With Fuel Injection Control Patents (Class 123/406.47)
  • Publication number: 20140007839
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine, an air intake passage to supply air to the engine, a throttle valve provided in the air intake passage to adjust a throttle opening degree that is an opening degree of the air intake passage, a bypass passage to supply air to the engine while bypassing the throttle valve, an on/off valve provided in the bypass passage to open and close the bypass passage, and a control unit that performs ignition lag control of the engine to control an output of the engine when the on/off valve is in an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroshi INOUE
  • Patent number: 8543315
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine in response to a pre-ignition event. A pre-ignition threshold and a pre-ignition mitigating action are adjusted based on a rate of change of cylinder aircharge. As a result, pre-ignition events occurring during transient engine operating conditions are detected and addressed different from pre-ignition events occurring during steady-state engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Glugla, Michael A. Mancini
  • Patent number: 8522749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid 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: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, John Nelson, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8521399
    Abstract: A method for reducing particulate matter emitted by an engine is disclosed. In one example, the start of fuel injection timing is adjusted in response to a change in engine operating conditions. In particular, start of injection timing may be advanced and then retarded to promote fuel vaporization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Peters, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 8504276
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling a gas turbine engine to minimize combustion dynamics and emissions are disclosed. Methods and an apparatus are provided for controlling the gas turbine engine where a compressor inlet temperature is measured and a turbine reference temperature is calculated in real-time and utilized to determine the most-efficient fuel splits and operating conditions for each of the fuel circuits. The fuel flow for the fuel circuits are then adjusted according to the identified fuel split.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Power Systems Mfg., LLC
    Inventors: Vincent C. Martling, Peter So, Zhenhua Xiao, Plazi Ricklin
  • Patent number: 8495984
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a variable displacement module that deactivates N of M cylinders of an engine during a fuel management mode. N is an integer and M is an integer greater than 1. A spark control module generates a spark timing signal for the N cylinders based on a pre-dwell time and a fuel management dwell modifier during the fuel management mode. The spark control module reduces dwell time of the N cylinders during the fuel management mode based on the fuel management dwell modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventors: Robert W. Riegel, Yujiro Suwa, Ronald M. Wozniak, Anthony L. Marks
  • Publication number: 20130160739
    Abstract: Because opening of a flow enhancement valve affects not only a flow but also a flow rate, when the opening of the flow enhancement valve is transiently changed, if an ignition correction control is conducted on the basis of a relationship obtained in a steady operation state of the flow enhancement valve opening and the ignition timing, there occurs such a drawback that the ignition timing is set to a retard side or an advance side of the optimal point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Seiji Asano
  • Patent number: 8457866
    Abstract: An ignition timing control system for an internal combustion engine is provided to ensure stable combustion without causing misfire or knocking, by properly setting ignition timing in the compression stroke injection mode, thereby improving drivability. The ignition timing control system for the engine, that directly injects fuel into the cylinders and that is operated by switching the fuel injection mode between an intake stroke injection mode and a compression stroke injection mode, includes a fuel injection timing-setting device for setting a fuel injection timing according to an engine speed of the engine and a fuel injection amount, a basic value-setting device for setting a basic value of ignition timing according to the engine speed of the engine and the fuel injection timing, and an ignition timing-setting device for setting ignition timing in the compression stroke injection mode by correcting the basic value according to a detected air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiho Itoga, Toru Kitamura, Toshinari Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8447498
    Abstract: Even when an engine is started in various combustion states, an excessive increase in engine speed at the start of the engine is suppressed without an influence of the combustion states and with an excellent responsiveness. Ignition timing (or a combustion injection amount) at the start of an internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with a crank angle cycle ratio which is a ratio of a combustion period crank angle cycle and a reference crank angle cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Minoru Okubo, Takao Miyake, Tomohiro Ohisa
  • Patent number: 8439011
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing cylinder pre-ignition by adjusting a spray angle of fuel injected into a cylinder responsive to an indication of pre-ignition. A spray pattern of fuel injected in the cylinder is varied based on a cylinder pre-ignition count to reduce cylinder wall impingement of injected fuel while improving air-fuel mixing in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Patent number: 8434455
