Intake Valve Timing Altered Patents (Class 123/348)
  • Patent number: 7458347
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve operating mechanism that performs a valve timing control and a valve lift amount control of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, target values of the valve timing and the valve lift amount set based on an engine operating condition are limited by a limit value to limit a control range of one of the valve timing and the valve lift amount in accordance with a control state of the other of the valve timing and the valve lift amount, so that the valve timing and the valve lift amount are controlled based on the respective target values one of which has been limited as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7458348
    Abstract: In a V-type engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism and variable valve lift mechanism for an intake valve, a torque difference between respective banks is obtained. In a region in which an opening area of the intake valve is larger than a threshold, valve timing of the intake valve by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference, whereas in a region in which the opening area of the intake valve is smaller than the threshold, lift characteristics of the intake valve by the variable valve lift mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Hidekazu Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7424874
    Abstract: In a V-type 8-cylinder engine in which the torque for rotating an intake camshaft is higher when intake valves of a #1 cylinder and a #3 cylinder in a left bank are closed, respective noses of a cam for opening and closing the intake valve of the #1 cylinder and a cam for opening and closing the intake valve of the #3 cylinder are each formed at a phase position displaced by X° (X>0) in the advance direction further from the phase position displaced in the advance direction by 90° with respect to the nose of a cam for opening and closing the intake valve of a cylinder fired after a delay of 180° in crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Takamiya, Shinji Sadakane, Toshio Imamura, Motoki Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20080115762
    Abstract: An engine has a variable valve actuation mechanism that varies lift characteristics of an intake valve. An idle speed control apparatus has a control section for controlling an intake air amount of the engine in an idle state for adjusting an actual engine speed to a target engine speed. The control section sets a control amount related to control of the intake air amount in correspondence with the lift characteristics, which are varied by the variable valve actuation mechanism. Accordingly, the engine speed in the idle state is effectively controlled in correspondence with changes of the lift characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Keizo Hiraku, Noboru Takagi, Kiyoo Hirose, Hirohiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 7373922
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the intake air amount in an internal combustion engine provided with a throttle valve and an intake air amount changing means linked with the same, the intake air amount control apparatus and method of an internal combustion engine finding a target intake air amount mcta based on an accelerator opening degree and engine speed (step 101), determining a target setting Cvta for said intake air amount changing means based on at least said target intake air amount (step 103), and finding a target throttle opening degree ?tta based on model equations creating a model of an engine intake system and expressing the air passing through the engine intake system from said target intake air amount mcta and the target setting Cvta (step 107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Yuji Miyanoo, Akira Eiraku, Masashi Hakariya
  • Publication number: 20080072875
    Abstract: An air intake control apparatus includes a body forming an intake passage for an internal combustion engine, a bore member retained within the body to be movable relative to the body and having a bore being in communication with the body and having an internal peripheral surface forming a portion of the intake passage, at least one shaft body penetrating through the bore member and rotatably provided at the body, at least one valve body fixed to the shaft body so as to adjust an opening degree of the intake passage in the bore member, and a reference portion defining a relative position of the bore member to the shaft body in an axial direction of the shaft body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Atsutoshi Ikegawa
  • Publication number: 20080066715
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine having at least one cylinder during a homogeneous charge compression ignition is provided. The method comprises: directing a first air stream to the cylinder via a first throttle; directing a second, separate, air stream to the cylinder via a second throttle, said first stream at a higher temperature than said second air stream; regulating a total air flow of a mixture of the first and second streams to a desired value by varying both openings of the first throttle and the second throttle in a same direction; and adjusting compression ignition combustion timing by increasing an opening of one throttle and decreasing an opening of the other throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Patent number: 7308875
    Abstract: An intake control apparatus of an internal combustion engine including respective intake valves 5 opened when intake air reaching respective branch intake paths r1 from a main intake path Rim of the internal combustion engine is introduced to respective combustion chamber 2, and respective intake control valves 15 respectively arranged upstream from the intake valves on the respective branch intake paths for adjusting an intake introducing time period Tq for introducing intake air into the combustion chamber 2 in which both of the valves are brought into an opened state by controller 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7290527
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan J. Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20070215105
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus is provided with a hydraulically operated variable valve operating mechanism for varying the valve timing of air intake valves, and a water temperature sensor for sensing engine coolant temperature to estimate the degree of engine warm-up. The valve operating mechanism is controlled to switch the valve timing from the warm-up idle valve timing with a high idling speed to the post-warm-up idle valve timing with a slower idling speed as the engine temperature approaches the warm-up temperature threshold. The switch in valve timings starts before an engine rotational speed falls below a rotational speed threshold lying between the high idling speed during the warm-up idling and the post-warm-up idling speed during the post-warm-up idling such that a sufficient hydraulic pressure switch the valve timing with a specific degree of responsiveness is attained when the engine rotational speed is at or above the rotational speed threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Miura
