Engine Controller for Turbo Pulsation Airflow Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine controllers fail to accurately compensate for intake pulsation errors in exhaust turbochargers with variable mechanisms, leading to inaccuracies in airflow measurement and fuel injection.

Innovation Solution

An engine controller that calculates a pulsation correction value based on engine rotation speed, throttle opening, boost pressure, and actuation states of variable mechanisms to correct airflow meter output, followed by precise fuel injection amount calculation and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If compensation for airflow meter output error is based only on forced induction state, then the control system remains simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inadequate compensation in engines with variable mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow measurement accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the correction coefficient adaptive rather than static. The correction coefficient is dynamically adjusted based on multiple parameters including forced induction state, actuation state of variable mechanisms, and intake pulsation characteristics. This allows the system to maintain high measurement precision across varying operating conditions without requiring a completely new measurement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously to achieve accurate compensation: forced induction state, actuation state of variable mechanisms, engine speed, and load conditions. By monitoring and adjusting the correction coefficient based on this combination of parameters, the system achieves precise airflow measurement compensation while managing complexity through systematic parameter management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the exhaust turbocharger includes variable mechanisms to change gas flow passage shape, then adaptability improves, but intake pulsation generation changes making compensation inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturbocharger adaptabilityVSAvoidairflow meter accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actuation state of variable mechanisms and using this information to adjust the correction coefficient. The system detects changes in variable mechanism position and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then selects or calculates the appropriate correction coefficient to compensate for the resulting intake pulsation changes, maintaining measurement precision despite turbocharger adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the correction coefficient based on the real-time actuation state of variable mechanisms. As the variable mechanisms change the gas flow passage shape to provide different levels of forced induction, the correction coefficient is dynamically adjusted to match the corresponding intake pulsation characteristics, ensuring continuous measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If forced induction state remains the same with different variable mechanism actuation states, then control simplicity is maintained, but compensation accuracy deteriorates because intake pulsation generation changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidpulsation compensation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses this by expanding the set of parameters used for correction coefficient selection beyond just forced induction state. The system now considers multiple parameters including the actuation state of variable mechanisms, engine speed, and load conditions. This multi-parameter approach allows the system to distinguish between different operating conditions that produce the same forced induction state, maintaining compensation accuracy while preserving control simplicity through systematic parameter management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the operating conditions into distinct categories based on combinations of forced induction state, variable mechanism actuation state, engine speed, and load. By creating separate correction coefficients for different segments of the operating range, the system achieves precise compensation for each specific condition while maintaining overall control simplicity through structured organization of the correction data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3862556B1Engine controller and engine control method
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3862556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3862556B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3862556B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine controller calculates a pulsation correction value based on actuation states of an air bypass valve (ABV) and a wastegate valve (WGV) that change the shape of intake and exhaust flow passages of an exhaust turbocharger. The pulsation correction value is used to compensate for an output error of an airflow meter caused by intake pulsation. The engine controller also calculates a fuel injection amount of an injector, based on an output of the airflow meter that has been corrected based on the pulsation correction value.