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine performs output control so that an engine output coincides with demand output by changing intake air flow rate or ignition timing of the engine. Output reduction control, wherein engine output is reduced, is performed when the demand output decreases. A retard limit output is calculated, and a retard limit intake air flow rate is calculated when the demand output is less than the retard limit output. The engine output is made to coincide with the demand output by retarding the ignition timing when the demand output is equal or greater than the retard limit output. When the demand output is less than the retard limit output, the ignition timing is retard to the limit and the intake air flow rate is controlled so as to coincide with the retard limit intake air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Takeuchi, Sinobu Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8428848
    Abstract: A combustion control system for a direct injection engine includes a mean effective pressure (MEP) determination module, a coefficient of variation (COV) determination module, a spark timing module, and a fuel control module. The MEP determination module determines a MEP for a first combustion event of a cylinder based on cylinder pressure measured by a cylinder pressure sensor during the first combustion event. The COV determination module determines a COV for the cylinder based on the MEP. The spark timing module selectively sets a spark timing for a second combustion event of the cylinder based on the COV. The second combustion event is after the first combustion event. The fuel control module that selectively provides fuel for the second combustion event based on the COV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 8418674
    Abstract: A control device of a diesel engine, including an acceleration detector including an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor being attached to an engine body that defines a combustion chamber, the acceleration detector configured to output a vibration acceleration, an integrator configured to integrate values corresponding to amplitudes of the vibration acceleration from a predetermined integration start timing that is at least before an ignition timing, a comparison unit configured to compare an integration value of the integrator with a predetermined ignition timing judgment level, and a real ignition timing judgment unit configured to judge a real ignition timing on the basis of a reach timing, at which the integration value has reached the ignition timing judgment level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke Yasuhara, Yasutaka Ishibashi, Naoki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8355858
    Abstract: Various methods are described for controlling engine operation for an engine having a turbocharger and direct injection. One example method includes performing a first and second injection during a cylinder cycle, the first injection generating a lean combustion and the second injection exiting the cylinder unburned into the exhaust upstream of a turbine of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias John Pallett, Eric Matthew Storhok, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 8347852
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine in response to a pre-ignition event. A pre-ignition threshold and a pre-ignition mitigating action are adjusted based on a rate of change of cylinder aircharge. As a result, pre-ignition events occurring during transient engine operating conditions are detected and addressed different from pre-ignition events occurring during steady-state engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Mancini
  • Patent number: 8352166
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner, Peter Charles Moilanen
  • Patent number: 8352160
    Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8332127
    Abstract: A system comprises a torque control module, a combustion prediction module, and a fuel control module. The torque control module sets spark timing of an engine to produce a drive torque and determines an amount of delay to add to the spark timing to decrease the drive torque by a predetermined torque. The combustion prediction module predicts whether a single injection of fuel will combust in a cylinder of the engine when the amount of delay is added to the spark timing. The fuel control module actuates a plurality of separate injections of fuel into the cylinder when the combustion prediction module predicts that the single injection of fuel will not combust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Matthew Pruski
  • Patent number: 8316824
    Abstract: Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including: a second knock detection unit for detecting occurrence of a second knock due to an effective compression ratio when ignition timing is on a retard side of a predetermined value in the case where a first knock is detected; a second knock suppression unit for suppressing the second knock when the second knock is detected; a first abnormal ignition detection means for detecting occurrence of first abnormal ignition due to the pre-ignition or the post-ignition when a knock intensity of the second knock is equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and a first abnormal ignition suppression unit for suppressing the first abnormal ignition by performing fuel control for the internal combustion engine when the first abnormal ignition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Hagari, Tomokazu Makino, Keitaro Ezumi, Tomokuni Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 8267066
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid 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: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, John Nelson, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8255141
    Abstract: A method for reducing energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a vehicle electric system, to which at least a first electric consumer is connected. To achieve an efficient vehicle electric system with a reduced energy consumption, the internal combustion engine is operated in a first operating mode with a first injection quantity and a first ignition timing. In a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity that is higher than the first injection quantity and with a second ignition timing. A driving situation detection device recognizes an imminent specific driving situation on the basis of the previous behavior of the driver in controlling the vehicle and/or the behavior of the vehicle in advance and initiates a switch in the operating modes of the internal combustion engine from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Lemke, Martin Hauschild
  • Patent number: 8229648
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. The operation includes monitoring engine operation, and globally adapting fueling for all the cylinders based upon an engine intake mass air flow and an air/fuel ratio. The fueling for each cylinder is individually adapted based upon states of a combustion parameter for all the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Jyh-Shin Chen, Tang-Wei Kuo, Man-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8210152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the combustion of a spark-ignition internal-combustion engine, in particular a supercharged engine, wherein the engine comprises at least one cylinder (12) with a combustion chamber (14), intake means (16), exhaust means (22) and fuel supply means (44) allowing a fuel mixture to be achieved in said combustion chamber. According to the invention, the method consists in: establishing, between a slow engine speed (Rf) and a low engine speed (Rb), a curve (C2) of the limit values (P2) of the load of cylinder (12) above which pre-ignition of the fuel mixture is favored, evaluating the effective cylinder load, heterogenizing, between the slow engine speed (Rf) and the low engine speed (Rb), the fuel mixture when the evaluated load value is close to the limit value (P2) established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: IFP
    Inventors: Alexandre Pagot, Jean-Marc Zaccardi
  • Patent number: 8171912
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing cylinder pre-ignition by adjusting a spray angle of fuel injected into a cylinder responsive to an indication of pre-ignition. A spray pattern of fuel injected in the cylinder is varied based on a cylinder pre-ignition count to reduce cylinder wall impingement of injected fuel while improving air-fuel mixing in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Patent number: 8165788
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technlogies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner, Peter Charles Moilanen
  • Patent number: 8151762
    Abstract: Disclosed is a direct-injection spark-ignition engine designed to promote catalyst activation during cold engine operation. A fuel injection timing for a fuel injection period in an compression stroke (second fuel injection period F2) is set to allow a first fuel spray Ga injected from a first spray hole 40a to enter a cavity 34 in a piston crown surface 30, and allow a second fuel spray Gb to impinge against a region of the piston crown surface 30 located closer to an injector than the cavity 34, so as to cause the second fuel spray Gb having a lowered penetration force due to the impingement to be pulled toward the cavity 34 by a negative pressure generated in the cavity 34 as a result of passing of the first fuel spray Ga therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Tomomi Watanabe, Yoshiteru Nakayama, Tatsuya Fujikawa, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 8150598
    Abstract: An engine controller capable of optimizing both the air-fuel ratio and the ignition timing to provide HC-minimized performance under the relevant driving conditions (environmental conditions) in order to minimize the amount of HC emitted from an engine at the time of start-up (before catalyst activation) is provided. The engine controller includes: air-fuel ratio control means for controlling the air-fuel ratio to be within a predetermined range (for example, 14.5 to 16.5) when the engine is operated at a certain driving condition (for example, in a state in which the catalyst is not activated such as the time of starting a cooler, or idling time); and ignition timing correction means for correcting the ignition timing to the retard side when the engine is operated at the certain driving condition and the air-fuel ratio is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 8131453
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine spin-down in an engine that is shutdown during engine idle-stop conditions and restarted during restart conditions. In one example, the method comprises, during an automatic engine idle-stop, turning off spark, operating a first cylinder with a rich ratio of air to injected fuel richer than a rich flammability limit, operating a second cylinder with a lean ratio of air to injected fuel leaner than a lean flammability limit, and mixing un-combusted exhaust from the first and second cylinders with exhaust, the exhaust mixture being substantially stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20120024262
    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 knock control 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, and CMCV, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8108125
    Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8096283
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid 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: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, John Nelson, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8041500
    Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Publication number: 20110251772
    Abstract: A system comprises a torque control module, a combustion prediction module, and a fuel control module. The torque control module sets spark timing of an engine to produce a drive torque and determines an amount of delay to add to the spark timing to decrease the drive torque by a predetermined torque. The combustion prediction module predicts whether a single injection of fuel will combust in a cylinder of the engine when the amount of delay is added to the spark timing. The fuel control module actuates a plurality of separate injections of fuel into the cylinder when the combustion prediction module predicts that the single injection of fuel will not combust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Matthew Pruski
  • Publication number: 20110239987
