text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Apr 16, 2002
|Filing date
|Oct 16, 1998
|Priority date
|Oct 16, 1998
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Chuan He, Paul R. Miller
|Original Assignee
|Cummins, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (35), Referenced by (45), Classifications (27), Legal Events (5)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The present invention concerns the calibration of mass airflow sensors, particularly sensors used with reciprocating combustion engines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for effecting a calibration on-line or while the engine is in normal operation. The invention further contemplates a self-calibration approach that does not require additional instrumentation or sensors beyond those already present in the engine control system.
Intake mass airflow (MAF) sensors or meters have been widely used in reciprocating combustion engines, particularly with the advent of electronic controls for such engines. One typical application for a MAF sensor is in regulating the air/fuel ratio provided to each engine cylinder. In an application of this type, the engine control module receives signals from the MAF sensor indicative of the mass airflow being drawn into the engine cylinder(s). The ECM can then direct the fuel injector assembly to deliver a particular quantity of fuel into the cylinder(s) to maintain predetermined air/fuel ratios. These ratios can be based upon software algorithms stored within and executed by the ECM or upon a table look-up sequence, also executed by and stored within the ECM.
In another application, MAF sensors are used in exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control. In order to meet increasingly stringent emissions requirements, most internal combustion engines may include some form of EGR device. In one typical EGR system, a conduit is provided between the cylinder exhaust port and the cylinder inlet port to recycle a certain proportion of exhaust gases back into the inlet air stream. A valve is imposed within the EGR flow path to control the amount of recirculated exhaust gases. While EGR systems have a very positive effect on controlling engine NOx emissions, these systems have a detrimental effect on the engine performance and on other emissions, unless the EGR is well controlled in relation to the intake mass airflow. Thus, the MAF sensor provides data to the ECM that is used in EGR control routines to determine the amount by which the EGR valve is opened, or other mechanisms affecting EGR flow are exercised, to thereby control the recirculation of exhaust gases into the intake airflow.
In most reciprocating engine applications, the MAF sensor is called upon to provide transient airflow information over very large flow ranges between engine idle and full throttle. For example, in a typical diesel using EGR, fresh intake airflow can have a max/min ratio of 20:1 or more.
Like any sensor, whether electrical, electro-mechanical or mechanical, the MAF sensor is subject to output errors. In a typical case, a sensor can have a �3% error when first manufactured. This error can increase to nearly 20% when the sensor is installed due to uncompensated installation effects.
Thermal MAF sensors are particularly susceptible to problems in maintaining accuracy in their output readings over the engine life. In order to overcome these problems, the MAF sensors can be recalibrated with the engine off-line, or shut down. A variety of systems have been developed for this off-line calibration process. Another problem with recalibration of the sensors is that the calibration is usually dependent upon specific details of the particular engine and intake air system installation. In most cases, the MAF sensor requires an installation specific calibration, which means that the technician performing the calibration must know engine specific data in order to accurately recalibrate the MAF sensor. Most known off-line calibration techniques are disfavored by customers and technicians alike, so that once a sensor is believed to be out of spec the preferred treatment is to replace the unit entirely.
In order to address the difficulties with prior off-line calibration approaches, the present invention contemplates a system and method for on-line recalibration of the MAF sensor, or more particularly of the sensed MAF values derived from the magnitude of the output of the sensor. Since the present invention contemplates an electronic or software based recalibration, the MAF sensor itself is unchanged so it need not be removed from the engine. The systems and methods of the present invention are implemented at points in the engine operation when the EGR valve can be momentarily closed.
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a predetermined relationship is maintained between the output voltage of the MAF sensor and a mass airflow value used by the engine control routines. This predetermined relationship is maintained in a memory as a plurality of modifiable values. In one embodiment, these values correspond to constants for a non-linear equation relating MAF voltage to MAF value. In one specific embodiment, this equation takes the form of {dot over (m)}air=a(VMAF+b)c, where the constants a, b and c are the modifiable values stored in memory. With this embodiment, the constants are initially set when the engine is new and remain unchanged until the MAF sensor falls out of calibration. The MAF value {dot over (m)}air is used by various engine control routines, such as routines governing emission controls.
In a further feature of this embodiment of the invention, a recalibration buffer is maintained in memory. The recalibration buffer includes associated data pairs of MAF output voltage VMAF and an ideal MAF value representative of an MAF value that would be generated by an ideally calibrated MAF sensor. In one embodiment, this ideal MAF value is obtained from a predetermined relationship involving outputs from engine condition sensors other than the MAF sensor. In one specific embodiment, these engine condition sensors include temperature and pressure sensors disposed at the intake manifold downstream from the MAF sensor and the EGR recirculation path. The present invention capitalizes on characteristics of cylinder air charges in which the ideal MAF value based on the condition sensors is substantially equal to the sensed MAF value for a properly calibrated MAF sensor when the EGR valve is closed.
In one preferred embodiment, if the difference between the sensed MAF value and the ideal MAF value exceeds a predetermined threshold, a recalibration procedure is implemented. According to this feature, a regression analysis is performed on the associated data pairs stored in the recalibration buffer. In the illustrated embodiment, this regression analysis generates new constants a, b and c so that the predetermined relationship equation adequately defines the relationship between the MAF voltage and the ideal MAF value in each pair. The results of the regression analysis are evaluated to determine whether the analysis meets certain predetermined quality standards. For example, an r2 or an RMS evaluation can be used to ascertain whether the actual data pairs are adequately represented by the resulting modified equation.
If the regression quality standards are met, the calculated mass flow values using the new regression constants a, b and c, are compared to the calculated values using the prior regression constants. If the difference between the previous and present values is too great, the MAF sensor is flagged as being too far out of calibration for correction. If the difference is within limits, the new regression constants are stored in memory for subsequent use in calculating {dot over (m)}Air for use by the ECM engine control routines. In some cases, a comparison can be directly made between the current and prior regression constants a, b and c themselves to determine the extent of sensor miscalibration.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, it is anticipated that the process of evaluating the sensed and actual MAF values will occur over several cycles. Consequently, the recalibration buffer will contain several data pairs for use in the regression analysis.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the predetermined relationship between MAF output voltage and MAF value is maintained in an adaptive look-up table stored in memory. In this embodiment, a plurality of discrete voltage values are paired with corresponding MAF values. Like the prior embodiment, the method implemented with this embodiment relies upon a comparison between sensed and ideal MAF values when the EGR valve is closed. The outcome of the comparison can be used to determine whether entries in the adaptive look-up table are modified. In a specific embodiment, the magnitude of the difference between the sensed and ideal MAF values can be used to determine the magnitude of the modification of the table entries. Preferably, the corresponding MAF values are incrementally changed as a result of the comparison.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a system and method for on-line recalibration of mass airflow values generated by an MAF sensor and used by engine control routines. A further object is to provide limits on when the recalibration occurs based upon a determination of the severity of the deterioration of the MAF sensor output.
One benefit of the present invention is that recalibration of the MAF sensor output is performed electronically, rather than physically, so that it can occur during normal operation of the engine. A further benefit achieved by the invention is that the recalibration can occur constantly throughout the life of the MAF sensor and/or engine. The system and methods of the invention permit on-line determination as to the state of the MAF sensor so that a sensor that is excessively out of calibration can be identified.
These and other object and benefits of the present invention can be readily discerned from the following written description and accompanying figures.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronically controlled internal combustion engine including an EGR system and a mass airflow sensor.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a sequence of steps executed by a control module for the on-line calibration of an intake mass airflow sensor.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing representative MAF sensor output vs. physical mass flow rate data.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a sequence of steps executed by a control module in accordance with a further embodiment of the on-line MAF sensor calibration according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a sequence of steps executed in accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention utilizing regression analysis techniques.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiment, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
The present invention contemplates a system and method for on-line calibration of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor for a reciprocating combustion engine. In the preferred embodiments, the engine is electronically controlled and utilizes signals from the MAF sensor in connection with certain engine control algorithms. The engine control algorithms use the air mass flow rate data, along with data from other engine condition sensors, to generate output signals for controlling the introduction of fuel to a cylinder and the timing of injection of that fuel, for example. It is understood that the present invention can be implemented for MAF sensors in a variety of engine configurations, such as diesel or gasoline fueled, turbocharged or supercharged, and with or without exhaust gas recirculation.
A typical engine 10 is shown in FIG. 1 that includes engine cylinders 11 fed by air through an intake manifold 13. The product of combustion within the cylinder(s) 11 is exhausted through exhaust manifold 14. Liquid fuel is provided through a fuel injector 18 fed by a high pressure fuel source 19 (such as a fuel pump, unit injector, unit pump, or common rail).
