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:
May. 07, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2000
Frank van der Staay, Würselen, DE;
Lutz Kather, Würselen, DE;
FEV Motortechnik GmbH, Aachen, DE;
Abstract
A method for monitoring the operation of a piston-type internal combustion engine, comprising electromagnetic actuators with filly variable actuation for the cylinder valves, wherein the engine control unit supplies current based on respective predetermined current flows. The actuators are associated with respective sensors for detecting operation and transmitting operationally relevant signals to the engine control unit of the displacement movement of the respective actuator. The engine control unit detects the current and voltage flows for the actuator and, if no sensor signal is received, a sensor failure or actuator failure is detected from the voltage flow at the actuator. If a sensor fails at the actuator, the detection of a sensor signal is taken from a different, corresponding actuator by the engine control unit and the engine control unit causes initiation of a starting operation (start of oscillations) for the actuator initially determined to be non-operative. If an actuator failure subsequently is detected, the associated cylinder is shut down.