US5359882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for detection and decision of occurrence of misfire in internal combustion engine
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1993-01-27
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2013-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for deciding occurrence of misfire in an internal combustion engine comprises an angle sensor for generating a reference position signal corresponding to a predetermined crank angle of an engine cylinder, a sensor for detecting a running state of the engine, an ion current detector for detecting combustion state in the engine cylinder, a control parameter setting means for setting a control parameter of the engine on the basis of the reference position signal and the running state, a misfire detector for generating a misfire detection signal indicative of occurrence of misfire in the engine on the basis of detection output of the ion current detector, a misfire interval counter for measuring as a misfire interval an interval at which the misfire detection signal is generated, a misfire decision means for generating a misfire decision signal when the misfire interval becomes shorter than a predetermined interval. The control parameter setting means corrects the control parameters on the basis of the misfire decision signal to thereby suppress the occurrence of misfire. A high degree of reliability can be assured in the decision of misfire occurrence without the need for complicated and expensive decision logic.
Inventors
- 👤 Wataru Fukui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:57
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/021; F02P; F02P17/00; F02P17/12; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/145; F02P5/1455; F02D2200/00; F02D2200/02; F02D2200/10; F02D2200/1015; F02D35/023; F02D35/025; F02P2017/125; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for detecting and deciding occurrence of misfire in an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: angular position detecting means for generating a reference position signal corresponding to a predetermined crank angle of an engine cylinder in synchronism with rotation of said internal combustion engine; sensor means for detecting a running state of said internal combustion engine; combustion state detecting means for detecting combustion state in at least one of a number of cylinders of said internal combustion engine; control parameter setting means for setting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine on the basis of said reference position signal and said running state; misfire detecting means for generating a misfire detection signal indicative of occurrence of misfire in said internal combustion engine on the basis of detection of an output of said combustion state detecting means; misfire interval counter means for measuring as a misfire interval an interval between successive misfire detection signals; misfire rate decision means for generating a misfire rate decision signal when said misfire interval is shorter than a predetermined interval; and transient operation decision means for detecting a transient operation state of said internal combustion engine on the basis of at least one of said reference position signal and said running state; wherein said misfire rate decision means decreases said predetermined interval when said transient operation state is detected; and wherein said control parameter setting means corrects said control parameter on the basis of said misfire rate decision signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for detecting and deciding occurrence of misfire in an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: angular position detecting means for generating a reference position signal corresponding to a predetermined crank angle of an engine cylinder in synchronism with rotation of said internal combustion engine; sensor means for detecting a running state of said internal combustion engine; combustion state detecting means for detecting combustion state in at least one of a number of cylinders of said internal combustion engine; control parameter setting means for setting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine on the basis of said reference position signal and said running state; misfire detecting means for generating a misfire detection signal indicative of occurrence of misfire in said internal combustion engine on the basis of detection of an output of said combustion state detecting means; misfire interval counter means for measuring as a misfire interval an interval between successive misfire detection signals; misfire rate decision means for generating a misfire rate decision signal when said misfire interval is shorter than a predetermined interval; and transient operation decision means for detecting a transient operation state of said internal combustion engine on the basis of at least one of said reference position signal and said running state; wherein said misfire rate decision means decreases said predetermined interval when said transient operation state is detected; and wherein said control parameter setting means corrects said control parameter on the basis of said misfire rate decision signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said combustion state detecting means is one of an ion current detector, a cylinder pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a vibration sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control parameter is at least one of an ignition timing control parameter and a fuel injection timing control parameter.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for detecting and deciding occurrence of misfire in an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: angular position detecting means for generating a reference position signal corresponding to a predetermined crank angle of engine cylinders in synchronism with rotation of said internal combustion engine; sensor means for detecting a running state of said internal combustion engine; combustion state detecting means for detecting combustion state in at least one of the engine cylinders; control parameter setting means for setting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine on the basis of said reference position signal and said running state; misfire detecting means for generating a misfire detection signal indicative of occurrence of misfire in said engine on the basis of detection of an output of said combustion state detecting means; misfire interval counter means for measuring as a misfire interval an interval between successive misfire detection signals; misfire rate decision means for generating a misfire rate decision signal when said misfire interval is shorter than a predetermined interval; misfire event counter means for counting a number of times at which said misfire rate decision signal is generated in succession, to thereby generate a misfire event count signal; and misfire occurrence decision means for generating a misfire occurrence decision signal when said misfire event count signal exceeds a predetermined level; wherein said control parameter setting means corrects said control parameter on the basis of said misfire occurrence decision signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for detecting and deciding occurrence of misfire in an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: angular position detecting means for generating a reference position signal corresponding to a predetermined crank angle of engine cylinders in synchronism with rotation of said internal combustion engine; sensor means for detecting a running state of said internal combustion engine; combustion state detecting means for detecting combustion state in at least one of the engine cylinders; control parameter setting means for setting a control parameter of said internal combustion engine on the basis of said reference position signal and said running state; misfire detecting means for generating a misfire detection signal indicative of occurrence of misfire in said engine on the basis of detection of an output of said combustion state detecting means; misfire interval counter means for measuring as a misfire interval an interval between successive misfire detection signals; misfire rate decision means for generating a misfire rate decision signal when said misfire interval is shorter than a predetermined interval; misfire event counter means for counting a number of times at which said misfire rate decision signal is generated in succession, to thereby generate a misfire event count signal; and misfire occurrence decision means for generating a misfire occurrence decision signal when said misfire event count signal exceeds a predetermined level; wherein said control parameter setting means corrects said control parameter on the basis of said misfire occurrence decision signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: transient operation decision means for detecting a transient operation state of said internal combustion engine on the basis of at least one of said reference position signal and said running state; wherein upon decision of said transient operation state, said misfire rate decision means and said misfire occurrence decision means respectively perform one of a decrease in said predetermined interval and an increase in said predetermined number of times.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said combustion state detecting means is one of an ion current detector, a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor and a cylinder pressure sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control parameter is at least one of an ignition timing control parameter and a fuel injection timing control parameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |