US5088465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fast start fueling for fuel injected spark ignition engine
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1991-05-24
•
Granted: 1992-02-18
•
Expires: 2011-05-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention includes a method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine with a reduced starting time. That is, there is a reduced delay before the first combustion event occurs in the engine. Only a single engine position sensor is used. The method includes injecting fuel into a cylinder before true engine position is determined and applying an ignition pulse to the cylinder and firing the ignition coil after fuel has been injected into the cylinder. Advantageously, injecting fuel for the cylinder is done after determining the engine is turning and determining the engine has a rotational rate below a predetermined parameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J. DeBiasi
- 👤 Viren B. Merchant
- 👤 James B. Maurer
- 👤 Larry A. Hardy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:09
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02D41/06; F02D41/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of starting an internal combustion engine including the steps of: using only one engine position sensor; injecting fuel before true engine position is determined; determining engine rotational position; and applying an ignition pulse to the cylinder and firing the ignition coil after fuel has been injected into the cylinder and after engine position has been determined.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of starting an internal combustion engine including the steps of: using only one engine position sensor; injecting fuel before true engine position is determined; determining engine rotational position; and applying an ignition pulse to the cylinder and firing the ignition coil after fuel has been injected into the cylinder and after engine position has been determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of injecting fuel for the cylinder includes the steps of: determining the engine is turning; and determining the engine has a rotational rate below a predetermined parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of monitoring how far the engine has turned since the start of crank so that fuel injection can be synchronized to a desired engine operating position when true engine position is found.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the firing of the ignition coil occurs upon determining actual engine position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of controlling engine fueling and spark including the steps of: determining if the crankshaft position sensor signal is valid; determining if the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined value; starting fueling of the engine; and continuing the above steps until engine has turned two revolutions or engine position has been determined.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of controlling engine fueling and spark including the steps of: determining if the crankshaft position sensor signal is valid; determining if the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined value; starting fueling of the engine; and continuing the above steps until engine has turned two revolutions or engine position has been determined.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising: determining the engine position; and scheduling an ignition spark and a fuel signal synchronous to engine position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of looking for a missing tooth crankshaft position sensor signal to find engine position if engine RPM is above a predetermined limit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 7 further comprising the step of looking for a missing tooth crankshaft position sensor signal to find actual engine position if the engine has turned two revolutions since engine cranking began.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of starting an internal combustion engine including the steps of: using only one engine position sensor; determining the engine is turning; determining the engine has a rotational rate below a predetermined parameter; monitoring how far the engine has turned since the start of crank so that fuel injection can be synchronized to a desired engine operating position when true engine position is found; injecting fuel before true engine position is determined; determining engine rotational position; and applying an ignition pulse to the cylinder and firing the ignition coil after fuel has been injected into the cylinder and after engine position has been determined.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of starting an internal combustion engine including the steps of: using only one engine position sensor; determining the engine is turning; determining the engine has a rotational rate below a predetermined parameter; monitoring how far the engine has turned since the start of crank so that fuel injection can be synchronized to a desired engine operating position when true engine position is found; injecting fuel before true engine position is determined; determining engine rotational position; and applying an ignition pulse to the cylinder and firing the ignition coil after fuel has been injected into the cylinder and after engine position has been determined.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of controlling engine fueling and spark including the steps of: determining if the crankshaft position sensor signal is valid; determining if the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined value; starting fueling of the engine; continuing the above steps until engine has turned two revolutions or engine position has been determined; determining the engine position; scheduling an ignition spark and a fuel signal synchronous to engine position; and looking for a missing tooth crankshaft position sensor signal to find engine position if engine RPM is above a predetermined limit and if engine cranking began.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of controlling engine fueling and spark including the steps of: determining if the crankshaft position sensor signal is valid; determining if the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined value; starting fueling of the engine; continuing the above steps until engine has turned two revolutions or engine position has been determined; determining the engine position; scheduling an ignition spark and a fuel signal synchronous to engine position; and looking for a missing tooth crankshaft position sensor signal to find engine position if engine RPM is above a predetermined limit and if engine cranking began.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for starting an internal combustion including: a single engine position sensor; a fuel injector means for injecting fuel for a cylinder before true engine position is determined; spark plug means for applying an ignition pulse to an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder; means for determining if the engine is turning; means for determining the rotational rate of an engine; means for comparing the rotational rate to a predetermined parameter; ignition module means for controlling the application of ignition coil current to said spark plug; electronic engine computer means coupled to said ignition module and said spark plug for; computer means for injecting fuel into a cylinder before true engine position is determined and firing the ignition coil after the fuel has been injected into the cylinder and true engine position has been determined.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for starting an internal combustion including: a single engine position sensor; a fuel injector means for injecting fuel for a cylinder before true engine position is determined; spark plug means for applying an ignition pulse to an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder; means for determining if the engine is turning; means for determining the rotational rate of an engine; means for comparing the rotational rate to a predetermined parameter; ignition module means for controlling the application of ignition coil current to said spark plug; electronic engine computer means coupled to said ignition module and said spark plug for; computer means for injecting fuel into a cylinder before true engine position is determined and firing the ignition coil after the fuel has been injected into the cylinder and true engine position has been determined.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said computer means determines if the engine position has been determined, if the engine has turned more than two revolutions since the position has been determined and whether a missing tooth in the crankshaft position sensor has been located.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4131098A
Cited
US4489691A
Cited
US4418674A
Cited
US4515131A
Cited
US4797827A
Cited
US4656993A
Cited
US4553426A
Cited
US4732122A
Cited
US4941449A
Cited
US4867115A
Cited
US4875443A
Cited
US5027779A
Cited
US5038740A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-08-19 | 1996-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-17 | 1999-08-19 | 2000-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-17 | 2003-08-19 | 2004-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |