US Patent 7546760 Device for pressure-based load detection

A device for intake manifold pressure-based determination of the air mass flowing into the cylinder combustion chamber is provided. A logic unit determines the inflowing air mass based on the intake manifold pressure using a calculation model for load detection that determines the intake manifold pressure in an upper partial range of the intake manifold pressure. A sensor device for direct detection of the intake manifold pressure measures the intake manifold pressure only in a lower partial range of the intake manifold pressure in the internal combustion engine. The logic unit determines the inflowing air mass as a function of the intake manifold pressure measured by the sensor deice when within the lower partial range of the intake manifold pressure, and based on the intake manifold pressure determined by use of the calculation model when within the upper partial range.