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. 15, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2001
Joseph Richard Asik, Bloomfield, MI (US);
Garth Michael Meyer, Dearborn, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of optimizing vehicle emissions during lean engine operation is disclosed wherein an emission control device receiving engine exhaust gases is filled with one or more constituent gases of the exhaust gas to a predetermined fraction of the device storage capacity, and is then completely emptied during a subsequent purge. As the device storage capacity is substantially reduced, as indicated by an actual fill time becoming equal to or less than a predetermined minimum fill time, a device regeneration cycle is performed to attempt to restore device capacity. A programmed computer controls the fill and purge times based on the amplitude of the voltage of a switching-type oxygen sensor and the time response of the sensor. The frequency of the purge, which ideally is directly related to the device capacity depletion rate, is controlled so that the device is not filled beyond its storage capacity limit.