Air/fuel imbalance detection system and method
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsIgor Anilovich, Louis A Avallone, David N. Belton, Ian J. Mac Ewen, Vincent A. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting emissions from an internal combustion engine generally including determining a reference air/fuel mixture signal based on an engine speed and an airflow into the engine. The method includes determining an actual air/fuel mixture signal from an air/fuel mixture sensor and comparing the reference air/fuel mixture signal to the actual air/fuel mixture signal. The method also includes determining whether an air/fuel imbalance condition occurs based on the comparison and setting a service indicator based on the determination of whether the air/fuel imbalance condition occurred.
Claims23
A method for detecting emissions from an internal combustion engine comprising:
- determining a reference air/fuel mixture signal based on an engine speed and an airflow into the engine;
- determining an actual air/fuel mixture signal from an air/fuel mixture sensor;
- comparing said reference air/fuel mixture signal to said actual air/fuel mixture signal;
- determining whether an air/fuel imbalance condition occurs based on said comparison;
- and
- setting a service indicator based on said determination of whether said air/fuel imbalance condition occurred.
A method for detecting emissions from an internal combustion engine comprising:
- determining a reference oxygen concentration signal based on an engine speed and an airflow into the engine;
- determining an actual oxygen concentration signal based on an oxygen concentration sensor;
- comparing said reference oxygen concentration signal to said actual oxygen concentration signal, wherein said comparison includes comparing a trace length of said reference oxygen concentration signal to a trace length of said actual oxygen concentration signal;
- and
- determining whether an air/fuel imbalance condition occurs when said trace length of said actual oxygen concentration signal is greater than said trace length of said actual oxygen concentration signal.
An air/fuel imbalance detection system comprising:
- an engine having at least one cylinder that produces combustion gases;
- an exhaust manifold connected to said at least one cylinder;
- an air/fuel mixture sensor connected to said exhaust manifold that samples said combustion gases;
- and
- a control module that determines a reference air/fuel mixture signal based on an engine speed and an airflow into said engine, that determines an actual air/fuel mixture signal based from said air/fuel mixture sensor that compares said reference air/fuel mixture signal to said actual air/fuel mixture signal, that determines whether an air/fuel imbalance condition occurs based on said comparison, and that sets a service indicator based on said determination of whether said air/fuel imbalance condition occurred.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.