Intake air quantity measurement for internal combustion engine
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsShinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Takanobu Sugiyama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an engine capable of continuously controlling an intake air quantity by varying an intake valve operating characteristic, an intake valve lift is sensed as well as an engine speed. Then, an intake air quantity is calculated in accordance with the engine speed and intake valve lift when an engine operating point is in a very low lift state.
Claims18
An intake air quantity measuring method for an engine arranged to continuously control an intake air quantity by varying an intake valve operating characteristic, the intake air quantity measuring method comprising:
- sensing an engine speed of the engine;
- sensing an intake valve lift of the engine;
- detecting a very light engine load region;
- and
- calculating an intake air quantity in accordance with the engine speed and the intake valve lift when the very light engine load region is detected.
An intake air quantity measuring apparatus for an engine arranged to continuously control an intake air quantity by varying an intake valve operating characteristic, the intake air quantity measuring apparatus comprising:
- a first sensor to sense an engine speed of the engine;
- a second sensor to sense an intake valve lift of the engine;
- and
- a controller programmed
- to detect a very light engine load region;
- and
- to calculate an intake air quantity in accordance with the engine speed and the intake valve lift when the very light engine load region is detected.
An engine control system comprising:
- means for continuously controlling an intake air quantity of an engine by varying an intake valve operating characteristic;
- means for sensing an engine speed of the engine;
- means for sensing an intake valve lift of the engine;
- means for discriminating a very light engine load region from a remaining engine operating region;
- means for calculating an intake air quantity in a first control mode in the case of the remaining engine operating region;
- and
- means for calculating the intake air quantity in a second control mode in accordance with the engine speed and the intake valve lift in the case of the very light engine load region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.