  • Patent number: 7252061
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine is equipped with a system of variable actuation of the intake valves that is controlled electronically for the purpose, of imparting on the valves different opening and closing times and different lifts according to the operating conditions of the engine. During one and the same cycle of operation of the engine, the system is able to impart on each intake valve a series of successive cycles of movements of opening and closing within the conventional cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Marco Lucatello
  • Patent number: 7249588
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unit, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 7237530
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine provided with a fuel vapor treatment system according to the invention includes a controller that discharges fuel vapor into an intake passageway by using the intake negative pressure, and which adjusts the amount of the intake air through the cooperative control of a variable control of at least one of the lift amount of an intake valve and the working angle of the intake valve, and a control of the degree of opening of a throttle valve. In addition, the control apparatus executes the variable control so that at least one of the lift amount and the working angle of the intake valve changes in accordance with the fuel vapor concentration in the fuel vapor treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuji Miyanoo, Kiyoo Hirose
  • Patent number: 7228827
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki
  • Patent number: 7201143
    Abstract: An intake amount control apparatus of an internal combustion engine in accordance with the invention includes a control portion that controls an opening amount of a throttle valve provided in an intake passageway of the internal combustion engine and operation of a lift amount changing mechanism capable of changing a lift amount of an intake valve. The control portion controls the operation of the lift amount changing mechanism so that, prior to execution of a fuel cut control at the time of an engine deceleration, the lift amount of in intake valve becomes smaller than at the time of a normal engine idle operation where the fuel cut control is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Kakuji Kagoshima, Yuichiro Ido
  • Patent number: 7171943
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine can avoid an increase in harmful components in an exhaust gas even if a variable valve timing mechanism is controlled to be driven at the time of executing the correction of basic timing. The apparatus includes a variable valve timing mechanism for adjusting the opening and closing timing of an intake valve, a variable valve timing control device for driving and controlling the variable valve timing mechanism based on an operating state of an internal combustion engine, a rotation speed detection part for detecting an engine rotational speed, and an intake negative pressure detection part for detecting an intake negative pressure in an intake pipe. The variable valve timing control device includes a basic timing correction permission part, a target intake negative pressure setting part, an intake air amount adjustment part, a correction time driving control part, and a basic timing correction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Masakazu Miyasako, Motoyasu Suenaga
  • Patent number: 7167789
    Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine is programmably configured to operate in a plurality of compression ratios. Internal combustion engines with electronically controlled engine components that include electronic valve operation are programmed to operate individual engine cylinders with component states and stoke sequences that provide variable compression ratios by creation of a virtual cylinder within a physical cylinder. Cylinder volume dictates maximum compression ratio, which acts as a ceiling for the variable compression ratio that can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventors: Walt Froloff, Kenneth C Miller
  • Patent number: 7152579
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 7152578
    Abstract: An electronic controller variably controls the center of an operating angle of an intake valve as follows: when an engine load factor is equal to or higher than a threshold in a low load operation, the electronic controller advances the center of the operating angle with a decrease in the engine load factor. When the engine load factor is lower than the threshold in the low load operation, the electronic controller retards the center of the operating angle with a decrease in the engine load factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takasi Yui
  • Patent number: 7128051
    Abstract: The amount of air to be introduced is controlled for each cylinder, whereby it is intended to make it possible to control the torque generated in each cylinder, perform an ultra-lean burn operation, purify the exhaust gas, and increase the output of an engine. An air flow control valve adapted to be on-off controlled in accordance with an operated quantity of an accelerator pedal is disposed in each branch pipe or intake port. The air flow control valve may be a throttle valve disposed in each branch pipe or it may be a variable intake valve for opening and closing the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Minoru Ohsuga, Yoko Nakayama, Noboru Tokuyasu
  • Patent number: 7077103
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regulating the filling of an internal combustion engine to which a combustion air mass flow is fed. Said combustion air mass flow is regulated by a first and a second actuator which are triggered regarding the position thereof. The second actuator is disposed downstream of the first actuator within the air mass flow and has a final upper position in which said actuator is open to the maximum and a final lower position in which the second actuator is closed to the maximum. The actual rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is detected while a set point intake pipe pressure is predefined for triggering the first actuator. The set point intake pipe pressure is determined by means of an rpm-related characteristic map in which the set point air mass flow is not taken into account as long as the second actuator is not located in the final lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Henn, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7032567
