Control Of Air/fuel Ratio Or Fuel Injection Patents (Class 701/103)
  • Publication number: 20140058645
    Abstract: A system comprising an air actuator configured to control air delivered to an engine; a fuel actuator configured to control fuel delivered to an engine; and a controller configured to: actuate the air actuator in response to a first torque signal; and actuate the fuel actuator in response to a second torque signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: David Stroh, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Carlos Alcides Lana, Karim Abdoul Azizou
  • Patent number: 8660772
    Abstract: A microcomputer of an alcohol concentration sensor reads a first measurement value corresponding to a first frequency and reads a second measurement value corresponding to a second frequency. The microcomputer calculates a difference between the first and second measurement values. The microcomputer performs stuck failure abnormality determination when a state where the difference between the measurement values is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value continues. The microcomputer outputs a PWM signal of a specific frequency, which is different from a frequency in a case of a normality, to an engine ECU. Thus, a failure of the alcohol concentration sensor can be surely determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akikazu Uchida, Jun Tarui, Toshiki Annoura, Hiroshi Katsurahara
  • Patent number: 8656701
    Abstract: A control device applied to a system having an engine configured such that an expansion ratio can be changed is characterized to comprise an expansion ratio acquisition part for acquiring the expansion ratio, and a temperature estimation part for estimating a temperature of an exhaust gas discharged from the engine or a member positioned in a passage for the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Akihisa, Koichi Kimura, Fumito Chiba, Rentaro Kuroki, Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Publication number: 20140046574
    Abstract: An engine control unit with distributed processing includes a main ECU and remote modules with sensor inputs and ignition and injector outputs. A bidirectional asynchronous CAN data bus and a square wave timing signal operatively connect the components. Synchronous ignition and ignition data and asynchronous sensor and control data are concurrently transmitted between components using CAN messaging. Synchronicity is accomplished using the timing signal. The rising edge of each pulse triggers dwell and injection start times, and the falling edge triggers ignition. Injection and dwell time values, the cylinders to dwell and fire, and the injectors to energize, are transmitted using CAN messaging. The remote modules process the control messages and timing signal and generate the appropriate ignition, injector, and pulse width modulation control signals. Alternatively, time stamp capabilities of the CAN bus topology are used for synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: DARWIN SPENCER EISENBARTH, Michael Wittkopf, Jeffrey David Greene, Eitan Lavi
  • Publication number: 20140046576
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting hydrocarbon ingestion into an engine based on the simultaneous monitoring of cylinder imbalance and an elevated exhaust exotherm. Crankshaft acceleration data is monitored during steady-state and transient engine conditions while exhaust temperatures are estimated during non-regeneration conditions. Engine speed and load is limited to reduce further hydrocarbon ingestion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopal Krishna Chamarthi, John G. Fraser, Arnold Kromberg, Anil Shah, Thomas C. Erickson, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Scott Eeley
  • Patent number: 8649956
    Abstract: The fact that “with respect to a process in which the output value of a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor (sensor output value) is inverted from the minimum output value to the maximum output value during execution of an active control, the local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value is widely affected by the size of the response delay of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor and the size of the degree of the degradation of the three-way catalyst” is utilized. By preliminarily acquiring and memorizing, as maps, these relations obtained through an experiment, and applying the “local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value” calculated from the transition of the sensor output value acquired during execution of the active control to the maps, the response delay (time constant) of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawamura, Takuya Matsumoto, Takashi Nakamura, Makoto Sato, Toru Kidokoro, Hiroshi Sawada, Yasushi Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 8649957
    Abstract: A control device is provided that generates a target air-fuel ratio by lessening a change speed of a required air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. However, when a deterioration degree of a catalyst which is disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine is a predetermined reference or more, lessening of the change speed of the required air-fuel ratio is stopped, or a lessening degree of the change speed of the required air-fuel ratio is decreased. The control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the required torque under the target air-fuel ratio. For calculation of the target air quantity, data in which relationship of torque generated by the internal combustion engine and an air quantity taken into a cylinder is fixed by being related to an air-fuel ratio can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshizaki, Shuntaro Okazaki, Masashi Shibayama, Kaoru Shokatsu, Hajime Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8649960
    Abstract: In a method for reading and/or storing injector-specific data for controlling an injection system of an internal combustion engine, an injector is charged by a control unit according to a predeterminable voltage curve and, depending on the case, is discharged directly by the control unit or by a power element located on a data storage medium and the voltage is measured by the control unit and by the data storage medium. Dependent upon a predeterminable voltage curve, a predeterminable amount of data is stored or read on a memory unit of the data storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Bachmaier, Dominik Bergmann, Bernhard Fischer, Johann Görzen, Frank Herold, Stefan Lehmann, Thomas Schmid, Christian Tump
  • Publication number: 20140039779
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine are described. In order to recognize and correct the drift in the amount of fuel injected over the service life of the injectors of the injection system of the internal combustion engine, multiple different corrective functions are used to establish corrected individual characteristics relative to nominal characteristics. Each offset of the corrected individual characteristic from the nominal characteristics is determined, offset curves are created, and the sections of the individual offset curves representing a minimal offset are used as control data for the amount of fuel to be injected, thus making it possible to always achieve overall optimal control with a minimal difference in the amount of injected fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Kerekgyarto
