Combustion control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus and a misfire detecting method for internal combustion engine include a plurality of optical combustion flame sensors (21a - 21d) associated with a respective cylinder (23a - 23d) for detecting the intensity of the combustion flame or the combustion tempera­ ture in the cylinders. A plurality of optical fiber cables (24a - 24d) connect a respective one of the combustion flame sensors with an optical signal processing circuit (25). The optical signal processing circuit produces an electrical output signal having a series of pulses each corresponding to an output signal of a respective combustion flame sensor. Detecting means are provided for detecting a condition of combustion on the basis of a timing signal and the output signal of the optical signal processing circuit. The misfire detecting method comprises the steps of detecting a combustion light intensity in the respective combustion chambers, wherein the electrical signal provided by the optical signal processing circuit (25) is compared with a predetermined slice level and a misfire condition is detected when a signal level of the electrical signal is less than the slice level.

Description: This invention relates to a combustion control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and means for generating a timing signal relating to the timing of combustion stroke of each cylinder. Patent Abstracts of Japan, Vol. 9, No. 135, June 11, 1985 and the Japanese Patent Application No. 58-123866 describe a known combustion control device for an internal combustion engine. The known control device detects light emitted from the inside of the cylinder in an engine by means of a light detector. The detected light is converted in a signal of combustion temperature by a light-temperature converting means. A combustion control arithmetic means outputs a control signal of combustion on the basis of the output of a crank angle detecting means. A combustion control means controls the combustion temperature of the engine on the basis of the combustion control signal. In such way, the generation of NOx is suppressed while drivability of the engine and its fuel consumption are improved. The US-A-4 446 723 describes a known ignition timing and mixture feedback control apparatus which uses a temperature sensor on the basis of a black body heat radiation detector for controlling the level of knock to a tolerable limit. The sensor includes an optical transmission element, a shaping circuit of generating an output correcting the ignition timing when the detected knock exceeds a predetermined limit. This known optical combustion event sensor detects the combustion gas temperature from an amount of heat released from a black body film joint to a tip of a light conductor integrated in an ignition plug. The US-A-4 446 723 does not describe to detect the combustion light at a specific wavelength of NOx light emission during the combustion fire. FR-A-22 77 338 discloses that a light sensor in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is used. The signal of the sensor, which always has some optical filter characteristic, is converted into an electrical signal and a misfire is detected when no light signal is produced during a predetermined crank angle. The light sensors' output is compared with a predetermined minimum slice level able to produce a logical 1 or 0 signal at one of the ports of exclusive OR elements. Furthermore light emitter diodes - connected to the OR elements - are counters, counting up to a predetermined number judging a misfire condition when the predetermined number has been reached. In case of a misfire the same counter measures have to be taken as in the case of excessive engine roughness, as engine roughness is an indication of reaching the running, i.e. misfire limits of the engine. These counter measures are corrections of the ignition timing and/or fuel amount according to US-A-4 381 748. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combustion control method and apparatus for internal combustion engines not being inferred from the change of the rotational speed of the engine. Further said combustion control apparatus should be adaptable for detecting a change of combustion temperature in the cylinders at a time of generation of knock. The above object is solved according to the invention by the claimed features, defined in the independent claims. In an internal combustion engine control, it is preferable to provide a temperature sensor or detector employing a black body which can directly detect temperature change in the combustion chamber, and which comprises a thin black body film and an optical transmission element connected to the black body film for transmitting radiant energy generated by the black body film. A lean-burn control apparatus which is described in the further description for the explanation of the principles of the present combustion control apparatus and the misfire detecting method is subject of the European Application 88106402.6-2301. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a lean-burn control; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a lean-burn control apparatus. Fig. 3 is a graphical illustration showing the characteristics of air fuel ratio, torque and NO x ; Fig. 4 is a graphical illustration showing the characteristics of air fuel ratio and ignition timing; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an engine control system which adopts an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 6 and 7 each are a sectional view of a combustion light sensor; Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the detailed structure of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the structure shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a graphical illustration showing a relationship between combustion light intensity and NOx concentration; Fig. 11 is a graphical illustration showing characteristics of combustion pressure and combustion light intensity; Fig. 12 is a graphical illustration showing relationship between ignition timing and air fuel ratio; Fig. 13 is a detailed flow chart of part of the above embodiment; Fig. 14 is a detailed flow chart of part of the above embodiment; Fig. 15 a detailed whole flow chart of