Dual Sensor Camshaft Arrangement for Engine Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camshaft arrangements in reciprocating internal combustion engines with phase-adjustable intake and exhaust camshafts lack accurate position detection, particularly during the starting process, and are costly to implement with high manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

Assigning a quick-start sensor wheel unit with fewer, unevenly divided segments to the phase-adjustable exhaust camshaft and a precision sensor wheel unit with more, evenly divided segments to the phase-adjustable intake camshaft, allowing for precise position detection and efficient engine operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single high-resolution sensor wheel is used for both intake and exhaust camshafts, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamshaft position detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is segmented into two distinct units: a quick-start sensor wheel unit with fewer segments for the exhaust camshaft, and a precision sensor wheel unit with more segments for the intake camshaft. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining necessary measurement precision for each camshaft type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality levels are applied locally to different camshaft sensor systems. The exhaust camshaft uses a lower-resolution quick-start sensor wheel sufficient for starting phase detection, while the intake camshaft uses a higher-resolution precision sensor wheel for accurate combustion control. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between measurement precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a quick-start sensor wheel with fewer segments is used for the exhaust camshaft, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision during starting decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system simplicityVSAvoidexhaust camshaft position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The quick-start sensor wheel unit is specifically designed to provide sufficient measurement precision during the engine starting phase, when exact camshaft position is critical for proper valve timing. Once the engine is running, the system transitions to using the precision sensor wheel unit for ongoing combustion control, making the preliminary starting phase detection adequate without requiring full precision continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If high-resolution precision sensor wheels are assigned to both camshafts, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamshaft position detection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is divided into two segments with different resolution levels matched to the specific requirements of each camshaft function. This segmentation avoids the unnecessary cost of implementing high-resolution sensors on both camshafts, while still achieving the required measurement precision where it is most critical for combustion control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses different resolution parameters for different camshaft sensor units. The exhaust camshaft uses a coarser resolution parameter sufficient for starting detection, while the intake camshaft uses a finer resolution parameter for precision combustion control. This parameter differentiation reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining necessary precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If a quick-start sensor wheel unit is used for the exhaust camshaft, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ability to detect precise camshaft position during operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system manufacturabilityVSAvoidcamshaft position accuracy during operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between different sensor units based on operational phase. During engine starting, the quick-start sensor wheel unit is used for exhaust camshaft detection. During normal operation, the precision sensor wheel unit is used for intake camshaft detection to ensure accurate combustion control. This dynamic allocation optimizes both manufacturability and measurement precision across different operational states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3017154B1Camshaft arrangement of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine and a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having such a camshaft arrangement
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3017154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3017154B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a camshaft arrangement of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having at least one phase-adjustable intake camshaft and at least one phase-adjustable exhaust camshaft and a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with such a camshaft arrangement. The object of the invention is to provide a camshaft arrangement for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising at least one phase-adjustable intake camshaft and at least one phase-adjustable exhaust camshaft and a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with such a camshaft arrangement, which guarantees a quick start capability of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, can be cost-efficiently realized, and at the same time enables an increased precision during position determination of the camshaft. In a camshaft arrangement according to the invention for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising at least one phase-adjustable intake camshaft and at least one phase-adjustable exhaust camshaft, a quick start sensor wheel unit (10) is assigned to the at least one phase-adjustable exhaust camshaft and a precision sensor wheel unit (20) is assigned to the at least one phase-adjustable intake camshaft, wherein the precision sensor wheel unit (20) has a higher resolution than the quick start sensor wheel unit (10).