Abstract:
A degrader and a diagnostic kit for an electronically-controlled fuel-injected internal combustion engine includes means adapted to interrupt a control signal from an engine management computer or powertrain control module (PCM) ( 15 ) to a fuel injector ( 11 ). It comprises a current sensor ( 17 ), adapted to measure the duration of a pulsed supply of fuel to the injector, a switching block ( 18 ) to interrupt the supply if required, and a microprocessor ( 22 ) to actuate the switching block and to produce a signal which may be used to control injection of fuel into the engine.

Description:
[0001]    This invention is concerned with a system for, and method of, degrading the performance of an internal combustion engine, potentially leading to its total immobilisation. The invention also relates to a system for diagnosing engine performance. In general terms both proposals revolve around determining, and potentially interfering with, the amount of fuel injected into diesel or petrol engines. This involves measuring and, as appropriate, controlling the fuel supplied to the engine. The system is also useful in controlling the performance or efficiency of the engine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Since the introduction of electronic fuel injection for the supply of fuel to engines, many systems have been developed to meet the requirements of each fuel type and to address the demands of improved performance, efficiency and lower exhaust emissions. While each of the known systems shares the same basic principal of injecting fuel into an engine via an electronically controlled solenoid valve known as an injector, the control technology and the designs of the injectors themselves have differed greatly across a range of system design generations and engine fuel types. 
         [0003]    It is difficult, therefore, using traditional pulse-width measurement methods, to determine the quantity of fuel delivered with each injection. Also, a wide variation in voltages, currents and injector drive techniques employed throughout the range of available fuelling systems makes it difficult or impossible to apply a system to reduce injection durations. All electronic fuel injection systems are controlled by an engine management system or power train control module (PCM), and the software used to programme the PCM varies considerably from one engine and vehicle manufacturer to another. 
         [0004]    The present invention is concerned with means capable of being implemented in existing engines, without the need to know the particular injection system employed by the engine, or without having to adapt the implementation means in accordance with the particular system of the engine. 
         [0005]    WO2007/104130 discloses a system that corrects the pulse width of a fuel injection signal according to variation in the pressure differential across a fuel injection valve, and whereby the appropriate amount of fuel can be injected. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for and method of degrading the performance of an internal combustion engine by controlling the fuel supply to the fuel injected diesel or petrol engines, the system being adaptable to the engine management systems of most, if not all, manufacturers, thus to provide an “add-on” or “bolt-on” arrangement that can operate independently of an existing PCM. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an engine performance degrader for an internal combustion engine comprising an electronically controlled fuel injection system, the degrader being adapted for connection to the fuel supply system of the engine between an engine management computer or powertrain control module (PCM) of the engine and a fuel injector for the engine to interrupt the signals issued by the PCM to the injector and to supply modified signals to the injector, the immobiliser comprising means for measuring the normal duration of a pulsed supply of fuel to the injector, means for modifying the pulse length of the supply of fuel and a microprocessor for receiving signals from the measuring means and for transmitting signals to the pulse length modifying means to enable the pulse length to be modified thus to control the quantity of the fuel supplied to the engine. 
         [0008]    Such a system can be used as a vehicle engine speed regulator, by monitoring and controlling the fuel supply and so that the engine speed is limited to a pre-set or communicated value. This has a variety of applications, a primary one of which is an automatic, after-theft, vehicle-speed-reduction system, whereby the vehicle may be brought gradually to a standstill or to a very low speed, remotely by a signal transmitter to the microprocessor. The signal may be from, for example, a police authority. Alternatively, use of the vehicle without the proper key might trigger gradual reduction in fuel supply. Interference with other systems of the vehicle could likewise be employed to trigger the system. For example, some vehicles employ tracking devices enabling their positions to be identified. Thieves generally know the location of such devices and may deactivate them or simply disconnect them. Such deactivation could be employed as a trigger for the degrader. 
         [0009]    The gradual slowing of the vehicle is much safer, of course, for all persons concerned, than a sudden shut-off of the vehicle&#39;s engine that might be dangerous should it occur when the vehicle is driven at high speed, as it frequently is when just stolen. 