lean-burn control according to the present invention; Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a black body sensor; Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along a line 17-17 of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a sectional view of parts of an engine and a black body sensor; Fig. 19 is a sectional view of an ignition plug incorporated with a black body sensor; Fig. 20 is a graphical illustration showing a relationship between spectral radiant energy and wavelength; Fig. 21 is a graph showing a relationship between optical current and temperature; Fig. 22 is a graph showing a relationship between NOx and temperature; Fig. 23 is a block diagram of a processing circuit in another embodiment of a lean-burn control apparatus; Fig. 24 is a detailed flow chart; Fig. 25 is a detailed flow chart. Although the lean-burn control apparatus is subject of the EP-88106402.6-2301, the description of the lean-burn control serves for the explanation of the principles of the present combustion control apparatus. First of all, in the lean-burn control, the misfire boundary and the NOx limit are detected. The misfire boundary and the NOx limit have characteristics shown in Fig. 4 with respect to air fuel ratio and ignition timing. The misfire boundary consists of the misfire boundary -A- on an advanced ignition timing side and the misfire boundary -B- on a delay ignition timing side. The NOx limit comes closer to the lean air fuel ratio side as the ignition timing advances. As engine torque to the weight of the car becomes smaller due to the progress of lean-burn, the NOx limit moves to the right-hand side in Fig. 4 and, hence, the target control range defined by the NOx limit and the misfire boundary becomes smaller, thereby making the control difficult. The misfire cycle includes a defective ignition cycle -B- in which a spark does not produce a flame nucleus, and a defective flame propagation cycle -A- in which ignition does not grow the flame. Both of these cycles are a cycle which produces little combustion flame light, so that it is possible to detect a misfire cycle from the intensity of the combustion light or the combustion temperature. On the other hand, it is known that NOx is a parameter of a combustion temperature. It is also said that the emission spectrum of NOx is a wavelength of 5.3 µm and the light intensity at this wavelength is a function of the concentration of NOx. Therefore, the misfire cycle and the concentration of NOx can be detected through detection of the combustion light or the combustion temperature in the combustion chamber of an engine. Next, a control target range for effecting lean-burn of an internal combustion engine is determined by using the detected misfire cycle and the detected NOx concentration. Finally, the ignition time and the air fuel ratio are set in the control range defined by the misfire cycle and the concentration of NOx. In an internal combustion engine control, it is preferable to directly detect the temperature in the engine. A temperature detector using black body suitable to detect such a temperature is provided. In Fig. 1 showing a schematic control flow chart, on steps 1 and 2, signals of an air fuel ratio A/F, an ignition timing Adv, misfire and NOx are inputted to a digital arithmetic unit of a microcomputer. At step 3, judgement is made as to whether or not the misfire signal and the NOx signal are in the target control range which is determined by a misfire boundary and a NOx limit. If these signals are out of the target control range, the process is moved to the correcting operational mode at step 4 to control the A/F and the Adv so as to enter the target control range. If these signal are in the target control range, the process is moved to the ordinary operational mode at block 5 to carry out ordinary control. The apparatus in Fig. 2 comprises a misfire detector 7 for detecting the misfiring state of an engine 6, a NOx detector 8 for outputting a signal corresponding to the concentration of NOx which is produced by or exhausted from the engine 6, and a digital arithmetic unit 9 of a microcomputer for inputting the signals of these detectors 7 and 8. In addition to these signals, the air fuel ratio A/F signal of an air fuel mixture supplied to the engine 6 and the ignition timing Adv signal are inputted to the digital arithmetic unit 5. Based on these items of information, the digital arithmetic unit 9 selects the ordinary operational mode 10 or the correcting operational mode 11 in accordance with the control flow shown in Fig. 1. The selected operational mode is executed, and a control signal is outputted to the ignition timing control means 12 and the fuel amount or air amount control means 13 so as to control the Adv and the A/F. The above-mentioned method will be further explained referring to Fig. 4. If the misfire boundary is taken into consideration, the target control range must be on the left-hand side of the misfire boundary in Fig. 4, while if the NOx limit is taken into consideration, the target control range must be on the right-hand side of the NOx limit in Fig. 4. Therefore, if both are taken into consideration, the target control range must be set at the range surrounded by the misfire boundary and the NOx limit. Assuming that the misfire detector detects the misfiring state of the engine, and the A/F and Adv values at this state indicate point P₁, the A/F is so controlled as to move in the direction of Rich and be situated at point P₂, thereby cancelling the misfiring state. If the detected value of NOx is smaller than a tolerance limit of the NOx limit, it is judged to be controlled within the target control range. On the other hand, if the signals are, for example, at point P₃ at which the detected value of NOx is beyond the tolerance limit, the A/F is so controlled as to move in the direction of Lean and be situated at point P₄ at which the NOx is in the tolerance limit. In this case, if the signal detected by the misfire detector is judged to be a non-misfiring state, the misfire and NOx signals are considered to have been moved to the target control range, and the correction control is stopped at that stage. If the misfire and NOx signals are at, for example, point P₅ at which the detected value of the NOx detector is beyond the tolerance