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:
Nov. 15, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2002
Donald James Lewis, Brighton, MI (US);
Kevin Ronald Carlstrom, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Stanley Larue Bower, Jr., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Stephen L. Hahn, Novi, MI (US);
Donald James Lewis, Brighton, MI (US);
Kevin Ronald Carlstrom, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Stanley Larue Bower, Jr., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Stephen L. Hahn, Novi, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a new method and system for optimizing the efficiency of an automotive catalytic converter. The claimed invention comprises adjusting an air/fuel ratio in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine to maintain a desired level of oxidants in the catalytic converter. At various times, the actual amount of oxidants stored in the catalytic converter is determined. The actual oxidant amount is compared to a target amount of oxidants to be stored in the catalytic converter. The air/fuel ratio in the cylinders is adjusted based on magnitude of the difference between the actual oxidant amount and the target oxidant amount to prevent NOx and hydrocarbon breakthrough.