         [0010]    The system can also be used to limit road and/or engine speed of a vehicle in accordance with a vehicle location, such as in a speed restriction zone, or according to driver experience, so that it may act as a governor to ensure that the vehicle cannot exceed a certain speed. 
         [0011]    The system can also be employed as a traction control device, to reduce wheel spin under excessive acceleration. The activation device in this event may be a speed comparator between the different wheels of the vehicle with any marked divergence between them being interpreted as wheel spin and this being used to trigger degradation of the engine performance by reducing pulse length of injection pulses and or the pressure of fuel being injected. 
         [0012]    Indeed, such an arrangement has application even in vehicles already provided with traction control, since most traction arrangements provided by car manufacturers are of the type that can be switched off, in which event there is no traction control, or switched on, in which event they generally prevent wheel spin entirely. However, the present invention has the capacity to permit intermediate levels of traction control. That is to say, the reduction in pulse length or fuel pressure may not only be a function of the amount of wheel spin detected but also the degree of control required. Thus, when a driver selects an intermediate degree of traction control the microprocessor may only activate when a substantial degree of wheel spin is detected and then only limit the fuel delivered (whether by reduced pulse length or fuel pressure) to a certain degree that still permits some relative wheel slippage. 
         [0013]    An activation device (that does not necessarily form part of the present invention but which is implicit in such a system) activates the degrader when it is desired to slow down the vehicle in which the degrader is fitted. In the case of an anti-theft device, the activation device may be something that is remotely actuated by eg telephonic signal. However, it may be a radio signal or infra-red or ultrasonic, particularly in the case of a roadside system for calming traffic in a given location. Alternatively, the activation device may be something that is part of the vehicle. For example, it could be a detector that detects (when present) a key, that may or may not be the same thing as, or intimately connected with, the vehicle ignition key. In the case of a speed limiter, either for total speed control or traction control, it will comprise a speed detection device for the vehicle, or more especially, its wheels in the case of traction control. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for and method of monitoring the performance of an internal combustion engine by measuring the fuel supply to the fuel injected diesel or petrol engines, the system being adaptable to the engine management systems of most, if not all, manufacturers, thus to provide a diagnostic kit that can operate independently of an existing PCM. 
         [0015]    In accordance with this aspect of the present invention there is provided a diagnostic kit for an internal combustion engine comprising an electronically controlled fuel injection system, the kit being adapted for connection to the fuel supply system of the engine between an engine management computer or powertrain control module (PCM) of the engine and a fuel injector for the engine to interrupt the signals issued by the PCM to the injector and to supply corresponding signals to the injector, the kit comprising means for measuring the duration of a pulse supply of fuel to the injector, means for modifying the pulse length of the supply of fuel and a microprocessor for receiving signals from the measuring means and for transmitting signals to the pulse length modifying means to enable the pulse length to be modified thus to control the quantity of the fuel supplied to the engine, and output means to output transmit information concerning the pulse lengths applied by the PCM. 
         [0016]    The degrader and/or kit may include means to monitor the instantaneous pressure of the fuel derived by a fuel pump and to modify the pressure as a parameter of the supply of the fuel to the engine. This is particularly imperative in the case of diesel engines where the fuel pressure is varied substantially as part of the fuel management system. Moreover, modifying the pressure is potentially another means of modifying the quantity of fuel delivered to the engine. 
         [0017]    The pressure monitoring means may be the microprocessor adapted to receive signals from a pressure sensor and to transmit signals to the fuel pump. Alternatively, the signals from the pressure sensor are intercepted by the microprocessor and modified signals are supplied by the microprocessor to the PCM to cause the PCM to transmit modified signals to the fuel pump, thereby to change the fuel pressure of the pump. 
         [0018]    The micro-processor may be connected to the PCM and adapted to transmit signals thereto representative of the overall fuel supply to the engine thus to emulate normal engine operational conditions as monitored by the PCM. 