limit, the A/F is so controlled as to move in the direction of Lean and be situated at point P₆ at which the NOx is in the tolerance limit in the same way as in the case of P₁. In this case, however, since the misfire detector judges the engine to be in the misfiring state, both conditions cannot be satisfied. In this case, it is necessary to temporarily return to point P₅ and control the A/F so as to move in the direction of Lean and in the direction in which the ignition timing Adv is delayed and to reach point P₇, or to control the A/F and Adv so that the misfire and NOx signals move from point P₆ to point P₇. If the signals are at, for example, point P₈ at which the NOx is within the tolerance limit but the misfire signal is judged to be beyond the misfire boundary, the A/F is made richer so as to reach the point P₉, thereby escaping from the misfire boundary. However, since the NOx is beyond the tolerance boundary at point P₉, it is necessary to temporarily return to the point ₈ so as to advance the ignition timing Adv by a predetermined value and simultaneously to make the A/F richer so as to reach point P₁₀, thereby satisfying the conditions of both misfire and NOx. Alternatively, a control from P₉ to P₁₀ is possible, as described above. Fig. 5 shows the total structure of the lean-burn control apparatus. In Fig. 5, a combustion sensor having a function of detecting the misfiring state of an engine and the concentration of NOx comprises a combustion detecting terminal 21 mounted on a combustion chamber 23 of the engine 22 in such a manner as to communicate with the combustion chamber 23, an optical fiber cable for carrying out optical transmission between the combustion detecting terminal 21 and an optical signal processing circuit 25, and the optical signal processing circuit 25. The combustion detecting terminal 21 may be either integrally provided with an ignition plug, as shown in Fig. 6, or of a stand-alone type, as shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 5, the former type of detection terminal is mounted on the apparatus. In this case, an ignition pulse is provided for the combustion detecting terminal 21 by a controller 27 having a built-in microcomputer through an ignition device 26, so that the combustion detecting terminal also has a function of an ignition plug. A combustion light signal or combustion temperature signal which is subjected to photoelectric conversion and signal processing by the optical signal processing circuit 25 is introduced to the controller 27. To the controller 27, an air fuel ratio signal detected by an air fuel ratio sensor 28 (or oxygen sensor), a throttle valve opening degree information signal supplied from a throttle valve opening degree sensor or a throttle valve opening degree switch 29, an air flow rate signal detected by an air flow sensor 30, and an engine cooling water temperature signal detected by a water temperature sensor 31, an engine revolution number signal and a crank angle signal detected by a revolution sensor 32, etc. are also inputted. The controller 27 determines the optimum fuel amount and the optimum ignition timing by the arithmetic processing of these plural signals, and outputs a control signal to both an injector 33 and the ignition device 26. The injector 33 injects the optimum amount of fuel to supply it to the engine in accordance with the control signal. The ignition device 26 discharges sparks to the ignition plug 21 at the optimum ignition timing. In Fig. 5, the multi-point fuel injection system is adopted, but the present invention is not restricted thereto, and any system such as a carburetor and a sigle-point fuel injection system may be adopted. Although the air flow rate direct measuring system using the air flow sensor 30 is adopted in Fig. 5, any other air flow rate measuring system may be adopted such as a speed density system for calculating the air flow rate from the revolution number of the engine and the suction negative pressure and a system for calculating the air flow rate from the revolution number of the engine and the opening degree of the throttle valve. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the main part of the fuel detecting terminal of a type in which it is integrally provided with an ignition plug. A fused silica fiber 36 having a diameter of about 1.0 to 1.5 mm, which is a photoconductive material, is provided therein in such a manner as to pass through a central axis of a central electrode 34 of the ignition plug and a high-voltage terminal 35. An insulator 37 is secured to these three members 34, 35 and 36 at a sealed portion 38 by heat sealing of a conductive glass sealing material. A high voltage for spark discharge is introduced to the central electrode 34 through the high-voltage terminal 35 and the conductive glass sealed portion 38 to carry out spark discharge with a grounding electrode 39. The configuration of the end portion 36a of the fused silica fiber on the combustion chamber side may be the optimum configuration selected from among a convex lens, a flat shape , a tapered shape and the like in accordance with the configuration of the combustion chamber, the angle at which the combustion detecting terminal 21 is provided and the like. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the main part of the stand-along type combustion detecting terminal. The combustion detecting terminal is provided with a metal housing 41 having a screw portion 40 for mounting the combustion detecting terminal to an engine, and the fused silica fiber 36 provided in such a manner as to go through a central axis of an optical fiber guide terminal 42. These three members 41, 36 and 42 are secured to each other at the sealed portion 38 by heat sealing of a glass sealing material, in the same way as in Fig. 6. Additionally, although explanation of the sealing material is omitted in Fig. 6, a material having a melting point of about 600 to 800°C is used as the sealing material so as to secure adequate sealing property and adherence even at a high temperature due to heat conduction or radiation from the engine. The end portion 36a of the fused silica fiber has a similar structure to that in Fig. 6, explanation thereof being omitted herein. In a conventional method of detecting misfire, it is generally inferred from the