Method for operating an air mass sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9447757-B2
Application number	US-201214368234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 23, 2011
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A method for operating an air mass sensor arranged in the intake section of an internal combustion engine and configured to measure the mass of the air flowing through the intake section includes the air mass sensor detecting a stationary state of the internal combustion engine using an element for evaluating measurement signals generated by an air mass sensor element, and, in response to detection of a stationary state, switching the air mass sensor element into a second operating mode that reduces contamination of the air mass sensor element. The second operating mode permits at least one measurement of the air mass flowing in the intake section, as a result of which the air mass sensor itself detects a starting of the internal combustion engine using the element for evaluating the measurement signals generated by the air mass sensor element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating an air mass sensor ( 1 ) arranged in the intake section ( 2 ) of an internal combustion engine ( 3 ) and configured to measure a mass ( 4 ) of air flowing through the intake section ( 2 ), the air mass sensor ( 1 ) having an air mass sensor element ( 5 ) that is part of an application specific integrated circuit ( 6 ) constructed as a micro-electromechanical system, the air mass sensor ( 1 ) having at least one element ( 7 ) configured to evaluate measurement signals generated by the air mass sensor element ( 5 ), comprising:
the air mass sensor ( 1 ) detecting a stationary state of the internal combustion engine using the element ( 7 ) for evaluating the measurement signals generated by the air mass sensor element ( 5 ), and;
in response to the detection of the stationary state, switching the air mass sensor element ( 5 ) into a second operating mode that reduces contamination of the air mass sensor element ( 5 ), the second operating mode permitting at least one measurement of the air mass ( 4 ) flowing in the intake section ( 2 ), as a result of which the air mass sensor ( 1 ) itself detects a starting of the internal combustion engine ( 3 ) using the element ( 7 ) for evaluating the measurement signals generated by the air mass sensor element ( 5 ) and using the measurement signals of the air mass sensor element ( 5 ), and, in response, switches the air mass sensor element ( 5 ) into a first operating mode, which permits said air mass sensor element ( 5 ) to measure the air mass ( 4 ) flowing through the intake section ( 2 ) with high accuracy.

2. The method for operating an air mass sensor ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the element ( 7 ) is arranged in a housing ( 18 ) of the air mass sensor ( 1 ).

3. The method for operating an air mass sensor ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the element ( 7 ) is a part of the application specific integrated circuit ( 6 ).

4. The method for operating an air mass sensor ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the air mass sensor ( 1 ) detecting a stationary state of the internal combustion engine using the element ( 7 ), if no mass flow or a constant reverse flow or a constant forward flow less than an idling mass flow is measured.

Assignees

• Knittel Thorsten
• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Knittel Thorsten

Classifications

• F02M35/10386 Primary

  for flow rate (air flow meters in air cleaners F02M35/021; circuit arrangements for generating control signals by measuring intake air flow F02D41/18) · CPC title

• G01F1/696

  Circuits therefor, e.g. constant-current flow meters · CPC title

• F02D41/042

  for stopping the engine · CPC title

• G01M15/042

  by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12 · CPC title

• G01F1/78

  Direct mass flowmeters · CPC title