The engine 10 includes an engine control module (ECM) 20 that provides control signals 22 to the high pressure fuel source 19 in relation to engine control algorithms stored within the ECM. The ECM 20 receives inputs 24 from a variety of engine condition sensors, and speed input 25 from an engine speed sensor. A pressure sensor 30 and a temperature sensor 34 are provided at the intake manifold 13 to sense the condition of the intake air charge being provided to the engine cylinder(s) 11. The sensors 30, 34 produce signals 31, 35, respectively, indicative of the intake temperature and pressure that are provided to the ECM 20. An additional input signal 38 is generated by an exhaust pressure sensor 37 disposed at the exhaust manifold 14. All of these input signals are used in accordance with various algorithms executed by the ECM to control the engine performance.
In a further aspect of the engine 10, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve 40 can be provided between an EGR inlet conduit 41 and an outlet conduit 42. The inlet conduit 41 communicates with the exhaust manifold 14 to receive a certain proportion of the exhaust gases. The valve 40 controls the flow of the exhaust gases from the inlet conduit 41 to the outlet conduit 42. The outlet conduit 42 is in communication with the intake manifold 13 to provide for the recirculation of those exhaust gases. The state of the EGR valve 40 is determined by an EGR controller 43. The EGR controller 43 responds to signals 44 generated by the ECM 20.
Since recirculated exhaust gases can have a detrimental effect on the combustion process, the amount of exhaust gas is controlled in relation to the mass airflow through the intake manifold 13. Consequently, a mass airflow sensor 50 is provided to generate a signal 51 indicative of this measurement.
The signals provided to the ECM 20 condition the mass airflow value for use by the engine control routines.
In one specific routine, an EGR ratio is calculated. The EGR ratio represents the ratio of the mass flow rate of the recirculated exhaust gas to the total charge mass flow rate being provided to the cylinders 11. The EGR mass flow rate can be represented by the difference between the charge mass flow rate and the intake air mass flow rate prior to the outlet conduit 42 of the EGR system. Thus, the EGR ratio can be represented according to the following equation:
The output of the MAF sensor 50 represents the intake air mass flow rate {dot over (m)}air. This sensed air mass flow rate is subtracted from a calculated charge mass flow rate {dot over (m)}chg to obtain the value {dot over (m)}egr. The value {dot over (m)}egr or the EGR ratio of equation (1) can be supplied to other engine control algorithms executed by the ECM 20. Other methods of determining {dot over (m)}egr are possible and could be used together with the methodology described here.
The charge mass flow rate {dot over (m)}chg can be based upon a known equation for an internal combustion engine, such as a four-stroke engine. According to this equation;
The charge mass flow rate is a function of the pressure of the charge, as measured by the pressure sensor 30, and the charge mixture temperature, as measured by the temperature sensor 34. In addition, the charge mass flow rate is a function of the engine speed N. The value ηvol is the engine volumetric efficiency, while VD is the engine displacement. The constant RChg is the gas constant of the charge mixture, while PChg and TChg are the charge gas absolute pressure and temperature, respectively. With this latter equation (2), the mass flow rate of charge into the cylinders 11 can be calculated. The sensors providing information for this latter calculation, namely the engine speed, pressure and temperature sensors, are less susceptible to error and degradation than the mass airflow sensor 50. However, as expressed in the first equation, the EGR ratio is a significantly related function of the intake air mass flow rate, as measured by the MAF sensor. In practice, the EGR ratio calculation has a very high sensitivity to small errors in the intake air mass flow rate. It is important that the MAF sensor 50 maintain its calibration accuracy throughout the life of the engine.
In accordance with the present invention, the ECM 20 includes a software routine that accomplishes on-line calibration of the MAF sensor 50. Of course, an additional controller or microprocessor can be provided to perform the software routine, as required by particular engine applications. The routine, as depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 2, does not alter the output signal 51 from the MAF sensor 50 itself. Instead, the software routine recalibrates the conditioned MAF value that is used by the ECM routines.
The starting step 60 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 can be initiated by software within the ECM 20. The software can respond to an indication of an error condition within the engine control modules or by an external request, such as might be generated by a hand-held engine diagnostics tool. In the preferred embodiment, the steps of the inventive method occur continuously with other engine control routines executed by the ECM 20. With this approach, the calibration of the MAF sensor is constantly evaluated and its performance maintained over the life of the engine.
Alternatively, the ECM can commence the on-line calibration procedure at predetermined intervals that can be based upon actual time or engine miles. For example, the software within the ECM can start the sequence at step 60 every 5,000 miles of engine operation. If this alternative approach is utilized, conditional step 61 can be included to determine whether the MAF sensor is in line for recalibration. If not, then the routine loops back at 61 a.
Preferably, the sensor recalibration sequence runs on a continuous basis when the engine is running. As a result, the mass airflow sensor 50 is being constantly evaluated and its performance maintained over the life of the engine. The recalibration sequence commencing at step 60 is executed repeatedly with other ECM control routines. In this instance, the conditional and loop steps 61, 61 a can be dispensed with and program flow can follow directly to step 62.
In conditional step 62, a determination is made whether the engine is operating in a steady state condition. Dynamics of airflow through the intake manifold can lead to differences in the flow rate between the entrance to the manifold and the intake valve at the engine cylinder(s). In a steady state condition, the airflow sensed at the MAF sensor 50 is substantially identical to the airflow into the engine cylinder(s). At this operating condition, the sensed mass airflow can be compared to the calculated charge flow, using the equation (2) set forth above.
The steady state condition can be ascertained in a variety of ways by reading the various sensors providing signals to the ECM 20. For example, the engine speed signal 25 and the intake charge pressure and temperature signals 31 and 35, can be evaluated over a predetermined time interval. If those three signals fall in a predetermined range within that time interval, it can be determined that the engine is operating at a steady state condition. The routine cycles along loop 62 a until a steady state condition is established.
In the next step 63, it is determined whether the EGR valve 40 is already closed during the normal engine operation. If so, the program flow follows the bypass 64. Otherwise, the EGR valve 40 is closed at step 65. In this step, the ECM 20 sends a signal 44 to the EGR controller 43 to direct the controller to close the valve 40, thereby interrupting the flow of recirculated exhaust gases back to the intake charge provided to the cylinder(s) 11. When the EGR valve is closed, the ECM directs other routines to compensate for the effect of the altered emission control, such as by injection timing. It is understood that features of the MAF sensor recalibration technique can be utilized on engines that do not include an EGR system. For those engines, steps 63-65 can be eliminated.
Once the EGR valve is closed, it is again determined whether the engine is operating at a steady state at the conditional step 66. If not, the on-line routine continues at loop 67 until the engine reaches a steady state condition. At that point, relevant data is captured in step 68 via the available sensors. In particular, the temperature and pressure of the intake charge is sensed by sensors 30 and 34 respectively, with the values being provided to the ECM 20 as signals 31 and 35. In addition, the engine speed is determined by the engine speed signal 25. In accordance with the invention, the sensed values can be instantaneous or averaged over a predetermined time interval.
The ECM 20 includes software to calculate the charge mass flow rate in step 69 according to the predetermined equation (2). The variables Pchg, N and Tchg have been determined in the prior step 68. The value Rchg is the gas constant of the charge mixture or the universal gas constant 8314.34 J/(kmol-K). The value Vd is the engine displacement, which is a known value for the engine. This value can be hard-coded into the memory of the ECM 20.
The final value ηvol is the engine volumetric efficiency. Typically, volumetric efficiency is a function of engine speed, manifold pressure ratio and charge heat transfer between the intake manifold and the cylinders. For most engines, the engine volumetric efficiency ηvol can be empirically modeled. The empirical equation for the particular engine can be hard-coded into the ECM memory. One such equation can take the form of this equation:
Equation (3) has been established from previous work, although other formulas for volumetric efficiency may be utilized. In this equation, the variables include the intake charge pressure PChg, exhaust pressure PExh, intake charge temperature TChg, charge mixture specific heat ratio γChg and engine speed ωe. The remaining values are engineering or engine specific constants, namely the engine compression ratio rc, the charge reheat parameter dt, residual gas constants a and b, and the engine speed polynomial constants n1, n2, n3, and n4.
The calculated charge mass flow rate is stored in memory in the ECM 20 in step 69. In the next step 70, the signal 51 from the MAF sensor 50 is read and conditioned by the ECM 20. It is understood that the all of the sensors, including the MAF sensor, can be read together in step 68. Software within the ECM derives a mass flow rate value in step 71 from the MAF sensor signal. Preferably, either the MAF sensor 50 or the ECM 20 includes circuitry to generate a digital signal that is usable by the ECM. Step 71 of the present routine can utilize known electronic or software techniques to obtain a mass flow rate value from the signal 51 generated by the MAF sensor 50.