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine which includes a valve deactivation mechanism for reducing an output power shock upon changing of the cylinder number. In an internal combustion engine which includes a valve deactivation mechanism driven by a slide pin which is driven by hydraulic pressure, response delay time after a signal is sent to oil control valves until an intake valve and an exhaust valve are activated or deactivated is used to form a control map in response to control parameters, and the valve deactivation mechanism is controlled based on the control map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Hayato MAEHARA, Shunsuke Kitawaki, Shinji Saito, Yukihiro Asada
  • Publication number: 20110132325
    Abstract: A method for reducing particulate matter emitted by an engine is disclosed. In one example, the start of fuel injection timing is adjusted in response to a change in engine operating conditions. In particular, start of injection timing may be advanced and then retarded to promote fuel vaporization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Peters, Eric Krengel
  • Patent number: 7933711
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine spin-down in an engine that is shutdown during engine idle-stop conditions and restarted during restart conditions. In one example, the method comprises, during an automatic engine idle-stop, turning off spark, operating a first cylinder with a rich ratio of air to injected fuel richer than a rich flammability limit, operating a second cylinder with a lean ratio of air to injected fuel leaner than a lean flammability limit, and mixing un-combusted exhaust from the first and second cylinders with exhaust, the exhaust mixture being substantially stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7930091
    Abstract: An engine control system and an engine control method for improving the ability to start an engine by changing the execution timings of predetermined sumchecks in ROM to shorten the time required for initialization of the system. Upon starting an ECU with a power supply supplied from an AC generator as a result of an operation of a kick starter, a CPU initialization, which includes a hardware reset and a software initialization, is executed. An ignition timing calculation sumcheck, which is required for the calculation of an ignition timing, and injection timing calculation sumcheck, which is required for the calculation of an injection timing, are not executed in a period of the software initialization. Instead, they are executed during BG (background) processing after a movement to routine processing, which upon completion of the software initialization, starts the ECU to permit driving and controlling an igniter and a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7913668
    Abstract: A method for a boosted engine including first and second injectors includes adjusting boost during a disabled condition of a first injector to compensate for lack of fuel injected from said first injector, said first injector supplying a fuel to a cylinder of said engine; and adjusting boost during a disabled condition of a second injector to compensate for lack of fuel injected from said second injector, said second injector supplying said fuel to said cylinder of said engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Allan J. Lippa, John D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20110061628
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is ignition-combustion started with or without cranking by controlling the ignition-combustion based on combustion chamber pressure, or engine temperature, or piston position, or the time elapsed since the engine was stopped, or a combination of these considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujita, Naoki Osada, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Masahiko Yuya, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane
  • Patent number: 7878177
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having fuel injectors and an ionization current sensor include a high-voltage power supply connectable to, and supplying substantially the same nominal boosted voltage relative to nominal battery voltage to, the fuel injectors and ionization sensor during at least a portion of the engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Damian Czekala, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7877189
    Abstract: A method is described for an engine having a delivery system configured to deliver fuel and a fluid to an engine cylinder, said fluid containing at least some water. In one example, an engine operating parameter may be varied based on an amount of water in said fluid, where said amount is determined based on an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 7865290
    Abstract: A system for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine with electromagnetic valve actuation, comprising of at least one cylinder with an engine cylinder valve, a second controller operably coupled to the engine cylinder valve, said second controller configured to adjust at least one of the valve opening and closing timing of the engine cylinder valve, and a first controller connected with the second controller over a first link and a second link, wherein the first controller is configured to send an engine position indication signal to the second controller over the first link and receive a status signal from the second controller over the second link, and wherein the first controller outputs a synchronization degradation signal responsive to a synchronization error between the engine position indication signal and the status signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Donald Lewis, Nate Trask, Brian C. Moorhead, Vincent J. Winstead
  • Patent number: 7845333
    Abstract: When a condition for the prediction of the occurrence transient knocking has held, that is, when a cooling water temperature ?w is not less than a threshold value ?wref and an intake air flow Qa is not less than a threshold value Qaref and a deviation of the intake air flow ?Qa is not less than a threshold value ?Qaref (S550 to S570), ignition is performed with timing on the delay angle side compared to timing FT1 by a delay angle amount ? that tends to decrease as an amount increase coefficient Kf increases (S600 to S680). Because of this, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of knocking without causing the ignition timing to be delayed more than necessary. As a result of this, it is also possible to suppress the worsening of drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7827960