change of the rotational speed of the engine. In the present invention, however, a method of detecting misfire from the intensity of the combustion flame light or the combustion temperature at the time of combustion is adopted. In the present invention, the concentration of NOx is obtained from the combustion temperature by utilizing the fact that there is a corresponding relationship between the combustion temperature in the combustion chamber and the concentration of NOx. As another method, a method of obtaining the concentration of NOx from the intensity of the combustion light at the wavelength of 5.3 µm is adopted by utilizing the fact that the emission spectrum of NOx is 5.3 µm. Alternatively, a method of inferring the concentration of NOx from the temperature of the exhaust gas immediately after the combustion chamber is effective, because the temperature of this exhaust gas substantially corresponds to the combustion temperature. The method of detecting misfire and NO x from the intensity of the combustion light will be explained now. In this case, the end portion 36a of the combustion detecting terminal 21 is so designed as to secure sufficient light transmission by polishing the surface or the like, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 8 schematically shows the structure of the transmission and processing of an optical signal according to an embodiment of the invention. The combustion light detecting terminal 21 is mounted on each of the combustion chambers 23a to 23d in a manner as shown in Fig. 5. The present invention also allows a system for detecting only one specified chamber. The optical signals from the combustion light detecting terminals 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d are introduced to the optical signal processing circuit 25 through the respective optical fiber cables 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. As the optical fiber cable 24, a high heat-resistant plastic fiber which can resist a temperature above about 140 to 150°C is preferable. A plastic fiber facilitates the formation of an integrated single-core fiber 43 which is composed by melting the plural fibers into one fiber, as shown in Fig. 8. The power or combustion stroke of a four-cycle engine is one cycle of the four cycles. In the case of a four-cylinder (combustion chamber) engine, the power stroke in each combustion chamber is subsequently repeated at every 180 degrees. In the case of a six-cylinder engine, it is repeated at every 120 degrees, and the overlap of the power stroke between each chamber is as small as 60 degrees. Therefore, even if the single-core fiber 43 is used, it is easy to discriminate an optical signal from one cylinder (combustion chamber) from an optical signal from another cylinder, because the optical signal from each combustion chamber is introduced to the optical signal processing circuit 25 intermittently with almost no overlapping. It goes without saying that light may be transmitted from each cylinder through optically separate fibers without integrating the fibers. Fig. 9 shows the structure of the optical signal processing circuit 25. The combustion light introduced by the single-core fiber 43 is divided here again into two parts, and introduced to a fiber 44 for NOx concentration detection and a fiber 45 for misfire cycle detection. The light for detecting the concentration of NOx is introduced to a first photoelectric transducer 47 through an optical filter 46 which only transmits the light of a wavelength of 5.3 µm. The light intensity corresponding to the concentration of NOx is detected and is converted into electricity. On the other hand, the light for detecting misfire is directly introduced to a second photoelectric transducer 48 and is converted into electricity. The electrically converted signals are processed by electric signal processing circuits 49 and 50 to output electric signals 49a, 50a which are supplied to a controller 27. In the case of this system, since it is necessary to transmit the light of a wavelength of 5.3 µm in the infrared spectral range, there is a possibility of a photoconductive material such as the above-described plastic fiber not introducing sufficient light to the optical signal processing circuit 25 due to large transmission loss. In this case, a fluorine optical fiber which is excellent in transmission to light in the infrared spectral range is used. When it is impossible to melt a plurality of fibers into one fiber unlike a plastic fiber, they are integrated into one by an optical element at the optical signal processing circuit, or a photoelectric transducer is provided in correspondence with each cylinder (combustion chamber). The misfire signal and the NOx signal obtained in this way are introduced to the controller 27, as shown in Fig. 8, and computed together with a plurality of other engine parameter signals 22a, whereby the air fuel ratio control 13a and the ignition timing control 12a are effected. Fig. 10 shows a relationship between the concentration of NOx and the combustion light intensity signal in the 5.3 µm zone in the case of adopting the system shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Since they have substantially proportional relationship, an electric signal output from the signal output end 49a in Fig. 9 takes the value substantially corresponding to the concentration of NOx. Fig. 11 shows an example of the waveform of a misfiring state detected by the system shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The electric signal of the intensity of the combustion light and the combustion pressure signal output from the signal output end 50a in Fig. 9 are detected at the same time for judging misfire. As is obvious from Fig. 11, when the engine is misfired, the intensity of the combustion light becomes zero, thereby producing no waveform, while the combustion pressure is only composed of the compression pressure, and no rise in the pressure following combustion is observed. Therefore, a slicing level S is provided as indicated by the symbol S in Fig. 11, and if the signal has a value lower than this value, the engine is judged to be in a misfiring state, and signal pulse corresponing to this misfire cycle is produced and transmitted to the controller 27. Thus, the misfire information is