Engine control system responsive to optical fuel composition sensor

Claim 2

An optical sensor for determining the ratio for each of two constituents in a fluid mixture wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, comprising: a hemispherical lens portion having an axis, a hemispherical surface surrounded by the fluid mixture, and a base; a light emitting source aligned with said axis and positioned adjacent to said base for transmitting light against substantially all of said hemispherical surface; and a light detector aligned with said axis and positioned on said base adjacent said light emitting source, said light detector collecting light which is reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an electrical signal related to the proportion of the constituents in the fluid mixture.

Claim 3

The optical sensor recited in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said reflected light to said transmitted light is related to a ratio of refractive indices of the mixture constituents.

Claim 4

The optical sensor recited in claim 1 wherein the mixture constituents comprise alcohol and gasoline.

Claim 5

The optical sensor recited in claim 1 wherein said light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 6

The optical sensor recited in claim 1 wherein said light detector comprises a photodetector and said light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode, the optical sensor further comprising feedback means responsive to light reflected by said hemispherical lens for regulating electrical power supplied to said light emitting diode such that its emitted light remains substantially constant.

Claim 7

An optical sensor for determining the proportion of each of two constituents in a fluid mixture wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, comprising: a hemispherical lens portion having an axis, a hemispherical surface surrounded by the fluid mixture, and a base with an axially aligned recess formed in said base; a light emitting source positioned in said recess which irradiates substantially all of said hemispherical surface; and a light detector positioned adjacent said base directly below said light emitting source and aligned with said axis, said light detector collecting light which is emitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an electrical signal related to the proportion of constituents in the fluid mixture.

Claim 8

An optical sensor for determining the proportion of each of two constituents in a fluid mixture wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, comprising: a hemispherical lens portion having an axis, a hemispherical surface surrounded by the fluid mixture, and a base with an axially aligned recess formed in said base; a light emitting source positioned in said recess which irradiates substantially all of said hemispherical surface; and a light detector positioned adjacent said base directly below said light emitting source and aligned with said axis, said light detector collecting light which is emitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an electrical signal related to the proportion of constituents in the fluid mixture.

Claim 9

The optical sensor recited in claim 6 wherein said recess in said bottom surface includes a hemispherical portion and wherein said light source irradiates said hemispherical portion such that substantially all of said emitted light is transmitted through said hemispherical portion.

Claim 10

The optical sensor recited in claim 6 wherein a ratio of said reflected light to said emitted light is related to a ratio of refractive indices of the mixture constituents.

Claim 11

The optical lens recited in claim 6 wherein the mixture constituents comprise alcohol and gasoline.

Claim 12

An optical sensor for determining constituents of a fluid mixture wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, comprising: a hemispherical lens having its hemispherical surface surrounded by said fluid mixture and also having a base, said hemispherical lens having a plane of symmetry symmetrical about a center axis of said hemispherical lens; a light emitting source positioned in a recess within said base which is offset a predetermined distance from said plane of symmetry, said light source irradiating substantially all of said hemispherical surface; and a light detector positioned substantially at a conjugate focus to said light emitting source which is opposite said plane of symmetry with respect to said light emitting source by a distance substantially equal to said predetermined distance, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an electrical indication of the constituents in the fluid mixture.

Claim 13

An optical sensor for determining constituents of a fluid mixture wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, comprising: a hemispherical lens having its hemispherical surface surrounded by said fluid mixture and also having a base, said hemispherical lens having a plane of symmetry symmetrical about a center axis of said hemispherical lens; a light emitting source positioned in a recess within said base which is offset a predetermined distance from said plane of symmetry, said light source irradiating substantially all of said hemispherical surface; and a light detector positioned substantially at a conjugate focus to said light emitting source which is opposite said plane of symmetry with respect to said light emitting source by a distance substantially equal to said predetermined distance, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an electrical indication of the constituents in the fluid mixture.

Claim 14

The optical lens recited in claim 10 wherein said recess in said bottom surface includes a hemispherical portion and wherein said light source irradiates said hemispherical portion such that substantially all of said transmitted light is transmitted through said hemispherical portion.