         [0019]    The means for measuring the normal duration of the pulsed supply of fuel to the injector may be a Hall Effect current sensing device producing an analogue signal, and connected, via an analogue to digital converter, to the microprocessor. 
         [0020]    The means for modifying the pulsed length of the supply of fuel to the injector may be an optically coupled MOSFET switching block connected to the microprocessor. Preferably, the opto-coupling is through a photovoltaic coupler. “Modifying” the pulsed length here means only shortening of the pulse length, since the MOSFET switching block only permits passage of some or all of the existing pulse produced by the PCM and does not generate a pulse signal itself. 
         [0021]    The Hall Effect current sensor and optically coupled MOSFET switching block may be connected such as to provide a low-resistance electrically conductive path completing a circuit between the PCM and the injector. 
         [0022]    The system may include an opto-coupler connected in parallel to the optically coupled MOSFET switching block to detect any potential difference during an “off” state of the switching block. This is required in combination with the current sensor, which, of course, turns off when the MOSFET is switched off by the microprocessor. Indeed, the pulse length intended by the vehicle&#39;s PCM is the sum of the period of time that the Hall effect device detects current and the period of time that the opto-coupler detects a voltage across the switched-off MOSFET. Indeed, it is to be understood that the pulse whose length is modified by the MOSFET switching block, is that pulse which follows the pulse whose length is measured. That is to say, pulse length is always modified at least one pulse behind the pulse being measured. This is not, however, significant because the rate of pulses is so high that the difference between them from one cycle of the engine to the next is not significant. 
         [0023]    It should also be pointed out, particularly with respect to modern diesel engines, that there may be several “sub-pulses” of varying duration in any one cylinder cycle. For the purposes of the present invention, a train of sub-pulses in one cycle is treated as a single pulse, but any one or more sub-pulses may have its pulse length modified and the sum of sub-pulses, together with the pressure of the fuel injected, establishes the overall pulse length and the overall quantity of fuel injected in any one cycle. Indeed, this latter factor enables the microprocessor, in the case of a diagnostic kit, for instance, to report a simplified version of the pulse sequence. That is to say a single pulse length, a single timing point and a single quantity of fuel, which may be of assistance to the engineer analysing the engine performance, rather than complete information about each sub-pulse. 
         [0024]    The diagnostic kit preferably further comprises means to calculate the quantity of fuel delivered by each pulse and/or means to aggregate pulse lengths, fuel pressures associated therewith and fuel quantity delivered, of sub-pulses of an engine to which the kit is connected. Preferably, it also further comprises a display on which said output information is displayed. The diagnostic kit may comprise many of the features of the degrader described above. 
         [0025]    Also according to the invention there is provided a method of determining the fuel supply to an electronically controlled fuel injected internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of connecting between an engine management computer or power train control module (PCM) of the engine, and a fuel injector of the engine, a system comprising means for measuring the normal duration of a pulsed supply of fuel to the injector, means for modifying the pulse length of the supply of fuel, and a microprocessor for receiving signals from the measuring means and for transmitting signals to the pulse length modifying means, causing by means of software in the microprocessor a signal representative of the normal duration of a pulsed supply of fuel to the injector to be measured and, as appropriate, causing the pulse length to be modified thus to control the fuel supplied to the engine and in turn controlling the speed and/or performance of the engine. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    An embodiment of the invention, as applied to a diesel engine, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a diagram representing the manner of operation of the system to be described; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of the system as applied to the PCM and each fuel injector of an engine. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the system employed by the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically at  3  and is adapted to receive signals monitoring the injection pulses  1  applied to each injector from the engine management computer ( 15  in  FIG. 2 ). These may consist of individual pulses or groups of pulses per engine cylinder combustion stroke. The total injection duration is calculated in system  3  and multiplied by a relative voltage  2  representing the fuel pressure derived from a fuel supply pump ( 16   a  in  FIG. 2 ). Output data is generated at  4  representing the total fuel quantity delivered to the combustion chamber, and this may consist of one or more of an individual pulse  4   a , per combustion, of variable pulse width, a variable voltage/current analogue output  4   b , a digital output  4   c , or a combination of all three. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a dotted line X represents a point of connection of the system illustrated below the line X, to an engine management computer or powertrain control module (PCM) and the engine injectors, which are represented above the line X. 
