Patent Application
20060096305
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid flowmeters measuring an air flow rate, and more particularly to a fluid flowmeter suitable for sensing of an air flow rate sucked into the engine of an automobile.
2. Background Art
As a conventional technique for air flowmeters being a fluid flowmeter, there is known a flowmeter of air sucked into the engine of an automobile as described in patent document 1, which is a technique of sensing the heating control electrical current value of a heating resistance and converting it to an air flow rate.
There is also known a technique in which temperature-sensitive resistors are arranged in the upper and lower sides of air flow of a heating resistance and the thermal effects on both the temperature-sensitive resistors are sensed as a temperature difference signal and treated as the voltage of a bridge circuit to thereby measure the air flow rate.
Errors can be caused by air temperature in an air flow rate measurement, so there is also known a technique in which an air temperature is measured and a measured flow rate is corrected based on the measured temperature. As for the technique of measuring an air temperature to make the correction, patent document 2 describes a technique in which an air flow rate sensing element and air temperature sensing element are formed on separate diaphragms on a substrate.
As with the technique described in this patent document 2, by arranging an air flow rate sensing element and air temperature sensing element on a substrate and integrating them with each other, cost reduction of the air flowmeter can be achieved.
Also, because of formation of the air temperature sensing element on a diaphragm, the heat capacity of the air temperature sensing element and the member including the substrate part having disposed thereon the air temperature sensing element can be reduced to improve the response with respect to air temperature.
[Patent Document 1] JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 60-36916 (1985)
[Patent Document 2] JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-249693 (1994)
In the above technique described in patent document 2, however, when an air flow rate sensing element and air temperature sensing element are integrated with each other and mounted on a substrate and at the same time the air temperature sensing element is formed on a diaphragm, heat capacity will be small as described above. Consequently, the air temperature sensing element itself can be easily self-heated by the sensing electrical current flowing through the temperature sensing element.
The heat generated by the air temperature sensing element itself is transmitted to the integrated air flow rate sensing element and may bring about adverse effects on the air flow rate sensing signal.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to implement a fluid flowmeter in which an fluid flow rate sensing element and fluid temperature sensing element are integrated with each other and mounted on a substrate and at the same time the fluid temperature sensing element is formed on a diaphragm, the fluid flowmeter being capable of measuring a fluid flow rate with high accuracy by suppressing the self-heating of the fluid temperature sensing element, and also to implement an engine system using the same.
To achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
A fluid flowmeter according to the present invention includes a temperature sensing element 11 disposed on a first diaphragm 25 formed on a substrate 41, and flow rate sensing elements 5 to 10 disposed on a second diaphragm 24 formed on the substrate 41. A fluid flow rate value sensed by the flow rate sensing elements 5 to 10 is corrected based on a fluid temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element 11, thereby obtaining a fluid flow rate.
Alternatively, the ignition timing of an engine is corrected based on the fluid flow rate.
The fluid flowmeter according to the present invention includes a pulse signal source 19 supplying a temperature sensing pulse signal to the temperature sensing element 11. Based on a temperature sensing signal from the temperature sensing element 11 driven by the temperature sensing pulse signal, a fluid flow rate is corrected, or the ignition timing of an engine is corrected.
Since the temperature sensing element 11 is driven by the pulse signal, the self-heating of the temperature sensing element 11 is suppressed and the generation of temperature sensing errors caused by the self-heating is suppressed.
The above flow rate sensing element preferably includes a heating resistance element 5, first temperature-sensitive resistance elements 7 and 8 disposed in the fluid upstream side of the heating resistance element 5, and second temperature-sensitive resistance elements 9 and 10 disposed in the fluid downstream side of the heating resistance element 5. A fluid flow rate is measured based on the change of resistance of the first temperature-sensitive resistance elements 7 and 8 and the second temperature-sensitive resistance elements 9 and 10.
An engine control system according to the present invention includes an air flowmeter 60 for sensing the flow rate and temperature of air supplied to an automobile engine 72, and engine control means 76 for controlling the flow rate of air and the consumption of fuel supplied to the engine 72 based on the air flow rate and air temperature measured by the air flowmeter 60.
The air flowmeter 60 includes a temperature sensing element 11 disposed on a first diaphragm 25 formed on a substrate 41, a pulse signal source 19 supplying a temperature sensing pulse signal to the temperature sensing element 11, and flow rate sensing elements 5 to 10 disposed on a second diaphragm 24 formed on the substrate 41.
Based on a temperature sensing signal from the temperature sensing element 11 driven by the temperature sensing pulse signal, engine control means 76 corrects a fluid flow rate sensed by the flow rate sensing elements 5 to 10, or corrects the ignition timing of the engine.
Also, based on a temperature sensing signal from the temperature sensing element 11 driven by the temperature sensing pulse signal, air flow rate adjusting means 20 of the air flowmeter 60 corrects a fluid flow rate sensed by the flow rate sensing elements 5 to 10, or corrects the ignition timing of the engine.
Consequently, it is possible to implement a fluid flowmeter in which an air flow rate sensing element and fluid temperature sensing element are integrated with each other and mounted on a substrate and at the same time the fluid temperature sensing element is formed on a diaphragm, the fluid flowmeter being capable of measuring a fluid flow rate with high accuracy by suppressing the self-heating of the fluid temperature sensing element, and also to implement an engine system using the same.
Since the self-heating of the temperature sensing element can be suppressed, it is possible to make the temperature sensing signal highly accurate, and there is no need to increase the resistance value of the temperature sensing element. Accordingly, an advantageous effect of enabling reduction of the influence caused by contamination is also obtained.
Also, by correcting the flow rate dependence of the temperature sensing element by use of the flow rate sensing signal supplied by the flow rate sensing element, an advantageous effect such that the fluid temperature can be accurately sensed is obtained.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the embodiments described below are examples in which a fluid flowmeter according to the present invention is applied to an air flowmeter.
Referring to
The sensing element 1 includes a temperature sensor 11 sensing an air temperature, a heating resistance 5 and side temperature resistance 6 for sensing an air flow rate, and temperature-sensitive resistances 7 to 10, disposed in the upstream and downstream sides of air flow of the heating resistance, whose resistance value varies in response to the thermal effect from the heating resistance 5.
The air temperature sensing circuit 2 includes a fixed resistor 18 and sensing signal source 19.
The air flow rate sensing circuit 3 includes a constant voltage power supply 12, fixed resistors 13 and 14, a comparator 15, a PI control circuit 16, and a MOS transistor 17.
Also, the characteristic adjusting circuit 4 includes an air flow rate signal adjusting section 20 and air temperature signal adjusting section 21.
The air temperature sensor 11 of the sensing element 1 is connected in series to the fixed resistor 18 of the air temperature sensing circuit 2. A pulsed sensing signal from the signal source 19 is applied to the air temperature sensor 11.
The electrical potential level observed at the connecting point of the air temperature sensor 11 and fixed resistor 18 constitutes an air temperature sensing signal, which is supplied to the air temperature signal adjusting section 21. This signal is then adjusted to a predetermined characteristic by the air temperature signal adjusting section 21 and outputted to, for example, an engine control unit as an air temperature signal via an output terminal 23.
The heating resistance 5 of the sensing element 1 constitutes a bridge circuit, together with the side temperature resistance 6 and the fixed resistors 13 and 14 within the air flow rate sensing circuit 3. A differential signal of the bridge circuit is detected by the comparator 15; the MOS transistor 17 is turned on and off by a control signal generated by the PI control circuit 16; and a feedback control is performed so that the heating temperature of the heating resistance 5 has a constant value.
The bridge circuit is constituted of: the temperature-sensitive resistances 7 and 8, disposed in the upstream side of air flow of the heating resistance 5, whose resistance value varies in response to the thermal effect from the heating resistance 5; and temperature-sensitive resistances 9 and 10 disposed in the downstream side of air flow of the heating resistance 5. A differential signal generated in response to air flow rate is detected by the bridge circuit, and the detected differential signal is supplied to the air flow rate signal adjusting section 20. This differential signal is adjusted to a predetermined characteristic by the air flow rate signal adjusting section 20. Specifically, the air flow rate is corrected based on the air temperature sensed by the air temperature sensor 11. Then the corrected air flow rate is outputted to, for example, an engine control unit as an air flow rate signal via an output terminal 22.
