Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Including exhaust gas condition responsive means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-07-17
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Including exhaust gas condition responsive means
C123S694000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260547
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a system for improving the performance of the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention incorporates use of a controller interposed between an O
2
sensor and a preprogrammed electronic control unit employed in the motor vehicle to provide a richer fuel mixture than would normally be the case and thus boost the performance of the engine. The invention encompasses both apparatus and a method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of an O
2
sensor to sense the amount of O
2
in the exhaust of an automobile or other motor vehicle and to send sensor signals to an electronic control unit or module (ECU) also incorporated in the motor vehicle is well known. The terms “electronic control unit”, “module”, “electronic control module” and “ECU” are used interchangeably herein. The ECU is associated with the fuel injector system of the engine to control the air/fuel mixture introduced into the engine cylinders. With the fuel system in closed loop operation after the O
2
sensor warms up, the voltage of the O
2
sensor voltage cycles up and down. This cycling (which varies in speed between idling and cruising) occurs because the ECU senses the O
2
voltage and then changes the pulse width of the signal driving the fuel injector on and off. This switching action allows the ECU to perform minor adjustments to the air/fuel ratio to allow the catalytic converter to perform its job to optimize the “oxidation” of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons as well as the reduction of nitrogen oxides. The oxidation occurs when the mixture is slightly lean and more oxygen is available, and the reduction occurs when the mixture is slightly rich and less oxygen is available.
It is known to modify the function of an existing electronic control unit or module (ECU) by physically changing the functional parameters of the programmable eprom or computer chip, or changing the existing eprom itself inside the ECU, in an effort to improve engine performance.
Various problems can arise when an existing ECU is modified as indicated above. The physically changed or new eprom must be specific to a manufacturer's application, and during use it may cause knocking, lean misfires, uncontrolled parameters during timed sequences and the signalling of alarming trouble codes in vehicles with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems.
The following United States patents are known: U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,153, issued Nov. 17, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,204, issued Jul. 7, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,464, issued Oct. 30, 1984, U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,301, issued May 13, 1980, U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,438, issued Jul. 23, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,604, issued Oct. 12, 1993. As indicated above, the present invention utilizes a controller which is a separate component which is utilized with existing O
2
sensors and ECUs. The controller does not physically modify, change or replace the functional parameters of the existing eprom or computer chip inside the ECU in any way and it has a universal “closed loop” application. The above-identified patents do not disclose or suggest such an arrangement.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The controller of the present invention receives and interrupts the signal from the O
2
sensor and alters the O
2
sensor signal before it is received by the ECU. The controller calculates how long the O
2
input signal was lean, increases the last input lean period by a multiplication factor, and then adds to that last lean period. The ECU receives this modified signal from the controller and according to the ECU's original equipment manufacturer's (OEM's) pre-programmed response values, the ECU cycles richer by limiting future low end (lean period) timing signals to the fuel injectors. The effect is an ECU closed loop cycle which is richer more often than leaner during a pre-set timed sequence, without the above-stated potential problems of existing prior art arrangements and without triggering alarms in vehicles with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems. This results in increased efficiency and performance of the engine in a range still effectively controlled by the vehicle's catalyst and emission system. In addition, the engine's Nox sensor perceives the produced richer mixture and allows the ECU to advance the engine's acceleration timing (again according to ECU pre-programmed response values) for better throttle acceleration response.
The apparatus of the present invention is for improving the performance of the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having fuel injectors, an O
2
sensor for sensing the amount of O
2
in exhaust produced by the internal combustion engine and a pre-programmed electronic control unit for receiving sensor signals from the O
2
sensor and in response thereto producing fuel injector control signals controlling operation of the fuel injectors.
The apparatus comprises a controller interposed between the O
2
sensor and the pre-programmed electronic control unit. The controller includes signal receiving means for receiving sensor signals from the O
2
sensor and sensor signal altering means for altering the sensor signals from the O
2
sensor prior to the sensor signals being received by the pre-programmed electronic control unit to modify the fuel injector control signals produced by the pre-programmed electronic control unit without modifying the programming thereof.
According to the method of the present invention, a controller is interposed between an O
2
sensor and a preprogrammed electronic control unit.
Sensor signals are directed from the O
2
sensor to the controller and not directly to the pre-programmed electronic control unit.
At the controller, the sensor signals from the O
2
sensor are modified to produce modified sensor signals.
The modified sensor signals are transmitted from the controller to the pre-programmed electronic control unit.
Without changing the programming of the pre-programmed electronic control unit, and solely as a function of the modified sensor signals being transmitted from the controller to the pre-programmed electronic control unit, modified fuel injector control signals are generated.
The modified fuel injector control signals are employed to cause the fuel injectors of the engine to provide a richer fuel mixture to the internal combustion engine over a period of time than would be provided in the absence of the step of modifying the sensor signals from the O
2
sensor.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4202301 (1980-05-01), Farly et al.
patent: 4479464 (1984-10-01), Kondo et al.
patent: 5033438 (1991-07-01), Feldinger et al.
patent: 5251604 (1993-10-01), Kaneko et al.
patent: 5777204 (1998-07-01), Abe
patent: 5836153 (1998-11-01), Staufenberg et al.
patent: 2077962 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 2093228 (1982-08-01), None
Argenbright Tony M.
Lampe Thomas R.
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