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US5157613A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adaptive control system for an engine

Assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-26
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2010-11-26
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Abstract

Abstract An adaptive control system is provided for an internal combustion engine having at least two control inputs which affect an engine output. The system involves establishing a first base value for a first control input as a function of engine operating conditions and establishing a second base value for a second control input as a function of engine operating conditions. Corrections are applied in accordance with a predetermined control strategy to the first base value and the second base value to obtain a first corrected value for the first control input and a second corrected value for the second control input. A particular control input is periodically perturbed, and the engine output is monitored. The actual slope or differential of the engine output with respect to the particular control input is determined. The control strategy is predetermined to cause the actual slope to correspond to a desired value and to allow corrections to be applied to the first and second base values after corrections have become stabilized.

Inventors

  • 👤 David Williams
  • 👤 John M. Ironside

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:53
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0047; F02D41/005; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1401; F02D41/1408; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/045; F02P5/145; F02P5/1455; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
A diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine having at least two control inputs which affect an engine output, said method comprising: (a) establishing a base value for one of said control inputs as a function of engine operating conditions; (b) periodically perturbing said one control input about its base value; (c) monitoring said engine output; (d) determining the actual slope of said engine output with respect to perturbation of said one control input; (e) establishing a desired value for said slope; (f) determining any difference between said actual slope and said desired value; and (g) storing in a storage means information relating to said difference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 106 words
A diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine having at least two control inputs which affect an engine output, said method comprising: (a) establishing a base value for one of said control inputs as a function of engine operating conditions; (b) periodically perturbing said one control input about its base value; (c) monitoring said engine output; (d) determining the actual slope of said engine output with respect to perturbation of said one control input; (e) establishing a desired value for said slope; (f) determining any difference between said actual slope and said desired value; and (g) storing in a storage means information relating to said difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as in claim 1, further comprising interrogating said storage means at periodic intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as in claim 2, further comprising providing a warning signal when said difference exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method as in claim 1, further comprising storing said difference in a drift storage means as a function of the age of said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as in claim 4, further comprising providing a correction to said one control input responsive to said drift storage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 142 words
A diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine having at least two control inputs which affect an engine output, said system comprising: means for establishing a base value for one of said control inputs as a function of engine operating conditions; perturbation means for periodically perturbing said one control input about its base value; monitoring means for monitoring said engine output; slope detection means, responsive to said monitoring means, for determining the actual slope of said engine output with respect to perturbations of said one control input; means for establishing a desired value for said slope; comparison means, responsive to said slope detection means and said means for establishing a desired value for said slope, for determining any difference between said actual slope and said desired value; and storage means, responsive to said comparison means, for storing information relating to said difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 142 words
A diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine having at least two control inputs which affect an engine output, said system comprising: means for establishing a base value for one of said control inputs as a function of engine operating conditions; perturbation means for periodically perturbing said one control input about its base value; monitoring means for monitoring said engine output; slope detection means, responsive to said monitoring means, for determining the actual slope of said engine output with respect to perturbations of said one control input; means for establishing a desired value for said slope; comparison means, responsive to said slope detection means and said means for establishing a desired value for said slope, for determining any difference between said actual slope and said desired value; and storage means, responsive to said comparison means, for storing information relating to said difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising interrogation means for interrogating said storage means at periodic intervals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said interrogation means comprises means for providing a warning signal when said difference exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said storage means comprises a drift storage means for storing said difference as a function of the age of said engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus as in claim 9, further comprising means, responsive to said drift storage means, for providing a correction to said one control input.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1995-10-20 1996-04-20 1996-10-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-10-20 2000-04-20 2000-10-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-10-20 2004-04-20 2004-10-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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