Westport Power Inc.

Duran Cheung

Richard J Ancimer

Jian Huang

David Kalu Mumford

David Mumford

Richard Ancimer

The method comprises operating an engine and collecting a real-time accelerometer signal from an accelerometer sensor. The real-time accelerometer signal is digitized and filtered to isolate data in a frequency range associated with combustion to produce a filtered signal data set. The filtered signal data set is integrated to produce an integrated signal data set, and misfire is detected by comparing the integrated signal data set with a predetermined reference data set associated with the same operating point. The apparatus is a control system for an engine that comprises an accelerometer sensor mounted to the engine; a look-up table in which is stored predetermined reference data sets, in association with predetermined operating conditions; and an electronic controller programmed to carry out the foregoing method.

Method and apparatus for using an accelerometer signal to detect misfiring in an internal combustion engine

The method comprises operating a calibration engine, and collecting combustion characteristic data and reference accelerometer signals, which are correlated with each other and stored in a calibration table. The calibration table can be used by an engine to determine a real-time normal combustion characteristic when the engine is operating by collecting a real-time accelerometer sensor signal and cross correlating with the correlated data stored in the calibration table. Accordingly, the apparatus comprises a calibration engine comprising a calibration sensor, a reference accelerometer sensor and a data storage device for storing the collected calibration data that is correlated with the collected reference accelerometer signals, and an engine equipped with an accelerometer sensor, a calibration table and an electronic engine controller programmed to receive real-time accelerometer signals and cross correlate them with reference accelerometer signals to determine a real-time normal combustion characteristic.

Method and apparatus for determining a normal combustion characteristic for an internal combustion engine from an accelerometer signal

A method of mounting an accelerometer to an internal combustion engine comprises securing the accelerometer to a mating surface on an engine component external to a combustion chamber where the accelerometer can generate a signal output that is characteristic of engine knock, when it occurs, and at least one other combustion behavior inside the combustion chamber during a combustion event. The method further comprises connecting a signal wire at one end to the accelerometer and at an opposite end to a signal processor, and increasing the signal output's signal-to-noise ratio.

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Vancouver, Canada

Duran Cheung