IP Library Granted Patent US 9,810,132
Granted Patent B2
US 9,810,132 · App. 15/050,794 · Granted Nov 7, 2017

Catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,810,132
App. No.
15/050,794
Granted
Nov 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus includes an upstream side air-fuel ratio detector, a downstream side air-fuel ratio detector, an air-fuel ratio variation integrator that integrates the output variations of the respective air-fuel ratio detectors when a diagnosis running condition is satisfied, and a determiner that determines catalyst deterioration when the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined integration ending threshold, and further when a ratio between the output variation integrated value of the two detectors exceeds a predetermined determination threshold. The air-fuel ratio variation integrator holds the integrated values when the diagnosis running condition becomes unsatisfied before the integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector reaches the integration ending threshold. The air-fuel ratio variation integrator resumes the integration using the held values as initial values when the diagnosis running condition is satisfied later again.

Claims (19)

1. A catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus that diagnoses deterioration of a catalyst converter to which exhaust gas of an engine is introduced, the apparatus comprising:

an upstream side air-fuel ratio detector configured to detect an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst converter;

a downstream side air-fuel ratio detector configured to detect an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas being discharged from the catalyst converter;

an air-fuel ratio variation integrator configured to calculate an output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and an output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when a predetermined diagnosis running condition is satisfied; and

a determiner configure to determine catalyst deterioration of the catalyst converter when the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined integration ending threshold, and further when a ratio of the output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector to the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined determination threshold, wherein

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to hold the current output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the current output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when the engine stops operating and the diagnosis running condition becomes unsatisfied before the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector reaches the integration ending threshold,

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to resume integration of the output variation integrated values using the held output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the held output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector as initial values when later the engine restarts and the diagnosis running condition is satisfied again, and

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to reset the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when a remaining amount of fuel is equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit at an end of operation of the engine.

2. The catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a misfire detector that detects a misfire of the engine,

wherein the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to reset the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when a frequency of a misfire detected by the misfire detector is equal to or more than a predetermined misfire determination threshold.

3. A catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus that diagnoses deterioration of a catalyst converter to which exhaust gas of an engine is introduced, the apparatus comprising:

an upstream side air-fuel ratio detector configured to detect an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst converter;

a downstream side air-fuel ratio detector configured to detect an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas being discharged from the catalyst converter;

an air-fuel ratio variation integrator configured to calculate an output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and an output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when a predetermined diagnosis running condition is satisfied;

a determiner configured to determine catalyst deterioration of the catalyst converter when the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined integration ending threshold, and further when a ratio of the output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector to the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined determination threshold; and

a misfire detector configured to detect a misfire of the engine, wherein

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to hold the current output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the current output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when the diagnosis running condition becomes unsatisfied before the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector reaches the integration ending threshold, and

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to resume integration of the output variation integrated values using the held output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the held output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector as initial values when the diagnosis running condition is satisfied later again, and

the air-fuel ratio variation integrator is configured to reset the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector and the output variation integrated value of the downstream side air-fuel ratio detector when a frequency of a misfire detected by the misfire detector is equal to or more than a predetermined misfire determination threshold.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: KANO, HIROYUKI; KOIKE, SHINSUKE
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 037799/0576 →