Learning Feature
The air-fuel ratio feedback control includes a learning feature, which contributes to more accurate and responsive control.
- In the air-fuel ratio feedback control, the ECM calculates the necessary amount of correction based on data from the front oxygen (A/F) sensor and adds the result to the basic duration (which is stored in the ECM's memory for each condition defined by the engine speed and various loads.)
- Without a learning feature, the ECM carries out the above-mentioned process every time. This means that if the amount of necessary correction is large, the air-fuel ratio feedback control becomes less responsive and less accurate.
- The learning feature enables the ECM to store the amount of correction into memory, and takes it into account with the basic fuel injection duration to create a new reference fuel injection duration. Using the reference duration as the basic duration for the injection a few times later, the ECM can reduce the amount of correction and thus make its feedback control more accurate and responsive to changes in the air-fuel ratio due to difference in driving condition and sensor/actuator characteristics that may result from unit-to-unit variation or aging over time.