Mass air flow engine control system with mass air event integrator

An internal combustion engine control system of the type which controls at least one parameter of an internal combustion engine, said engine exhibiting a characteristic engine event, said control system comprising:

• a non-linear mass air flow sensor providing an output signal V.sub.out responsive to the mass of air flowing into said internal combustion engine;
• means connected to receive said output signal V.sub.out for continually sampling said output signal V.sub.out and for producing a series of first values responsive to said sampled output signal V.sub.out ;
• linearizing means connected to receive said series of first values for converting said first values into further values, said further values being substantially linearly related to said mass of air flowing into said internal combustion engine, said linearizing means including means for applying a fourth order transfer function to said first values so as to obtain said further values;
• integrating means for integrating said further digital values over the occurrence of said engine event to provide an integrated value;
• and
• engine management means for controlling said engine parameter in response to said integrated value.

An internal combustion engine control system of the type which controls at least one parameter of an internal combustion engine, said engine exhibiting at least one engine event, said control system comprising:

• a non-linear mass air flow sensor providing an analog output signal V.sub.out related by a fourth order transfer function to mass air flow into said internal combustion engine;
• analog to digital converter means connected to receive said output signal V.sub.out for continually sampling said output signal V.sub.out and for producing a series of first digital values responsive to said sampled output signal V.sub.out ;
• linearizing means connected to receive said series of first digital values for approximating said output signal V.sub.out with further digital values being substantially linearly related to said mass of air flowing into said internal combustion engine in accordance with predetermined information corresponding to the characteristics of said mass air flow sensor;
• integrating means for integrating said further digital values over the occurrence of said engine event to provide a load factor value;
• and
• engine management means for controlling said engine parameter in response to said load factor value.

A method of controlling at least one parameter of an internal combustion engine, said engine exhibiting a cylinder event corresponding to an engine cylinder, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) generating a signal V.sub.out responsive to the mass of air flowing into said internal combustion engine;
• (b) sensing the angular position of a rotatable member of said engine;
• (c) determining the occurrence of said cylinder event in response to said sensed angular position;
• (d) sampling said output signal V.sub.out in response to said occurrence sensed by said determining step (c);
• (e) converting said sampled value into a linearized value substantially linearly related to said mass of air flowing into said internal combustion engine during said cylinder event;
• (f) multiplying said linearized value by the time duration of said cylinder event so as to obtain an engine load value;
• and
• (g) controlling said engine parameter in response to said engine load value.