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:
Jul. 16, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1994
John M Glidewell, Dearborn, MI (US);
Granger K-C. Chui, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Woong-Chul Yang, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic system for detecting malfunctioning fuel injectors in an internal combustion engine during engine operation. A fuel injector control means is provided for individually actuating fuel injectors operatively connected to a fuel rail. Pressure sensor means are mounted to the fuel rail for sensing transient fuel pressure waves resulting from actuation of the individual fuel injectors and for generating a pressure signal in response thereto. Signal processing means are provided for processing pressure signals from the pressure sensor means and for generating an output signal upon detecting delayed opening or delayed closing of one or more injectors. Utilization means responsive to the output signal from the signal processing means may include, for example, an indicator lamp to alert an engine operator to an impaired fuel injector and/or means for adjusting the timing or duration of the injector actuation signal to achieve the desired injector opening and closing times.