In the next step 72, the sensed mass flow rate and the calculated or ideal charge mass flow rate are compared to obtain an error value. This error value can be the absolute value of the difference between the two mass flow rate values. Ordinarily, the sign of the difference between the sensed and calculated mass flow rate values is not essential. However, in some cases, the sign of this difference may be indicative of a particular error or malfunction. For example, a sensed mass airflow value that is greater than the calculated value may indicate a particular problem, depending upon the nature of the sensor 50. In most instances, the sign of the difference for a single data point may not provide sufficient information to identify the nature of the problem. Ordinarily, the sign of a family of points making up an MAF output curve would have to be considered.
In the next step 73, the error value is compared to a predetermined threshold value. If the error value is less than the threshold, it is determined that re-calibration of the MAF sensor is not required and control passes at 74 to the end step 80. The threshold value can be a predetermined value that is stored within the memory of the ECM 20. Alternatively, the threshold value can be obtained from a table look-up based upon the engine speed N, or other parameters, during the recalibration evaluation procedure, for example.
If the error value calculated in step 72 is outside the threshold value, the conditional step 73 passes the program control to step 75. In this step, an error correction factor is obtained that can be applied against the signal 51 generated by the MAF sensor 50. The error correction factor can be produced in a variety of ways. In one approach, the error correction can simply be the actual difference between the sensed and calculated mass flow rate values. However, preferably the error correction factor does not account for the entire differential between the sensed and calculated values, given that smaller errors may be involved in other sensed parameters. In one approach, the error correction factors are obtained through a look-up table as a function of the actual error value obtained in step 72.
Once the error correction factor is obtained, the factor is applied in step 76 to the signal 51 from the MAF sensor 50. In one embodiment, the correction factor is applied as a variable incorporated into the mass flow rate derivation algorithm contained within the ECM 20. In this approach, a variable value can be assigned as a multiplier or additive correction factor. This correction factor can be stored in memory within the ECM and called upon when the mass flow rate derivation algorithm is executed. In this instance, step 76 involves storing the correction factor generated in step 75 within the appropriate memory location in the ECM 20. Other alternative methods for applying a correction factor are contemplated. For example, the correction can be implemented by directly modifying the incoming signal 51, which modified signal is operated on by the mass flow rate derivation algorithm.
The present invention contemplates on-line calibration of any form of MAF sensor. For example, in the preferred embodiment the MAF sensor is a hot-wire anemometry sensor. The invention contemplates that the recalibration process is implemented by software commands executed by the ECM 20 based upon data stored in memory within the ECM. Consequently, the MAF sensor 50 must be capable of providing a signal that is readable by the ECM 20 and usable within its engine control routines. The recalibration correction can be applied at a variety of points within the ECM routine. For example, the correction can be applied to the signal 51 as it is first received by the ECM. Alternatively, the correction can be applied within the routine that derives the mass flow rate value from the MAF sensor signal 51. In addition, the error correction can be applied within engine control routines that utilize the sensed mass flow rate value.
While the foregoing concerns one application of the present invention, a further embodiment can be derived from FIGS. 3-4. In accordance with this embodiment, the ECM 20 includes various processors to perform a variety of calculations related to engine performance. The processors can be software-based or in the form of integrated circuits providing an output signal indicative of a pertinent value. One such array can include processors to calculate the volumetric efficiency ηvol and the percent exhaust gas recirculation (based upon the ratio of intake and exhaust pressures) that may be used by other routines executed by the ECM 20 to control the engine operation. A further processor can generate a calculated or ideal mass flow rate of the total intake charge n&chg being provided to the engine cylinder(s), which can include the recirculated exhaust gases and the intake air.
For the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the ECM 20 includes a look-up table or floating-point processor that receives the output signal from the MAF sensor 50. In this embodiment, the signal is in the form of a DC voltage. This processor receives the voltage signal from the sensor and outputs a mass flow rate value in relation to that voltage. In one specific embodiment, the table look-up processor implements the curve of sensor voltage vs. mass flow rate depicted in FIG. 3. The graph in FIG. 3 includes a baseline or default curve that is based on test data for a new MAF sensor when it is received from the manufacturer. In a specific embodiment, the MAF sensor generates an output voltage of 0.0-4.0 volts DC over the engine's full airflow range. At its initial calibration, this sensor can sense flow rates up to 80 lbm/min. It should be understood that the MAF sensor baseline graph of FIG. 3 is representative of one type of sensor for a specific mass flow rate range. Other MAF sensors will have different voltage and flow rate ranges and different relationships between the two values.
The graph of FIG. 3 also depicts a second curve corresponding to the output from a MAF sensor that is affected by installation errors or has deteriorated over time. In this example, the output voltage is higher than the baseline voltage for a particular mass flow rate. For instance, a mass flow rate of 40 lbm/min. corresponds to a baseline MAF sensor output of 2.95 volts. As the sensor performance degrades, the same mass flow rate corresponds to a 2.81 volt reading from the MAF sensor. It is this signal degradation that the present invention addresses.
The look-up table processor in this embodiment electronically implements the curve shown in FIG. 3. The processor reads the MAF sensor output voltage and obtains a corresponding mass flow rate value {dot over (m)}air for the intake air. The previously calculated charge mass flow rate {dot over (m)}chg and the sensed air mass flow rate {dot over (m)}air can be provided to further processors that subtract the two values to obtain a value EGR_rate. The value EGR_rate can be divided by the charge mass flow rate to produce the EGR ratio represented in equation (1). The values EGR_rate and EGR ratio, can be supplied to other engine control algorithms executed by the ECM 20. Other engine control routines rely upon values for the mass flow rate alone.
Errors in the MAF sensor output can lead to errors in the various values supplied to critical engine operating routines. In accordance with the present invention, the look-up table processor is modified or corrected using an adaptive process in which the look-up table "evolves" as the MAF sensor output changes. In this embodiment, recalibration of the MAF sensor output is accomplished through this adaptive look-up table so that the value {dot over (m)}chg will be maintained within an acceptable tolerance range.
The ECM 20 or similar processor can be programmed to execute a series of commands shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4. Preferably, the MAF sensor recalibration features are executed as background routines to the general engine control routines 90. The engine control routines read the various engine condition sensors in step 92 and calculate the EGR percentage and volumetric efficiency values in step 94 for engines equipped with an EGR system. The ECM routines calculate an ideal charge mass flow rate value {dot over (m)}chg in step 96. In the ensuing steps 97-98, the MAF sensor output is read and processed through the adaptive look-up table to obtain a value for the intake air mass flow rate {dot over (m)}chg. The flow rate values can be combined in step 99 to produce the value EGR_rate that is used by other engine control routines.
The steps 92-99 are continuously repeated during the operation of the engine. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, as these steps are executed the engine operating condition is evaluated in conditional step 100 to determine if it is operating at steady state. If not, then control passes at loop 101 back to the initial steps of the engine control routines 90. The steady state condition of the engine can be evaluated in a variety of ways. For example, steady state can be assumed if the exhaust pressure and temperature and the engine speed have remained nearly constant for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the conditional step 100 can be satisfied by an external signal indicative of a request to begin the MAF sensor recalibration process.
If the conditional step 100 is met, the MAF recalibration subroutine 102 is entered. Again, this subroutine can be executed as a background routine to the other more critical engine control routines implemented by the ECM 20. The initial steps 104-110 are substantially identical to the similar steps of the flowchart in FIG. 2. In other words, the recalibration subroutine closes the EGR valve, waits for engine steady state and reads the various engine condition sensors, including the MAF sensor 50. The ideal MAF value is calculated in step 110. In the following step 112, the output from the MAF sensor is processed by the look-up table processor to obtain a sensed MAF value. As explained above, the ideal calculated and sensed mass airflow values correspond to the same fluid mass, namely the intake air, since the exhaust gases are not being recirculated to the intake. Until a recalibration of the MAF sensor occurs, the adaptive look-up table includes data corresponding to the baseline or default curve shown in the graph of FIG. 3. If the installation of the MAF sensor is optimum or the sensor never deteriorates in performance, this default curve will always be used to derive the sensed MAF value.
However, like most electromechanical and thermal components, the performance of the MAF sensor 50 will degrade over time. The amount of this degradation is determined in step 114 in which the ideal and sensed mass airflow values are compared. This comparison can result in the generation of an MAF error value, as discussed above, which can be used in subsequent steps of the recalibration subroutine 102. In accordance with the present embodiment, two predetermined threshold values are applied against the MAF error value. In the conditional step 116, the MAF error value is compared to a lower threshold value. This lower threshold is indicative of an error tolerance band within which recalibration is not required. This lower threshold value can be stored within the ECM memory for reference in step 116. If the MAF error does not exceed this minimum threshold, control is returned at step 117 to the engine control routines 90.
