The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 1990
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1990
Edward N Sickafus, Grosse Ile, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An engine control system for operating an internal combustion engine with any mixture of alcohol and gasoline. The control system includes an air/fuel ratio control system providing a desired fuel charge in relation to the alcohol and gasoline content of the fuel which is indicated by an optical sensor. In one embodiment, the optical sensor includes a hemispherical lens having hemispherical recesses formed through the lens base equidistant from the lens plane of symmetry. A light emitting diode positioned in one recess irradiates substantially the entire 2 .pi. steradian outer surface of the hemispherical lens. A portion of the transmitted light is reflected from substantially the entire hemispherical lens and substantially focused on a photodetector positioned in the other recess. Emitter and detector are substantially positioned at conjugate focii of the lens which provides substantially a 2 .pi. steradian collection aperture. The amount of transmitted light reflected is related to the index of refraction of the surrounding fuel mixture thereby providing a measurement of fuel composition.