         [0031]    Therefore, the engine to which this system is to be connected will include a series of fuel injectors  11  in the form of electrically operated valves, all connected to a common fuel supply rail  12 , an engine management computer (PCM)  15  and a fuel pump  16   a . A pressure sensor  13  produces a signal representative of the instantaneous fuel pressure in the rail  12  and transmits on line  13   b  the signal to the PCM  15 , which is connected also to the fuel pump  16   a.    
         [0032]    The system of the invention is connected to the component above the line X by interrupting the normal circuit from the PCM  15  to each injector  11  as shown at  14 , and so an entire system as illustrated below the line X is required and connected between the PCM  15  and each of the injectors  11 . 
         [0033]    Therefore, the intercepted circuit  14  is replaced by a circuit including a Hall Effect current sensing device  17  and an optically coupled MOSFET switching block  18 . The resultant circuit illustrated by the thickened line Y provides a low-resistance, electrically conductive path thus completing the circuit and ensuring any changes made to the injector control circuit characteristics by its insertion are negligible, and completing the circuit between the PCM and the injector. 
         [0034]    An opto-coupler  19  is connected in parallel with the MOSFET switching block  18  to enable detection of any potential difference in the circuit during the MOSFET “off” state, during operation. The opto-coupler  19  is connected to a microprocessor  22 , an output of which is also connected to the MOSFET switching block  18 , while the analogue signal from the Hall Effect current sensor  17  is supplied via a multiplexed analogue to digital converter (ADC)  20  to the microprocessor  22 . The signal from the pressure sensor  13  is also connected to the microprocessor  22  via ADC  20 . 
         [0035]    Opto-coupling devices are commonly used to provide a degree of electrical isolation between circuits. They do this by combining a light emitting device and a light sensitive device to enable a signal to be optically ‘transmitted’ between the circuits. The light sensitive device controls or limits the current flow in one circuit in response to the current applied to the light emitting device in the other circuit. One common example application could be a microprocessor controlling a higher voltage circuit, such as a mains-powered lighting circuit. The optical link ensures that there is no electrical path between the high and low voltage circuits, thus improving operator safety and preventing mains voltages entering the low voltage circuit, especially in the event of component failure. 
         [0036]    When semiconductors, such as MOSFETs, need to be controlled by an electrically isolated circuit, photovoltaic opto-couplers can provide a better solution than regular opto-couplers. This is because, in order to operate, semiconductors such as MOSFETs require a control voltage (or gate voltage) that is relative to the voltage of the circuit they are switching. A photovoltaic opto-coupler operates in much the same way as a standard opto-coupler, but instead of containing a light sensitive device to control current, it is able to generate a voltage. The voltage generated is electrically isolated from the light emitting circuit voltages, meaning that it can be electrically connected to a high voltage circuit without compromising circuit isolation. This enables the generation of control voltages that are relative to the high voltage circuit (as is necessary for controlling MOSFETs) without the need for a separate isolated power source. 
         [0037]    Thus the opto-coupler of the  19  may be driven by the high voltage side and its detector on the low voltage side simply varies current on the low voltage side. However, the opto-coupler of the switching block  18  is preferably photovoltaic so that a voltage may applied to the MOSFET gate in addition to whatever voltage is already on the high voltage side creating a potential difference sufficiently large to switch the MOSFET. 
         [0038]    Any or all external circuits having an affect upon or receiving effective signals from the system are represented at  21  and are thus connected to the microprocessor  22  both to receive signals from and to transmit signals to the latter. 
         [0039]    As shown at  16   b , there is a connection between the fuel pump  16   a  and the microprocessor  22  which is also connected to the PCM  15 . The normal link  16   c  from the PCM  15  to the pump  16   a  is interrupted. 
