US5113828A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining combustion conditions and for operating an engine
Assignee: Barrack Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-02-26
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Granted: 1992-05-19
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Expires: 2010-02-26
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine is provided having a luminosity detector and an arrangement for adjusting the parameters of the engine in response to sensed combustion conditions within the combustion chamber based on particular gain independent parameters of the luminosity signal. The gain independent luminosity parameters can also be used to obtain uniform combustion conditions from cycle to cycle in a given combustion chamber and uniform combustion in the combustion chambers of multi chamber engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Remboski
- 👤 Steven L. Plee
- 👤 Jialin Yang
- 👤 Robert W. Law
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:35
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/022; F02D35/028; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1497; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/1455; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the peak luminosity so as to determine start of combustion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the peak luminosity so as to determine start of combustion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein the location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the peak luminosity is determined in relation to output shaft angle so as to determine start of combustion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, wherein spark timing is adjusted to obtain a desired relationship between the location at which luminosity is a particular percentage of the peak luminosity and output shaft angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one parameter of the engine is adjusted to obtain a desired location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of peak luminosity in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 4, wherein air/fuel ratio is adjusted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 4, wherein fuel delivery is adjusted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminosity detecting means detects the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and start of combustion is determined for each cycle of operation, said method further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to obtain uniformity in each cycle of operation for start of combustion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the total integrated luminosity so as to determine start of combustion.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the total integrated luminosity so as to determine start of combustion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 8, wherein spark timing is adjusted to obtain a desired relationship between the location at which luminosity is a particular percentage of the total integrated luminosity and output shaft angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one parameter of the engine is adjusted to obtain a desired location at which the luminosity is a particular percentage of the total integrated luminosity in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 10, wherein air/fuel ratio is adjusted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 10, wherein fuel delivery is adjusted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 8, wherein said luminosity detecting means detects the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and start of combustion is determined for each cycle of operation, said method further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to obtain uniformity in each cycle of operation for start of combustion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location of the minimum luminosity derivative so as to determine end of combustion.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location of the minimum luminosity derivative so as to determine end of combustion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one parameter of the engine is adjusted to obtain a desired location of the minimum luminosity derivative in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 15, wherein air/fuel ratio is adjusted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 15, wherein fuel delivery is adjusted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 14, wherein said luminosity detecting means detects the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and end of combustion is determined for each cycle of operation, said method further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to obtain uniformity in each cycle of operation for end of combustion.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location of the peak luminosity derivative so as to determine location of peak rate of heat release in the combustion chamber.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, means for forming a combustible air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, means for detecting the luminosity within the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the combustion cycle, generating a curve based on the detected luminosity, determining the location of the peak luminosity derivative so as to determine location of peak rate of heat release in the combustion chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 19, wherein spark timing is adjusted to obtain a desired relationship between the location of the peak luminosity derivative and output shaft angle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one parameter of the engine is adjusted to obtain a desired location of the peak luminosity derivative in relation to output shaft angle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, wherein air/fuel ratio is adjusted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, wherein fuel delivery is adjusted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 19, wherein said luminosity detecting means detects the luminosity within the combustion chamber during each cycle of operation and location of peak rate of heat release in the combustion chamber is determined for each cycle of operation, said method further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the engine to obtain uniformity in each cycle of operation for location of peak rate of heat release in the combustion chamber.
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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) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-11-18 | 1996-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-19 | 1999-11-18 | 2000-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-19 | 2003-11-18 | 2004-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |