Control Of Air/fuel Ratio Or Fuel Injection Patents (Class 701/103)
  • Patent number: 8763585
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus includes: an adsorbent disposed in an internal space of a leading end portion of a fuel injector, the adsorbent being capable of selectively adsorbing an alcohol component in the blended fuel of gasoline and alcohol; fuel pressure controller capable of achieving states in which a pressure of fuel to be supplied to the fuel injector is set to a low or high pressure range having a small or large adsorbed amount of alcohol on the adsorbent; and split injection controller that makes the fuel injector inject fuel for one cycle in a plurality of times, when the pressure of fuel to be supplied to the fuel injector is set to the high pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsukagoshi, Fumito Chiba, Mamoru Yoshioka, Ryota Onoe
  • Patent number: 8768602
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle 30 includes a vehicle body frame 31, an engine 1 mounted on the vehicle body frame 31, combustion adjusting devices (fuel injection valves) 14 and 15 for adjusting the combustion condition of the engine 1, and a combustion controller (ECU) 22 for controlling the fuel injection valves 14 and 15. The ECU 22 controls the fuel injection valves 14 and 15 such that the maximum point of a sound pressure level waveform of an audible sound wave generated from the engine 1 or the vehicle body frame 31 is shifted by a predetermined amount or larger within a predetermined period at least in some of the operation conditions of the engine 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140180560
    Abstract: System for controlling the carburetion of an internal combustion engine comprising the following activities: a) starting the engine; b) determining the factor ?o using any known method; c)measuring the ionization current cio; d) modifying—from outside—the factor ? by a predefined amount equivalent to ?? bringing it to the value ?1=?o+??; e) repeating the measurement of the ionization current ci1; f) calculating the value of the difference of the ionization current A?ci1 equivalent to cio-Ci1; g) repeating operations d. and e. until the difference between the last value of the ionization current o, ? and the second last value cin-1 is smaller than ?ci; where ?ci is a predefined value which is assumed to have no influence with respect to the carburetion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: EMAK S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nicola Cerreto, Marco Ferrari
  • Patent number: 8762029
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent hunting of a throttle in a region in which a throttle upstream pressure and a throttle downstream pressure become substantially equal to each other in an internal combustion engine with a supercharger. For this purpose, a control device for an internal combustion engine with a supercharger provided by the present invention processes a signal of a throttle opening which is calculated by using a formula of throttling when a ratio of the throttle upstream pressure and the throttle downstream pressure has a value close to 1, and controls an operation of the throttle with the throttle opening the change speed of which is lessened as a target throttle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyonori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8762040
    Abstract: A method and device to help an aircraft change altitude in case of reduced separations is disclosed. The device, embarked on board the airplane, comprises means for determining a performing time range during which the altitude change maneuver within reduced spacings being desired by the pilots is able to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Pierre Depape, Christophe Maily, Jerome Gouillou, Julien Frard, Yohann Barbe
  • Publication number: 20140172273
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a pump control module, an actuator control module, and a torque reserve module. The pump control module switches a water pump between on and off. The water pump circulates coolant through an engine when the water pump is on. The actuator control module controls a first actuator of the engine based on a first torque request and that controls a second actuator of the engine based on a second torque request. The torque reserve module adjusts a torque reserve before the water pump is switched on or off based on a change in engine load expected when the water pump is switched on or off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Levijoki, Christopher Harold Knieper
  • Patent number: 8755987
    Abstract: A control system for a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes first and second modules. The first module determines a load on the HCCI engine when the HCCI engine is operating in an HCCI combustion mode. The second module controls torque generated by the HCCI engine based on the determined load and a predetermined threshold, wherein the second module controls the torque generated by the HCCI engine by controlling fueling of the HCCI engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Darrell W. Burleigh, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 8755989
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8755986
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle having a particulate filter and operable in an air restriction mode wherein air inflow to an air intake throttle is restricted includes determining if the engine is operating in the air restriction mode, sensing a position of an accelerator pedal, and sensing a speed of the vehicle. The method further includes removing the restriction to the air intake throttle when the engine is operating in the air restriction mode, one of a change in position of the accelerator pedal over a period of time is greater than a pre-defined pedal acceleration rate or the position of the accelerator pedal is equal to a pre-defined pedal limit, and the speed of the vehicle is less than a pre-defined speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Taylor, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140163839
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a torque modifier module that selects one of a plurality of torque modifier values based on variations in an accessory load. A torque calculating module calculates a maximum torque value for operation in a cylinder deactivation mode based on the selected one of the plurality of torque modifier values. A torque control module selectively switches the engine between the cylinder deactivation mode and a cylinder activation mode based on the maximum torque value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Staley, Ronald J. Pierik, Jeremy T. Demarest, Timothy M. Karnjate
  • Publication number: 20140163840
    Abstract: A vehicle engine start control device in a vehicle includes a direct injection engine directly injecting fuel into a cylinder as a drive power source for running. The vehicle engine start control device is configured to start rotation of the direct injection engine when the direct injection engine is started from a stop state of the direct injection engine in which a first cylinder of a plurality of cylinders is in an expansion stroke while a second cylinder next to the first cylinder in an ignition order is located at a top dead center. Further, the device directly injects fuel into the second cylinder and ignites the fuel while a piston of the second cylinder is moving away from the top dead center toward a bottom dead center in a first expansion stroke in the second cylinder after the start of the rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Kojima, Naoki Nakanishi, Yukihiko Ideshio, Tomojiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8751135
    Abstract: A method is provided to diagnose a fault in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to commanding an injection pulse for injecting a test quantity of fuel into an engine cylinder, determining the torque released to an engine crankshaft due to the injection pulse, calculating the difference between this released torque and an expected value for the torque, and of detecting a fault in the fuel injection system if the difference exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marco Girotto, Tommaso De Fazio, Michele Bastianelli
  • Patent number: 8751136
    Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in a spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine includes monitoring an engine operating mode and an ambient parameter, determining a deviation of the ambient parameter relative to a nominal ambient parameter, determining a nominal desired engine operation parameter based on engine speed and load, determining and adjusted desired engine operation parameter based on the nominal desired engine operation parameter and said deviation of the ambient parameter, and controlling the engine based on the engine operating mode and one of the nominal desired engine operation parameter and adjusted desired engine operation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hanho Yun, Nicole Wermuth, Paul M. Najt, Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20140156171
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is a vehicle control device for a vehicle capable of coasting, in which when there is no acceleration or deceleration request to the vehicle while traveling, power transmission between an engine and drive wheels is cut off and the vehicle is allowed to travel by inertia, wherein in a state in which there is no acceleration or deceleration request to the vehicle while traveling and power is transmitted between the engine and the drive wheels, whether or not to implement the coasting is determined by comparing a required deceleration rate Dt which is estimated as a deceleration rate to be later required of the vehicle and a coasting deceleration rate Dn which is estimated as a deceleration rate during the coasting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi Kono, Norimi Asahara, Jonggap Kim
  • Publication number: 20140156170
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable valve train of an internal combustion engine including multiple cylinders is disclosed. At a first operating point of the engine, an intake air amount is determined and cylinder-individual values for a fuel amount reduction are determined by successively reducing the respectively supplied fuel amount for each cylinder until a characteristic representing uneven running of the engine has reached a predetermined uneven running threshold value. A ratio of a change in the intake valve lift to the resulting change in the intake air amount is determined for the first operating point. Cylinder-individual deviations of the intake valve lift from a reference value are determined based on the ratio, the intake air amount at the first operating point, and the associated value for the fuel amount reduction. The variable valve train is then controlled on the basis of the cylinder-individual deviations of the intake valve lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Josef Kainz
  • Publication number: 20140156169
    Abstract: A control system for fuel delivery systems associated with cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. The control system includes a detector, a processor, and an actuator. The detector is configured to sense a signal to change from a compression ignited fuel to a spark ignited fuel in a pre-determined number of cylinders. The processor is configured to receive the signal from the detector and generate one or more actuation signals. The controller is configured to receive the actuation signals and tandemly control the fuel delivery systems associated with the pre-determined cylinders based on the actuation signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Electro-Motive Diesel Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Foege, David Todd Montgomery, Farhan Devani, Scott B. Fiveland
  • Patent number: 8744729
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes: a catalyst element that oxidizes hydrogen contained in exhaust gas to remove the hydrogen; a first air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has not passed through the catalyst element; a second air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has passed through the catalyst element; and a unit that determines whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred based on an amount by which a value detected by the second air-fuel ratio sensor is leaner than a value detected by the first air-fuel ratio sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Fumihiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8744723
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a fuel composition module, a comparison module, and a memory module. The fuel composition module determines a fuel composition and an amount of undesired fuel in the fuel composition. The comparison module compares the amount of undesired fuel to a misfueling threshold. The memory module records a misfueling event based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Marie-Christine G. Jones
  • Patent number: 8744725
    Abstract: The apparatus and method according to the invention comprise a controller (7) to form a control signal, which controller is arranged to receive pressure data on the CR system, and into which controller pressure reference data is set. In addition, the apparatus also comprises a module (9) to form an internal pressure reference value to replace the set pressure reference value when forming the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: Tom Troberg, Tom Kaas
  • Patent number: 8744726
    Abstract: A method for improving purging of fuel vapors from a boosted engine is presented. In one embodiment, the method increases the efficiency of a venturi that supplies vacuum to purge fuel vapors from a vapor storage canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Mark Peters
  • Patent number: 8744724
    Abstract: An engine controlling apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a demand torque to an engine, a detection unit that detects a fluctuation of an external load, and a correction unit that corrects the demand torque. The apparatus includes a target torque calculation unit that calculates a target torque based on the demand torque, a control unit that controls an amount of air to be introduced into the engine so that an output torque may come close to the target torque, and an ignition timing detection unit that detects an ignition timing of the engine. The correction unit adds a torque increment for coping with a fluctuation of the external load to the demand torque to determine an increment correction demand torque and increases or decreases the increment correction demand torque in response to a displacement amount of the ignition timing from a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Shibata, Katsunori Ueda, Toshiyuki Miyata, Hitoshi Toda
  • Publication number: 20140149019
    Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing an efficiency of engine starting of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises operating a laser ignition device in an engine cylinder and identifying engine position in response thereto; and igniting an air and fuel mixture in the cylinder with the laser ignition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 8738271
    Abstract: Example methods of modeling a nonlinear dynamical system such as a vehicle engine include providing a model using linear programming support vector regression (LP-SVR) having an asymmetric wavelet kernel, such as derived from a raised-cosine wavelet function. The model may be trained to determine parallel model parameters while in a series-parallel configuration, and operated in the parallel configuration allowing improved and more flexible model performance. An improved engine control unit may use an LP-SVR with an asymmetric wavelet kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Zhao Lu, Jing Sun, Kenneth R. Butts
  • Patent number: 8738237
    Abstract: A control system is provided for starting electrically powered implements on a vehicle such as a grass mowing machine with electrically powered cutting reels. The electric motors are started at intervals, rather than simultaneously. The intervals between starting each electric motor may be based on pre-defined criteria such as a fixed time constant, voltage, current or speed input from a motor controller for each implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Henson
  • Publication number: 20140142833
    Abstract: A method of decreasing the light-off time of a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be operated to produce a differently compositioned exhaust gas than the other cylinders. During light-off, EGR gas is optimized for heat, diverted from the EGR loop and routed to a point directly upstream the aftertreatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich, Terrence F. Alger, II
  • Patent number: 8731802
    Abstract: A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Hagner, Mrdjan Jankovic, Marcus Fried
  • Patent number: 8731797
    Abstract: A tuning process is provided for monitoring fuel properties of a fuel being consumed by a gas turbine (GT) engine, and for dynamically tuning the GT engine as a function of changes to the monitored fuel properties. Initially, readings are taken from the GT engine during a reference calibration, or commissioning, and utilized to calculate an initial-pressure-drop reference value. The tuning process during commercial operation takes post-calibration readings from the GT engine to calculate a fuel property parameter, which represents a heating value of the fuel. Specifically, the fuel property parameter is calculated by deriving a corrected-pressure-drop dynamic value as a function of pressure and temperature readings of the fuel at a point upstream of a combustor and pressure drops across fuel nozzles that introduce the fuel into the combustor, and solving a ratio of the dynamic value and the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicolas Demougeot, Donald Gauthier, Peter Stuttaford, Hany Rizkalla
