Abstract:
A barometric pressure regulator circuit is described. The circuit includes a memory storing output parameters to be supplied to a pressure regulator unit, and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to perform operations including receiving voltage signals representing output parameters of an engine, storing the received voltage signals in the memory, identifying output parameters to be supplied to the pressure regulator unit that correspond to the received voltage signals, converting the identified output parameters into output electrical signals, and transmitting the output electrical signals to the pressure regulator unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/955,833, entitled Barometric Pressure Regulator Circuit, to inventor Patrick Hogue, which was filed on Aug. 14, 2007. The specification of the above application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This specification relates to regulating pressure, for example, pressure in engines. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Engines, e.g., automobiles and other industrial equipment, can use a combustible fuel to supply energy to a vehicle. Waste from the fuel can be expelled as exhaust gases via exhaust systems coupled to the engines. To increase the air flow, and thereby reduce pressure, pressure regulators can be operatively coupled to the exhaust systems. Input parameters to the pressure regulators can depend upon output parameters of the engine. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This specification describes technologies relating to barometric pressure regulator circuits. In one example, an internal combustion engine is operatively coupled to a pump that is configured to regulate flow through the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine to regulate the pressure in the exhaust system. The engine and the pump can be operatively coupled to a barometric pressure regulator circuit. The circuit can receive electrical signals from the internal combustion engine as input. The received electrical signals can represent operating parameters of the engine. Based on the received input, the circuit can determine output parameters to operate the pump such that the performance of the engine is optimized. The circuit can provide electrical signals representing the output parameters to the pump. In turn, the pump can regulate flow through the exhaust system, thereby regulating pressure in the system. 
         [0005]    In one aspect, a system includes an engine and an engine monitoring unit operatively coupled to the engine. The engine monitoring unit is configured to receive signals representing output parameters of the engine. The system includes a pressure regulator circuit operatively coupled to the engine monitoring unit. The pressure regulator circuit is configured to receive one or more of the signals representing the output parameters of the engine from the engine monitoring unit. The pressure regulator circuit is further configured to determine output parameters to control a pressure in the engine. The system includes a pressure regulator unit operatively coupled to the pressure regulator circuit. The pressure regulator unit is configured to receive the output parameters to control the pressure in the engine. The pressure regulator unit is operatively coupled to the engine to control an engine pressure. The pressure regulator unit controls the engine pressure based on the output parameters determined by the pressure regulator circuit. 
         [0006]    This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The engine can be an internal combustion engine. The pressure regulator unit can be a pump. The received signals representing output parameters of the engine are electrical signals. The system can further include one or more electrical wires connecting the engine and the engine monitoring unit. The one or more wires can be configured to transmit the electrical signals. One or more signals received by the pressure regulator circuit can be electrical signals having corresponding voltages. The pressure regulator circuit can further include a memory configured to store the voltages corresponding to the one or more signals. The memory can be configured to store the voltages as binary numbers. The pressure regulator circuit can further include a processor configured to retrieve the one or more voltages from the memory, determine values representing the output parameters to control the pressure in the engine, and transmit the determined values to the pressure regulator unit as electrical signals. The system can further include multiple sensors operatively coupled to the engine to determine the output parameters of the engine. The multiple sensors include a piezoelectric pressure sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a thermocouple, and an RPM sensor. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a pressure regulator circuit includes a memory storing output parameters to be supplied to a pressure regulator unit, and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The process is configured to perform operations including receiving voltage signals representing output parameters of an engine, storing the received voltage signals in the memory, identifying output parameters to be supplied to the pressure regulator unit that correspond to the received voltage signals, converting the identified output parameters into output electrical signals, and transmitting the output electrical signals to the pressure regulator unit. 
         [0008]    This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The pressure regulator unit can be a pump. The engine can be an internal combustion engine. The processor can receive the voltage signals through one or more electrical wires. The processor can transmit the output voltage signals to the pressure regulator unit through a wiring harness including multiple wires. The memory can store preset parameters including the output parameters to be supplied to the pressure regulator unit and preset values corresponding to the output parameters. The process can further be configured to identify the output parameters to be supplied to the pressure regulator unit by identifying the preset values that match values of the voltage signals that represent output parameters of the engine, and identifying the output parameters corresponding to the identified preset values. 
         [0009]    Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. Significant improvements in the engines miles-per-gallon (MPG) fuel efficiency can be obtained. In addition, improvements in engine horse power, maximum speed, and low-end torque can also be obtained. 
