Method of correcting operating set points of an internal combustion engine

A method of correcting operating set points of an internal combustion engine connected to an air intake duct having a mass airflow sensor, and connected to an exhaust pipe having an oxygen sensor, the method comprising:

• predetermining an oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen) representative of a delay between a combustion event of a fuel quantity injected into a cylinder of the engine and a measurement in the exhaust pipe of an air-to-fuel ratio (λ) produced by said combustion event;
• calculating a fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError) as a difference between a nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest) and an estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation) injected into the cylinder;
• and
• correcting the operating set points of the internal combustion engine using the calculated fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError);
• wherein the nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest) is determined for an injection that precedes the measurement of an air-to-fuel ratio value (λ(t) by the oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen);
• and
• wherein the estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation) is determined as a function of an air mass flow value ({dot over (m)}Air) and of the measured air-to-fuel ratio value (λ).

An apparatus for correcting operating set points of an internal combustion engine, the engine being connected to an air intake duct having a mass airflow sensor, and connected to an exhaust pipe having an oxygen sensor, the apparatus comprising:

• means for memorizing an oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen) representative of a delay between a combustion event of an actual fuel quantity injected into a cylinder of the engine and a measurement in the exhaust pipe of an air-to-fuel ratio (λ) produced by said combustion event;
• means for calculating a fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError) as a difference between a nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest) and an estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation) injected into the cylinder, wherein the nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest) is determined for an injection that precedes the measurement of an air-to-fuel ratio value (λ(t)) by the oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen), and wherein the estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation)is determined as a function of an air mass flow value ({dot over (m)}Air) and of the measured air-to-fuel ratio value (λ);
• and
• means for correcting the operating set points of the internal combustion engine using the calculated fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError).

An automotive system comprising an internal combustion engine managed by an Electronic Control Unit, the engine being equipped with a cylinder and being connected to an air intake duct having a mass airflow sensor, and connected to an exhaust pipe having an oxygen sensor, the Electronic Control Unit configured to:

• memorize an oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen) representative of a delay between a combustion event of an actual fuel quantity injected into a cylinder of the engine and a measurement in the exhaust pipe of an air-to-fuel ratio (λ) produced by said combustion event;
• calculate a fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError) as a difference between a nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest) and an estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation) injected into the cylinder, wherein the nominal fuel quantity (FuelRequest)is determined for an injection that precedes the measurement of an air-to-fuel ratio value λ(t) by the oxygen sensor time correction factor (dtOxygen), and wherein the estimated fuel quantity (FuelEstimation)is determined as a function of an air mass flow value {dot over (m)}Air and of the measured air-to-fuel ratio value λ;
• and
• use the calculated fuel injection error quantity (FuelInjectionError) for correcting the operating set points of the internal combustion engine.