On the other hand, if the minimum threshold is exceeded, a second test 118 is applied to determine if the MAF sensor 50 is likely defective. Thus, in conditional step 118, the MAF error value is compared with a predetermined upper threshold. This upper threshold value can be set to a value indicative of a gross failure of the MAF sensor for which recalibration would be futile. If the MAF error value exceeds this upper threshold, a warning is displayed in step 120. The warning can take many forms, such as a visual fault indicator, and can be of differing significance. For example, in an automotive engine, a failure of the MAF sensor may not require engine shut-down, since other fuel sensors and controllers are adequate to govern the operation of the engine. On the other hand, in a diesel engine, an MAF sensor failure can cause faulty calculations in the engine control routines that may result in altered emission levels, for example.
If the MAF error does not exceed the upper threshold value, engine operation can continue after the MAF sensor recalibration. Thus, in step 122 the adaptive look-up table is modified to account for the degradation in the MAF sensor output. The modification to the look-up table can be achieved in several ways, provided that the recalibration leads to a sensed MAF value that more closely approximates the ideal/calculated MAF value. In the preferred embodiment, the adaptive look-up table entries are not modified to account for the entire MAF error. For instance, the modification can be a predetermined amount or a predetermined percentage of the actual MAF error. In the most preferred embodiment, a fixed magnitude modification is applied to the look-up table entries. For example, if a MAF sensor output of 3.3 volts corresponds to a MAF rate of 40 lbm/min, while the ideal or calculated rate is 44 lbm/min., the MAF error is 4.0 lbm/min. This error indicates that an MAF sensor output of 3.3 volts should correspond to 44 lbm/min, which means that the look-up table entry for this MAF sensor voltage should be the higher value.
With the preferred embodiment, rather than substitute the correct or ideal MAF value into the 2.95 volt entry in the look-up table, only a fixed change is applied to the table. In one specific embodiment, this fixed modification can be 0.2 lbm/min. Thus, in the next cycle of engine control calculations, a 2.95 volt reading from the MAF sensor will correspond to a 40.2 lbm/min MAF value. If an additional MAF error is ascertained in this next cycle, the 2.95 volt entry in the look-up table will again be increased by the fixed amount of 0.2 lbm/min. This fixed recalibration value ensures that the sensed MAF values will not oscillate around the true value. Over several recalibration cycles, the entries in the adaptive table will approach the ideal MAF values. Of course, this adaptive table fixed recalibration value can be set at a variety of values depending upon the desired recalibration protocol.
Since the adaptive look-up table includes MAF values for a range of sensor voltages from 0.0-4.0 volts, it is possible that all MAF values will require recalibration. In the present embodiment, only a single MAF sensor output is analyzed to determine if the MAF sensor has deteriorated. This single MAF sensor output represents a single point on the mass flow rate curves shown in FIG. 3. In the specific embodiment, only this single data point is modified or corrected since the flow rate curve is non-linear and may change in a non-linear manner over time. Alternatively, the MAF value entries at other sensor voltages can be extrapolated to maintain the same non-linear relationship between voltage and MAF value. In one specific embodiment, the fixed recalibration amount can vary over the MAF values along the curve. The vector of recalibration amounts can be derived using curve-fitting approaches or based upon empirical data for sensor degradation.
After the adaptive look-up table is modified in step 122, control is returned at step 123 to the engine control routines 90. At this point, the EGR valve 40 can be opened in accordance with the prevailing engine control algorithms. The new values in the look-up table will be used during all subsequent engine control calculations until a new recalibration is requested. In the illustrated embodiment, the MAF recalibration subroutine is executed automatically when an engine steady state condition is sensed. The subroutine is executed very rapidly so the adaptive look-table can be modified without any impact on the program flow for the engine control routines relying upon MAF values. Moreover, the EGR valve can be closed without having a detrimental effect on the engine operation.
In another embodiment of the invention, a statistical analysis approach is utilized. As depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process of this embodiment commences after the voltage generated by the MAF sensor has been obtained. Thus, the processor or ECM routine implemented with this embodiment can also apply the steps 60-70 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In addition, this latter embodiment uses a modification of the adaptive look-up or floating-point table approach of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4. With the embodiment of FIG. 5, the look-up table relies upon a non-linear equation to approximate the MAF value/MAF voltage curve depicted in FIG. 3. This equation can take the following form:
The values a, b and c are constants derived through a regression process. For a new engine, the calibration constants can be obtained from regression analysis on a representative population of new sensors. As long as the MAF sensor 50 never deteriorates, these original calibration constants will remain unchanged throughout the life of the engine. However, the present embodiment of the invention modifies these constants to account for changes in the sensor output voltage, as depicted in the graph of FIG. 3.
With the approach of the present embodiment, the charge mass flow rate, {dot over (m)}chg, is computed from available sensor information, as described above in connection with prior embodiments. In this embodiment, after the MAF sensor voltage is read in step 70, the fresh air mass flow rate, {dot over (m)}air, is obtained in step 125 from equation (4) above using the current MAF sensor calibration constants. In the next step 127, a normalized absolute value comparison is made of the two flow values, {dot over (m)}chg and {dot over (m)}air. If, the normalized comparison value is not greater than a predetermined error threshold, then recalibration is not warranted and the system proceeds to step 150, where the engine emission control strategy is resumed and any over-ride of EGR valve operation is nullified. Following step 150, the ECM directs control to return at step 152 to other engine control routines. In this embodiment, the sensor recalibration routine operates continuously as part of the overall engine control scheme enabled by the ECM.
If the normalized comparison exceeds the established error threshold, then the current pair of MAF sensor voltage and calculated mass flow rate [VMAF Sensor, {dot over (m)}chg] is submitted in step 129 to a Recalibration Buffer maintained in memory. This buffer contains pairs of sensor voltage and calculated mass flow rate gathered since the last recalibration process was completed. In one specific embodiment, the Recalibration Buffer can be sized to store ten or more pairs of data, which inherently corresponds to ten or more instances in which the normalized error of the sensed versus calculated flow rate exceeded the error threshold. Since the present embodiment contemplates using a regression analysis on these data pairs, some care should be taken to ensure to avoid concentration of data points in close proximity to each other. This can be accomplished in step 129 by filtering the new data points to reject a data pair that is too close to pairs already stored in the buffer. If the data pair is rejected, control can proceed to the return steps 150, 152.
Having added a new data pair [VMAF Sensor, {dot over (m)}chg] to the Recalibration Buffer, a conditional step 130 is processed where the breadth of data is assessed to assure that there is sufficient coverage of the range of possible flow rates to generate a valid MAF sensor recalibration. In other words, since a regression analysis is essentially a curve fitting technique, the data must be sufficient to produce a curve that accurately reflects actual conditions. Assessing the adequacy of the data in the Recalibration Buffer involves looking at the breadth of the data—i.e., the maximum and minimum values of {dot over (m)}chg. The conditional step also looks at the frequency of data points between the maximum and minimum values—i.e., the number and spacing of the points. The breadth criteria can include: a breadth limit against which the difference between the maximum and minimum flow values is compared; a frequency limit against which the number of data pairs is compared; and a spacing limit that can be compared to the difference between adjacent sensor voltage values, for example. Other statistical techniques can be applied to evaluate adequacy of the coverage and frequency of the data pairs contained within the Recalibration Buffer.
If these criteria are met, control can pass to step 132. In an alternative, control can automatically pass to this next step if the Recalibration Buffer is filled, regardless of the breadth and frequency comparisons. If the sufficiency criteria are not met, control passes to the return steps 150, 152. Subsequent sequences through the recalibration steps will generate additional data pairs that may "fill out" the data to meet the sufficiency criteria.
If the established breadth criteria are currently met, then the system proceeds to step 132 where the regression process is carried out with the current set of recalibration data on the established MAF sensor flow/sensor voltage relationship. In this regression analysis, new values for the constants a, b and c of equation (4) above are derived. Any non-linear regression technique can be utilized to generate values for these constants. In some instances, it may be beneficial to apply a weighting factor to certain data pairs to equalize the relative weighting uniformly across the range of data. This weighting factor approach may be necessary, for example, where the frequency criterion is not optimum.
