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US4905654A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for controlling an internal combustion engine

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1988-11-02
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Granted: 1990-03-06
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Expires: 2008-11-02
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Abstract

Abstract A control device for an internal combustion engine having an oxygen sensor, and calculation means for calculating a weight of oxygen fed to the internal combustion engine. The oxygen sensor outputs a signal corresponding only to a density of oxygen contained in intake gas fed to the engine. The oxygen sensor has a diffusion layer having pores through which oxygen molecules pass, the pores having a diameter less than or equal to the mean free path of the oxygen molecules contained in the intake gas.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshiyasu Katsuno
  • 👤 Keiji Aoki
  • 👤 Yoshiki Chujo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 12:05
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1439; F02D41/144

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
A device for controlling an internal combustion engine, said control device comprising: an oxygen sensor provided in said internal combustion engine and outputting a signal corresponding only to a density of oxygen contained in intake gas fed to said internal combustion engine, and means for calculating a weight of oxygen fed to said internal combustion engine, based on said signal from said oxygen sensor, to obtain a factor for controlling said internal combustion engine in accordance with said weight of oxygen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 81 words
A device for controlling an internal combustion engine, said control device comprising: an oxygen sensor provided in said internal combustion engine and outputting a signal corresponding only to a density of oxygen contained in intake gas fed to said internal combustion engine, and means for calculating a weight of oxygen fed to said internal combustion engine, based on said signal from said oxygen sensor, to obtain a factor for controlling said internal combustion engine in accordance with said weight of oxygen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen sensor is provided downstream of a throttle valve provided in an intake system of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen sensor faces a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen sensor has a diffusion layer restricting a diffusion of molecules contained in said intake gas and flowing into said oxygen sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said diffusion layer has pores through which oxygen molecules pass, said pores having a diameter substantially less than or equal to a mean free path of said oxygen molecules contained in said intake gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said diameter of said pores is less than 1.0 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said pores extend straight through said diffusion layer from one surface of said diffusion layer to the other surface of said diffusion layer opposite to said one surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 88 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said oxygen sensor further comprises: a first electrode located adjacent to said diffusion layer and ionizing oxygen molecules passing through said diffusion layer, a solid-electrolyte material through which thus-obtained oxygen ions are conducted, a second electrode provided at the opposite side to said first electrode of said solid-electrolyte material and changing said oxygen ions conducted through said solid-electrolyte material into oxygen molecules, and means for sensing an amount of electric current corresponding to said oxygen ions conducted through said solid-electrolyte material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device according to claim 8, further comprising a heater activating said solid-electrolyte material, said heater being disposed on a surface of said diffusion layer opposite to said first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 71 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said oxygen sensor further comprises; a solid-electrolyte material through which oxygen ions are conducted, and having an atmospheric chamber communicating with the atmosphere and a gas chamber closed by said diffusion layer, voltage output means for outputting a voltage corresponding to a partial pressure of oxygen in said gas chamber, and current output means for outputting an electric current corresponding to said output voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 57 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said voltage output means comprises: a third electrode provided on said solid-electrolyte material and facing said atmospheric chamber, a fourth electrode provided on said solid-electrolyte material and facing said gas chamber, and sensing means for sensing a voltage generated between said third and fourth electrodes by said voltage output means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 69 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said current output means comprises: a fifth electrode provided between said diffusion layer and said solid-electrolyte material, a sixth electrode provided on a surface of said solid-electrolyte material and facing said gas chamber, and current generating means for generating an electric current between said fifth and sixth electrodes in accordance with an amount of said voltage output by said voltage output means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4005689A Cited
JPS5575548A Cited
US4272329A Cited
US4768491A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-03-05 1993-09-04 1994-03-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-03-05 1997-09-04 1998-03-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-03-05 2001-09-04 2002-03-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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