consecutively transmitted to the controller. Fig. 12 shows the average value of the peak values V p for several cycles of the combustion light intensity signals shown in Fig. 11 with respect to the air fuel ratio and the ignition timing represented by a contour line. The smaller the subscript is, like V p1 , the larger the peak value, and V pn is the smallest. As is clear form Fig. 12, the contour line of V p has a configuration well corresponding to the curve of the misfire boundary in Fig. 4, and judgement as to misfire also may be made by using the average value V p for several cycles. Fig. 13 is a flow chart for judging the tolerance limit of NOx. At step 51, the signal is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal through the photoelectric transducer 47 and the electric signal processing circuit 49 shown in Fig. 9, and the electric signal input as a NOx signal to the controller 27 at step 52. The concentration of NOx is calculated at the step 53 according to the characteristics shown in Fig. 10. In this case, it is preferable to obtain the average value for several ten power cycles. At step 54, the tolerance value (value satisfying the right-hand side range of the NOx limit line of Fig. 4) is compared with the NOx value calculated at the step 53 and judgement is made as to whether or not the calculated NOx value is in the range of the tolerance limit. If the answer is yes, the process proceeds to step 55 for the ordinary operational mode, while if the answer is no, the process proceeds to step 56 for the collecting operational mode and various controls are executed. Fig. 14 is a flow chart for judging a misfiring state. The combustion light intensity signal is photoelectrically converted through the photoelectric transducer 48 and the electric signal processing circuit 50 in Fig. 9 at step 57 and a misfire pulse is produced at the electric signal processing circuit 50 at step 58. More specifically, the waveform of the combustion light intensity signal as shown in Fig. 11 is input at the step 58, and judgement is made as to whether the peak value V p of the waveform of the combustion light intensity signal produced in each power cycle is larger or smaller than a predetermined slicing level S as shown in Fig. 11. If the peak value V p is larger than S, the cycle is judged to be misfire, and a misfire pulse is produced and outputted for a predetermined period in the corresponding cycle. The misfire pulses obtained in this way are inputted to the controller 27 at step 59. The misfire pulses produced at the step 59 are counted for a predetermined number of times of power cycles at the step 60 and the count value is supplied to step 61. At the step 61, whether or not the count value is above a predetermined value is judged, and if the answer is yes, the process proceeds to the correcting operational mode 62, while if the answer is no, the process proceeds to the ordinary operational mode 63. The portion A in Fig. 13 and the portion A' in Fig. 14 are executed by the controller 27. Fig. 15 is a flow chart integrating the portions A and A' and showing the details of the correcting operational mode. At step 64, the signals of the engine revolution number N E and the air flow rate Q A (or load information such as the pressure of the intake pipe and the opening degree of the throttle valve) are inputted to the controller 27 and further at step 65, signals of air fuel ratio A/F (the value is represented by X) and ignition timing Adv (the value is represented by Y) are inputted to the controller 27. At step 66, the signal of the misfire pulses (M) produced at the electric signal processing circuit 50 in Fig. 9 and the signal of NOx (N) produced at the electric signal processing circuit 49 are inputted to the controller 27. The value of N is a waveform peak-held for each power cycle. At step 67, the concentration of NOx is converted from the NOx signal (N) inputted at the step 66 by using the characteristics shown in Fig. 10. At this step, the thus-converted concentration values of NOx for given several ten power cycles are averaged to calculated the average value N . At step 68, judgement is made as to whether or not N is larger than the tolerance value of the concentration of NOx which is determined in advance in correspondence with the operational state of the engine which is, in turn, determined by the N E and the Q A . If the answer is yes, the process proceeds to steps 71 and 72. If the answer is no, the process proceeds to stems 69 and 70. On the other hand, the number of the misfire pulses M in a predetermined number of times of power cycles is counted at step 73, and the count value Mx is supplied to step 74, at which whether or not the count value Mx is smaller than a predetermined number is judged. If Mx is larger than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to the steps 70 and 72 while if Mx is smaller, the process proceeds to the steps 69 and 71. At the steps 69, 70, 71 and 72, operation is carried out only when signals are transmitted at the same time from two signal lines. At the step 69, the processing is executed only when the NOx is out of the tolerance limit and misfire is within the tolerance limit. In other words, the operation is carried out in the case where the signals are situated at the points such as P₃, P₅ and P₉ in Fig. 4. In this case, the air fuel ratio is increased so as to be lean by a predetermined value in the form of X = X + 1, and the control signal is transmitted to A/F correction control step 75. At the step 75, the amount of air or fuel is controlled by this control signal, and the mixture having a leaner air fuel ratio than that at the previous time is supplied to the engine. In the case of, for example, P₃ in Fig. 4, this mode is repeated so as to move the NOx signal and misfire signal to the target control range, for example, to the point P₄, which satisfies both conditions, and thereafter the process proceeds to step 71 for the ordinary operational mode. In the case of, for example, P₅ and P₉, if the mode through the step 69 is repeated, the signals enter the range, for example, to the points P₆ and P₈, in which NOx is in the tolerance limit but misfire exceeds the tolerance value. This state is treated at the step 72. At the step 72, the deviation ΔY of the ignition timing Y at the current