Once the regression analysis has been performed and the regression constants a, b and c calculated, the quality of the new regression is assessed in step 134. Various statistical techniques can be applied to make this determination, such as obtaining the RMS error value or the r2 value to describe how well the data pairs in the Recalibration Buffer fit the modified equation (4). In the following conditional step 135, the quality factors are compared to predetermined standards to determine whether the regression values are acceptable, or whether additional data pairs must be obtained. For instance, if a perfect RMS error value is 0.00, a predetermined standard can be in the range of 0.50. For the r2 value, a perfect value would be 1.000, while an acceptable predetermined standard may be 0.800.
If the regression quality criteria are not met, then control is passed to step 146 where an MAF sensor diagnostic flag is set. This flag can simply indicate that the data pairs contained within the Regression Buffer are not adequate for a proper regression analysis and therefore unacceptable for changing the existing mass flow rate/MAF voltage equation. An inability to generate a curve that fits the real-time data pairs may be indicative of a severe problem with the MAF sensor. Thus, the diagnostic flag can be used to drive a warning annunciator to trigger an off-line evaluation of the Recalibration Buffer data pairs or of the MAF sensor itself. Alternatively, the diagnostic flag can cause resetting the Recalibration Buffer to obtain new data pairs for future analysis. With this latter approach, control can pass to the return steps 150, 152.
If the regression quality is acceptable, the new regression is compared with a prior MAF sensor calibration in step 137. In one specific approach, the prior calibration is the initial sensor calibration generated when the engine was new. With this comparison, it is presumed that the flow rate/voltage curve for any given MAF sensor will not vary radically over time. Alternatively, the prior calibration can be the next prior calibration cycle. In this case, the acceptable variance between calibration constants will be smaller than with the comparison to the initial sensor calibration. As explained above, this comparison ideally involves a comparison of calculated MAF values based on the current and prior regression calibrations. Alternatively, this comparison can entail directly comparing the current values for the regression constants a, b and c with the values calculated in the prior calibration.
The conditional step 140 determines whether the variation of the new regression from the prior or original MAF sensor calibration exceeds a predetermined amount that is indicative of sensor degradation beyond which recalibration should be used as a corrective measure. In this case, control can pass to step 146 where the MAF sensor diagnostic flag is set and dealt as discussed above.
On the other hand, if the new regression is within the established limit where recalibration is the appropriate action, the conditional in step 140 is satisfied and control passes to step 142. In this step, the new MAF sensor constants a, b and c are stored in non-volatile memory and are submitted for immediate use in the equation (4) by routines responsible for air mass flow determination. In the next step 144, the Recalibration Buffer is preferably emptied in preparation for future recalibration cycles. Alternatively, the Recalibration Buffer can be implemented as a first-in-first-out buffer so that the oldest data pair is dropped out of the buffer as a new data pair is added, once the buffer has reached its limit of data pairs. With this latter approach, the regression analysis will yield smaller incremental modifications to the regression constants. Following step 144, control continues to the return steps 150, 152, where the ECM routines continue as discussed above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only preferred embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. For example, the present invention specifically contemplates a mass airflow sensor and calculations using mass as a measure of flow. The principles of the invention can have equal applicability to airflow sensors of other types that may require periodic recalibration. In accordance with the present invention, this recalibration occurs in the electronic or software driven components that receive the output signals from the sensor, rather than on the sensor itself.
Moreover, in accordance with the illustrated embodiments, the software implementing the series of steps illustrated in the flowcharts is preferably contained within the ECM. However, it is contemplated that each functional component or aspect of the present invention can be incorporated into discrete processors, which processors can be integrated into the ECM or into another microprocessor or control module. For instance, separate processors can be identified for generating a sensed airflow value from the output of the airflow sensor, for calculating an ideal airflow value, comparing the sensed and ideal airflow values, and modifying the MAF sensor voltage/airflow value relationship. In this regard, it is understood that a processor can encompass a series of software instructions or a module separate from the ECM. In some instances, the processors can be electronic, such as an integrated circuit that generates signals used by other processors.
In the illustrated embodiments, it has been assumed that the engine includes an EGR system. However, the recalibration systems and methods of the present invention can be utilized with engines that do not employ exhaust gas recirculation. The illustration in FIG. 1 is intended as a schematic representation of engine components. Thus, while only one engine cylinder is shown in this figure, it is understood that the present invention can be readily used with multi-cylinder engines. Furthermore, the MAF sensor can be interposed at the inlet to an intake manifold that supplies air to a number of cylinders. In this case, the pressure and temperature sensors can be disposed at a position in the intake manifold upstream of the branches to the individual cylinder.
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|Method for controlling the metering of fuel in an injection system and control arrangement therefor
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|Dec 20, 2005
|May 11, 2006
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|Jul 28, 2006
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|David Barbe
|System and Method for Diagnostic of Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation System and Adapting of Measurement Devices
|Feb 1, 2005
|Jun 19, 2008
|Joris Fokkelman
|Method for Adapting a Measured Value of an Air Mass Sensor
|Nov 13, 2007
|Jul 3, 2008
|Detroit Diesel Corporation
|Method for verifying the functionality of the components of a diesel particulate filter system
|Dec 19, 2007
|Jul 3, 2008
|Detroit Diesel Corporation
|Method for verifying the functionality of the components of a diesel particulate filter system
|Aug 12, 2008
|Feb 18, 2010
|Southwest Research Institute
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|Jan 21, 2010
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|Method and apparatus to monitor a mass airflow metering device in an internal combustion engine
|Jul 5, 2011
|May 23, 2013
|Andres Toennesmann
|Method for determining a resulting total mass flow to an exhaust gas mass flow sensor
|Nov 7, 2013
|May 22, 2014
|Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
|Exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for an engine
|Dec 18, 2012
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|Gang Chen
|Exhaust gas recirculation control method and system
|Mar 14, 2013
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|System and method for sampling and processing mass air flow sensor data
|Jan 21, 2011
|Jul 27, 2011
|Method and equipment for operating an internal combustion engine configured to operate in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode
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|Nov 30, 2005
|Jun 6, 2007
|Delphi Technologies, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for controlling a combustion engine
|May 7, 2004
|Nov 18, 2004
|Renault S.A.S
|Heat engine control method
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|U.S. Classification
|73/1.34, 702/100
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Oct 16, 1998
Owner name: CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY, INC., INDIANA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HE, CHUAN;MILLER, PAUL R.;REEL/FRAME:009524/0374
Effective date: 19981007
|Feb 18, 2003
|Certificate of correction
|Oct 17, 2005
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Oct 16, 2009
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Oct 16, 2013
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12


text:
Jan. 26, 2002
LARAMIE, Wyo. -
Senior Kelly Ann Charles, juniorSeth Billy and freshman Shauna Smith set new University of WyomingAll-Time school records in their respective events at the Air ForceInvitational Track Meet in Colorado Springs, Colo, highlighting asuccessful two days of competition for UW.
Smith broke her own school record in the women's 400-meter dash whichshe previously set last weekend with a time of 54.63. Smith's timeprovisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships, making her thesixth UW athlete to provisionally qualify this season. Billy raced to atime of 47.91 in the men's 400-meter dash, breaking Chris Welsh's recordof 48.05 set in 1995. Due to an illness Smith didn't compete in thefinals of the 400 while Billy placed in a tie for fourth. Charles set anew record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.55 on way to hersecond-place finish.
In the overall team standings the Cowgirls placed third out of 13 teamswith 95 total points behind women's champion Fresno State (126) andrunner-up Colorado (102.50.) The Wyoming men placed fifth out of 12teams with 75 points. CU won the men's title with 103 points followedby Air Force (98), BYU (96.50) and Alabama (91.50).
"Overall I thought our team came out and gave some very solidperformances," said Wyoming head coach Don Yentes. "We really gotthings going this weekend and are starting to come on. I believe if ourwomen would have been healthy and we had a full team we would have wonthis meet. The men have improved in ever meet this season and like thewomen have been a little shorthanded due to illness and injury."
Wyoming won six individual events and placed second in four events atthe two-day invitational. Senior Quincy Howe automatically qualifiedfor the NCAA Championships in the triple jump, winning the event with amark of 53-7. Also winning for UW was freshman Jessica Fox in thewomen's 400-meter dash (56.59, third best all-time in UW history),sophomore Andrea Batt in the women's shot put (52-1 1/4), senior JulieThomas in the women's 20-pound weight throw (63-5 1/2), junior CollinThomas in the men's 200-meter dash (21.55) and junior John Griffith inthe men's 35-pound weight throw.
Cowgirl senior Fiona Lindo-Jeffrey placed second in the 200-meter dash(24.67), junior Stephanie Hanks placed third in the 5000-meter run(19:31.52) and sophomore Chan Johnson placed third in the high jump(5-5) to round out top three performances for the Wyoming women.
