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US 10,371,079 B2Granted
Method and system for knock sensor rationality check
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAed M. Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for determining engine knock sensor degradation. In one example, a method may include sending an excitation signal to an actuator to generate vibrations in the absence of engine combustion, and determining engine knock sensor degradation by comparing the knock sensor output with the excitation signal.
Claims18
A method for an engine, comprising:
- generating a vibration via an actuator in an absence of engine combustion the actuator comprising part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system and generating acoustic vehicle alerts responsive to a vehicle speed less than a threshold and the engine being deactivated;
- and
- indicating knock sensor degradation of a knock sensor based on an amplitude of knock sensor output responsive to the generated vibration.
A method for an engine, comprising:
- during engine combustion without knock, recording an engine vibration of the engine;
- in an absence of combustion in the engine, electrically exciting an actuator coupled to the engine with an excitation signal, wherein the excitation signal includes the recorded engine vibration and a pulse signal simulating knock;
- and
- indicating knock sensor degradation based on an amplitude of knock sensor output generated in response to the actuator being excited with the excitation signal.
1 more element
A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:
- an engine;
- an actuator coupled to the engine;
- a knock sensor coupled to the engine;
- a controller configured with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- in an absence of engine combustion during an electric vehicle mode where the hybrid vehicle is propelled only by torque generated by an electric motor, generating an acoustic vibration via the actuator;
- and indicating degradation of the knock sensor based on an amplitude of output of the knock sensor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.