Patent ID: 6606551
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining the state of an engine system, comprising:a processing unit, wherein the processing unit includes: detecting means, wherein the detecting means detects whether there is a malfunction in the engine system every time a predetermined condition is satisfied; first counter means, wherein the first counter means generates a first counter value by counting the number of times when the detecting means detects a malfunction; second counter means, wherein the second counter means generates a second counter value for evaluating the reliability of the first counter value; and a memory, which is connected to the processing unit, wherein the memory stores the first and second counter values regardless of whether the engine is stopped; wherein the processing unit further includes determining means, wherein the determining means evaluates the reliability of the first counter value based on the second counter value, wherein, when the first counter value is reliable and reaches a predetermined value, the determining means determines that there is a malfunction in the engine system.