Patent ID: 6832472
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: F02D

Abstract:
A method for controlling exhaust gas emissions during cold start of an internal combustion engine having an ion sensor disposed in intimate communication with at least one combustion chamber of the engine, said method comprising:introducing a mixture of air and fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine; combusting the mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber; generating positively charged ions having a value representative of the oxygen content of the combusted mixture of air and fuel; sensing the magnitude of ions existent in the combusted mixture of air and fuel and generating a first signal correlative of magnitude of ions existent in the combusted mixture of air and fuel; comparing the value of the first signal correlative of the magnitude of ions existent in the combusted air and fuel mixture with a value representative of a desired magnitude of ions in an idealized combusted air and fuel mixture for the mitigation of undesirable products of combustion in exhaust gases discharged from said engine; determining a difference between the first signal and the desired value of the first signal; generating a second signal correlative of the difference between the first signal and the desired value of the first signal; and adjusting the air to fuel ratio of the mixture introduced into said combustion chamber in accordance with the value of said second signal.