On the men's side junior Craig Suter took second in the shot put with atoss of 56-1 3/4 and junior Dan Williams placed third in the 35-poundweight throw with a mark of 56-8 1/2.
Other quality performances by Wyoming were given by junior Kim Demers,who placed fifth in the women's pentathlon (3113 points, 2nd in UWhistory), senior Enioma Haynes in the women's triple jump (placed 4th,38-11 1/2, 2nd in UW history) and freshman Bret Zowada in the men'spentathlon (placed 6th, fourth-best in UW history).
The Wyoming track and field team will next travel to Lincoln, Neb., tocompete in the Adidas Invitational on Feb. 1-2.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Jana21. Nikolaev, Ukraine
- 117 lb - 53 kg
- 5'5" - 164 cm
- blonde hair
- blue eyes
- I don't drink
- I don't smoke
- 05/15/1996
- Christian
Self development
- still studying
- technologist
- I don't speak English
- I've never been married
- I don't have children
About me, my character
I am very ambitious and persevering young ukrainian girls. I am honest and kind. Me a lot of heat. I am here for the warm relations.
My hobbies
I love animals. I am interested in chemical investigations.
Partner I'm looking for
I am here looking for a future husband. I hope that the meeting is a good and gentle and warm man. I think that a man should be honest and fair support for women around.
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text:
I feel the need go to see a psychologist because I doubt I could deal with what is on my mind on my own. I have tried to, but some uneasiness remains.
I just fear I could not open up with a stranger as I am shy, and even with my closest friends, I struggle to put how I feel into words. Furthermore, I don't know why, but I fear that talking with a psychologist would make me feel worse than how I already feel.
So, for those of you who have already been through a psychological support, was it really efficient? What is the difference between talking to a psychologist and talking to any other random person? How did they make you feel?
Most Helpful Girl
It is hard at first to open up to a psychologist but after a few sessions you grow to be more comfortable with them. And yes at first it will be hard to relive certain things as you talk about them but in the long run its for the better
The difference with talking to psychologists is that they know how to read you (your mood/body language) and how to properly help you to deal with things.
At first it made me feel awkward and broken (like there was something wrong with me for having to see a psychologist). But after a while i just got over it because i was finally starting to heal, to be able to deal with things.11|00|0
Did you heal only by talking with them, or did they make you do some other things? Also, is it a real conversation that you hold with them, or are you the only one talking and responding to their questions? Do they give opinions and such?
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Alright, well, thank you very much for your help! I am more reassured now :)
No problem, hope all works out well for you :)


text:
Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
The Dance Factory originated in November 1989 at the Athen's Recreation Center. TDF's Permanent Home was established in November 1990. For 21 years TDF has been providing quality instruction in the ART OF DANCE.
The Dance Factory
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The Dance Factory can be found at Freeman Ave 1432. The following is offered: Dance Studios. The entry is present with us since Sep 7, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 12, 2013. In Athens there are 2 other Dance Studios. An overview can be found here.
The Dance Factory is located at 1432 Freeman Ave in Athens and has been in the business of Dance Instructor since 1989.


text:
According to Reuters, the Greece debt talks may include direct negotiations between Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker this weekend as the deadline approaches. Talks stalled earlier this week as Athens signaled that it may default on their next installment payment of 1.6 Billion Euros to the International Monetary Fund due June 30. Germany, and other EU members, are taking a hard line in requiring the payment before any additional emergency aid be given to the Greek government. Meanwhile, citizens in Greece are pulling cash out of their banks as the country may put more capital controls to prevent a banking meltdown. On Friday, the European Central Bank did raise the ceiling on Greece′s line of credit by 1.8 Billion Euros to keep the Greek banks open.
Talks in Luxembourg ended abruptly on Thursday between Greece and the European Union. There is a strong possibility that Greece may be forced out of the EU should they default on their loan. The IMF, EU and other creditors are insisting on a series of strong economic reforms, including reducing pensions and raising VAT rates. An additional 7.2 Billion Euros has been promised to aid Greece, however, only if they act responsibly. PM Tsipras, a Socialist, won by opposing austerity measures and that does not make the country′s creditors happy. Even if a deal can be struck before June 30, it may be short lived as Greece is obligated to pay back some 6.7 Billion Euros at the end of July.
Tsipras flew to Moscow this week to try obtaining financial assistance from Russia. This does not sit well with EU members due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But Russia may bailout Greece with the price being a new pipeline for natural gas. Should Greece default, Russia could find itself an important ally and help them prop up their economy as Greece would have to create its own currency should the EU kick them out. Tensions are high as many fear that a Greek default could start a chain reaction with other EU members on shaky financial ground, like Spain and Italy. The end result could be the collapse of the EU and its Euro.


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I love the snowflake design on this vintage Pyrex casserole dish.
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text:
Reese Witherspoon treated herself to another day of shopping in LA yesterday. The actress also made the retail rounds on Monday and Tuesday despite her foot being in a walking cast due to a twisted ankle. Reese is fresh off a Mother's Day weekend with her husband, Jim Toth, and kids, Ava and Deacon. She had the chance to catch up with family following a busy world tour for her blockbuster Water For Elephants. She and birthday boy Robert Pattinson — he turns 25 tomorrow! — took their film around the globe with stops all over Europe and a busy few days down under in Sydney.
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it's nice that she's doing something for herself for a change. she's always working or at her kids things - and this is a welcome thing for her :) i miss seeing her hubby though - they always used to be photographed together....i guess he's working...
love the bag
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text:
Mello walked in, hood over his eyes, glancing around. He knew the bastard was in there somewhere, he just had to---oh. There. Near sat in a booth surrounded in darkness, almost-but-not-quite concealing him from sight. Smirking, Mello directed his men (actually, a couple of other kids he had run into from Wammy's) to their positions and soon after, Mello himself followed. There were no time for the stupid stage introductions---he had to get out of there quickly. The Kira case had not gone as planned, and Near ended up beating him...again. Granted, he helped him beat him this time by kidnapping Takada. He had not expected her body guards to open fire on Matt, and that part he seriously regretted. Mello hadn't even realized Matt was dead until he heard about it with Takada in the backseat. He was lucky---she had no scrap of the damn Death Note with her (he had checked her himself, making her strip down to her underwear and, closing his eyes and a deep breath, had searched those as well.) or else he would be dead as well. As it was, Near had been going somewhere and happened to be out (for some strange, odd reason) and had happened to witness Mello's reckless driving, which caused Mello to get in an accident when he went through a red light and another car had been coming.
One of his group moved and they were all onstage instantly. Taking a deep breath, Mello locked eyes with Near as they started the song.
"You looked at me as you walked in the room.
Like the red sea you split me open.
Somehow knew these wings were stolen.
All you did was save my life." Mello had taken the most damage in the accident, Takada being in the back of the car. His head flew forward and hit the steering wheel, splitting his head on the wheel of the car as it flipped around.
"I tried to run but I couldn't move.
Well, I paid for these concrete shoes
But like a singer that sings the blues
You found hope in the hopeless
I'm not dying." Near was staring unblinkingly back at Mello, confused. Was this...Mello's strange way of thanking him? Near didn't understand...didn't try to. He looked Mello over subtly and inwardly winced---Mello was in no condition to be up there. True, he looked better than he did a few weeks ago, but still...there were bruises on his face, the qauze around his head...Near shook his head slightly.
"All you did was save my life
Pulled me out of that flat line
Put the heartbeat back inside
I'm not dying
All you did was get me through
I owe every breath to you
Heart and soul unparalyzed
All you did was save my life.
Save my life..." Mello couldn't believe it, when he woke up in the hospital room, Halle was sitting next to him, looking worried and biting her lip. He had asked, groggily, how the hell he'd gotten there and what day it was, what happened to Kira?
"I'm not for sale but I've been sold
The more I see the less I know
And the lies I've swallowed whole
In their insignificance." Near smiled lightly---Mello had accepted that he had saved him. And it only took about a month, but that was what Near loved about Mello, so it didn't matter.
"The story's been told a million times
But it's different when it's your life.
I won the lottery tonight
The lottery tonight.
I'm not dying." Mello had been furious at first. Near had just proven that he was the best while Mello was in the hospital. Mello was ready to kill the albino until Halle dropped one last thing on Mello---Near had been the one to stop their car, managing to get Mello out of the car while Rester arrested Takada and Gevanni called the ambulence.
"All you did was save my life
Pulled me out of that flat line
Put the heartbeat back inside
I'm not dying
All you did was get me through
I owe every breath to you
Heart and soul unparalyzed
All you did was save my life." Near took a deep breath and sighed as Mello's song continued. He understood Mello's reasoning of thanking him this way---any other way would hurt Mello's pride.
