Method of verifying component functionality on EGR and air systems

US7631552B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Donald E. Keski-Hynnila · Canton, US
• Jeffery S. Hawkins · Farmington Hills, US
• Harald Wedler · Bad Liebenzell, DE
• Reinhard Pfundt · Ansbach, DE
• Frank S. Groer · Beverly Hills, US
• Mark A. Zurawski · Northville, US
• Dennis J. Grace · Beverly Hills, US
• Heather A. Staley · Garden City, US
• Jimmie L. Priest, Jr. · Ypsilanti, US
• Min Sun · Troy, US
• Jason T. Barton · Canton, US
• Zhiping Han · La Salle, CA
• Martin Fritz · Kobenz, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 15, 2009
• Expiry date: May 7, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M15/05
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for operating an electronically controlled internal combustion engine in a vehicle to perform at least one rationality check on at least one sensor to detect impending sensor failure and verify component functionality. The engine is equipped with an engine control system (ECS) having a memory and in electronic communication with various sensors. The sensors transmit data signals to the ECS indicative of associated engine and vehicle component functionality. The method comprises determining a measured operating condition of a first component from sensor data signals indicative of first component functionality, determining a measured operating condition of a second component from sensor data signals indicative of second component functionality, comparing the measured condition of the first component to the measured operating condition of the second component to determine whether sensor readings from the first component are indicative of a component operating within a normal range but indicative of impending sensor or component failure, logging an indication of an impending sensor or component failure as a fault in MPU memor…