EP0889213B1 - Sensor arrangement and motor control for an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sensor arrangement and a motor control device for an internal combustion engine, wherein the Engine control device Sensor means for detecting engine load indicative Sizes, means for determining the engine load the measured values supplied by the sensor means and a Throttle position control loop with a throttle position controller, a throttle actuator and a throttle position sensor includes.

Conventionally, sensor arrays and motor control devices of internal combustion engines, e.g. for motor vehicles, designed so that all the sensors arranged on the engine and the Throttle actuator housed in separate housings and individually connected to an engine control unit, which is the contains complete intelligence for the engine control. So includes a typical engine control unit e.g. a main processor, an associated with this engine load calculation unit, one the main processor coupled security processor to perform mandatory safety functions for an electric controlled throttle, a throttle position controller and an associated output stage for controlling the Throttle actuator. The engine load calculation unit are the output signals of an intake manifold pressure sensor, an intake air temperature sensor and an air mass sensor supplied. In addition, the output of the throttle position sensor both the engine load calculation unit and the throttle position controller supplied to the engine control unit. All said sensors are separated from each other at appropriate Positions of the air intake tract positioned. The throttle actuator is usually e.g. as a DC servomotor performed with a potentiometer, which serves as a throttle position sensor serves.

From the patent DE 34 05 935 C2, a special Throttle valve adjusting device for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine it is known to one of a Processor controlled throttle actuator, an associated Throttle position sensor, a throttle body, in which on a throttle shaft the Throttle valve is arranged, the electronic components of a Input stage from which a setpoint signal is fed to a position control loop can be fed, the position control loop itself and a Output stage, which can be fed to an output signal of the position control loop is and fed to the servomotor via the control signals can be integrated in a common assembly to arrange. Through this component integration of the Cabling effort can be reduced.

DE 44 43 502 A1 shows an engine control unit, in which For reasons of saving plug connections a throttle gan, a control unit and an air mass meter in a housing are housed as a preassembled unit.

The desire for increasing integration and microtechnical realization of vehicle electrical components, such as e.g. Sen Soren and Aktoren, comes in the journal article K. Ehlers, Microsystem technology - prerequisite for functional compression and upward integration in motor vehicle, tm - technical Messen 60 (1993) 9, page 347 for expression.

The document "air flow sensor with temperature sensor, mass flow meter" the Robert Bosch GmbH of 1995 shows on page 115 a micromechanical hot-film air mass flow meter, the one for the realization of his measuring function a heating resistor, two on both sides closely adjacent Temperature sensors and a slightly further air temperature sensor integrated contains.

As throttle position sensor are in addition to potentiometers already a variety of other types have been proposed in particular those based on a non-contact measuring principle based, such as optical, magnetic and capacitive sensing. Sensors of these types are e.g. in the publications DE 38 26 408 A1, DE 42 43 778 A1 and DE 42 43 779 A1 and the patents DE 40 14 885 C2, DE 40 34 991 C2, DE 41 18 218 C2 and US 4,994,739.

The invention is the provision as a technical problem a sensor arrangement and a motor control device of the type mentioned, the only little cabling require and accordingly fail-safe are, compact build, a precise and therefore fuel consumption and exhaust emission optimized engine control enable and, if necessary, multisensor data processing taking advantage of redundant sensor information allow.

The invention solves this problem by providing a sensor arrangement with the features of claim 1 and an engine control device having the features of the claim Second

In the sensor arrangement according to claim 1 are from a sensor amount, that consists of an air mass sensor, an intake air temperature sensor, an intake manifold pressure sensor and a throttle position sensor consists of at least two sensors in the form of a Saugrohrdrucksensors and an air mass sensor or in the form of a throttle position sensor and at least one further sensor microintegrated in a module unit arranged. Preferably, all four sensors are in this way in microtechnology integrated into the module unit. This micro integration of multiple sensors that are especially those that are engine load indicative sizes capture, saves cabling, allows one compact design of the sensor arrangement and provides the prerequisite a multisensorial data processing, at if necessary redundant sensor information can be used can, for example, to increase accuracy and Reliability in obtaining engine load estimates.

