Method, system and storage medium for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A method for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine, a medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine and a system for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine is provided wherein the system includes a vehicle sensor and an engine control module and wherein the method includes obtaining a vehicle data signal responsive to the engine performance of the internal combustion engine, processing the vehicle data signal so as to formulate an engine operating parameter, wherein the engine operating parameter is responsive to the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust gases and controlling the fuel introduced into the internal combustion engine in a manner responsive to the engine operating parameter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine comprising: 
 obtaining a vehicle data signal responsive to the engine performance of said internal combustion engine;    processing said vehicle data signal so as to formulate an engine operating parameter, wherein said engine operating parameter is responsive to the hydrocarbon content of said exhaust gases; and    controlling the fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine in a manner responsive to said engine operating parameter.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said obtaining includes communicating said vehicle data signal to an engine control module.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle data signal includes engine speed.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle data signal includes engine torque.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle data signal includes exhaust gas volume.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle data signal includes transmission gear position.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle data signal includes exhaust gas temperature.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said engine operating parameter includes fuel injection parameters.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing said vehicle data signal includes processing said vehicle data signal via an engine control module.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing said vehicle data signal includes measuring said hydrocarbon content of said exhaust gases.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing said vehicle data signal include estimating said hydrocarbon content of said exhaust gases.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling includes increasing the amount of fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling includes decreasing the amount of fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling includes maintaining the amount of fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling includes introducing fuel into said internal combustion engine at predetermined times responsive to said engine operating parameter.  
     
     
         16 . A medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine, said medium including instructions for causing controller to implement a method comprising: 
 obtaining a vehicle data signal responsive to the engine performance of said internal combustion engine;    processing said vehicle data signal so as to formulate an engine operating parameter, wherein said engine operating parameter is responsive to the hydrocarbon content of said exhaust gases; and    controlling the fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine in a manner responsive to said engine operating parameter.    
     
     
         17 . A system for controlling exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine comprising: 
 a vehicle sensor for obtaining a vehicle data signal responsive to the engine performance of said internal combustion engine; and    an engine control module for processing said vehicle data signal so as to formulate an engine operating parameter, wherein said engine operating parameter is responsive to the hydrocarbon content of said exhaust gases, and    wherein said engine control module controls the fuel introduced into said internal combustion engine in a manner responsive to said engine operating parameter.