Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Paul F Smith

Thomas Scott Gee

Bruce J Palansky

Thomas L Greene

John A Daubenmier

Thomas A Schubert

Gavin F McCall

Michael John Cullen

Lawrence H Buch

Douglas R Hamburg

Eric B Ferch

John Frederick Armitage

Carl W Squire

Karl H Kock

Stuart L Bird

A computer program architecture for a motor vehicle on-board diagnostic system includes a plurality of monitor modules for monitoring vehicle systems or components and issuing a malfunction subroutine call to a diagnostic executive upon detecting a system or component malfunction. The executive includes a plurality of software objects or modules for carrying out malfunction indicator light control and fault code storage strategies. A diagnostic scheduler module implemented as a finite state machine, controls and coordinates the sequence of the test to be run by the monitor modules as well as on-demand self tests. A malfunction indicator light (MIL) control module implements four distinct light control strategies through finite machines for illuminating and extinguishing the light and for storing and erasing fault codes under predetermined conditions.

Computer program architecture for onboard vehicle diagnostic system

A method of inferring the temperature of a heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor is used in the control of the operation of an electronic engine control for an internal combustion engine.

Inferring temperature of a heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor

A method of controlling the operation of heaters for an exhaust gas oxygen sensor as function exhaust gas temperature as compared to a first exhaust gas temperature to turn on the heaters and a second exhaust gas oxygen sensor temperature to turn off the heaters.

Controlling resistance heaters on exhaust gas oxygen sensors

A multiple ratio automatic transmission having a hydrokinetic torque converter in an automotive vehicle driveline wherein the torque converter has a controllable bypass clutch and wherein provision is made for changing the clutch capacity during a ratio change to reduce undesirable torque fluctuations in the driveline, thus improving shift quality while maintaining optimum hydrodynamic torque converter efficiency.

Electronically controlled bypass clutch using target slips based on

Air/fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine is controlled so as to test the operation of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The engine is divided into two banks, each bank including an intake bank of cylinders, an exhaust path, and an exhaust gas oxygen sensor in the exhaust path. Air/fuel ratio control signals are used in connection with each of the two banks, the control signals being 180.degree. out of phase with each other.

Exhaust gas oxygen sensor monitoring

A system for detecting a fault in an exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor includes generating a first signal with a first voltage if the EGO sensor output signal is approaching an unacceptable voltage and a second voltage if the EGO sensor output signal has an unacceptable voltage. The system further includes setting a first flag if the first signal has the first voltage and a second flag, indicating an EGO sensor fault, if the first signal has the second voltage and the first flag is set.

Method and apparatus for identifying characteristic shift downward

Functionality of the exhaust gas oxygen sensor is determined by continually monitoring the exhaust gas oxygen sensor voltage to determine both a peak rich voltage and peak lean voltage. Based on the information after some predetermined time period, a system determines whether rich air/fuel ratio excursions are required and lean air/fuel ratio excursions are required. If a rich air/fuel excursion is required, then there is a command to decrease the air/fuel ratio to make it rich until the peak rich voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. Analogously, if a lean excursion is required, then there is a command to have a lean air/fuel ratio excursion done until the peak lean voltage is less than a predetermined threshold. If a time out happened before the peak rich voltage was greater than the rich threshold or the peak lean voltage was less than the lean threshold, then there is a determination that there is a malfunction detected on the sensor/circuit.

OBD-II exhaust gas oxygen sensor

A system for scheduling gear ratio changes in an automatic transmission and controlling operation of a torque converter bypass clutch includes a microprocessor; electronic memory containing control algorithms, lookup tables, functions and constants; solenoid-operated shift valves, a variable force solenoid, friction clutches, brakes and sensors, and planetary gear units. A table of calibrated performance weighting factors (PWF) is used to alter reference schedules of gear ratio changes based on the extent to which high performance operation is desired rather than economy operation. The PWFs are used to adjust gear shift points based on inferences drawn from engine throttle position and time rate of change of throttle position. Hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction elements and the schedule of unlocked and modulated operation of the torque converter are adjusted from reference schedules and pressures on the basis of PWF values.

Performance mode and economy mode shift scheduling in an automatic

Method, for controlling fuel supply to an internal combustion engine utilizing a modulated air-fuel signal having a modified square-wave waveform, of monitoring operation of an oxygen sensor for sensing engine exhaust gas oxygen level. The method includes generating the modulated air-fuel signal having the modified square-wave waveform designed to produce a particular engine exhaust response for interrogating the oxygen sensor, and operating the engine based on the modulated air-fuel signal. The oxygen sensor produces an associated output signal in response to sensed exhaust gas oxygen levels. The method also includes processing the output signal of the oxygen sensor associated with the particular engine response so as to determine the operating condition of the oxygen sensor and to verify acceptable test conditions.

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Dearborn Heights, MI, United States of America

Paul F Smith