  • Patent number: 8731801
    Abstract: A system, heated fuel injector, and controller for closed-loop temperature control of a heated fuel injector having simultaneous two-way data communication over a single-line data connection. The system includes a voltage source to output a heater enable signal and a variable current sink configured to draw a current value indicative of a temperature value related to the heated fuel injector. The heater signal and the current value are simultaneously present on the single-line data connection. The configuration reduces the effect of ground shift on the accuracy of determining a feedback signal from the heated fuel injector. The feedback signal is a temperature value related to the heated fuel injector and is indicated by a current value. Because the feedback signal is a current value, the feedback signal is generally immune from being influenced by ground shift between the controller and the heated fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Mowery
  • Publication number: 20140136080
    Abstract: A control system for a dual gaseous and liquid fuel engine includes an electronic controller configured to receive data from a plurality of sensing mechanisms indicative of an error in a plurality of different engine operating parameters. The electronic controller is further configured to determine a highest priority one of the errors, and limit substitution of the gaseous fuel responsive to a normalized value thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher F. Gallmeyer, David James Lin
  • Publication number: 20140136081
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying and indicating degradation of an engine cylinder spark plug. In response to a cylinder misfire event during selected engine operating conditions, followed by an occurrence of a threshold number and/or rate of pre-ignition events in the same cylinder, a controller may determine that the spark plug is degraded. The controller may limit combustion in the cylinder in response to the degradation. Additionally, cylinder pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Michael Joseph Zaitz, Ken Jahr, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Publication number: 20140136079
    Abstract: Controlling a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine includes receiving a signal indicative of a desired state of an operating parameter of the engine dependent upon a fueling rate, and tracking the desired state via adjusting a pressure drop from a gaseous fuel common rail to an intake conduit such that the fueling rate is adjusted toward a fueling accordant with the desired state. The control further includes limiting an error in the tracking via executing the adjustment of the pressure drop responsive to a fluid pressure disturbance within the intake conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Travis Barnes, Christopher F. Gallmeyer, David James Lin
  • Patent number: 8725387
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining an air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders based on an output value of an air-fuel ratio sensor, an imbalance determination parameter which becomes larger or smaller as a difference among air-fuel ratios becomes larger, and performs determining an air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders based on a result of a comparison between the imbalance determination parameter and a imbalance determination threshold. The determining apparatus calculates a purge correction coefficient which compensates for a change in the air-fuel ratio due to an evaporated fuel gas which is generated in a fuel tank, while the evaporated fuel gas is being introduced into an intake passage, and corrects a fuel injection amount with the purge correction coefficient FPG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Fumihiko Nakamura, Hiroshi Sawada, Toru Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 8720201
    Abstract: A method of sensing a reduction in fuel screen area in a fuel system. The method includes detecting an engine shutdown, initiating an electronic engine control (EEC) built in test, shifting a metering valve from a first position to a second position, determining a travel time of the metering valve, and sensing a reduction in fuel screen area based on the travel time of the metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Chapski, Thomas A. Bush
  • Patent number: 8725365
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated clutch or an automated transmission or a drive unit in a vehicle is disclosed in which protective measures for the clutch and/or for the transmission and/or for a drive unit is provided by the control system. The protective measures include measures against overheating or wear. When measuring temperature, allowance is made for the air density in the vehicle environment or altitude as compared to sea level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Loyal George MacMillian, Bradley Shellhammer, Daniel Redel, Gerald Kuestler
  • Publication number: 20140129116
    Abstract: An inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio variation abnormality detection apparatus for a multicylinder internal combustion engine according to the present invention detects variation abnormality based on a rotational fluctuation of the internal combustion engine. Number-of-rotations feedback control is preformed to make the number of rotations of the internal combustion engine equal to a predetermined target number of rotations. The amount of power generated by a power generation device driven by the internal combustion engine is controlled so as to bring the load on the internal combustion engine into a target range when the abnormality detection is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Yasushi Iwazaki, Koichi Kitaura, Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20140129115