         [0010]    The details of one or more implementations of the specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the specification will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an example system for regulating exhaust in an engine. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of a system including a barometric pressure regulator circuit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an example process for optimizing the performance of an engine. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an example process for optimizing the performance of an engine. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an example process for operating a pump in an exhaust system. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is an example system  100  for regulating exhaust in an engine  105 . In some implementations, the engine  105  can be an internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the engine  105  can be any automobile or industrial equipment that uses a combustible fuel to supply energy to a vehicle. The waste from the fuel is expelled as exhaust gases. The system  100  can include a pump  110  that is operatively coupled to the engine  105 . In general, the pump  105  can be any pressure regulation device, e.g., a venturi meter, and the like, that can be used to control pressure in the engine  105 . The system  100  can include a barometric pressure regulator circuit  115  that can be operatively coupled to the engine  105  and the pump  110 . The barometric pressure regulator circuit  115  can receive operating parameters of the engine  105  as input and provide operating parameters to the pump  110  as output, as described below. 
         [0018]    The pump  110  can be operatively coupled to the engine  105  to regulate the flow of exhaust gases from the engine  105 , thereby controlling the pressure in the engine&#39;s exhaust system. For example, to regulate the air flow, the pump  110  can increase the volumetric flow rate through the exhaust system of the engine  105 . This can reduce the air pressure inside of the exhaust system, thereby increasing airflow through the exhaust system and boosting engine performance. In some implementations, the pump  110  can be any fan or system of moving a gas inside of the exhaust system of the engine  105 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of a system  200  including a barometric pressure regulator circuit  205 . The circuit  205  receives input from an internal combustion (IC) engine  210  and provides output to an exhaust system  235 , that can include a pressure regulation system, e.g., a pump (not shown). In some implementations, the system  200  can include an engine monitoring unit  215  configured to monitor input parameters provided to the IC engine and output parameters provided by the IC engine  210 . The input and output parameters of the IC engine  210  represent the engine activity, and can include engine boost, pressure in the turbo, oxygen sensor information, information about the richness and leanness of the fuel mixture, the air intake, back pressure in the exhaust system, and the like. 
         [0020]    In some implementations, the engine monitoring unit  215  can include multiple sensors that are operatively coupled to the IC engine  210 . For example, the sensors can be located at locations on or adjacent to the engine  210 . The sensors can be, e.g., transducers configured to transducer output from the IC engine  210  into electrical signals. Such sensors can include piezoelectric pressure sensor, barometric pressure sensors, thermocouples, engine RPM sensors, and the like. For example, the sensors can transmit the electrical signals to the engine monitoring unit  215  as voltage signals ranging between 0 and 100 volts DC. In some implementations, the engine monitoring unit  215  can include storage facilities, e.g., a computer-readable medium on which the electrical signals from the sensors can be stored. For example, the computer-readable medium can store the electrical signals in a table. The table can include multiple rows and columns, where each row can include an identifier corresponding to a parameter, e.g., exhaust back pressure, and a value of an electrical signal received from the sensor configured to measure the parameter. In some scenarios, the electrical signals can be digital data that are stored as binary numbers. 
         [0021]    In some implementations, the engine monitoring unit  215  can be operatively coupled to the circuit  205  and can transmit the collected parameters to the circuit  205 . For example, the engine monitoring unit  215  can transmit the collected parameters through a signal line carrying the electrical signal. The signal line that transmits electrical signals between the connected components of the system  200  can be any type of signal carrying assembly which allows for the transmission of electrical signals in either one or both directions between the circuit and the engine monitoring unit  215 . For example, the signal line can be a wiring harness having a number of signal lines, e.g., wires, which transmit electrical signals. 
         [0022]    In some implementations, the circuit  205  can receive all the parameters collected by the engine monitoring unit  215 . In some implementations, the circuit  205  can request and receive only those parameters that are related to the exhaust system  235  of the IC engine. Such parameters can include information related to oxygen sensors, turbo pressure, back pressure in the exhaust, and the like. 
         [0023]    In some implementations, the circuit  205  can include a pump control unit  220  configured to receive the information from the engine monitoring unit  215 . The pump control unit  220  can include a memory  225 , e.g., a computer-readable memory, and a processor  230 , e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), configured to process the information stored in the memory  225 . In general, the processor  230  can be any processor that can compute binary data. 
         [0024]    The processor  230  can be configured to retrieve information stored in the memory  225  and determine optimal performance parameters of the exhaust system  235 . As will be described later, the exhaust system  235  can include a pump, that can be accelerated or decelerated based on the optimal performance parameters determined by the processor  230 . In some implementations, the processor  230  can select the optimal performance parameters from performance presets that include factory/OEM settings based on the IC engine  205 , settings based on the vehicle, combinations of both, and the like. 
