External mass air flow sensor for diagnosing the internal combustion engine
AssigneeAutomotive Test Solutions, Inc.
InventorsBernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is one in which an off board Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is used to diagnose the internal combustion engine. The MAF sensor is connected to the air induction system of the engine. The sensor is then powered from the vehicles battery. The MAF sensor is designed for lower air flow rates produced from the engine such as; crank, idle, and light load. The sensor creates an output voltage that is proportional to the volumetric air flow of each cylinder entering the engine. This MAF voltage output signal is then used to diagnose engine pumping issues.
Claims10
A method of monitoring the pumping events of the internal combustion engine with an off board Mass Air Flow sensor, herein after MAF sensor;
- such sensor is connected to the induction system of an engine and to a measuring instrument;
- the method including the steps of:
- connecting the MAF sensor to the induction system of the engine;
- connecting the MAF sensor to the measuring instrument;
- connecting a power supply to the MAF sensor;
- rotating the engine to produce pumping events;
- producing a voltage from the MAF sensor that is proportional to the air volume moving through the MAF sensor into the engine;
- and
- using this data to diagnose engine pumping issues.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.