Fuel Pressure Estimation Using Cam Phase Mapping

Solution Overview

Problem

Current engine systems require a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor to detect pulsating components in low-pressure fuel pressure, but there is a need to estimate this without using such a sensor to reduce components and costs.

Innovation Solution

A fuel pressure estimation system that uses a storage device with mappings to estimate pulsating components based on cam phase variables, engine rotation speed, load factors, and high-pressure pump data, allowing the execution device to calculate the pulsating variable without a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor is provided to detect pulsating component, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of pulsating componentVSAvoidnumber of sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the fuel pressure sensor functionality through computational modeling. Instead of using a physical sensor to directly measure pulsating components, the system uses a prediction model that replicates sensor behavior by processing data from existing sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to estimate fuel pressure variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical fuel pressure sensor with a computational system using machine learning models and mobile device sensors. The physical measurement device is substituted with an information processing system that calculates fuel pressure characteristics through algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor is provided to detect pulsating component, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of pulsating componentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the fuel pressure sensor functionality through computational modeling. Instead of using a physical sensor to directly measure pulsating components, the system uses a prediction model that replicates sensor behavior by processing data from existing sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to estimate fuel pressure variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical fuel pressure sensor with a computational system using machine learning models and mobile device sensors. The physical measurement device is substituted with an information processing system that calculates fuel pressure characteristics through algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If existing sensors are used to estimate fuel pressure without additional sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sensorsVSAvoidestimation of pulsating component

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing mobile device sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) perform multiple functions. These sensors originally designed for other purposes are utilized to detect fuel pressure variations, enabling one set of sensors to serve both their primary function and fuel pressure measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the fuel pressure sensor functionality through computational modeling. Instead of using a physical sensor to directly measure pulsating components, the system uses a prediction model that replicates sensor behavior by processing data from existing sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to estimate fuel pressure variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11208966B2Fuel pressure estimation system

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A storage device is configured to store a first mapping that receives, as an input, a first input variable including a cam phase variable on present and past phases of a cam, and output a pulsating variable on a pulsating component. The execution device is configured to acquire the first input variable and estimate the pulsating variable by applying the acquired first input variable to the first mapping. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the pulsating variable without providing a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor by estimating a fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variable to the first mapping.