Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detecting maximum cylinder pressure angle in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: a. detecting cylinder pressure in an internal combustion engine and determining the angular position of a crankshaft of the engine at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; b. measuring the time lapse required for the crankshaft to pass between a reference crankshaft angle and the crankshaft angle at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; and c. multiplying the measured time lapse by a time-angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detecting maximum cylinder pressure angle in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: a. detecting cylinder pressure in an internal combustion engine and determining the angular position of a crankshaft of the engine at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; b. measuring the time lapse required for the crankshaft to pass between a reference crankshaft angle and the crankshaft angle at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; and c. multiplying the measured time lapse by a time-angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the time angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed is obtained on the basis of a rate of change between periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the rate of change between the periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals is calculated from the periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals before and after the reference crankshaft angle and a predicted rate of change at the maximum pressure position interpolated therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the unit crankshaft angle is relatively large in comparison with the desired detection accuracy.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the reference crankshaft angle is the crankshaft angle at top dead center.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting maximum cylinder pressure angle in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a. a pressure sensor disposed at a cylinder of the engine for detecting cylinder pressure in the engine; b. a crankshaft angle sensor disposed in the vicinity of a rotating member of the engine for detecting a reference angular position of the crankshaft of the engine; c. means for receiving outputs of the sensors and for determining the crankshaft angular position at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; d. means for receiving outputs of the crankshaft angle sensor and the maximum cylinder pressure determining means and for measuring the time lapse required for the crankshaft to pass between the reference crankshaft angle and the crankshaft angle at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; and e. means for receiving output of the time lapse measuring means and for multiplying the measured time lapse by a time-angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed so as to obtain the maximum cylinder pressure angle in the engine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting maximum cylinder pressure angle in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a. a pressure sensor disposed at a cylinder of the engine for detecting cylinder pressure in the engine; b. a crankshaft angle sensor disposed in the vicinity of a rotating member of the engine for detecting a reference angular position of the crankshaft of the engine; c. means for receiving outputs of the sensors and for determining the crankshaft angular position at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; d. means for receiving outputs of the crankshaft angle sensor and the maximum cylinder pressure determining means and for measuring the time lapse required for the crankshaft to pass between the reference crankshaft angle and the crankshaft angle at which the cylinder pressure becomes maximum; and e. means for receiving output of the time lapse measuring means and for multiplying the measured time lapse by a time-angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed so as to obtain the maximum cylinder pressure angle in the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the time angle conversion factor compensated for rate of change in engine rotation speed is obtained on the basis of a rate of change between periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the rate of change between the periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals is calculated from the periods of unit crankshaft angle intervals before and after the reference crankshaft angle and a predicted rate of change at the maximum pressure position interpolated therefrom.