System for feedback control of air/fuel ratio in IC engine having means for supplying controlled current to oxygen sensor
US4363306A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02B1/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for feedback control of air/fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine, utilizing an oxygen-sensitive air/fuel ratio detector disposed in an exhaust gas to provide a feedback signal is disclosed. The detector has a flat and microscopically porous solid electrolyte layer with a measurement electrode layer on one side and a reference electrode layer on the other side facing a substrate. The control system includes a current supplying circuit to force a DC current to flow in the solid electrolyte layer between the two electrode layers to cause migration of oxygen ions through the solid electrolyte layer from the measurement electrode toward the reference electrode to thereby establish a reference oxygen partial pressure at the interface between the reference electrode layer and the solid electrolyte layer. To preclude an undesirably great rise of this reference oxygen partial pressure in the case of a large increase in the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas resulting from interruption, or great reduction, of the feed of fuel to the operating engine, the control system comprises sensor means to detect the existence of such a condition and means for temporarily decreasing the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.