Robert Boschgmbh

Eberhard Blocher

Josef Wahl

Peter-Jurgen Schmidt

Ferdinand Grob

Manfred Schmitt

Rolf Kohler

The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for controlling the operating characteristic quantities of an internal combustion engine, with a characteristic set up with operating quantities of the internal combustion engine for pre-control of engine variables influencing the operating characteristic quantities, and with a control arrangement, responsive to at least one engine variable, for correctively influencing the characteristic values. The values stored in the characteristic field and selected in dependence on operating characteristic quantities of the internal combustion engine are modified via the control arrangement to correctively influence the characteristic values. In addition, the characteristic values lying within the defined region of the characteristic value modified are also changed in dependence on the modification of this particular characteristic value. The fact that the modification of a characteristic region in dependence on the modification of its respective characteristic value is weighted, permits a rapid and accurate adaptation of the characteristic to the actual operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. The invention is advantageously suitable for use in various control systems contolling air-fuel metering, ignition point, charge-air pressure, exhaust-gas recirculation of idle speed, for example.

Method and apparatus for controlling the operating characteristic

The invention is directed to an apparatus for metering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a characteristic field set up with operating quantities of the internal combustion engine for anticipatorily controlling engine variables that influence the air-fuel mixture and a control arrangement, responsive to at least one engine variable, for correctively influencing the characteristic field values. The characteristic field values are stored in the characteristic field and selected in dependence on operating quantities of the internal combustion engine. The characteristic field values are modified by means of different control methods to correctively influence the same. More specifically, the control methods include a control to a minimal specific fuel consumption in the lower and part-load ranges as well as a control to maximum power in the upper load range as may be necessary. This control arrangement can be realized, on the one hand, with an extreme-value control which is superposed either on the air or quantity of fuel delivered to the motor or, on the other hand, with a direct control of the air ratio .lambda. with an exhaust gas probe, for example. With the apparatus of the invention, a minimal specific fuel consumption with reduced exhaust gas emissions are realized while at the same time ensuring a satisfying driving behavior of the vehicle.

Apparatus for metering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion

The invention is directed to an apparatus for metering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine with an extreme-value control arrangement for controlling to a minimal specific consumption of fuel. The extreme-value control arrangement includes a test signal generator for acting upon the fuel metered to the engine. The rotational speed and a fuel metering signal are applied by the extreme-value control arrangement as actual information with respect to the minimal specific fuel consumption. In particular, the quantities of rotational speed change and the change in duration of fuel injection are utilized to determine the minimal consumption in the case of an internal combustion engine equipped with fuel injection. Further, for a minimal consumption control, it has been shown to be advantageous to consider information as to which gear of the transmission of the engine is in place.

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Schwieberdingen, Germany

Eberhard Blocher