    Abstract: A start-up control apparatus for an engine comprising a controller. The engine being provided in a vehicle having a plurality of shift ranges including one or both of a braking range and a manual shift range. The controller programmed to perform fuel increase control for increasing a fuel injection amount at a time of start-up of the engine. The controller being programmed to increase the fuel injection amount at a time of present start-up of the engine in a case where a selected shift range at a time of previous shutdown of the engine is the braking range or the manual shift range, as compared to a case where the selected shift range at the time of the previous shutdown of the engine is other than the braking range and the manual shift range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuta TERAYA
  • Publication number: 20140129117
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a stop-start module and a fuel control module. The stop-start module stops an engine and thereby interrupts an engine cycle when a driver depresses a brake pedal while an ignition system is on and the engine is idling. The stop-start module restarts the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal. The fuel control module, when the engine is restarted, selectively injects fuel into a cylinder of the engine as the cylinder completes the interrupted engine cycle based on an amount of crankshaft rotation corresponding to a difference between a position of a piston in the cylinder when the piston is stopped and top dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, James R. Yurgil, Stuart R. Smith, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 8718900
    Abstract: A method to operate an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of direct or indirect measurement in a cylinder and/or in a working cycle of the time or point or area/band where the combustion process of an internal combustion engine completes the ignition phase or nears the end of the ignition phase and begins or transits into the combustion phase, or which marks the beginning of the combustion phase, or otherwise marks that the combustion process has commenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: André Schoen
  • Patent number: 8718901
    Abstract: A method for controlling controlled-auto-ignition operation in an eternal combustion engine is described. The method includes the injection of air into a combustion cylinder at an appropriate time in the combustion cycle in response to measured conditions. The injection of air acts to alter the CAI-phasing, thus providing the ability to extend the CAI operation further into a vehicle speed/load range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Orbital Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Simon C. Brewster, Geoffrey P. Cathcart
  • Patent number: 8718902
    Abstract: With a control apparatus of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, external EGR that circulates exhaust gas in an exhaust passage to an intake passage is executed, and an air-fuel ratio is feedback-controlled such that an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas comes to match a predetermined target air-fuel ratio. When a rich deviation in which the air-fuel ratio of a portion of cylinders is off to a rich side from the target air-fuel ratio is detected, a parameter indicative of an amount of the rich deviation is calculated. The target air-fuel ratio is corrected to the rich side according to the calculated parameter. A value of a parameter at which the rich correction is started is changed according to whether external EGR is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuichi Katou, Tomohiro Shinagawa
  • Publication number: 20140121947
    Abstract: Engine control unit enabling to learn a change of relationship between a throttle opening degree and an intake air quantity (opening degree—air quantity characteristic) while restricting lowering of fuel efficiency to a minimum and to improve accuracy of engine stall prevention, torque control, including: a learning means which learns a characteristic change amount of the opening degree—air quantity characteristic; a learning requirement determining means; and a learning moving means causing executing learning in a stable driving state. The learning requirement determining means derives a separation amount between an intake air quantity corresponding to a throttle valve opening degree at present time and an actual intake air quantity detected in the stable driving state and determines requirement of learning with use of the separation amount and a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Atsushi Komuro
  • Publication number: 20140121946
    Abstract: An engine system may include a injectors, and an engine control unit (ECU) having a number of pins coupling to the injectors. The ECU may include an individual measurement circuit coupled to each pin, with each individual measurement circuit providing a respective individual output corresponding to the pin coupled to the measurement circuit. The ECU may also include subtraction circuits, each subtraction circuit having a respective pair of inputs and providing an output representative of a difference between respective input values appearing at the pair of inputs. The ECU may also include cross-point switches coupled between the measurement circuits and the subtraction circuits, and may determine the voltage difference between any two pins by selectively coupling the respective output of each of the two individual measurement circuits coupled to the two pins to a respective input of the pair of inputs of any subtraction circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Viele