Claim 15

The optical lens recited in claim 10 wherein said conjugate focal point is located on an opposite side of said plane of symmetry with respect to said light emitting source and below said light emitting source.

Claim 16

The optical lens recited in claim 10 wherein said light detector is positioned on said base.

Claim 17

The optical lens recited in claim 10 wherein a ratio of said reflected light to said transmitted light is related to a ratio of refractive indices of the mixture constituents.

Claim 18

A control system for an internal combustion engine which operates with a fuel mixture composed substantially of two constituents each having a different index of refraction, said control system comprising: a hemispherical lens having an axis, a hemispherical surface surrounded by the fluid mixture, and a base with an axially aligned recess formed in said base; a light emitting source positioned in said recess which irradiates substantially all of said hemispherical surface; a light detector positioned adjacent said base directly below said light emitting source and aligned with said axis, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians; and control means responsive to said light detector for adjusting an engine operating parameter as a function of constituent composition of the fuel mixture.

Claim 19

A control system for an internal combustion engine which operates with a fuel mixture composed substantially of two constituents each having a different index of refraction, said control system comprising: a hemispherical lens having an axis, a hemispherical surface surrounded by the fluid mixture, and a base with an axially aligned recess formed in said base; a light emitting source positioned in said recess which irradiates substantially all of said hemispherical surface; a light detector positioned adjacent said base directly below said light emitting source and aligned with said axis, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians; and control means responsive to said light detector for adjusting an engine operating parameter as a function of constituent composition of the fuel mixture.

Claim 20

The control system recited in claim 15 wherein said control means regulates engine air/fuel ratio in relation to the constituent composition of the fuel mixture.

Claim 21

The control system recited in claim 15 wherein said control means regulates engine ignition timing in relation to the constituent composition of the fuel mixture.

Claim 22

A control system for an internal combustion engine which inducts a mixture of air and a fuel mixture composed of two constituents wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, said control system comprising: a hemispherical lens having its hemispherical surface surrounded by said fluid mixture and also having a base, said hemispherical lens having a plane of symmetry symmetrical about a center axis of said hemispherical lens; a light emitting source positioned in a recess within said base which is offset a predetermined distance from said plane of symmetry, said light source irradiating substantially all of said hemispherical surface; a light detector positioned substantially at a conjugate focal point to said light emitting source which is opposite said plane of symmetry with respect to said light emitting source by a distance substantially equal to said predetermined distance, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an indication of the constituents in the fluid mixture; reference means responsive to said light detector for providing an air/fuel ratio reference as a function of constituent composition of the fuel mixture; airflow means for calculating airflow inducted into the engine; and air/fuel ratio means for delivering fuel into the engine in response to said inducted airflow calculation and said air/fuel ratio reference such that the engine operates at said air/fuel ratio reference.

Claim 23

A control system for an internal combustion engine which inducts a mixture of air and a fuel mixture composed of two constituents wherein each constituent has a different index of refraction, said control system comprising: a hemispherical lens having its hemispherical surface surrounded by said fluid mixture and also having a base, said hemispherical lens having a plane of symmetry symmetrical about a center axis of said hemispherical lens; a light emitting source positioned in a recess within said base which is offset a predetermined distance from said plane of symmetry, said light source irradiating substantially all of said hemispherical surface; a light detector positioned substantially at a conjugate focal point to said light emitting source which is opposite said plane of symmetry with respect to said light emitting source by a distance substantially equal to said predetermined distance, said light detector collecting light which is transmitted from said light source and reflected from substantially all of said hemispherical surface such that the optical sensor has an effective aperture of nearly 2 π steradians, said light detector providing an indication of the constituents in the fluid mixture; reference means responsive to said light detector for providing an air/fuel ratio reference as a function of constituent composition of the fuel mixture; airflow means for calculating airflow inducted into the engine; and air/fuel ratio means for delivering fuel into the engine in response to said inducted airflow calculation and said air/fuel ratio reference such that the engine operates at said air/fuel ratio reference.

Claim 24

The optical sensor recited in claim 18 wherein said light detector comprises a photodetector and said light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode, said optical sensor further comprising feedback means responsive to light reflected by said hemispherical lens for regulating electrical power supplied to said light emitting diode such that its emitted light remains substantially constant.