System and method for flexible fuel ethanol concentration and hardware malfunction detection
US9470669B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D41/1495
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for flexible fuel ethanol concentration and hardware malfunction detection compares a current hardware reference value learned based on an air-fuel ratio detected during a pre-fuel mix period with a previous hardware reference value from a previous vehicle driving cycle, and detects a hardware malfunction when a difference between current and previous hardware reference values exceeds a predetermined threshold. The system and method also monitors the air-fuel ratio during a post-fuel mix period, and detects a hardware malfunction when the air-fuel ratio changes by more than a predetermined threshold during the post-fuel mix period. The system and method also compares an observed slope of the air-fuel ratio detected during a fuel mixing period over an amount of fuel consumed with an expected slope when a cold-start is detected, and detects a hardware malfunction when a difference between observed and expected slopes exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.