In the engine control device according to claim 2 is a Sensor arrangement provided according to claim 1. It includes the engine control device is a module unit in which not only the two to four mentioned sensors of this sensor arrangement, but in addition the means for engine latter mitt ment, preferably in the form of an engine load estimate, and / or the throttle position controller microintegrated arranged are. In this engine control device eliminates the cabling for those integrated into the module unit Components, preferably all four said sensor array sensors, the engine load determining means and the throttle position controller in Microtechnology are integrated into the module unit, which then as a micro-integrated, intelligent throttle position and Load detection module can be called. Through the integration the engine load determining means and / or the throttle position controller in the module unit and thus their outsourcing from the conventional engine control unit need the associated Sensor data is no longer transmitted to the engine control unit. In addition, the entire engine control device through the Microintegration of said components in the module unit be constructed comparatively compact.

In a further developed according to claim 3 engine control device is the throttle position sensor at the microintegration what he does in a special way relatively simply, However, it is constructed so that it still has the required accuracy offers.

A further developed according to claim 4 engine control device has a brushless synchronous motor as the throttle actuator, which in such a motor conventionally for the purpose of detecting its parking position provided Hall sensor elements at the same time as one involved in micro-integration Throttle position sensor can be used. This allows comparatively accurate throttle position measurements over the entire adjustment range.

In a further developed according to claim 5 engine control device is in the module unit further a power electronics integrated in microtechnology, which feeds the power consuming Components of the module unit and possibly one Throttle actuator serves.

In a further developed according to claim 6 engine control device is in the module unit additionally a security processor unit microintegrated arranged to carry out of required safety features for the electrical Throttle control is set up. The outsourcing this processor unit usually contained in the engine control unit out of this into the module unit carries on to simplify the engine control unit and, above all, to save money of cabling and signal transmission processes in particular, although the engine load determining means and the throttle position controller integrated into the module unit are.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Motorsteuerungseinrichtung mit zugehöriger Sensoranordnung für einen Verbrennungsmotor,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines in der Einrichtung von Fig. 1 verwendbaren Drosselklappenstellungssensors und

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines zweiten Beispiels eines in der Einrichtung von Fig. 1 verwendbaren Drosselklappenstellungssensors.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be described below. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an engine control device with associated sensor arrangement for an internal combustion engine,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a usable in the device of FIG. 1 throttle position sensor and

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a second example of a usable in the device of Fig. 1 throttle position sensor.

The engine control device shown schematically in Fig. 1 includes an engine control unit 1 and an intelligently designed, in mikrotechnik realized Drosselklappenstellungs- and Load detection module 2, with the engine control unit 1 via a serial, digital data line 3 in data exchange connection stands. The throttle position and load detection module 2 is designed as an annular member which is on the circumference of a Luftansaugrohres 4 of a controlled by the engine control device, not shown motor vehicle internal combustion engine is arranged in the region of a throttle valve 5, in the Suction tube 4 is pivotally mounted. The adjustment of the throttle 5 takes place by means of a servomotor 6, for which preferably a brushless synchronous motor is used.

Into the throttle position and load sensing module 2 are all hardware and software components for engine load detection and the adjustment of the throttle valve 5 in micro-integrated Construction included, i. all for recording motor load-indicative Sizes required sensors, means of determination, i.e. Estimation of the engine load based on the measured values of these Sensors and a throttle position control loop. specially For this purpose module 2 includes a sensor block 7, a signal processing block 8, a power electronics 9 and a separated from the sensor block 7, non-contact measuring Throttle position sensor 10.

