Methods and apparatus for measuring atmospheric pressure and exhaust back pressure

Abstract

An engine including, in one embodiment, a pressure sensor utilized for determining both barometric pressure and engine exhaust back pressure is described. More specifically, and in the one embodiment, the engine includes an electronic control unit (ECU) including a processor. The pressure sensor is a component of the ECU, and the pressure sensor is in communication, e.g., via a conduit, with the engine exhaust duct. The processor is programmed to obtain signals from the pressure sensor that are representative of both barometric pressure and engine exhaust back pressure. More particularly, the processor is programmed to sample a pressure representative signal generated by the sensor during a first time period to obtain a signal representative of barometric pressure, and to sample a pressure representative signal generated by the sensor during a second time period to obtain a signal representative of engine exhaust back pressure. The first time period initiates when the engine ignition switch is turned on, and terminates prior to when the engine generates exhaust. The second time period initiates upon termination of the first time period, and terminates when the engine ignition switch is turned off.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.