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US 2019/0093584 A1Published application
Method and system for monitoring soot production
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDouglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for using an engine laser ignition system to take images, in real-time, of a cylinder during combustion and estimate cylinder soot generation. If excess soot generation is determined, cylinder fueling is adjusted by varying an injection pressure, amount, and ratio. An air-fuel ratio of the cylinder is also adjusted in view of exhaust temperature constraints to reduce soot generation.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- adjusting cylinder fueling responsive to an amount of soot generated in a cylinder, the amount estimated at a controller based on an image generated through a laser ignition device.
A method for an engine, comprising:
- operating a laser ignition device to initiate combustion in, and illuminate an inside of, a cylinder;
- transmitting an in-cylinder image of soot particles formed from the combustion generated after operating the laser ignition device to a vehicle display device, the image generated by a photodetector of the cylinder using light generated via the cylinder combustion;
- and
- based on input received from an operator regarding cylinder soot level relative to a threshold, adjusting fuel injection amount and pressure.
1 more element
A hybrid vehicle system comprising:
- an engine including a cylinder;
- a direct injector for fueling the cylinder;
- an electric motor;
- a display device in a cabin of the vehicle;
- a laser ignition system coupled to a cylinder head and configured to direct light pulses into the cylinder;
- a photodetection system coupled to the laser ignition system and the cylinder for generating images of an inside of the cylinder using the light pulses from the laser ignition system, the photodetection system including a camera and a lens;
- and
- a controller with non-transitory memory and computer readable instructions for:
- operating the laser ignition system during a compression stroke to initiate cylinder combustion;
- capturing an in-cylinder image at the photodetection system during a power stroke and an exhaust stroke of the cylinder;
- comparing the generated image to a reference image retrieved from the controller's memory;
- estimating an amount of soot generated during the cylinder combustion based on the comparing;
- and
- adjusting a pulse-width commanded to the direct injector responsive to the estimated amount of soot exceeding a threshold, the adjusting based on an exhaust temperature and a combustion air-fuel ratio.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.