In the engine control unit, in order to determine an optimum ignition timing of the engine, the above-described air temperature signal and air flow rate signal are used.
The heating resistance 5 is driven by a pulse signal source. The sensing signal source 19 being a pulse signal source can be used as this pulse signal source. Accordingly, a single driving source can be used for both the air temperature sensor 11 and heating resistance 5, whereby the circuit configuration can be simplified.
Referring to
The heating resistance 5 is withdrawn by a wiring pattern 26 to a position where a terminal 33 is disposed. The connecting point of the heating resistance 5 and side temperature resistance 6 is withdrawn by a wiring pattern 27 to a position where a terminal 35 is disposed.
The heating resistance 5, side temperature resistance 6, temperature-sensitive resistances 7 to 10, and air temperature sensor 11 are made of a platinum film or polysilicon film whose resistance value varies according to temperature. The resistances 5 to 10 and sensor 11 are connected to the outside via terminals 28 to 40.
Referring to
When the temperature sensor 11 is not formed on the diaphragm 25, it has a performance shown by the response 42; when the air flow rate is small, the response time is particularly delayed.
As means for eliminating the response time delay, the temperature sensor 11 is formed on the diaphragm 25. Consequently, the heat capacity of the temperature sensor 11 and the member having disposed thereon the temperature sensor 11 can be reduced, thus enabling the improvement of the response as shown by the response 43.
As shown in
This is because the air temperature sensor 11 cannot sense an air temperature accurately due to its self-heating by the constant power supply voltage. In particular, when the temperature sensor 11 is formed on the diaphragm 25 for the purpose of improving the response as shown in
Also, under the influence of the self-heating of the temperature sensor 11, the sensing signal of the air flow rate sensor neighboring the downstream side of air flow also deviates from a proper value to have an error as indicated by a broken line 46.
This is because the air flow rate sensor, constituted of a resistance element whose resistance value varies according to ambient temperature, is susceptive to the thermal effect generated from the temperature sensor 11.
To solve this problem, with the present invention, a pulse signal is supplied to the air temperature sensor 11 to sense an air temperature, thereby reducing the self-heating of the temperature sensor 11.
With such configuration, the output of the temperature sensor 11 and that of the air flow rate sensor 3 are approximately identical to a proper value as indicated by solid lines 45 and 47 shown in FIGS. 5(C) and 5(D), respectively, thus allowing a highly accurate measurement.
Referring to
However, when the pulse time period is shortened as indicated by t2 which is equal to or less than half of applying time period t1 shown in
This pulse time period is preferably set to a value smaller than the thermal time constant of the temperature sensor 11.
Since the change of air temperature is slow relative to the change of air flow rate, when a combination with an pulse-drive air flowmeter using PI control is employed as with the one embodiment of the present invention, the pulse applying cycle time of the air temperature sensing pulse signal may be longer than that of the air flow rate sensing pulse signal. If so, the burden of the sensing circuit can be reduced.
Referring to
Meanwhile, if the air flow rate is small, the cooling effect of the air temperature sensor 11 by the air is small, so the temperature rises even with the same pulse applying time period as shown by a broken line 51.
The second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the pulse time period of the pulse signal supplied to the air temperature sensor 11 is varied according to air flow rate, thereby varying a duty ratio.
The second embodiment has a circuit configuration approximately similar to that shown in
Specifically, the pulse time period of the pulse sensing signal for driving the temperature sensor 11 is varied according to air flow rate.
With this configuration, an optimum pulse time period of the air temperature sensing signal can be set according to air flow rate. Specifically, a pulse width employed when the air flow rate is small can be made smaller than that employed when the air flow rate is large. In other words, a duty ratio employed when the air flow rate is small is made larger than that employed when the air flow rate is large.
