Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Corporation

Patrick T McCourt

Yi Cheng

William B Blomquist

Shean P Huff

Richard K Moote

Mary Joyce

Gary L Seitz

Howard W Krausman

Mark E Hope

William D Rotramel

John M Prevost

Mark E McMackin

Rama Madugula

Sandra N Thomson

Anthony R Mrosewske

A device provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine in order to detect exhaust gas temperature. The device includes an oxygen sensor which has a sense element outboard of a heater element. The oxygen sensor is further designed to incorporate a temperature sensing element on the outboard of the sense element. The temperature sensing element optimizes the detection of the exhaust gas temperature, thereby providing efficient operation of the engine.

Exhaust gas temperature sensing on the outside surface of the oxygen sensor

A method of controlling a proportional purge solenoid is provided to improve low flow resolution. The method includes looking-up a primary duty cycle corresponding to purge current in a three-dimensional surface by using purge flow and vacuum level as inputs. Should the primary duty cycle fall below a lowest allowable purge current threshold value, a secondary purge duty cycle (i.e., an on/off pattern of the primary duty cycle) is obtained from a two-dimensional table by using the actual calculated purge flow as an input. The two-dimensional table includes a sequence of program loops subdivided into a delay region wherein the purge flow and vacuum level data are learned, an updating region wherein the purge current of the three-dimensional surface is updated, and a control region wherein the primary duty cycle is toggled between on and off states. When the current program loop falls within the delay region, a recorded primary duty cycle is output. When the current program loop falls within the updating region, the primary duty cycle is applied at a time determined during the last program sequence. When the current program loop falls within the control period, the primary duty cycle is applied at a time when the current program loop number equals a program loop number of the two-dimensional surface corresponding to the actual calculated purge flow.

Duty cycling feature for the proportional purge solenoid to improve low

The present invention is directed towards a method of controlling combustion parameters of an internal combustion engine prior to oxygen sensor feedback availability for a flexible fueled vehicle. If the vehicle has previously been running on ethanol or has been using ethanol in the recent past, a first strategy is employed which basis engine fueling on the minimum of a theoretically appropriate fueling value and a theoretically calculated value. If the vehicle has not previously been running on ethanol or has not been using ethanol in the recent past, a second strategy is employed which basis engine fueling on the minimum of the theoretically appropriate fueling value, the theoretically calculated value and a roughness calculated value.

Method of determining the composition of fuel in a flexible fueled

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Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Patrick T McCourt