Adaptive Barometric Pressure Estimation Using Engine Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional internal combustion engines rely on a barometric pressure sensor for accurate engine operation, which increases costs and maintenance due to the need for additional hardware and regular monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive method estimates barometric pressure by monitoring engine and vehicle operating parameters, determining the health status of the air filter, and calculating the drag coefficient to derive the barometric pressure without a dedicated sensor, using relationships between mass air flow, pre-throttle inlet pressure, and air density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a barometric pressure sensor is used to directly measure PBARO, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors (mass air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, manifold absolute pressure sensor) to self-determine barometric pressure through calculation rather than requiring a dedicated barometric pressure sensor. The microprocessor calculates PBARO using the ideal gas law and measured parameters, making the system self-sufficient using its own components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical barometric pressure sensor with a computational approach. Instead of directly measuring barometric pressure with hardware, the system substitutes a calculation method using the ideal gas law (PV=nRT) and measured parameters (mass air flow, intake air temperature, manifold absolute pressure) to derive PBARO electronically.
2Measurement precision
If a barometric pressure sensor is installed, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing sensors in the system (mass air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, manifold absolute pressure sensor) are made multi-functional. These sensors not only perform their original functions but also provide data for calculating barometric pressure, eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensors and reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive calculation algorithms and existing sensor data instead of expensive dedicated barometric pressure sensors. The computational approach is cheaper than adding specialized hardware, and the system uses readily available sensor readings that are already part of the engine management system.
3Measurement precision
If a barometric pressure sensor is used, then measurement precision is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains barometric pressure measurement capability using existing sensors that are already part of the engine management system. Since these sensors are already monitored and maintained as part of the standard engine operation, no additional maintenance burden is created. The calculation-based approach eliminates the need to maintain a separate barometric pressure sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the barometric pressure measurement function from a dedicated sensor and redistributes it across multiple existing sensors. By taking the measurement function out of a single dedicated component and distributing it across the mass air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, and manifold absolute pressure sensor, the system eliminates the maintenance burden of a separate barometric pressure sensor.
4Device complexity
If existing sensors are used to calculate barometric pressure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the calculated barometric pressure and compares it with expected values based on operating conditions. The microprocessor uses feedback from multiple sensors (mass air flow, intake air temperature, manifold absolute pressure) to continuously refine the barometric pressure calculation, ensuring accuracy while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite measurement approach by combining data from multiple different sensors (mass air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, manifold absolute pressure sensor) to derive barometric pressure. This composite method using the ideal gas law combines information from different measurement types to achieve accurate barometric pressure estimation without requiring a dedicated sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a barometric pressure of atmosphere, in which an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is located includes monitoring operating parameters of the internal combustion engine and the vehicle, determining a healthy status of an air filter of the internal combustion engine, and calculating the barometric pressure based on the operating parameters and the healthy status of the air filter.