Patent ID: 8096282
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: F02D,F02N

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing engine misfire events in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a fuel injector associated with each cylinder and an electronic control unit providing control signals to open and close each fuel injector, said method comprising: i) determining whether a frequency of misfire events detected in a given cylinder of said engine during a given time period is equal to or greater than a first predetermined calibration value; ii) determining a pulse-width of the control signal for the fuel injector associated with the cylinder during the given time period; iii) determining whether the determined pulse-width corresponds to an engine operating state where the fuel injector may be delivering an improper amount of fuel; iv) increasing via the electronic control unit the pulse-width of the control signal for the fuel injector if the frequency of misfire events detected during the given time period is within a range defined by the first predetermined calibration value and a second, higher, predetermined calibration value; and v) reducing the increase in pulse-width if the frequency of misfire events detected in a subsequent time period is less than the first predetermined calibration value.