IP Library Granted Patent US 7,721,591
Granted Patent B2
US 7,721,591 · App. 11/929,235 · Granted May 25, 2010

Abnormality diagnosis apparatus for internal combustion engine

Assignee: DENSO Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,721,591
App. No.
11/929,235
Granted
May 25, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cylinder deviation of an actual air-fuel ratio before an air-fuel-ratio dither control is obtained based on a variation of an actual air-fuel ratio by the dither control, a variation amount of detected air-fuel ratio, and a cylinder deviation of detected air-fuel ratio before the dither control. A cylinder deviation of actual air-fuel ratio of each cylinder is accurately estimated. When the number of times in which the cylinder deviation of air-fuel ratio exceeds a decision value is greater than a predetermined number, it is determined that an abnormality occurs in the cylinder.

Claims (22)

1. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising:

an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in a confluent portion of exhaust gas discharged from each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and detecting air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas;

an information detecting means for estimating an air-fuel ratio of each cylinder or a deviation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor while an air-fuel-ratio dither control is performed for compulsorily varying the air-fuel ratio of each cylinder by a predetermined variation in a rich direction or a lean direction; and

an abnormality determination means for determining that an abnormality occurs in a specified cylinder when a number of times in which the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder estimated by the information detecting means or the deviation in the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder exceeds a decision value is greater than a predetermined number.

2. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising:

an air-fuel ratio sensor detecting an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine;

an information detecting means for estimating an air-fuel ratio of each cylinder or a deviation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor, while an air-fuel dither control is performed for compulsorily varying the air-fuel ratio of each cylinder by a predetermined variation in a rich direction or a lean direction, with respect to every region of a plurality of abnormality diagnosis areas which is defined according to an engine driving condition; and

an abnormality determination means for determining that an abnormality occurs in a specified cylinder when the air-fuel ratio estimated by the information detecting means or the deviation in the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder exceeds a decision value in all abnormality diagnosis areas.

3. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising:

an air-fuel ratio sensor detecting an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine;

an information detecting means for estimating an air-fuel ratio of each cylinder or a a deviation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor, while an air-fuel dither control is performed for compulsorily varying the air-fuel ratio of each cylinder by a predetermined variation in a rich direction or a lean direction, with respect to every region of a plurality of abnormality diagnosis areas which is defined according to an engine driving condition; and

an abnormality determination means for determining that an abnormality occurs in a specified cylinder when the air-fuel ratio estimated by the information detecting means or the deviation in the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder exceeds a decision value in a predetermined number of the abnormality diagnosis area or more.

4. A method of diagnosing an abnormality for an internal combustion engine comprising:

providing an air-fuel ratio sensor in a confluent portion of exhaust gas discharged from each cylinder of the internal combustion engine;

detecting an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas using the air-fuel ratio sensor;

estimating an air-fuel ratio of each cylinder or a deviation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor while an air-fuel-ratio dither control is performed for compulsorily varying the air-fuel ratio of each cylinder by a predetermined variation in a rich direction or a lean direction; and

determining that an abnormality occurs in a specified cylinder when a number of times in which the estimated air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder or the deviation in the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder exceeds a decision value is greater than a predetermined number.

5. A method of diagnosing an internal combustion engine comprising:

detecting an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine using an air-fuel ratio sensor;

estimating an air-fuel ratio of each cylinder or a deviation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders based on an output of the air-fuel ratio sensor, while an air-fuel dither control is performed for compulsorily varying the air-fuel ratio of each cylinder by a predetermined variation in a rich direction or a lean direction, with respect to every region of a plurality of abnormality diagnosis areas which is defined according to an engine driving condition; and

determining that an abnormality occurs in a specified cylinder when the estimated air-fuel ratio or the deviation in the air-fuel ratio of the specified cylinder exceeds a decision value in a predetermined number of the abnormality diagnosis areas.

6. The method as in claim 5 , wherein exceeding the decision value in the predetermined number of the abnormality diagnosis areas is accomplished by exceeding the decision value in all of the plurality of abnormality diagnosis areas.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2007
From: MAEGAWA, YOSHINORI
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020043/0545 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-305613 · Nov 10, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080110239A1 · May 15, 2008