Engine All-Cylinder Misfire Detection with Pulsation Spectrum Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing misfire detecting devices for internal combustion engines take time to detect all-cylinder misfires, particularly in engines with a large number of cylinders, leading to increased non-combustion gas generation.

Innovation Solution

An internal combustion engine misfire detecting device that frequency-analyzes operation parameter data to identify pulsating components and difference parameters, using threshold values to quickly determine all-cylinder misfires without individual cylinder assessments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If individual cylinder misfire detection is performed, then misfire detection accuracy is improved, but detection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemisfire detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the detection of multiple cylinders into a single integrated detection process. Instead of individually analyzing each cylinder's operation, the system merges the operational parameters of all cylinders and analyzes them as a collective unit, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while significantly reducing the time required to identify all-cylinder misfires

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the detection process into two distinct stages: first identifying whether a misfire occurred in any cylinder, then determining if it was an all-cylinder misfire. This segmentation allows the system to quickly rule out partial misfires and focus computational resources only when necessary, reducing overall detection time while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If individual cylinder assessment is performed, then misfire detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemisfire detection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal detection approach where a single integrated analysis mechanism serves multiple functions: it detects both partial misfires and all-cylinder misfires, and can identify the specific type of misfire occurrence. This multi-functional approach maintains high reliability while reducing system complexity compared to separate detection mechanisms for different misfire types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If all-cylinder misfire detection is delayed, then non-combustion gas generation increases, but detection speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-combustion gas generationVSAvoiddetection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of operational parameters continuously during engine operation, preparing detection criteria and threshold values in advance. When a misfire condition occurs, the system can immediately compare current parameters against pre-established criteria, enabling rapid detection of all-cylinder misfires before significant non-combustion gas accumulation occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4317669B1Internal combustion engine misfire detecting device and misfire detecting method
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER LTD
  • EP4317669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4317669B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4317669B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This misfire detecting device for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, for detecting a misfire of the internal combustion engine, is provided with: a pulsation component acquiring unit for performing a frequency analysis of operating parameter data indicating a change over time in an operating parameter correlated with an overall operating state of the plurality of cylinders, and for acquiring a pulsation component spectrum, which is a frequency spectrum of pulsations of the internal combustion engine; a difference parameter acquiring unit for acquiring a difference parameter correlated with a degree of difference between the operations of each of the plurality of cylinders; and all-cylinder misfire determining unit for determining that an all-cylinder misfire has occurred in the internal combustion engine if the pulsation component spectrum acquired by the pulsation component acquiring unit falls below a first threshold and the difference parameter acquired by the difference parameter acquiring unit 12 falls below a second threshold.