IP Library Granted Patent US 7,631,551
Granted Patent B2
US 7,631,551 · App. 11/829,235 · Granted Dec 15, 2009

Adaptive barometric pressure estimation in which an internal combustion engine is located

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,631,551
App. No.
11/829,235
Granted
Dec 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of determining a barometric pressure of atmosphere, in which an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is located includes monitoring operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and the vehicle, determining a healthy status of an air filter of the internal combustion engine, and calculating the barometric pressure based on the operating parameters and the healthy status of the air filter.

Claims (36)

1. A method of determining a barometric pressure of atmosphere, in which an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is located, comprising:

monitoring operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and the vehicle;

determining a healthy status of an air filter of the internal combustion engine;

determining a drag coefficient of an air intake system of the internal combustion engine based on at least one of said operating parameters and said healthy status; and

calculating the barometric pressure based on said operating parameters, said drag coefficient and said healthy status of said air filter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether at least one of said operating parameters is less than a corresponding threshold, wherein said healthy status of said air filter is determined based on a known barometric pressure if said at least one of said operating parameters is not less than said corresponding threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one operating parameter includes a time difference between update times of the barometric pressure.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one operating parameter includes a travel distance of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said healthy status is determined based on a pre-throttle inlet pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said pre-throttle inlet pressure is determined based on an intake air temperature.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said pre-throttle inlet pressure is monitored using a sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said operating parameters comprise a mass air flow, an effective intake cross-sectional area, an air density and a pre-throttle inlet pressure.

9. A system for determining a barometric pressure of atmosphere, in which an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is located, comprising:

a first module that monitors operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and the vehicle,

wherein the operating parameters comprise one of a travel distance of the vehicle and a time difference between update times of the barometric pressure;

a second module that determines a healthy status of an air filter of the internal combustion engine; and

a third module that calculates the barometric pressure based on said operating parameters and said healthy status of said air filter,

wherein the barometric pressure is calculated based on at least one of the time difference and the travel distance exceeding a threshold.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a fourth module that determines a drag coefficient of an intake system of the internal combustion engine based on at least one of said operating parameters and said healthy status, wherein said barometric pressure is calculated based on said drag coefficient.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a fourth module that determines whether at least one of said operating parameters is less than a corresponding threshold, wherein said healthy status of said air filter is determined based on a known barometric pressure if said at least one of said operating parameters is not less than said corresponding threshold.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said healthy status is determined based on a pre-throttle inlet pressure.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said pre-throttle inlet pressure is determined based on an intake air temperature.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a sensor that monitors said pre-throttle inlet pressure.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said operating parameters comprise a mass air flow, an effective intake cross-sectional area, an air density and a pre-throttle inlet pressure.

16. A method of regulating operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and the vehicle, wherein the operating parameters comprise an effective intake cross-sectional area of a pre-throttle inlet system;

determining a healthy status of an air filter of the internal combustion engine;

calculating a barometric pressure of atmosphere, in which the internal combustion engine is located, based on said operating parameters and said healthy status of said air filter; and

regulating operation of the vehicle based on said barometric pressure.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining a drag coefficient of an intake system of the internal combustion engine based on at least one of said operating parameters and said healthy status, wherein said barometric pressure is calculated based on said drag coefficient.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining whether at least one of said operating parameters is less than a corresponding threshold, wherein said healthy status of said air filter is determined based on a known barometric pressure if said at least one of said operating parameters is not less than said corresponding threshold.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one operating parameter includes a time difference between update times of the barometric pressure.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one operating parameter includes a travel distance of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said healthy status is determined based on a pre-throttle inlet pressure.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said pre-throttle inlet pressure is determined based on an intake air temperature.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said pre-throttle inlet pressure is monitored using a sensor.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0946 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0140 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2007
From: WANG, WENBO; VAN GILDER, JOHN F.; SLIMMER-VELEZ, JILL A.; MC LAIN, KURT D.; KROPINSKI, MICHAEL A.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
Reel/Frame 019819/0994 →