereby determining that said engine is in said starting condition.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, delaying the turning OFF of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, delaying the turning OFF of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: measuring a duration at which said heater is turned OFF: determining whether or not said duration is longer than a predetermined time period; turning ON said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value and said duration is longer than said predetermined time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: changing said delay time in accordance with said driving condition parameter of said engine and a speed of a vehicle in which said engine is mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said driving condition parameter of said engine is the intake air amount.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising: means for detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; means for determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; means for turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; means for turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, means for delaying the turning ON of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising: means for detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; means for determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; means for turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; means for turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, means for delaying the turning ON of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising of: means for determining whether or not said engine is in a starting condition; and, means for decreasing said delay time immediately after said engine becomes in said starting condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: means for measuring a duration at which said heater is turned ON; means for determining whether or not said duration is longer than the predetermined time period; means for turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value and said duration is longer than said predetermined time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: means for changing said delay time in accordance with said driving condition parameter of said engine and a speed of a vehicle in which said engine is mounted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said driving condition parameter of said engine is an intake air amount.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said delay time is 0.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a means for judging whether or not an engine rotational speed is larger than a predetermined speed, thereby determining that said engine is in said starting condition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising: means for detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; means for determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; means for turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; means for turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, means for delaying the turning OFF of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for controlling a heater for heating an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine comprising: means for detecting a driving condition parameter of said engine; means for determining whether or not said parameter is larger than a predetermined value; means for turning ON said heater when said parameter is not larger than said predetermined value; means for turning OFF said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value; and, means for delaying the turning OFF of said heater with a predetermined delay time when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further comprising: means for measuring a duration at which said heater is turned OFF; means for determining whether or not said duration is longer than a predetermined time period; means for turning ON said heater when said parameter is larger than said predetermined value and said duration is longer than said predetermined time period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further comprising: means for changing said delay time in accordance with said driving condition parameter of said engine and a speed of a vehicle in which said engine is mounted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said driving condition parameter of said engine is an intake air amount.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-28 | 1991-06-29 | 1991-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-28 | 1995-06-29 | 1995-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-28 | 1999-06-29 | 1999-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |