US5423208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air dynamics state characterization
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Filing: 1993-11-22
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Granted: 1995-06-13
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Expires: 2013-11-22
Abstract
Abstract The state of internal combustion engine inlet air dynamics is characterized in a substantially noise immune albeit rapid manner according to the degree by which a first set of criteria indicate a steady state condition in which engine inlet air rate substantially corresponds to cylinder inlet air rate or to the degree by which a second set of criteria indicate a transient condition in which engine inlet air rate does not substantially correspond to cylinder air rate. Cylinder inlet air rate may then be predicted in accord with the characterization.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth P. Dudek
- 👤 Gregory P. Matthews
- 👤 Charles H. Folkerts
- 👤 Ronald A. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:51
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/30; F02D41/32; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02D41/045; F02D41/18; F02D41/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for detecting transitions between a steady state condition and a transient condition in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and an inlet air valve for metering inlet air to an intake manifold, in which inlet air rate to the intake manifold substantially corresponds to inlet air rate to the cylinders in the steady state condition, comprising the steps of: sensing a first set of engine operating parameters; sensing a second set of engine operating parameters; detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed first set of engine operating parameters over a first time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of transient noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when each of the determined variations exceeds the corresponding one of the set of transient noise threshold values; and detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed second set of engine operating parameters over a second time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
256 words
A method for detecting transitions between a steady state condition and a transient condition in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and an inlet air valve for metering inlet air to an intake manifold, in which inlet air rate to the intake manifold substantially corresponds to inlet air rate to the cylinders in the steady state condition, comprising the steps of: sensing a first set of engine operating parameters; sensing a second set of engine operating parameters; detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed first set of engine operating parameters over a first time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of transient noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when each of the determined variations exceeds the corresponding one of the set of transient noise threshold values; and detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed second set of engine operating parameters over a second time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of engine operating parameters includes intake manifold air pressure and inlet air valve position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of engine operating parameters includes intake manifold air pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the transient noise threshold values vary as functions of intake manifold air pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the steady state noise threshold values vary as functions of intake manifold air pressure.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for detecting transitions between a steady state condition and a transient condition in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and an inlet air valve for metering inlet air to an intake manifold, in which inlet air rate to the intake manifold substantially corresponds to inlet air rate to the cylinders in the steady state condition, comprising the steps of: sensing air pressure in the intake manifold; sensing inlet air valve position; detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed air pressure in the intake manifold over each of a set of time periods, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values; and detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition by (a) determining a direction of change in magnitude of sensed air pressure over a first time period, (b) determining a direction of change in magnitude of sensed inlet air valve position over a second time period, and (c) detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when the direction of change in magnitude of sensed air pressure and the direction of change in magnitude of sensed inlet air valve position are the same direction.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for detecting transitions between a steady state condition and a transient condition in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and an inlet air valve for metering inlet air to an intake manifold, in which inlet air rate to the intake manifold substantially corresponds to inlet air rate to the cylinders in the steady state condition, comprising the steps of: sensing air pressure in the intake manifold; sensing inlet air valve position; detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed air pressure in the intake manifold over each of a set of time periods, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values; and detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition by (a) determining a direction of change in magnitude of sensed air pressure over a first time period, (b) determining a direction of change in magnitude of sensed inlet air valve position over a second time period, and (c) detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when the direction of change in magnitude of sensed air pressure and the direction of change in magnitude of sensed inlet air valve position are the same direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the step of detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition further comprises the steps of: determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed air pressure over the set of time periods; comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of noise threshold values; and detecting a transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when each of the determined variations exceed the corresponding one of the set of noise threshold values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the set of noise threshold values varies as a function of the sensed air pressure.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
332 words
A method for estimating a rate at which air passes from an intake manifold to cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: sensing manifold inlet air rate as a rate at which air passes into the intake manifold; sensing a first set of engine operating parameters; sensing a second set of engine operating parameters; sensing a third set of engine operating parameters; sensing a transition from a steady state condition, in which the manifold inlet air rate is substantially the same as cylinder inlet air rate, to a transient condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed first set of engine operating parameters over a first time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of transient noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when each of the determined variations exceeds the corresponding one of the set of transient noise threshold values; estimating the rate at which air passes from the intake manifold to the cylinders upon sensing the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition as a function of the third set of engine operating parameters; detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed second set of engine operating parameters over a second time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values; and estimating the rate at which air passes from the intake manifold to the cylinders upon sensing the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition as a function of the sensed manifold inlet air rate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
332 words
A method for estimating a rate at which air passes from an intake manifold to cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: sensing manifold inlet air rate as a rate at which air passes into the intake manifold; sensing a first set of engine operating parameters; sensing a second set of engine operating parameters; sensing a third set of engine operating parameters; sensing a transition from a steady state condition, in which the manifold inlet air rate is substantially the same as cylinder inlet air rate, to a transient condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed first set of engine operating parameters over a first time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of transient noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition when each of the determined variations exceeds the corresponding one of the set of transient noise threshold values; estimating the rate at which air passes from the intake manifold to the cylinders upon sensing the transition from the steady state condition to the transient condition as a function of the third set of engine operating parameters; detecting a transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition by (a) determining variations in the magnitude of the sensed second set of engine operating parameters over a second time period, (b) comparing each of the determined variations to a corresponding one of a set of steady state noise threshold values, and (c) detecting the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition when each of the determined variations is less than or equal to the corresponding one of the set of steady state noise threshold values; and estimating the rate at which air passes from the intake manifold to the cylinders upon sensing the transition from the transient condition to the steady state condition as a function of the sensed manifold inlet air rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of engine operating parameters includes intake manifold air pressure and air inlet valve position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the second set of engine operating parameters includes intake manifold air pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the third set of engine operating parameters includes intake manifold air pressure, manifold air temperature, air inlet valve position, and engine speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each of the set of steady state noise threshold values varies as a corresponding function of a engine operating parameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the engine operating parameter is intake manifold air pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each of the set of transient noise threshold values varies as a corresponding function of a engine operating parameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the engine operating parameter is intake manifold air pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4245604A
Cited
US4447880A
Cited
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-12 | 1998-12-12 | 1999-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-12 | 2002-12-12 | 2003-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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