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:
Oct. 31, 1995
Filed:
May. 16, 1994
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A method for distinguishing sources of error in a mixture formation or mixture regulating system of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system with a lambda regulator and a heated lambda sensor is disclosed. A value of a sensor voltage is continuously measured. The value of the sensor voltage is compared with a lower diagnostic limit value and an upper diagnostic limit value. A lambda regulator value of the lambda regulator is varied in an enriching direction to a maximum lambda regulation limit if the lower diagnostic limit value fails to be attained, and the lambda regulator value is varied in a leaning down direction to a minimum lambda regulation limit if the upper diagnostic limit value is exceeded. The heating output of the sensor heater is raised after a time period has elapsed during which there is no departure from the maximum lambda regulation limit, and the heating output of the sensor heater is lowered after a time period has elapsed during which there is no departure from the minimum lambda regulation limit. A conclusion is drawn that there is a permanently lean mixture formation error if the lower diagnostic limit value for permanently lean mixtures is exceeded again, and a conclusion is drawn that there is a permanently rich mixture formation error if the upper diagnostic limit value fails to be attained again. Otherwise a sensor error is detected.