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a variable mechanism capable of adjusting the amount of intake air introduced into each cylinder by controlling the operation angle of intake valves. In a low-load region, the intake valve operation angle is minimized, and the amount of intake air is controlled on the basis of the degree of throttle opening. In the low-load region, the operation angle of each valve is set so that there is no period during which both an intake valve and an exhaust valve are open. In a high-load region where the intake pipe pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, the amount of intake air is controlled on the basis of the operation angle. During this process, the degree of throttle opening is controlled so that the intake pipe pressure can be kept at the atmospheric pressure before and after the intake amount control based on the operation angle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ogiso, Tomomi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7028652
    Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine with a variable valve timing system is provided. While the piston descends just after the combustion in the cylinder, the intake valve is opened by the variable valve system for the intake valve such that the intake air is supplied into the cylinder from the engine intake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Iwashita, Shigeo Kikori, Kazuhiko Shiratani, Shouji Katsumata, Keiji Yoeda, Makoto Ogiso, Hideyuki Nishida, Tomomi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7021259
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, which is provided with a variable valve mechanism that varies an open/close characteristic of an intake valve, a target open/close characteristic of the intake valve is determined. Simultaneously, a control speed at a time when the intake valve is controlled to have the target open/close characteristic is determined. As a result, the variable valve mechanism is controlled according to the target open/close characteristic and the control speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7021282
    Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of an engine includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a device that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired manifold air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a device set-point based on a desired air per cylinder (APC) and an engine speed. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and generates a device control signal to control the device based on the device set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Scott J. Chynoweth, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi
  • Patent number: 7021281
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine idle speed control system includes a first valve control mechanism that adjusts a first operating parameter of a first cylinder valve. A control module determines an idle speed error and generates a first control signal to the first valve control mechanism to adjust the first operating parameter. The first control signal is based on the idle speed error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Victoriano Ruiz
  • Patent number: 7000588
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6991052
    Abstract: By a lean burn operation, a highly efficient operation region is enlarged, the proportion of engine operation in a low torque condition is increased, and the proportion of motor operation using a battery is decreased. It is possible to provide a hybrid car of an engine-electric motor configuration which can effect a highly efficient operation without increasing the capacity of motor and that of battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Nogi, Takuya Shiraishi, Minoru Oosuga, Noboru Tokuyasu, Yoko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6973901
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve mechanism that varies an open/close characteristic of an intake valve, a target open/close characteristic of the intake valve is determined and at the same time, a control speed of when the intake valve is controlled to have the target open/close characteristic is determined, so that the variable valve mechanism is controlled according to the target open/close characteristic and the control speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 6962139
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6945225
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6840201
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus is provided which comprises an operation angle control mechanism capable of varying an intake operation angle, a phase control mechanism capable of varying an intake maximum lift phase, and a control unit that controls the operation angle control mechanism and the phase control mechanism in accordance with an engine operating condition, wherein the control unit has an engine temperature estimating section that estimates an engine temperature and controls the intake operation angle so that when the engine is operating in an extremely low-load range including idling, the intake operation angle when an engine temperature is extremely low is set larger than that when the engine is cold, the extremely low-engine temperature being lower than the engine temperature when the engine is cold. A method of controlling a variable valve timing of an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Miura
  • Publication number: 20040216718
    Abstract: A method is described for estimating cylinder airflow in engines that operate with manifold pressure near atmospheric pressure to compensate for degraded sensor response at such conditions. The method uses an adaptive approach that is updated under preselected engine operating conditions to thereby allow improved accuracy across a variety of engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini
  • Publication number: 20040168672
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20040154587
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan J. Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20040134449
    Abstract: Method and system embody a valve timing strategy to control the autoignition timing of a four stroke internal combustion engine (10) operated in an HCCI mode at different engine operating conditions such as different engine speed and torque. A particular valve timing strategy varies lift timing of the intake valve (20) relative to the exhaust valve (28), or vice versa, and relative to top dead center in response to a change in engine torque, for example, to vary amount of trapped residual burned gas in the combustion chamber (12) flowing to an intake or exhaust port (16,18) and back to the combustion chamber during which the residual gas is cooled. Control of the flow of residual gas between the combustion chamber and intake or exhaust port and thus its temperature by the valve timing strategy, in turn, is used to control the temperature of the fresh air/residual gas/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber (12) and thus autoignition timing in response to a change in engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jialin Yang
