Engine Idle Stop Fuel Injection Control via Crank Angle Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing engine control device for saddle-straddling type motor vehicles may generate spark discharge at incorrect times due to crank angle detection device failures, leading to inefficient fuel combustion and catalyst deterioration during idle stop and re-start operations.

Innovation Solution

An engine system with a controller that manages idle stop and normal modes, using a first detection subject and detector to maintain fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber during idle stop and prevent fuel injection upon abnormality detection, ensuring quick re-start and minimizing fuel wastage and catalyst deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the crank angle detection device is used to detect the rotation position of the crank shaft, then the engine can be quickly started by generating a first explosion, but the spark discharge may be generated at a wrong time point when the device fails, leading to fuel wastage and catalyst deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine start-up speedVSAvoidignition timing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by maintaining a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber during idle stop mode before re-start. This pre-prepared mixture allows the engine to quickly restart without needing to wait for fuel injection and mixing, thus improving productivity while reducing the risk of incorrect spark discharge timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the operation state of the detection device and provides feedback to adjust fuel injection timing and idle stop mode operation. When abnormality is detected, the controller stops fuel injection during idle stop, preventing harmful uncombusted mixture exhaust. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability while preserving quick start capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If fuel is injected during idle stop mode to maintain fuel-air mixture in combustion chamber, then quick re-start is achieved, but fuel is wasted and catalyst deteriorates when detection device fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvere-start speedVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts fuel injection strategy based on real-time detection of abnormality in the crank angle detection device. During normal operation, fuel is injected during idle stop to enable quick re-start. When abnormality is detected, fuel injection during idle stop is stopped. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between quick re-start capability and fuel conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes the operational parameters of the fuel injection system based on detection device status. When abnormality is detected, the parameter change involves stopping fuel injection during idle stop mode, thereby preventing fuel wastage and catalyst deterioration while maintaining the ability to restart the engine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the engine is automatically stopped during temporary stops, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the re-start operation becomes frequent and requires quick response

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidre-start response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by maintaining a ready-to-combust fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber during idle stop mode. This pre-prepared state allows the engine to restart immediately when needed, thus improving re-start response time without compromising the fuel efficiency benefits of automatic idle stop during temporary stops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The engine system improves fuel efficiency and prevents catalyst deterioration by maintaining the fuel-air mixture during idle stop and ensuring proper ignition upon re-start, while avoiding uncombusted mixture exhaustion.

Implementation Method 1

The electromagnetic pickup is provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, and generates a crank angle pulse signal indicating that the front end and the rear end of each convex portion has passed through the vicinity at the time of rotation of the rotor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

at the time of the engine start-up, spark discharge (the ignition) of the ignition plug is generated at a time point at which the rear end of the convex portion that is to be detected subsequently to the reference convex portion is detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpark discharge: Electric Spark

Implementation Method 3

a fuel injection device that injects fuel into an intake passage that leads air into a combustion chamber of a cylinder and produces a fuel-air mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFuel injection: Injector

Implementation Method 4

the fuel-air mixture compressed in a first compression stroke after a change from the idle stop mode to the normal mode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3017168B1Engine system and saddle-straddling type motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3017168B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3017168B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3017168B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine is controlled in a normal mode or an idle stop mode. The ignition of a fuel-air mixture is performed in the normal mode, and the ignition of the fuel-air mixture is not performed in the idle stop mode. A detection subject that is rotated together with a crank shaft is provided at the crank shaft. At the time of the re-start of an engine, the ignition of the fuel-air mixture compressed in the first compression stroke is performed based on the detection of the detection subject by a reference angle sensor. When an operation abnormality of the reference angle sensor is not detected, the injection of the fuel is performed in a plurality of cycles right before the rotation of the crank shaft is stopped in the idle stop mode. When the operation abnormality of the reference angle sensor is detected, the injection of the fuel is not performed in the idle stop mode.