"I've started to come around
The dogs are backing down
I'm not afraid to breath
The devil's gone underground
This tightrope's been cut down
And I can finally see." Mello shook lightly at the part he just finished. When Halle left, he had done some thinking, mostly about Near. Thinking about how Near saved him...it gave Mello this warm feeling in his chest he couldn't ignore. Period. So he thought about it for a while (a long while) and came up with the perfect excuse. Love.
"You looked at me as you walked in the room
Like a red sea you split me open
Somehow knew these wings were stolen
I'm not dying." Near placed money down on the table he had been sitting at and, standing up slowly, pulled out a small box. Mello watched him, fascinated.
"All you did was save my life
Pulled me out of that flat line
Put the heartbeat back inside
I'm not dying
All you did was get me through
I owe every breath to you
Heart and soul unparalyzed
All you did was save my life." Mello had noticed, shortly after his perfect excuse, that certain items of his were missing. Halle, who had been visiting him regularly, informed him that the doctor took his things and gave them to the first person who seemed to know Mello personally (actually, he was giving them to the first person he saw): Near.
"All you did was save my life
(Put the heart beat back inside)
All you did was save my life
(Put the heart beat back inside)
All you did was save my life." He walked forward, hand outstretched, stopping a few inches away from Near as the song ended. Near smirked, applauded, then picked up the box again and, taking Mello's hand (which made thrills go up Mello's spine), placed the box in his palm.
"It has Mello's rosary and phone." Near smiled as Mello opened the box and his eyes widened. Mello glanced at Near and took out a silver gun, holding it gently. "It isn't loaded." Near informed him. Mello glanced wordlessly into the box again and saw a pack of ammunition for the gun.
"I couldn't let anyone find Mello's more important stuff, right?" Near shrugged. "I took them before the ambulance came."
"Thanks." Near's eyes widened in shock as Mello grabbed the back of his head and pulled him for a chaste kiss.
"Mello, we've gotta go! Cops!" Mello glanced away, then looked back at Near.
"I won't help anyone." Near said quietly. Mello smirked and leaned forward to whisper in the albino's ear.
"I'll try to see if I can come over to the SPK anytime soon, ok?" Before Near could answer, Mello had disappeared.
Wow...i'm generally not pleased with this...i dunno..it sounded better when i was imagining it in my head...generally, i would delete it, but if i did that then it would stick in my head forever, and i generally like a clear head when i write my things.


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Friday 9 August 1940
It was Friday, under the sign of Leo. The US president was Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic).
Famous people born on this day include Beverlee McKinsey and Volker Hauff.
Foreign Correspondent, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was one of the most viewed movies released in 1940
But much more happened that day: find out below..
You can also have a look at the whole 1940 or at August 09 across the years.
Old Newspapers
Have a look at the old newspapers from 9 August 1940 and get them!
Which were the most popular movies released in the last 30 days ?
Find out your future
Get a FREE Numerology report based on the digits of 9 August 1940!
Wish him/her..
Historical Events
Which were the important events of 9 August 1940 ?
- St. Nathy (or David)
- Feast day of the great martyr Saint Panteleimon in Russian Orthodox Church
- St. Fedlimid/Felimy
- St. Romanus Ostiarius
- St. Edith Stein
- Singapore: National Day
- Roman Catholicism - the feasts of at least ? saints: St. Jean Vianney
Famous Birthdays:
- Beverlee McKinsey: Oklahoma, United States -- Actress (Iris-Another World, Guiding Light).
- Volker Hauff: German politician with the SPD party.
- Marie-Luise Marjan: German actress, best known for her role as Helga Beimer in the German Television Series "Lindenstraße" (created by Hans W. Geißendörfer in 1985).
Make this date unforgettable
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Which were the most popular books released in the last weeks ?
Remember when
What videogames would you be playing back in the days ?


text:
Tuesday June 18,
My ex and I were hanging out ( we have not broken up yet). I picked him up since his sister crashed his car the week before and he was stressed since his parents were fighting and deciding on getting a divorce. He has been stressed lately. We hung out and had our intimate moments but I got sexually frustrated and was just mad and later had to drive him home. We were talking on the way back and he randomly decides to communicate me that for a week and a half he has been thinking of breaking up. I didn't say anything then panic hit me and I basically said if you are thinking of breaking up with me then just do it. He said he wasn't sure but I kept insisting and yelling at him then finally he said we should break up. He begged to meet up with me and to talk about it. I told him why do we need to talk about it if you broke up with me. He still begged and I said no. Then I got in the car he told me to call him or text him when I get home safely. I said I couldn't promise anything. I drove home and when I got home had a text from him asking if I got home safely. I ignored it then he texted me again and it said that he thought I was the most beautiful, sweet, selfless person and he loved me and always will. That he hoped I can forgive him sometime and talk to him again. I fell asleep and ignored the text.
Wednesday June 19th
I pondered and realized I should call him and tell him some things off my chest. I didn't call him til about 4pm. he answered immediately and I asked him if he was willing to tallk and he said meet me in an hour at our usual place. We met at our coffee place. We had awkward conversations finally I told him did he still believe we should be broken up. He said that there is no point in continuing since its inevitable we won't be together. I kinda laughed and said you said that last time six months ago when you broke up with me. He looked confused and asked what else happened since he didn't remember and I pointed out how after he broke up with me he checked up on me the last time and he said and I did that last night. So I gave him three choices: A) get back together with me and work on our relationship B) be on a break and he can figure out what he wants and we can talk about us when he gets back from school. C) nothing.
Well he chose B because he wants to see if I am right.
Thursday and Friday I didn't Contact him.
Saturday June 22
He texted me asking what I am up to. Told him I was thinking of going to the fair, he asked if he can join. He told he would text me if he got the car. Well he forgot to messaged me but I didn't bother him back.
Sunday June 23
He texted me asking if I was at work. I texted later saying that I was off. Never heard from him again.
Tuesday June 25th.
He texted me asking if I worked as a nanny at some place because his friend lives there and saw me and heard that I was talking about some guy ( I was actually talking about him). His ex was meeting up with him and she was my best friend long time
He called me around midnight and talked to me asked if I called him on fourth of the July. I said I did wanted to wish him happy fourth of the July. He was happy to hear that we had conversations about ourselves then he kept bringing up how he woshed that he wasn't going to miss my birthday that he really wanted to be there. (My birthday is July 16th) I told him that is is OK and that I probably be working. He just kept saying how he wanted to be there. He then asked
Saturday July 6th
He showed up at my place unannounced wanting to hang and see me. He kept saying how pretty I am and touched me. He hugged me a lot and he wants to see me on Monday. I feel I am in uncharted territory.
So are these good signs
Most Helpful Girl
yes I think so.11|00|0


text:
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants a faster way to fire school employees for sexual misconduct with students, the latest response to a series of arrests of school workers earlier this year.
The mayor on Tuesday said he is pushing state lawmakers to pass a bill giving districts, not outside arbitrators, the final say on punishments for school employees. The employees would still be able to appeal in court.
State Sen. Stephen Saland will sponsor the legislation in Albany's Republican-controlled upper chamber, but the Bloomberg administration doesn't yet have a sponsor in the Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats.


text:
Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonisakin yesterday said Nigeria as a nation cannot continue to depend entirely on foreign technology if really the security challenges bedeviling the nation are to be tackled head on.
Gen. Olonisakin stated that the country is endowed with a lot of professionals who are contributing extensively to technology elsewhere in the world hence the need for it maximize potentials for self reliance.
The Defence Chief who doubles as the chief host at the Nigeria Air Force Research and Development seminar 2015, with the theme "Maximizing potentials for self reliance in Nigeria Air Force through innovation and local partnership," lamented that the lack of synergy has been primarily responsible for the low level of technological and industrial backwardness the country is currently experiencing.
According to the CDS, "there must be collaboration among the military, academia and of course the technocrats and industrialists to harness our various endowments to push Nigeria forward technologically."
While fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the opening ceremony on the fight against insurgency and meeting the December deadline and whether or not the security is well equipped, he said, "Presently we don't have the well whithal, that is why we are encouraging Research and Development so that we can be self reliant in our production and in no distance future we will get there. Research and development is a tripod arrangement, the user, manufacturer and academia, the three hands must synergies, so, we being the user needs all the other legs so that we can get the product that is required to prosecute insurgency.
"We will reach out to local manufacturers to make sure that we inculcate them into the whole arrangement.
"We are winning the war against insurgency and we will keep doing that, we are working with timeline and we have our mandate and we are working within our mandate.
On his part, the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal. Sadiq Abubakar also emphasised that home based technology is a sure way to acquire some degree of immunity from the vagaries of international politics of economy and or defence.
