Granted Patent B1

US 7,219,009 · App. 11/339,943 · Granted May 15, 2007

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method of diagnosing an operating condition of a short runner valve in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

commanding the short runner valve to an open position for a test period;

resolving whether the test period has elapsed;

determining whether a sensed exhaust gas parameter has exceeded a threshold during the test period;

issuing a pass signal if the sensed exhaust gas parameter has exceeded the threshold within the test period; and

issuing a fail signal if the sensed exhaust gas parameter has not exceeded the threshold within the test period.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

monitoring enable conditions for a diagnostic routine that includes the steps of claim 1 ;

determining whether the enable conditions are met; and

initiating the diagnostic routine if the enable conditions are met.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enable conditions include an engine running elapsed time, engine coolant temperature, vehicle speed, and engine speed.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining whether the diagnostic routine has already been carried out within the engine running elapsed time; and

initiating the diagnostic routine if the diagnostic routine has not been carried out within the engine running elapsed time.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the enable conditions are met if the engine running elapsed time and engine coolant temperature are greater than respective target values, and if the vehicle speed and engine speed are between respective minimum and maximum reference values.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the engine running elapsed time is greater than two minutes.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the engine coolant temperature is greater than 70 degrees Celsius.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle speed minimum and maximum reference values are approximately 26 and 75 MPH.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the engine speed minimum and maximum reference values are approximately 3500 and 4200 RPM.

10. A method of diagnosing an operating condition of a short runner valve in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine using an exhaust sensor in an exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring enable conditions for a diagnostic routine;

determining whether the enable conditions are met;

initiating the diagnostic routine if the enable conditions are met, wherein the diagnostic routine includes the following steps:

commanding the short runner valve to an open position for a test period;

resolving whether the test period has elapsed;

monitoring an exhaust gas fuel-to-air ratio using the exhaust sensor;

determining whether the fuel-to-air ratio has exceeded a threshold during the test period;

issuing a pass signal if the exhaust gas fuel-to-air ratio has exceeded the threshold within the test period; and

issuing a fail signal if the exhaust gas fuel-to-air ratio has not exceeded the threshold within the test period.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the enable conditions include an engine running elapsed time, engine coolant temperature, vehicle speed, and engine speed.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining whether the diagnostic routine has already been carried out within the engine running elapsed time; and

initiating the diagnostic routine if the diagnostic routine has not been carried out within the engine running elapsed time.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the enable conditions are met if the engine running elapsed, time and engine coolant temperature are greater than respective target values, and if the vehicle speed and engine speed are between respective minimum and maximum reference values.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the engine running elapsed time is greater than two minutes.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the engine coolant temperature is greater than 70 degrees Celsius.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle speed minimum and maximum reference values are approximately 26 and 75 MPH.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the engine speed minimum and maximum reference values are approximately 3500 and 4200 RPM.

18. A control system for diagnosing an operating condition of a short runner valve in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold, the system comprising:

an airflow measurement device;

a short runner valve motor operably connected to the short runner valve; and

an engine control module in communication with the short runner valve motor and the air flow measurement device, and including memory and a processor in communication therewith and being configured to carry out computer readable instructions stored in the memory and comprising the steps of:

commanding the short runner valve to an open position for a test period;

resolving whether the test period has elapsed;

determining whether a sensed exhaust gas parameter from the air flow measurement device has exceeded a threshold during the test period;

issuing a pass signal if the sensed exhaust gas parameter has exceeded the threshold within the test period; and

issuing a fail signal if the sensed exhaust gas parameter has not exceeded the threshold within the test period.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the air flow measurement device comprises an exhaust sensor, and wherein the exhaust sensor is positioned in the exhaust manifold.

20. The system of claim 18 , further comprising an engine coolant temperature sensor, wherein the processor monitors input from the sensors and initiates a diagnostic routine if the engine running elapsed time and engine coolant temperature are greater than respective target values.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising a vehicle speed sensor and an engine speed sensor, wherein the processor monitors input from the sensors and initiates a diagnostic routine if the vehicle speed and engine speed are between respective minimum and maximum reference values.

Assignments (20)