Engine Misfire Detection Using First-Order Crank Angle Difference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine misfire detection devices face challenges in accurately determining misfires in unequal interval combustion engines due to varying crank angles and interference from acceleration, deceleration, and other non-combustion related fluctuations, leading to reduced detection accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The engine misfire determination device calculates a first-order difference by removing rotation speed fluctuations in sections of 720×m crank angle degrees to isolate and manifest the fluctuation component attributable to unequal interval combustion, enabling accurate misfire detection without relying on second-order differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If second-order difference is used for misfire determination, then influence of acceleration and deceleration is reduced, but misfire detection accuracy deteriorates in unequal interval combustion engines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemisfire detection accuracyVSAvoidapplicability to unequal interval combustion engines
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the calculation parameters by using first-order difference instead of second-order difference, and introduces a correction value based on the difference between actual and average crank angle intervals. This parameter modification enables accurate misfire detection in both equal and unequal interval combustion engines while maintaining suppression of acceleration and deceleration influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If detection position is adjusted for unequal interval combustion, then combustion stroke alignment improves, but rotation speed deviation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion stroke detection alignmentVSAvoidmisfire determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the influence of unequal interval combustion by calculating a correction value based on the difference between actual and average crank angle intervals. This correction value is then subtracted from the rotation speed difference, effectively separating the combustion-related fluctuations from the misfire signal, thereby maintaining detection alignment without being affected by interval variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If second-order difference calculation is performed, then acceleration and deceleration influence is suppressed, but detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuppression of acceleration and deceleration influenceVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the misfire detection process into distinct components: calculating rotation speed at specific crank angle positions, computing first-order difference, and applying correction based on crank angle interval differences. This segmentation simplifies the overall calculation by breaking down the complex second-order difference operation into manageable steps that are easier to implement and compute.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3480446B1Engine misfire determination device and vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 DENSO CORP
  • EP3480446B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3480446B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3480446B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide an engine misfire determination device and a vehicle applicable to a misfire determination in various types of engines. [Solution] A misfire determination device includes: a combustion fluctuation canceled value acquisition unit that acquires a first combustion fluctuation canceled value which is a rotation speed in a section of 720×m crank angle degrees including a first angle position and a second combustion fluctuation canceled value which is a rotation speed in a section of 720×m crank angle degrees including a second angle position; a combustion fluctuation manifested value calculation unit that calculates a first fluctuation manifested value by removing the first combustion fluctuation canceled value from a rotation speed at the first angle position, and calculates a second fluctuation manifested value by removing the second combustion fluctuation canceled value from a rotation speed at the second angle position; a first-order difference calculation unit that calculates a first-order difference between the first fluctuation manifested value and the second fluctuation manifested value; and a specific cylinder misfire determination unit that determines a misfire in a specific cylinder by using the first-order difference.