    Abstract: A controller of an engine that can use a blended fuel with alcohol blended therein, the controller includes: an ignition timing controller, operable to control an ignition timing of the engine; an exhaust air-fuel ratio detector, operable to detect an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the engine; a concentration detector, operable to detect concentration of the alcohol in the blended fuel; an operation state detector, operable to detect an operation state of the engine; and a corrector, when the operation state which is detected by the operation state detector is a high-speed, high-load operation state, as the concentration of the alcohol which is detected by the concentration detector is higher, operable to control an injection amount which is injected from a fuel injection valve to correct a target equivalence ratio more in a lean direction, and operable to correct the ignition timing which is controlled by the ignition timing controller more to a spark advance side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kawakita, Katsunori Ueda, Toshiyuki Miyata, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7822536
    Abstract: In a speed transition period from when an internal combustion engine is started to when an engine speed settles down to a certain speed, a compression top dead center of a cylinder first operating is set as a reference crank angle and compression top dead centers of the cylinders arriving successively after said reference crank angle in the speed transition period are set as judgment use crank angles. Reference crank angle advancing times are detected and stored in advance, wherein the reference crank angle advancing times are crank angle advancing times when a reference fuel is used, and the crank angle advancing times are times required for the crank angle to advance from the reference crank angle to the judgment use crank angles. The actual crank angle advancing times are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Sata, Koichi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7802556
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a homogeneous charge compressed ignition engine in which a mixture gas is burned by compression ignition in a combustion chamber of a cylinder, fuel and air being previously mixed to produce the mixture gas. The homogeneous charge compressed ignition engine includes an ignition plug, which performs spark ignition to the mixture gas. An advance-angle limit and a delay-angle limit of spark ignition timing are set. The compression ignition of the mixture gas is able to be induced at the spark ignition timing. The spark ignition is supplementarily performed to the mixture gas according to an operating condition between the advance-angle limit and the delay-angle limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohtsubo, Tohru Nakazono, Takayuki Shirouzu
  • Publication number: 20100224168
    Abstract: A control device of a diesel engine, including an acceleration detector including an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor being attached to an engine body that defines a combustion chamber, the acceleration detector configured to output a vibration acceleration, an integrator configured to integrate values corresponding to amplitudes of the vibration acceleration from a predetermined integration start timing that is at least before an ignition timing, a comparison unit configured to compare an integration value of the integrator with a predetermined ignition timing judgment level, and a real ignition timing judgment unit configured to judge a real ignition timing on the basis of a reach timing, at which the integration value has reached the ignition timing judgment level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke YASUHARA, Yasutaka Ishibashi, Naoki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7784443
    Abstract: A spark-ignition gasoline engine having at least a spark plug, the engine including an engine body having a geometrical compression ratio set at 14 or more, and an intake valve and an exhaust valve provided, respectively, in intake and exhaust ports connected to each of a plurality of cylinders of the engine body. The intake and exhaust valves are adapted to open and close corresponding respective ones of the intake and exhaust ports. The engine further includes an operation-state detector adapted to detect an operation state of the engine body and a control system adapted, based on detection of the operation-state detector, to perform at least an adjustment control of an ignition timing of the spark plug, the control system being operable, when an engine operation zone is a high-load operation zone including a wide open throttle region within at least a low speed range, to retard the ignition timing to a point within a predetermined stroke range just after a top dead center of a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Noriyuki Iwata, Masahisa Yamakawa, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Takashi Yohso, Takayoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7779813
    Abstract: A system for a multi-fuel engine includes adjusting delivery of one or more fuels in response to a condition of an ignition spark in the engine. In one example, the system adjusts one or more fuels in response to spark plug ionization detection to improve performance of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Hahn
  • Patent number: 7769531
    Abstract: A control device of an internal combustion engine calculates ignition delays in lean combustion and rich combustion, standardizes the ignition delays based on ignition timing, and further standardizes the ignition delays based on injection quantity and injection timing of pilot injection respectively. The control device calculates a present ignition delay by linear interpolation of the standardized ignition delays in the lean combustion and the rich combustion. Moreover, the control device corrects the present ignition delay with the ignition timing and further corrects the present ignition delay with the injection quantity and the injection timing of the pilot injection. The control device calculates a command value of the injection timing by subtracting the corrected present ignition delay from target ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kawamura, Masakuni Yokoyama