time from the preset ignition timing Y₀ which has been set in advance in correspondence with the operational state of the engine is taken as ΔY = Y - Y₀ , and at step 76 judgement is made as to whether or not ΔY is positive, in other words, ahead of the preset ignition timing. If ΔY is positive, namely, if the signals are situated, for example, at the point P₆ in Fig. 4, the air fuel ratio is set on the Rich side in the form of X = X - 0.5 at step 77, and the signal is supplied to the step 75, thereby executing the A/F correction control. In parallel to this, the process proceeds to step 78, and the ignition timing is set on the delay side in the form of Y = Y - 1, and the signal is transmitted to step 79, thereby executing the Adv correction control so that the state of P₆ comes to the state as indicated by the point P₇. On the other hand, if ΔY is negative, and the state is as indicated by P₈, the process proceeds to step 80, wherein the air fuel ratio is set on the Rich side in the form of X = X - 0.5, and the signal is transmitted to the step 75 so as to execute A/F correction control. At the same time, the ignition timing is set on the advanced side in the form of Y = Y + 1 at the step 81, and the signal is transmitted to the step 79 so as to execute Adv correction control, whereby the state of P₈ comes to the state as indicated by the point P₁₀. If both NOx and misfire take values beyond the respective tolerance values, the process proceeds to the step 70, and the deviation of the ignition timing is obtained in the form of ΔY = Y - Y₀ . Whether or not ΔY is positive is judged at step 82. If ΔY is positive, namely, if the state such as that indicated by the point P₁₁ in Fig. 4 is assumed, the air fuel ratio is set at a little richer side than at P₁, in the form of X = X - 0.1 at step 83, and the signal is transmitted to the step 75 so as to execute A/F correction control. Simultaneously, the ignition timing is set at a little largely delayed side to the present timing in the form of Y = Y - 1.5 at step 84, and the signal is transmitted to the step 79 to execute Adv correction control so that the point P₁₁ falls within the target control range. On the other hand, if ΔY is negative, namely, if the state such as that indicated by the point P₁₂ in Fig. 4 is assumed, the process proceeds to step 85, and the air fuel ratio is set at a little leaner side than at P₁₂ in the form of X = X + 0.2, and the signal is transmitted to the step 75 so as to execute A/F correction control. Simultaneously, the ignition timing is set at a largely advanced side in the form of Y = Y + 1.5 at step 86, and the signal is transmitted to the step 79 so as to execute Adv correction control so that the state of P₁₂ comes into the target control range. In the above A/F X = x + 1, X - 0.1 ... and Adv Y = Y + 1.5, Y - 1, etc, the numeral "1", "0.5", "1.5", etc represent control gains each obtained by once control, for example, "1" is 10% of X, or Y, "0.5" is 5% of X or Y. It is effective to add the controller 27 a function of storing A/F and Adv in a map table made from the N E and the Q A when A/F and Adv are moved to the target control range in this way and renewing these values when new A/F and Adv are obtained by executing similar control at the preceding cycle. It is also effective to obtain the misfire boundary line and NOx limit line by the repetition of the above-described controls and store these lines on the map table of A/F and Adv. The method (2), namely, the method of detecting and controlling misfire and NOx from the detected combustion temperature will now be explained. Figs. 16 to 18 show in example of a detector 110 suitable for detecting combustion temperature which can be used for the combustion detecting terminal 21 used in the system shown in Fig. 5. The detector 110 comprises an end portion of an optical transmission element 111 made of quartz (or fused silica fiber) having a diameter of about 1 mm and having a resistance to a temperature of 300 to 1,500°C in the combustion chamber 23, and a thin black body film 112 of iridium having a linear expansion coefficient approximate to that of quartz and attached to the end portion of the optical transmission element 111. The end portion of the element 111 is obliquely cut to provide a large end surface for detecting spectral radiant energy. The black body film 112 is attached to the end so as to cover the end portion of the element including the cut surface. The black body film 112 is covered with a protective film 113 made of high heat-resistant material such as quartz and ceramic to prevent the black body film from being peeled from the element 111 and to prevent the deterioration of the black body film 112 due to oxidization and corrosion. The black body film 112 is formed on the end portion of the element 111 by evaporation, sputtering or the like. The protective film 113 is also formed on the surface of the element 111 by evaporation, sputtering or the like. The protective film 113 is fused to the element 111 at an end thereof, so that it is firmly adhered to the element 111. A sapphire rod may be used in place of the element 111. The black body film 112 and the protective film 113 preferably have a thickness of as small as about 2 to 5 µm from the point of view of heat capacity. However, when a sufficient adhesion is not obtained, the thickness of those films is increased. The temperature in the combustion chamber 23 of the engine 22 varies with a period of several KHz, and the pressure in the combustion chamber 23 rapidly changes, but the use of quartz as the optical transmission element 111 and iridium as the black body 112 realizes a firm structure having a good thermal response because quartz and iridium have good adhesion and approximately the same linear expansion coefficient. In the detector 110 including a part of the optical transmission elements 111, it is also possible to use platinum, zirconium nitride or graphite as the black body 112, and, if measurement of a high temperature is necessary, to use sapphire as the optical transmission element. As shown in Fig. 18, the detector 110 and part of the optical transmission element 111 is located in the combustion chamber 23 of an engine and secured to a wall portion 22a of the combustion chamber 23 by screwing. More specifically, a metal pipe 