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:
Aug. 02, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1992
Karl-Heinz Kugler, Vaihingen, DE;
Arnd-Matthias Langner, Kornwestheim, DE;
Karlheinz Riedel, Vaihingen/Enz-Guendelbach, DE;
Richard Schleupen, Grossingersheim, DE;
Christian Zimmermann, Ingersheim, DE;
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
Monitoring apparatus is provided for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine such as is provided in a motor vehicle, which is capable of detecting a variety of malfunctions of ignition under a variety of engine operating ranges, so that the catalyst used in the exhaust system of the engine can be protected by setting lambda=0 and/or cutting off fuel injection to an inoperative cylinder, in as many instances of malfunction as possible. Various methods of monitoring are available and are correlated for selection in accordance with the different operating ranges of the engine. The ignition spark duration and the ignition discharge voltage are measured for individual sparks on the primary side of an ignition coil and are compared with limit values for correct ignition, these limit values being selected from a memory in accordance with the particular range of operating conditions in which the engine is operating. If the quality of malfunction detection is not good enough for individual ignition deficiencies to be reliably detected, deficiencies that are periodically recurrent or abnormally bunched are detected on a statistical basis.