According to the CAS, "to achieve home based technology independence, nation's have created the enabling environment for research based collaboration between the military and the civilian sectors. These collaborative efforts have yielded fruitful results ranging from the production of the Atomic Bomb, through the "Manhattan Project", to the discovery of the Global Positioning System, GPS, from the NAVSTAR Project".
Also speaking, the special guest of honour, Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai represented by his deputy Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex commended security exploits in combating insurgency in the North East and security joint efforts against cattle rustling in the North West.
Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonisakin yesterday said Nigeria as a nation cannot continue to depend entirely on foreign technology if really the security challenges bedeviling the nation are to be tackled head on.


text:
Professional Computer Building
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Anything I set my mind to I will achieve. I enjoy music and work more effectively in the presence of music. I'm am experienced live sound engineer, road manager and a IT technician willing to help ...you with any of your audio or computer technical needs. Check me out on www.ZacHolley.com!show moreOpen to other proposals
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text:
Ask yourself once more: What is my car worth?
So you're ready to buy a new vehicle., but you ask yourself: Check what is my car worth? After many years of sterling service you're ready to ship around the old one and upgrade to something newer and much more luxurious. Available around the forecourt prospective buyers are faced with a ocean of vehicles with ..
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Does No Interest Car Finance Exist?
What makes car finance so great is the fact that it has experienced a huge growth in popularity in the recent years. Due to an increased demand for cars, lenders have introduced new options, allowing for more freedom whilst giving customers more perks and benefits at the same time. One thing that seems to come ..
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Aston Martin: The Highly Esteemed Sports Vehicle
If you notice an Aston Martin for purchase, you're searching at probably the most understated and sexy of sports cars available on the market. This is actually the signature brand among cars by having an unmatched aura of exclusivity and mystique &ndash certainly one for individuals with taste and sophistication. Causes of High Esteem The ..
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2006 Corvette – Rare Changes Exalted Improvement
With its duly constituted V8 engine the 2006 Corvette is on the perspective of in the main of marked down sports cars in the world. If you believe the tops time to buy a car is in its second lunar year of mission accomplished, for that the 2006 Corvette is the customer to buy. The ..
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text: Journal Communications, Inc. (NYSE:JRN) will announce fourth quarter and full year 2011 earnings on Thursday, February 23, before the market opens. A conference call to discuss the results will be held that day at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. ET, 8:00 a.m. PT). The full text of the earnings announcement and accompanying financial tables will be available on the Journal Communications' website, http://www.journalcommunications.com/investors. To access the call, dial (866)543-6407 (domestic) or (617)213-8898 (international) at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled 10:00 a.m. CT start. The access code for the conference call is 55616976. Replays of the conference call will be available February 23 through March 1. To hear the replay, dial (888)286-8010 (domestic) or (617)801-6888 (international) at least one hour after the completion of the call. The access code for the replay is 19476841. The live webcast will be accessible through www.journalcommunications.com/investors. An archive of the webcast will be available February 23 through March 1. About Journal Communications Journal Communications, Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was founded in 1882. We are a diversified media company with operations in radio and television broadcasting, publishing and interactive media. We own and operate 33 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 states and operate an additional television station under a local marketing agreement. We publish the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which serves as the only major daily newspaper for the Milwaukee metropolitan area, and community newspapers and shoppers in Wisconsin. Our interactive media assets build on our strong publishing and broadcast brands.


text:
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Show me the Mommy!
I thought I would finally do this... especially since last night I finally got a chance to get dolled up for a dinner at Vin de Set on the rooftop. It was a fun evening, and afterwards we went to a Chocolate Bar. Yum! I love my new jewelry I got for this dress... I have no fun jewelry, so I thought I would treat myself. Can't beat Old Navy, its way, way affordable!


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Edinburgh International Festival: My Romantic HistoryPosted on: 23 August 2010 by Mark O'haire
Laurence Green reviews the new 'non-rom-com' by Glaswegian writer DC Jackson at the Edinburgh International Festival.
"If you haven't met someone by the time you graduate, you're going to marry some idiot from your work. It's that simple. Do you know how they get animals to breed in captivity? They put them in the same cage".
This amusing, pertinent remark is made by one of the characters in the new 'non-rom-com' by Glaswegian writer DC Jackson appropriately titled My Romantic History. The play which would have benefited from being trimmed by about 15 minutes is less a battle of the sexes than a study of people who are trying to work out what relationships hold for them, harking back to past misadventures and heartbreak to rationalise the thoughts and feelings in the present.
Two other productions in the festival repertoire are also worth catching – Michael West's Freefall, a sharp, humorous and poignant look at the fragility of human life, blending impressionistic beauty, insight and comedy, and Shared Experience and Sherman Cymru's Speechless, a new play by Linda Boogan and Polly Teale, inspired by the best-selling book The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace. The story focuses on identical twins |June and Jennifer Gibbons who, refusing to speak to adults, communicate in their own private language, their only relationship being their intense and turbulent bond with each other.
Back to the official festival and for me the highlight was Jose Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu's thrilling production of Gershwin's operatic masterpiece Porgy and Bess, performed by the Opera de Lyon (Edinburgh Festival Theatre). Set in a nondescript, crumbling tenement on the waterfront in the deep south of the USA, it is a tale of broken dreams and faded hopes, of dignity and betrayal. The story centres on a decent, crippled and lonely man called Porgy and his love for the beautiful, bewitching Bess whose drug dealing boyfriend exerts a powerful influence over her.
Written at the very end of Great Depression in 1935, this work has become perhaps the quintessential American opera – a symbol of hope in a time that was so often hopeless, a demonstration of love and loyalty in desperate times. Montalvo and Hervieu have updated the story in their spectacular, visually stunning new multi-media staging using video imagery and archival film to provide an exhilarating hymn to the black experience. George and Ira Gershwin's marvellous score which includes such classics as Summertime (we actually see fish jumping and a crying child), I Got Plenty O'Nuttin', It Ain't Necessarily So and Bess You Is My Woman, masterfully conducted by William Eddins, still captures the heart and stirs the emotions 80 years after they were written.
But no production of Porgy and Bess would work without the right cast and here it is spot on. Derrick Lawrence, with his strong tenor voice, brings out the untapped passion within the protagonist which is ready to erupt in expressions of impatience and frustration, longing and love, while Janice Chandler-Eteme makes a seductive, sympathetic Bess. The high energy dancing by the Montalvo-Hervieu dance company adds both colour and excitement.
This then was a production epic in scale but intimate in nature which I will long cherish.
By Laurence Green
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text:
My oven hates vanilla cake! If I make any other flavor it comes out just perfect, but not vanilla. I've tried 3 different recipes today, all of them I've tried in other ovens with no problems and are delicious. All of them flopped! I've had problems with the ignition switch going before, and not keeping the oven a stable temp so I'm guessing it went again. But how odd of it to discriminate against 1 flavor!!!
Well..I hear yah...My oven element burnt out on Monday and can't replace it until tomorrow when hubby can go get a new one from the appliance store..Try making dinner with no oven...Stove top stuffing anyone!!!
I had Perfected all my favourite receipes in my Oven. Then I moved after 15years living in there with my parents.
The new house had an old oven and it would burn all my cakes and cookies, it took me forever to attempt to perfect them all again, but they just were never the same.
Moving again, I got myself a nice new oven, and FINALLY all my cooking just came out perfect....
so blame the oven, its not human error this time!!! lol
The kicker is, I decided to make a cake mix just to see what would happen. For whatever reason I can not make a cake mix, they always turn out terribly. And what do you know...this one turned out perfect!!! Lol *sigh* ovens...
We cant always blame ovens though!
My mother turns her Oven up on high, shoves the cake in then sits and watches TV!! Before you know it we have a burnt cake either completely black and dry, or all mooshy inside and a black exterior!!
Though she still slops on her icing and serves it up for us, haha!! I tell her all the time, if something takes 50mins to cook, putting the heat up will make it cook faster, but makes it a complete disaster!!
Love ya Mum!! xox
I have a new oven, GE Profile elect. wall mount it is 2 yrs. old. When I bake my cakes they come out very brown on the outside and under cooked in the middle. I called costumer service, and I was told to adjust the ovens thermostat. I did as I was told but the temp. is still off. Is there an oven thermometer that will read the temp. correctly?. I have used 3 different brands and they all read a different temp. plus the one on my oven.
I really need help.
I spent a small fortune on a Viking Range...and the temperature is off. If you go to the website www.Realbakingwithrose.com (this is a site maintained by Rose Levy Beranbaum) there is a lot of discussion on different thermometers...good luck.