  • Patent number: 6718939
    Abstract: An engine cylinder induction air quantity measuring apparatus includes a controller to calculate an intake manifold inside air quantity of air in an intake manifold, from a sensed intake air quantity by performing a balance calculation to calculate a balance between an intake manifold inflow air quantity, and an intake manifold outflow air quantity; and to calculate a cylinder induction air quantity in accordance with the intake manifold inside air quantity. The controller is configured to determine whether an engine stop position of the engine is within the valve overlap period; and to set the intake manifold inside air quantity equal to an overlap stop mode final air quantity for use as an initial value of the intake manifold inside air quantity in a next start of the engine when the engine stop position is within the valve overlap period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Iwasaki, Shouichi Hayase
  • Publication number: 20040060540
    Abstract: If during a specific steady operation state of an engine, the actual intake pipe pressure is different from a target intake pipe pressure set during the specific steady operation state, a first correction amount for the throttle valve control value is calculated by causing the actual intake pipe pressure to become equal to the target intake pipe pressure. If at this time the actual amount of intake air is still different from a target amount of intake air set during the specific steady operation state, a second correction amount for the variable valve control value is calculated by causing the actual amount of a intake air to become equal to the target amount of intake air. The second correction amount is used to further correct the throttle valve control value corrected by the first correction amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naohide Fuwa
  • Patent number: 6712041
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6705284
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20040031466
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a variable mechanism capable of adjusting the amount of intake air introduced into each cylinder by controlling the operation angle of intake valves. In a low-load region, the intake valve operation angle is minimized, and the amount of intake air is controlled on the basis of the degree of throttle opening. In the low-load region, the operation angle of each valve is set so that there is no period during which both an intake valve and an exhaust valve are open. In a high-load region where the intake pipe pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, the amount of intake air is controlled on the basis of the operation angle. During this process, the degree of throttle opening is controlled so that the intake pipe pressure can be kept at the atmospheric pressure before and after the intake amount control based on the operation angle is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ogiso, Tomomi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6679205
    Abstract: In an engine having an intake device provided with a solenoid valve, an amount of intake air is controlled on a basis of a duty control by means of a control unit, and the control unit includes an element for recognizing a state which is evidently different from a normal state to thereby stationarily hold a duty of the solenoid valve at a necessary set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadaaki Morikami
  • Patent number: 6651620
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20030154955
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6567740
    Abstract: In the event of a failure or a disruption of an exchange of data between a valve control unit and an operational control unit of an internal combustion engine with electromechanically activated inlet valves, a valve control unit switches over the electromagnetic activation of the inlet valves to full-load control times. The operational control unit suitably sets a throttle valve in order to cause the load control of the internal combustion engine no longer to be performed by the valve load control but rather by the throttle-valve load control in the emergency operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Eichenseher, Andreas Hartke, Thomas Vogt
  • Publication number: 20030084872
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6546910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus controls an internal combustion engine having electromagnetically driven valves. A target cylinder torque required of one of a plurality of cylinders is individually calculated in accordance with a target engine torque, and a timing for opening and closing each of a plurality of intake and exhaust valves in each of the plurality of cylinders is determined in accordance with the target cylinder torque. Thereby the torque of the internal combustion engine is individually controlled for each of the plurality of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Tanaka, Yasushi Ito, Shoji Katsumata, Keiji Yoeda, Hideyuki Nishida, Makoto Ogiso, Isao Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20030066512
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 6516777
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having an electromagnetically actuated intake valve for a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Yano
  • Patent number: 6502543
    Abstract: In an intake-air quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve timing system associated with at least an intake valve, a throttle valve located upstream of the intake valve, a throttle actuator variably adjusting a throttle opening of the throttle valve, sensors detecting engine operating conditions, an electronic control unit is connected electrically to the sensors, the variable valve timing system, and the throttle actuator, for automatically controlling an intake-air quantity of air entering the engine depending on the engine operating conditions. The control unit calculates a desired intake-air quantity based on the engine operating conditions, and calculates a threshold limit value that corresponds to a lower limit intake-air quantity above which valve timing control of the intake valve enables the intake-air quantity to be brought closer to the desired intake-air quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Hatsuo Nagaishi