It is noted here that, as for the pulse width, the duty ratio is preferably equal to or less than 50% and as small as possible in view of the self-heating of the temperature sensor 11. In view of the response, however, while being equal to or less than 50%, the duty ratio is preferably as large as possible.
Consequently, according to air flow rate, the pulse width is increased up to a limit which is determined by the relationship with the self-heating of the air temperature sensor 11. The lower limit of the pulse width is approximately 1 μsec in view of the response; in view of self-heating, the upper limit is a width in which the duty ratio is equal to or less than 50%.
In addition to the above-mentioned variation of self-heating caused by air flow rate, there is another problem. Specifically, in an air flowmeter disposed within the engine room of an automobile, the temperature sensing sensor 11 can sense a higher temperature than the actual air temperature under the thermal effect from the engine.
The temperature effect from the engine also varies depending on the air flow rate flowing through the air passage pipe, thereby causing a problem of making it difficult to sense an air temperature accurately.
Referring to
In a housing 58, there is provided a circuit board 56 having a sensing element 1 and circuit element 57 mounted thereon.
Air flow 62, flowing through the intake air pipe 61, is distributed into the air flowmeter 60 by an air intake port 53, bypassed via a bypass passage 54 to pass on a sensing element 1, and returned to the main passage pipe 61 from a bypass exit port 55.
In such actual usage environment, heat generated by the engine can reach the air flowmeter 60 through the passage pipe 61, giving a temperature effect to the sensing element 1.
This is because, when a small amount of air flows, the cooling effect by the air is small, so the sensing signal is susceptible to the temperature from the passage pipe 61, and meanwhile, in the high flow rate side, the sensing signal gets closer to the air temperature due to cooling by the air.
With the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Referring to
Exhaust gas from the engine 72 is emitted via an exhaust air duct 73. Part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust air duct 73 is cooled by an EGR 74 and circulated to the engine 72; recirculation is controlled by an EGR valve 75. Based on an output signal from the air flowmeter 60, an ECU 76 controls the opening of the throttle valve 70 and the operation of the engine 72 to have an optimum air oil ratio.
Also, the ECU 76 controls the opening and closing of the EGR valve 75 to have an optimum recirculation of exhaust gas.
Different from the embodiments 1 to 3, the fourth embodiment supplies not a pulse signal but a direct current to the temperature sensor 11. Thus, in an example of
Accordingly, the temperature sensor 11 is self-heated; the self-heating causes a sensed temperature to have an error.
If the air flow rate signal is f (q) and an air temperature is T (air flow rate q), the air temperature sensing signal f (T) is expressed by the following equation (1).
f(T)=(aTb+c)/f(q)+d (1)
where a, b, c, and d are constants and can be predetermined for each air flowmeter.
As expressed by the above equation (1), the air temperature signal is a function of air flow rate.
Accordingly, by using the sensing signal f (q) sensed by the air flow rate sensing section 3 and the air temperature sensing signal f (T) sensed by the air temperature sensing section 2, a proper air temperature can be calculated according to the following equation (2).
T=((d f(T)f(q)−c)/a)1/b (2)
The above equation (2) is calculated in the air temperature adjusting section 21, and the air flow rate is corrected by use of the calculated proper value.
With the fourth embodiment, a temperature sensing error caused by the self-heating of the temperature sensor 11 can be corrected.
The present invention can be applied not only to an apparatus for measuring an air flow rate supplied to the engine of an automobile but also to other devices and systems.
Specifically, the present invention can be applied to apparatuses for sensing an air flow rate and air temperature, including an apparatus for an airplane or ship for sensing the flow rate of a medium other than air, such as hydrogen, which must have a high reliability.
It is noted that the heating resistance 5 of the air flow rate sensing circuit 3 can be driven by a direct-current voltage source, or can alternatively be driven by a pulse signal source.
The present invention can be applied not only to an air flowmeter but also to an apparatus for measuring the flow rate of other gases (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen gas, and so on).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-327275 | Nov 2004 | JP | national |
