Fuel Pressure Sensor Reliability via Segmented Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in accurately adjusting fuel injection amounts and pressures when a pressure sensor anomaly occurs, leading to unnecessary power limiting and decreased engine performance.
Innovation Solution
A control device with multiple pressure sensors and processing units that determine sensor reliability and execute power limiting only when necessary, allowing for precise fuel injection control based on reliable sensor data, thereby minimizing power reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power limiting process is executed when any pressure sensor shows abnormality, then safety is improved, but engine power is unnecessarily reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device divides pressure sensors into two groups: those connected to the first processing unit and those connected to the second processing unit. This segmentation allows independent evaluation of sensor abnormalities in each group, enabling selective power limiting only when the second processing unit cannot obtain reliable data from its connected sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of power limiting degree based on the abnormality status of pressure sensors. When only the first processing unit's sensors are abnormal but the second processing unit's sensors are normal, the power limiting degree is reduced or eliminated, allowing the engine to operate at full power while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If multiple pressure sensors are installed, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device segments the pressure sensor network into two distinct connections: first processing unit connected to all pressure sensors, and second processing unit connected to two or more pressure sensors. This segmentation enables the system to leverage multiple sensors for reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensors serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide data to both the first processing unit (for comprehensive monitoring) and the second processing unit (for control decisions). This multi-functionality maximizes the utility of each sensor, improving measurement reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If power limiting is executed based on single sensor abnormality, then fail-safe control is improved, but fuel injection control accuracy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device segments the processing functions into two units: the first processing unit performs comprehensive abnormality determination on all pressure sensors, while the second processing unit performs control based on its connected sensors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain accurate fuel injection control using the second processing unit's normal sensors even when the first processing unit detects abnormalities in other sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The first processing unit provides feedback about pressure sensor abnormalities to the control device. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently adjusts power limiting execution: when only first-unit sensors are abnormal, power limiting is reduced or eliminated, maintaining fuel injection accuracy while still ensuring safety through continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A device executes a power limiting process when the number of pressure sensors determined to be normal in a second determination process made by a second processing unit is smaller than or equal to one. When only one pressure sensor is determined to be normal through the second determination process, and when that pressure sensor and a pressure sensor connected to only a first processing unit are determined to be normal in a first determination process made by the first processing unit, a process associated with fuel injection based on a detected value of the pressure sensor determined to be normal in the second determination process is executed, and a degree of limiting engine power through the power limiting process is reduced as compared with when both the pressure sensors are determined to be abnormal in the first determination process.