         [0040]    In use, analogue signal voltages from the fuel pressure sensor  13  (on line  13   a ), the Hall Effect current sensing device  17  (on line  17   a ), and external control voltages are converted into digital signals by the ADC  20 , while signals from the latter (on line  20   a ), from the opto-coupler  19  (on line  19   a ), and from external control interface circuits  21  are received and monitored by the microprocessor  22 . 
         [0041]    The microprocessor  22  mathematically combines the fuel pressure reading from pressure sensor  13  and the duration of injection pulses as read by the Hall Effect current sensor  17  thus providing a proportional digital output signal from the microprocessor  22  representing the relative quantity of fuel injected into the engine. 
         [0042]    The microprocessor  22  is programmed to enable a fuel injection pulse generated by the PCM  15  and transmitted to the injector  11  to be interrupted if necessary at a predetermined point in time by transmitting a signal to the MOSFET switching block  18  (on line  18   a ) thus to turn off the supply pulse at a precise moment, prematurely stopping the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, a predetermined and controlled injection of fuel takes place during one combustion stroke so that the overall fuel supply to the combustion chamber is controlled. 
         [0044]    The microprocessor  22  may also intercept the fuel pump pressure control signals  16   b  to cause the fuel pressure to be modified. This is not essential in all cases, since the pressure can be a constant while the volume of the fuel supply is controlled and modified as appropriate. However, it is also possible to interrupt the connection between the pressure sensor  13  and the PCM  15  by removing line  13   b . Instead, the processor  22  has an output (not shown) replacing the connection  13   b  to the PCM from the sensor  13  and informing the PCM that the fuel pressure is different (if modification of fuel pump pressure is required) from that actually measured by the sensor  13 , and thereby causing the PCM to modify its output  16   b . In this case, the connection  16   b  is not implemented and the existing connection, as per the dotted line  16   c , is retained. 
         [0045]    Since the system, in this example, is readily connected physically to and between the PCM  15  and injector  11  of any electronically controlled fuel injected engine (and likewise between either or both of the connections between the PCM on the one hand and the fuel pump  16   a  and pressure sensor  13  on the other), the microprocessor  22  can be programmed to bring about a control of a single or dual fuel supply to the engine to control the performance, improve efficiency and reduce emissions, irrespective of the design of the engine or the control imposed over it by the PCM  15 . It can also, of course, provide control of the fuel supply for the purposes with which the present invention is primarily concerned, namely performance degradation and diagnostic analysis. By imposing a control over the fuel supplied to the injectors  11 , the system can be used for many purposes, including electronic fuel injection fault diagnosis. By providing an injected fuel quantity reference, this acts as a means of checking and confirming correct fuel delivery. 
         [0046]    It can be used as a vehicle engine speed regulator by monitoring and controlling the fuel supply so that the engine speed is limited to a pre-set value. This is the feature exploited by the present invention that provides an automatic after-theft vehicle speed reduction capacity, whereby the vehicle may be brought gradually to a standstill or to a very low speed in a safe manner. This can be achieved remotely, for example, by a signal transmitter to the microprocessor from a police authority. Alternatively, a built-in detector may require the proximity of a key, that may or may not be constituted by the normal vehicle ignition key. However, none of these ancillary aspects are a part of the present invention which resides in the recognition that the fuel monitoring system described herein has a particularly attractive application in the vehicle immobilisation field. 
         [0047]    Nevertheless, the system can also be used to limit road and/or engine speed of a vehicle in accordance with a vehicle location, such as in a speed restriction zone, or according to driver experience so that it may act as a governor to ensure that the vehicle cannot exceed a certain speed. 
         [0048]    The system is fully bi-directional so that it may be connected in either polarity and it is electrically isolated so that high voltages cannot enter the control circuit and voltages within the control circuit do not affect the injector circuit voltages. The system may be used with both diesel and gasoline direct injection engines. While in operation current sensing within the circuit is monitored by the Hall Effect sensor  17 , and any improper current flow conditions within the circuit can be rectified by switching off the MOSFET switching block  18  thus protecting the circuit from damage.