The sensor block 7 includes an air mass flow sensor 7a, a Intake air temperature sensor 7b and an intake manifold pressure sensor 7 c, which protrude in a suitable manner from the module 2 in the suction pipe 4. The signal processing block 8 includes means for determining the engine load by making a load estimate for which in particular the three engine load-sensitive output signals of Sensors 7a, 7b, 7c of the sensor block 7 are used. Of Further, in the signal processing block 8, a throttle position controller and a security processor unit. Of the Throttle position controller forms along with that of him controlled throttle actuator 6 and the throttle position sensor 10 the throttle position control loop. Module 2 receives the throttle valve setting needed Information regarding the air mass setpoint or the Target speed of the engine via the data line 3 from Engine control unit 1 and gives over this bidirectional data line 3, the information about the measured by the air mass flow sensor 7a Air mass actual value to the engine control unit 1 on. The Security processor unit within the signal processing block 8 is used to carry out required, e.g. legally prescribed, safety functions for the electrical Throttle control. The signal processing block 8 contains the hardware and hardware necessary to fulfill the functions mentioned above Software with appropriate intelligence, what he especially has a suitable microprocessor. The same in the Module 2 micro-integrated power electronics 9 supplies the power-consuming components of the module 2 and the throttle actuator 6 with the required electrical energy.

A realization of the module 2 is that with the microsystem technology familiar expert on the basis of the above-described, from the module 2 to be fulfilled functions readily possible, so that this no further explanation is needed here. By having module 2 both the engine load determining means as well as the throttle position controller including associated output stage for controlling the throttle actuator motor 6 and beyond the security processor and the required power electronics 9 contains need these components no longer as usual in the engine control unit 1 are housed.

Overall, this results from the use of the intelligently designed Throttle position and load sensing module 2, in all the hardware and software components for engine load detection and throttle valve adjustment integrated in microsystem technology are a number of advantages. This is how microintegration makes it possible the relevant for the load detection sensors 7a, 7b, 7c in Sensor block 7 the use of multi-sensor data processing, i.e. Sensor fusion to increase accuracy and reliability the engine load estimates derived from the sensor measurements. It also eliminates the need for a separate Temperature compensation for each individual sensor. Along with the integration of the signal processing block 8 together with security processor unit and the power electronics 9 in the Module 2 also results in a significant reduction of the Cabling effort and thus increase system security, because the sensor output signals no longer to the engine control unit 1 must be led. With the module 2 can be the internal combustion engine comparatively accurate and reliable in the desired Control manner, for example so that the smallest possible Fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

Another advantage is in the engine control device as Throttle position sensor 10 instead of the conventional, fault-prone throttle potentiometer preferably a used non-contact measuring sensor, whose one sensor part together with an associated transmitter in the Module 2 is micro-integrated. Two such throttle sensors, which are feasible with relatively little effort are in Figs. 2 and 3 are shown.

The throttle position sensor 10a shown in FIG. 2 includes as a first sensor part, a Hall sensor element 11, the on the circumference of the air intake pipe 4 in the region around a pivot axis 12 pivotally mounted in the intake pipe 4 throttle valve. 5 is arranged. To the Hall sensor element 11 is an associated, analog evaluation 13 coupled, as well as the Hall sensor element 11 microintegrated into the module 2 of Fig. 1 is. In particular, the transmitter 13 part of the Be signal processing block 8. As a second sensor part comprises the throttle position sensor 10a a magnetic pill 14, the on a circumferential point of the throttle valve 5 is pressed, which is adjacent to the position of the Hall sensor element 11 on the intake pipe 4 is, wherein the distance between Hall sensor element 11 and magnetic pill 14 at small throttle angles near the Closed position is small and with larger throttle angles increases. This is what this throttle position sensor does 10a with low implementation costs the requirement, especially the smaller throttle angle in the range between about 0 ° and 20 ° to measure with high accuracy, while at larger throttle angles, the upper part load range and the full load range of the internal combustion engine, comparatively larger measurement inaccuracies are accepted can.

As a possible variant of the throttle position sensor 10a of Fig. 2, which are substantially the same as mentioned above Features, a sensor can be used instead the Hall sensor element 11 is a carrier frequency generator and instead of the pressed-in magnetic pill 14, an associated, An absorber element realized as a resonant circuit for the carrier frequency generator having emitted electromagnetic waves. The analog transmitter 13 is suitable for this Modification adjusted by the distance between carrier frequency generator and absorber element-dependent absorptivity and thus to detect the set throttle angle can.

