Patent ID: 6202406
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F01N,F02D,F02P,Y02T

Abstract:
An apparatus for minimizing the total quantity of hydrocarbon emissions from a catalytic converter in the exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter including a catalyst having a light-off temperature, the apparatus comprising:a temperature sensor coupled to the catalytic converter for continuously generating an output signal representative of the catalyst temperature; anda controller for receiving the output signal from the temperature sensor, for enhancing the output signal to have a response time of less than one second, and for adjusting at least one operating parameter of the engine to cause the catalyst temperature to rapidly rise when a catalyst temperature is less than the light-off temperature and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the engine to minimize the rate of hydrocarbon emissions output from the catalytic converter when the catalyst temperature is greater than the light-off temperature.