US4945879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel controller for an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1989-02-01
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Granted: 1990-08-07
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Expires: 2009-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine has a crank angle sensor which generates a cylinder recognition signal corresponding to a prescribed cylinder of the engine. If a microcomputer 12 determines that the cylinder recognition signal has not changed during the occurrence of a prescribed number of changes in the level of a crank angle signal, the cylinder recognition signal is determined to be abnormal and fuel injectors of the engine are not actuated if the engine has been running for at least a prescribed length of time, thereby cutting off the supply of fuel to the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Takanori Fujimoto
- 👤 Toshiro Hara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:28
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/24; F02D41/26; F02D41/009; F02D41/22; F02D41/222; F02P; F02P11/00; F02P11/02; F02P7/00; F02P7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine comprising: a crank angle sensor which generates a crank angle signal whose level changes at one or more prescribed crankshaft angles of the engine and a cylinder recognition signal which indicates a prescribed cylinder of the engine; determining means for determining whether the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal on the basis of the crank angle signal and the cylinder recognition signal; and fuel cut-off means for cutting off the supply of fuel to the engine if the determining means determines that the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal and the engine has been running for at least a prescribed length of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine comprising: a crank angle sensor which generates a crank angle signal whose level changes at one or more prescribed crankshaft angles of the engine and a cylinder recognition signal which indicates a prescribed cylinder of the engine; determining means for determining whether the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal on the basis of the crank angle signal and the cylinder recognition signal; and fuel cut-off means for cutting off the supply of fuel to the engine if the determining means determines that the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal and the engine has been running for at least a prescribed length of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuel controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining means and said fuel cut-off means are constituted by a microcomputer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fuel controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining whether the level of said cylinder recognition signal has changed during the occurrence of a prescribed number of changes in the level of the crank angle signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of controlling the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine having a crank angle sensor which generates a crank angle signal whose level changes at one or more prescribed crankshaft angles of the engine and a cylinder recognition signal corresponding to a prescribed cylinder of the engine, comprising: determining whether the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal; and shutting off the supply of fuel to the engine if the cylinder recognition signal is determined to be abnormal and the engine has been running for at least a prescribed length of time.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of controlling the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine having a crank angle sensor which generates a crank angle signal whose level changes at one or more prescribed crankshaft angles of the engine and a cylinder recognition signal corresponding to a prescribed cylinder of the engine, comprising: determining whether the cylinder recognition signal is abnormal; and shutting off the supply of fuel to the engine if the cylinder recognition signal is determined to be abnormal and the engine has been running for at least a prescribed length of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cylinder recognition signal is determined to be abnormal when the level thereof has not changed during the occurrence of a prescribed number of changes in the level of the crank angle signal.
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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) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |