MICROCOMPUTERS HIT THE ROAD (ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL FOR FUEL ECONOMY AND REDUCED POLLUTION)

In response to Federal regulations for fuel economy and reduced pollution, by 1981 most new cars made in the U.S. will use microcomputer-based engine controls to increase gas mileage while reducing exhaust emissions. Microcomputers which control a feedback carburetion system can optimize ignition timing and adjust the engine's air/fuel ratio to the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. Electronic fuel injection controls the injection ratio for variations in engine speed and load, acceleration, air temperature, and other factors. The ratio, which is converted from a digital to an analog signal, is used to set one or more electronically operated fuel injectors. Microcomputers can adjust ignition timing based on crankshaft position, acceleration, and engine temperature. The same microcomputer system can also control such functions as air injection into the exhaust to reduce emissions, prevention of engine "knock", and diagnosis of faults both on the assembly line and in service stations. The history of automotive digital electronic controls is outlined and current models by Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and Chrysler Corporation are discussed and illustrated. The communications effort between the automakers and the semiconductor industry is described in a separate note.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00189235
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Special report on automotive electronics.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  Operations Center, 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08855-1331
• Authors:
  • RIVARD, J G
• Publication Date: 1980-11

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 44-47
• Serial:
  • IEEE Spectrum
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • ISSN: 0018-9235

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Automobile industry; Diagnosis; Diagnostic tests; Electronic control; Engine knock; Exhaust gases; Fuel air mixtures; Fuel consumption; Fuel injection; Microcomputers; Semiconductors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Air fuel ratio; Ignition timing
• Old TRIS Terms: Exhaust emission control
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373096
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-030 853
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1983 12:00AM