114 is secured to the outer periphery of the optical transmission element 111 by a fused glass 115 and the outer periphery of the metal pipe 114 is threaded. A thread bore engaging the metal pipe 114 is formed on the wall 22a of the combustion chamber 23. The detector 110 and the optical transmission element 111 is screwed into and fixed on the wall 22a through the metal pipe 114. To the projecting end of the pipe metal 114 which is fixed on the wall 22a of the combustion chamber 23 in this way, a connecting member 116 is secured by screwing. The connecting member 116 accommodates a connector 117 for connecting an optical fiber 118 to the optical transmission element 111. Therefore, when the connecting member 116 is connected to the projecting end of the metal pipe 114, the optical transmission element 111 and the optical fiber 118 are optically connected to each other. By covering the outer periphery of the optical transmission element 111 with the metal pipe 114 through the fused glass 115, as described above, the pressure in the combustion chamber 23 of the engine is prevented from leaking to the outside. Another example of the detector is of a plug type as shown in Fig. 19. The detector portion 36b is an end of fused silica or quartz fiber 36 which is disposed in a central electrode 34. The other construction including a high voltage terminal 35, electrically insulating porcelain 37, a sealing 38 and a grounding electrode is the same as in Fig. 6. The detector portion 36b is the same as in Figs. 16 and 17. Namely, it comprises the fiber 36, a black body film adhered on a surface of and end portion of the fiber 36, and a protective film. The plug type detector has functions of detection of temperature and ignition of fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber. It is known that a black body produces radiant energy to a temperature. Fig. 20 shows a relationship between the spectral radiant energy and wavelength and temperature of a black body. It is possible to infer the temperature by detecting the radiant energy with respect to a certain wavelength. For example, the temperature of 1,000 to 5,000°C is obtained by detecting the radiant energy at the wavelength of a point P in Fig. 20. When the temperature of the black body film 112 shown in Fig. 16 rises due to combustion gas, in other words, when the combustion temperature changes, the radiant energy (radiant light) corresponding to the change is radiated from the black body film 112. By receiving the radiant energy the a photoelectric transducer through an optical filter (having a transmission to light of 550 nm in the case of the point P in Fig. 20), it is possible to obtain an electric signal corresponding to the combustion temperature. Fig. 21 shows the characteristics of optical current with respect to the combustion temperature of a photoelectric transducer. The optical current changes on a log scale with respect to a change in temperature. Therefore, in the case of detection in a wide temperature range, a technique of logarithmically compressing the optical current through a log diode for linearization or the like is added. Fig. 22 shows a relationship between combustion temperature and NOx. The higher the temperature is and the larger the ratio λ of excess air is, in other words, the larger and leaner the air fuel ratio A/F is, the higher is the concentration of NOx. However, there is little difference in the concentration of NOx between 1 atm and 50 atm in the pressure in the combustion chamber and it is understood that the influence of the pressure is negligible in an ordinary combustion state. Therefore, if the air fuel ratio is detected at a specified time, the concentration of NOx is easily calculated from the combustion temperature at that time. Since the value corresponding to the average air fuel ratio is detected by the air fuel ratio sensor 28, as shown in Fig. 5, if the combustion temperature is detected, it is possible to calculate the concentration of NOx. Fig. 23 shows the structure of the signal processing circuit 25 in the case of adopting the combustion temperature detecting system. The heat radiating light from the black body film 112 at the end portion 110 or 36b introduced by the single-core integrated fiber 43 is introduced to a photoelectric transducer 90 through an optical filter 89 which transmits only light of a specific wavelength (e.g., 700 nm). Since the intensity of the radiating light is a function of a temperature, information on the combustion temperature is obtained by photoelectric conversion of the light intensity. In case of a misfire cycle, the combustion temperature naturally does not rise. Therefore, when the voltage of a signal is less than a predetermined voltage level, the cycle is judged to be a misfire cycle and the signal is passed through a comparator and a wave shaper, thereby outputting a misfire signal. Since the absolute value of the combustion temperature is substantially proportional to the concentration of NOx, it is possible to output a signal corresponding to the concentration of NOx from the peak value or the integrated value of the photoelectrically converted electric signal. These processings are carried out by an electric signal processing circuit 91. The electric signal processing circuit 91 forms the waveforms of the combustion temperature signals for the respective cycles which are substantially equal to the waveforms of the combustion temperature signals shown in Fig. 11 by utilizing the characteristics shown in Figs. 20 and 21. A given slicing level is set by utilizing the fact that the combustion temperature does not rise at the time of misfire, and when the combustion temperature signal in a power cycle does not exceed the slicing level, one misfire pulse is produced in that power cycle and the signal is output from an output end 92. From an output end 93, the peak value of the combustion signal which is peak held at each power cycle is output. Fig. 24 is a flow chart for judging the tolerance limit of NOx. The signal photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric transducer 90 and peak held at each power cycle by the electric signal processing circuit 91 in Fig. 23 (at step 94) is transmitted to the controller 27 and inputted as a combustion temperature signal at step 95. At step 96, an