Fig. 3 shows a simple realization of a throttle position sensor 10b in the event that as a throttle actuator a brushless synchronous motor 6a is used, its shaft via a not shown, translating gear is rotatably coupled to the shaft of the throttle valve 5. Of the used, brushless synchronous motor 6a has a plurality Hall sensor elements 15a, 15b, 15c, which are usually to serve to detect the exact position of the servo motor 6a. This Hall-side Hall sensor elements 15a, 15b, 15c are in the example of Fig. 3 at the same time as the one sensor part of a contactless measuring throttle position sensor 10b used the other sensor part an associated, suitably designed Evaluation electronics 16, e.g. in the form of an ASIC module, which microintegrates into the module 2 of FIG. 1 and thereto arranged at a suitable location on the circumference of the air intake pipe 4 is. In particular, this evaluation electronics 16 again be part of the signal processing block 8. About related, 4 signal lines 17 are guided on the circumference of the suction tube the transmitter 16, the output signals of the Hall sensor elements 15a, 15b, 15c supplied.

As another possibility of waiving a failure-prone Throttle potentiometer is considered in the signal processing block 8 of module 2 of FIG. 1 is an indirect estimate the throttle position based on the engine load sensor signals and in this way the entirety of Sensors, which measure the engine load-indicative sizes together with the engine load estimation means as the throttle position sensor use.

Claims (6)

1. A sensor arrangement with at least two micro-integrated sensors for an internal combustion engine,
   characterised in that
   of a quantity of sensors consisting of a mass air flow sensor (7a), a manifold air temperature sensor (7b), an induction pipe pressure sensor (7c) and a throttle valve position sensor (10), at least two sensors in the form of the induction pipe pressure sensor (7c) and the mass air flow sensor (7a) and where appropriate at least one further sensor are micro-integrated in a module unit (2); or at least two sensors in the form of the throttle valve position sensor (10) and at least one further sensor (7a, 7b, 7c) are micro-integrated in a module unit (2).
2. An engine control device for an internal combustion engine having

   sensor means (7a, 7b, 7c) for measuring engine load-indicating values,

   means (8) for determining engine load using the measured values provided by the sensor means and

   a throttle valve position closed loop with a throttle valve position regulator (8) which generates a throttle valve position regulating signal using the engine load value determined, a throttle valve adjusting unit (6) and a throttle valve position sensor (10),

   characterised in that

   the sensor means consist of a sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 1, the means (8) for determining the engine load and/or the throttle valve position regulator (8) being micro-integrated in the module unit (2) in addition to the at least two sensors (7a, 7b, 7c, 10).
3. An engine control device in accordance with claim 2, further
   characterised in that
   the throttle valve position sensor (10a) consists of a first sensor part in the form of a hall sensor element (11) or a transmitter of electromagnetic waves which is connected to an electronic evaluation device (13) and a second sensor part in the form of a magnet body (14) or an absorber element for electromagnetic waves, the second sensor part being positioned at a peripheral point of a throttle valve (5) mounted in an induction pipe (4) in such a manner that it is able to pivot and the first sensor part being positioned at an opposing point of the induction pipe, and both the first sensor part and the electronic evaluation device being micro-integrated in the module unit.
4. An engine control device in accordance with claim 2 or 3, further
   characterised in that
   the throttle valve adjusting unit takes the form of a brushless synchronous motor (6a) with position-measuring hall sensor elements (15a, 15b, 15c), it being possible to feed the output signals from the hall sensor elements to an electronic evaluation device (16) micro-integrated in the module unit (2) which forms a throttle valve position sensor (10b) with said hall sensor elements.
5. An engine control device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 4, further
   characterised in that
   micro-integrated in the module unit (2) is an electronic power device (9) from which the power-consuming components of the module unit (2) and a throttle valve adjusting motor (6) are fed.
6. An engine control device in accordance with one of claims 2 to 5, further
   characterised in that
   micro-integrated in the module unit (2) is a safety processor unit (8) which is set up to implement safety functions for throttle valve adjustment.

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