초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine operating parameters suc

A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine operating parameters such as manifold pressure, throttle position, engine coolant temperature, air temperature, and engine speed or period and the like. These parameters are sensed and then supplied to input circuits for signal conditioning and conversion to digital words usable by the microprocessor. The microprocessor-based electronic engine control system computes a digital word indicative of a computer-commanded engine control operation and output circuitry responds to predetermined computer-generated commands and to the computed digital command words for converting them to corresponding pulse-width control signals or the like for controlling such engine operations as fuel-injection ignition timing, proportional and/or on-off EGR control, and the like.

대표청구항 ▼

In an internal combustion engine having an intake system an exhaust system, an engine block, a plurality of cylinders disposed in said engine block, a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in each of said plurality of cylinders in response to the combustion of air shaft responsive to the reciprocat

In an internal combustion engine having an intake system an exhaust system, an engine block, a plurality of cylinders disposed in said engine block, a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in each of said plurality of cylinders in response to the combustion of air shaft responsive to the reciprocation of said pistons in said cylinders for being drivably rotated thereby, throttle means disposed in said intake system for controlling the air flow into said plurality of cylinders, means responsive to a fuel control signal for selectively supplying a controlled quantity of fuel into a selected one or more of said plurality of cylinders, means responsive to an ignition control signal for selectively controlling the time and duration of the ignition of said fuel in said selected one or more of said plurality of cylinders, means coupling said exhaust system to said intake system for establishing an exhaust gas recirculation path therebetween, means disposed at least partially within said recirculation path and responsive to an exhaust gas recirculation control signal for selectively varying the quantity of exhaust gas recirculated from said exhaust system back to said intake system, an improved electronic engine control system comprising: means for sensing a plurality of selected engine operating parameters and generating a conditioned sensor output signal indicative of the value of each of said sensed plurality of selected engine operating parameters; means for generating predetermined command signals to control the processing said output signal; means responsive to said predetermined command signals for converting a selected one of said conditioned sensor output signals indicative of the value of a selected one of said sensed engine operating parameters into one or more digital words indicative thereof; memory means for storing data representing look-up tables of control command modifier values for use in computing one or more engine control commands and program means for implementing at least one of preprogrammed fuel control law, ignition control law or exhaust gas recirculation control law; means responsive to said one or more of said digital words representative of the value of said selected engine operating parameters for addressing said memory means for one or more of said stored look-up tables of modifier values; computing means including means responsive to each of said addressed look-up tables for computing one or more desired modifier values, said computing means further including program execution means for generating said predetermined command signals and for implementing said at least one pre-programmed control law utilizing said computed modifier values for calculating one or more digital command words indicative of a desired control action to be taken for effecting a predetermined engine control function; and means responsive to said one or more digital command words for generating a precisely controlled value of at least a selected one of said fuel control signal for selectively controlling the quantity of fuel supplied to a selected one or more of said plurality of cylinders, said ignition control signal for selectively controlling the time and duration of the ignition of said fuel in said selected one or more of said plurality of cylinders, and said exhaust gas recirculation signal for selectively varying the quantity of exhaust gas recirculated from said exhaust system back to said intake system. In an internal combustion engine having an engine block, a plurality of cylinders disposed in said engine block, a piston disposed in each of said cylinders and mounted for reciprocal movement in response to the combustion of air and fuel in said cylinder, an output shaft responsive to the reciprocation of said pistons within said cylinders for drivably rotating same, means for selectively controlling the supply of fuel to one or more of said plurality of cylinders, means for generating an ignition pulse for controlling the ignition timing and ignition dwell time and therefore the ignition of said fuel within said cylinders, and a microprocessor-based engine control system for controlling the generation of said ignition pulse, said engine control system further comprising: sensor means operatively associated with said engine for generating an engine position pulse each time one of said pistons is near the top-dead-center position of its associated cylinder; program means for computing a first digital ignition control word indicative of ignition delay time and a second digital ignition control word indicative of ignition pulse-width; means responsive to said first and second digital ignition control words for electronically controlling the generation of said ignition control pulse for ignition timing purposes during normal engine operation; and means for detecting an engine cranking mode of operation for automatically switching the ignition timing from the control of said microprocessor-based engine control system and generating a first command signal; and means responsive to said first command signal for mechanically controlling the generation of said ignition control pulse and therefore ignition timing throughout said cranking mode of operation.