air fuel ratio signal is inputted from the air fuel ratio sensor 28 shown in Fig. 5. At step 99, the concentration of NOx is calculated from the combustion temperature by using the characteristics curve of NOx with respect to the air fuel ratio (ratio of excess air) such as that shown in Fig. 22. The average value of the concentrations of NOx for ten cycles is further calculated, and the result is supplied to step 100 as an average NOx value. At the step 100, the tolerane value of NOx value are compared with each other to judge whether or not the average value is within the tolerance limit. If yes, the process proceeds to ordinary operational mode 101, while if no, the process proceeds to the correcting operational mode 102 and the same control as that in Fig. 15 is carried out. Fig. 25 is a flow chart for judging a misfiring state. The misfire pulse obtained by photoelectrically converting a signal by the photoelectric transducer 90 (at the step 94) and produced by the electric signal processing circuit 91 (at the step 103) in Fig. 23 is transmitted to the controller 27 and inputted as a misfire pulse at step 104. At step 105, the number of the misfire pulses is counted for a predetermined power cycles, and judgment is made as to whether or not the value is above a preset value. If the value is less than the preset value, the combustion state is judged to be a non-misfiring state, and the process proceeds to the step 101. On the other hand, if the value is above the preset value, the state is judged to be a misfiring state, and the process proceeds to the step 102, and the same control as that in Fig. 24 and the portion B' in Fig. 25 are carried out by the controller 27. Since the details of the control flow at the portions B and B' are the same as those in Fig. 15, explanation thereof will be omitted. An engine control system employing the above-mentioned temperature detector such as the detector disclosed in Figs. 16 to 19 is capable of a precise and effective control of an internal combustion engine because the sensor directly detects the temperature in the combustion chamber of the engine. Such engine control apparatus is applicable to a knock control of the engine.

Claims: Method for controlling an internal combustion engine with the steps of (A) detecting the combustion light intensity or the combustion temperature in respective combustion chambers (23a-d) of the engine, (B) converting the combustion light intensity or the combustion temperature into electrical signals (49a, 50a), (C) determining a misfire event, if the signal level (V p ) of one of the electrical signals (50a) is below a predetermined slice level (S), (D) counting the number of detected misfire events for a predetermined number of power cycles of the engine, (E) comparing the counted number of detected misfire events with a predetermined value and judging that the engine is in a misfire condition, if the counted number is above the predetermined value, (F) detecting an excessive NO x concentration in the respective combustion chambers (23a-d) by determining that another one (49a) of the electrical signals is above a predetermined second slice level, and (G) correcting the A/F-ratio and/or the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with the detected misfire condition and the detected excessive NO x concentration. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the detected combustion temperature is determined by radiation energy emitted by a black body (112) disposed in each combustion chamber (23a-d). Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical signal of the combustion temperature is filtered by an optical filter (89) and inputted to a photoelectric transducer (90). Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the optical filter (89) is provided with a center wavelength of 700 nm. Method according to claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the detection of a misfire condition is performed for each power cycle of the engine. Apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine comprising optical sensors (21a-d) for detecting the combustion light intensity or detectors (110) for detecting the combustion temperature of the engine provided in each combustion chamber (23a-d), optical fibre cables (24a-d, 43) connected to the optical sensors (21a-d) or to the detectors (110), a signal processing circuit (25, 48, 50, 89, 90, 91) converting the detected and transmitted combustion light intensity or combustion temperature into an electrical signal, and a control unit (27) connected to the signal processing circuit (25, 48, 50, 89, 90, 91), which (A) determines a misfire event, if the signal level (V p ) of the electrical signal is below a predetermined slice level (S), (B) counts the number of detected misfire events for a predetermined number of power cycles of the engine, (C) compares the counted number of detected misfire events with a predetermined value and judges that the engine is in a misfire condition, if the counted number is above the predetermined value, (D) detects and excessive NO x concentration in the respective combustion chambers by determining that one of the electrical signals (49a, 50a) is above a predetermined second slice level, and (E) corrects the A/F-ratio and the ignition timing of the engine in accordance with the detected misfire condition and the detected excessive NO x concentration. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the detector (110) is provided with a black body (112) and the detected combustion temperature is determined by radiation energy emitted by the black body (112). Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the optical signal of the combustion temperature is filtered by an optical filter (89) and inputted to an photoelectric transducer (90). Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the optical filter (89) is provided with a center wavelength of 700 nm. Apparatus according to claims 6 - 9, characterized in that the detection of a misfire condition is performed each power cycle of the engine.

Inventors: KUROIWA HIROSHI, NOGI TOSHIHARU, OYAMA YOSHISHIGE, KUROIWA, HIROSHI, NOGI, TOSHIHARU, OYAMA, YOSHISHIGE
Applicants: HITACHI LTD, HITACHI, LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F02D41
IPC codes: F02D41, F02P5, G01M15, F02D35