Air-per-cylinder security system for engine torque control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional engine control systems fail to accurately control engine torque output and respond rapidly to control signals, lacking coordination among devices affecting torque output.
Innovation Solution
An air-per-cylinder (APC) security system that determines APC values based on mass airflow and spark timing, diagnoses faults by comparing APC values, and adjusts engine parameters to ensure accurate torque control through a module that increments or decrements a timer based on APC thresholds and engine speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional engine control systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the torque output control accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control modules including APC determination module, APC threshold determination module, and APC diagnostic module. Each module handles specific control tasks, allowing for precise torque control while maintaining modular system architecture that manages complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously determining APC values, comparing them against thresholds, and diagnosing faults based on deviations. The feedback loop uses APC measurements and diagnostic results to adjust control actions, improving torque control accuracy through closed-loop regulation while managing system complexity through structured feedback processing.
2Speed
If traditional engine control systems are used, then the device complexity is low, but the response speed to control signals is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining APC thresholds and preparing diagnostic criteria before control signals are received. The APC determination module continuously calculates APC values in advance, and the diagnostic module is ready to immediately compare and diagnose when control signals arrive, enabling rapid response without complex real-time computation during signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts its operation by continuously updating APC values and comparing them against thresholds in real-time. The system transitions between normal operation and fault diagnosis modes dynamically, allowing rapid response to changing control conditions while managing complexity through dynamic state transitions rather than static complex architecture.
3Reliability
If traditional engine control systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the coordination among torque control devices is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple control functions into an integrated APC control framework that coordinates APC determination, threshold evaluation, and fault diagnosis together. By combining these previously separate functions into a unified control architecture, the system achieves better coordination among torque control devices while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The APC control system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it determines APC values for torque control, compares them against thresholds for regulation, and performs fault diagnosis for reliability monitoring. This multi-functional approach improves coordination among torque control devices by using a single universal control framework rather than separate specialized systems, managing complexity through functional consolidation.
4Measurement precision
If APC diagnostic module continuously monitors all cylinders, then fault detection accuracy is high, but the loss of computational resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic module applies local quality by focusing computational resources on specific cylinders that require diagnosis based on APC deviations. Rather than uniformly monitoring all cylinders with equal intensity, the system selectively applies diagnostic processing to cylinders showing abnormal APC patterns, improving fault detection accuracy where needed while reducing unnecessary computational consumption in normal cylinders.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes diagnostic parameters dynamically by adjusting the intensity and frequency of monitoring based on APC threshold violations. When APC deviations exceed thresholds, the system increases diagnostic scrutiny and computational resources for affected cylinders. When operating normally, it reduces diagnostic intensity, thereby maintaining high fault detection accuracy during critical events while minimizing computational resource consumption during stable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-per-cylinder (APC) security system for a vehicle comprises an APC determination module, an APC threshold determination module, and an APC diagnostic module. The APC determination module determines first and second APC values for first and second cylinders of an engine, respectively, based on mass airflow (MAF) into the engine. The APC threshold determination module determines an APC threshold based on the first APC value and a spark timing for the first cylinder. The APC diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the APC determination module when the second APC value is greater than a sum of the first APC value and the APC threshold.