Gas Sensor Assembly Detection via Engine Parameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting wrong assembly of gas sensors in engine exhaust systems are inefficient, often requiring hardware changes and increasing costs, and fail to accurately distinguish between sensor errors and assembly issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that control engine control parameters to differ between groups of cylinders in exhaust systems, monitoring gas sensor outputs to detect abnormal signals indicative of wrong assembly without hardware changes, using techniques like fuel cut control and air-fuel ratio dithering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different connector shapes or different wiring harness lengths are used for left and right gas sensors, then wrong assembly is prevented, but the number of parts increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the detection parameter from physical hardware differences (connector shapes, harness lengths) to operational parameters (sensor output signals under controlled engine conditions). By controlling engine parameters like air-fuel ratio and monitoring sensor responses, the system can identify wrong assembly without requiring different physical parts for left and right sensors.
2Measurement precision
If wrong assembly detection is performed by responsiveness diagnosis or fuel feedback correction amount diagnosis, then detection capability is provided, but the cause cannot be identified and troubleshooting requires many man-hours
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the detection process into distinct phases: first detecting abnormality through responsiveness diagnosis, then specifically identifying wrong assembly through controlled engine parameter changes. By dividing the diagnosis into sequential steps with different control strategies, the system can pinpoint the exact cause (wrong assembly vs. sensor malfunction) without requiring extensive troubleshooting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing control patterns for engine parameters (such as intentional air-fuel ratio deviations) that will produce distinctive sensor responses. When wrong assembly is detected, these pre-planned control maneuvers help immediately identify the issue without requiring lengthy diagnostic procedures.
3Device complexity
If the same hardware configuration is used for left and right gas sensors, then part cost is reduced, but wrong assembly cannot be detected without additional hardware changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical/difference-based detection methods (different connector shapes, harness lengths) with an electronic/software-based approach. By using engine control parameter manipulation and sensor output analysis, the system achieves wrong assembly detection without any hardware modifications, maintaining hardware simplicity while ensuring detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including plural gas sensors assembled in plural exhaust systems, detecting an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas, where an air-fuel ratio feedback control is carried out together with an engine control unit. Each gas sensor detects signal of oxygen concentration corresponding to a group of cylinders. The method for detecting an assembled state of the gas sensor: controls an engine control parameter affecting the air-fuel ratio of the engine, so that the values thereof are different from each other for the plural groups of cylinders corresponding to the plural exhaust systems; monitors an output from the gas sensor under the controlled state, the gas sensor being installed in each of the plural exhaust systems; and judges that the gas sensor is in a wrong assembled state if the output from the gas sensor is an abnormal output corresponding to the value of the engine control parameter.