         [0025]    In some implementations, performance presets can have been previously determined and stored in the memory  225 . Such presets can be obtained, e.g., as a result of experiments conducted during the testing stages of the IC engine  210 . In some implementations, the performance presets can be stored in the memory  225  as data maps. Such data maps can include multi-dimensional arrays including multiple two dimensional arrays. Each two dimensional array can represent an engine parameter in the performance presets with the values representing multiple pump parameter values corresponding to multiple engine parameters. For example, the data map can include a two dimensional array for engine back pressure. The two-dimensional array can include multiple values for speeds of a fan of a pump in the exhaust system  235  corresponding to multiple values for engine back pressures. In this manner, the data map stored in the memory  225  can include multiple IC engine  210  parameter values and corresponding exhaust system  235  parameter values. 
         [0026]    In some implementations, the processor  230  can be configured to execute algorithms to dynamically determine parameters for optimal performance of the IC engine  210  based on the input parameters received from the engine monitoring unit  215 . For example, mathematical formulas can be programmed into the processor  230  that can receive values representing the information gathered by the engine monitoring unit  215  as input. In response, the processor  215  can execute the algorithms to determine output values representing input parameters to a pump in the exhaust system  235 . Operating the pump at the input parameters determined by the processor  215  can cause the exhaust system  235  to regulate air flow through the IC engine  215 , thereby increasing the performance of the IC engine  210 . 
         [0027]    In some implementations, the processor  230  can be a machine-learning system configured to initially use the performance presets to determine input values for the pump in the exhaust system  235 , and continuously monitor the response of the IC engine  210  to the values provided to the exhaust system  235 . Based on the monitoring, the processor  230  can learn the input values that need to be provided to the exhaust system  235  to obtain optimal engine performance. 
         [0028]    The circuit  205  can transmit the output values determined by the processor  230  to the exhaust system  235 . The exhaust system  235  can receive the output values from the circuit  205  as input values to the pump included in the exhaust system  235 . The pump in the exhaust system  235  is operatively coupled to the IC engine  210 , e.g., to the exhaust manifold of the IC engine  210 . The operation of the pump regulates the air flow in the exhaust manifold of the IC engine  210 , thereby optimizing the performance of the IC engine  210 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an example process  300  for optimizing the performance of an engine. In some implementations, the process  300  receives input from an IC engine (step  305 ). For example, the barometer pressure regulator circuit  205  receives input from the engine monitoring unit  215  operatively coupled to the IC engine  210 . 
         [0030]    The process  300  identifies engine parameters included in input (step  310 ). For example, the circuit  205  stores the received input in memory  225  and identifies, from the stored values, parameters that affect the performance of the engine. This can include all or some of the values stored in memory  225 . 
         [0031]    The process  300  looks-up data maps to identify pump parameters  315 . For example, the processor  225  can look up data maps stored in memory  225  that include the performance presets. As described previously, the performance presets include parameters to operate the pump. The circuit  205  can identify the pump parameters from the data maps. 
         [0032]    The process  300  transmits identified pump parameters to pump (step  320 ). For example, the circuit  205  can transmit the identified pump parameters to the exhaust system  235 , that includes the pump, as electrical signals through one or more signal lines. In response, the exhaust system  235  operates the pump at parameters corresponding to the received input, thereby optimizing the engine performance. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an example process  400  for optimizing the performance of an engine. Similar to process  300 , the process  400  receives input from the IC engine (step  405 ) and identifies engine parameters included in the input (step  410 ). The process  400  determines pump parameters based on input (step  415 ). To do so, the process  400  executes computer-executable algorithms that are implemented as a processor, e.g., processor  230 . As described previously, the algorithms receive the engine parameters as input and provide pump parameters as output. Similar to the process  300 , the process  400  transmits determined parameters to the pump (step  420 ). 
         [0034]    In executing both processes  300  and  400 , circuit  205  can monitor the performance of the IC engine, in response to the parameters transmitted to the pump. The monitored parameters can serve as input to the circuit  205  to re-compute pump parameters to optimize engine performance. In this manner, the circuit  205  can serve as a feedback mechanism. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an example process  500  for operating a pump in an exhaust system. The process  500  can receive output from the barometric pressure regulator circuit (step  505 ). For example, the exhaust system  235 , to which a pump is operatively coupled, can receive this output. The exhaust system  235  can include a microcontroller configured to determine output parameters to be supplied to the pump based on values received from the circuit  205 . 
         [0036]    The process  500  can check if the pump needs to be accelerated or decelerated (step  510 ). Based on the determined output parameters, the exhaust system  235  can accelerate or decelerate the pump. To decelerate the pump, the process  500  can reduce the pump volumetric flow rate (step  515 ). Alternatively, to accelerate the pump, the process can increase the RPM (step  520 ), e.g., of the pump fan. 
         [0037]    Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, or a combination of one or more of them. The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. 
         [0038]    While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the specification or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of the specification. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
         [0039]    Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. 
         [0040]    Thus, particular implementations of the specification have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.