  • Publication number: 20140121948
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an oxygen sensor measurement within an exhaust gas feedstream output from an internal combustion engine based on humidity includes monitoring relative humidity of ambient air obtained from a humidity sensor. Specific humidity at the oxygen sensor is modeled based on the relative humidity. The oxygen sensor measurement is adjusted based on the modeled specific humidity at the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: CHAD E. MARLETT, MICHELE BASTIANELLI
  • Publication number: 20140116029
    Abstract: An exhaust system (10) for a dual fuel engine, which engine is adapted to operate in a first mode in which the engine is fuelled entirely by a liquid fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled predominately by a gaseous fuel, the system comprising a first oxidation catalyst (22), a first temperature sensor (30) adapted to measure a core temperature of the first oxidation catalyst, and a controller (32) for controlling whether the engine operates in the first mode or the second mode, wherein the first temperature sensor is operatively connectable to the controller such that the controller prevents the engine from running in the second mode if the core temperature of the first oxidation catalyst is below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: T. Baden Hardstaff Ltd
    Inventors: Darryl William Hylands, Trevor Lee Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20140121943
    Abstract: A control system and a control method of a gasoline direct injection engine may include determining whether the engine is stopped and can improve NVH of a vehicle by keeping the fuel high-pressure pump input valve of the high-pressure pump operating for a predetermined time and preventing fuel from flowing backward to the low-pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Heungseok LEE, Wan Soo Oh
  • Publication number: 20140121941
    Abstract: Controlling intake pressure in an internal combustion engine includes calculating a proportional control term based on a difference between actual and desired intake pressure, determining choke and waste gate position values responsive to the proportional control term, and commanding a change in position of the choke or waste gate responsive to the corresponding position value to adjust actual intake pressure toward desired intake pressure. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher F. Gallmeyer
  • Publication number: 20140121945
    Abstract: An engine system may include a specified number of injectors and an engine control unit (ECU) having pins to which the injectors may be coupled. The ECU may include a controller implemented in hardware, software, or combination of both, and capable of switching between different multiplexing configurations, where each multiplexing configuration includes a specified number of individual injectors coupled across corresponding pairs of pins. The controller may select one multiplexing configuration from the number of specified multiplexing configurations without requiring any hardware adjustments to be made to the injectors and/or pins. The controller may also operate the individual injectors through the corresponding pairs of pins in an active multiplexing configuration selected by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Viele
  • Publication number: 20140121940
    Abstract: A method for operating a boosted gasoline engine. The method includes diluting an intake air charge of the engine to a first level of dilution when operating at a stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio. The method also includes, in response to a condition of excessive exhaust temperature downstream of the engine, diluting the intake air charge of the engine to a second, greater level of dilution while operating at an enriched air-to-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Publication number: 20140121944
    Abstract: A control system includes a starter control module, a mode setting module, a fuel pressure control module, and a fuel control module. The starter control module initiates cranking of a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine in response to user actuation of an ignition switch. The mode setting module sets a mode of operation to a cold start mode when an engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature during the cranking. The fuel pressure control module, in response to the setting of the mode to the cold start mode, determines a target fuel rail pressure. The fuel control module controls fueling during the cranking based on the target fuel rail pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. DOUGLAS, Jonathan T. SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20140121942
    Abstract: A gasoline engine control system includes a crankshaft rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation speed of a crankshaft, a coolant temperature sensor configured to measure a coolant temperature, an engine knocking sensor, a valve timing mechanism, an engine igniter, an air/fuel controller, and a controller configured to obtain a crankshaft rotation speed, a coolant temperature, and knocking information from the crankshaft rotation sensor, the coolant temperature sensor, and the engine knocking sensor, respectively, to determine a fuel class flowing in the engine and a cold start adaption factor, determine a fuel/cold start adaption factor based on the fuel class and the cold start adaption factor, and control an operation of at least one of the valve timing mechanism, the engine igniter, and the air/fuel controller according to the determined fuel/cold start adaption factor when the determined fuel/cold start adaption factor may be not a predetermined reference fuel/cold start adaption factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seungbum Kim