  • Publication number: 20140039778
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine exhaust emissions while enabling exhaust catalyst regeneration following an engine lean event. Prior to a VDE event, or prior to an engine idle-stop, ammonia is produced and stored on an exhaust underbody SCR catalyst. Then, during the engine restart after the VDE mode or the idle-stop, the stored ammonia is used to treat exhaust NOx species while an upstream exhaust underbody three-way catalyst is regenerated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Joseph Robert Theis, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8645044
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes determining an actual combustion heat release during ongoing engine operation, calculating an expected combustion heat release corresponding to engine operation associated with the actual combustion heat release during ongoing engine operation, determining a difference between the actual combustion heat release and the expected combustion heat release, and operating the internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode to achieve a preferred combustion phasing during each combustion cycle in response to the difference between the actual combustion heat release and the expected combustion heat release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicole Wermuth, Paul M. Najt, Orgun A. Guralp, Hanho Yun, Jun-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 8645043
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a transient operation detection module, an injection determination module, and an injection control module. The transient operation detection module detects whether the engine is operating in a transient state. The injection determination module, based on an elapsed time since a fuel request and at least one of a plurality of engine operating parameters, at least one of (i) increases a number of fuel injections per combustion cycle to N, and (ii) adjusts periods for each of the fuel injections, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to two. The injection control module controls fuel injection during the transient state based on at least one of (i) N fuel injections per combustion cycle and (ii) the adjusted periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua D. Cowgill, John Ogalla Waldman, Halim G. Santoso, J. Michael Ellenberger
  • Patent number: 8640670
    Abstract: A fuel-pressure waveform detector has a detect-waveform obtaining unit for obtaining a multi-stage injection pressure waveform by means of a fuel-pressure sensor while performing a multi-stage fuel injection during one combustion cycle. A model waveform memory stores a reference model pressure waveform of when a single fuel injection is performed. A waveform extracting unit extracts a pressure waveform due to the subject fuel injection by subtracting the reference model pressure waveform from the multi-stage injection pressure waveform. A correction unit corrects the reference model pressure waveform in such a manner that its attenuation degree becomes larger as a fuel injection period of the subject fuel injection is longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Yoshiharu Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8639431
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying alcohol content of a fuel in an engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection to the engine based on fuel alcohol content identified from crankshaft acceleration. For example, the crankshaft acceleration may be generated by modulating an air/fuel ratio in a selected cylinder across a range of air/fuel ratios while keeping the engine at stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Brandon M. Dawson, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8635004
    Abstract: A control system includes an axle torque arbitration module, a power security module, a propulsion torque arbitration module, and an actuation module. The axle torque arbitration module determines an axle torque request based on a driver input and a vehicle speed. The power security module determines a secured torque request based on the axle torque request, the vehicle speed, and an engine speed. The propulsion torque arbitration module determines a propulsion torque request based on the axle torque request and the secured torque request. The actuation module controls at least one of air, spark, and fuel provided to a cylinder of an engine based on the propulsion torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Michael Livshiz
  • Patent number: 8635003
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a control module and a resistor. The resistor is connected in series between the control module and a non-contact position sensor. The control module selectively detects a fault of the non-contact position sensor based on a voltage drop across the resistor. A method for controlling an engine includes providing a resistor connected in series between a control module and a non-contact position sensor, and selectively detecting a fault of the non-contact position sensor based on a voltage drop across the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, John Norman Stockbridge, J. Oscar Aparicio, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140014066
    Abstract: A system is disclosed herein for a four-stroke internal combustion engine, the system comprising: at least two cylinders; a fuel direct injection device; a variable valve timing system; an engine controller to control spark ignition and valve timing according to load; wherein, below a lower load threshold, a first cylinder is deactivated, an injection of fuel takes place into a combustion chamber of the first cylinder and an outlet valve of the first cylinder is open during a compression stroke. Fuel injected into the deactivated cylinders may enter the exhaust tract through the open outlet valves and serve as a reducing agent therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20140019028
    Abstract: A system and methods for operating four in-line cylinders with common rail injection is described that comprises operating a first cylinder group without a compression and power stroke injection, but with an exhaust stroke injection while operating a second cylinder group with at least a compression stroke injection. In this way, the unburned fuel injected during the exhaust stroke enriches the exhaust-gas flow and further allows heating of the exhaust aftertreatment system. In one example provided, the first cylinder group is further configured to operate in an exhaust heating mode while also operating in a power generating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 8627858
    Abstract: Methods and systems for selectively fuelling a vehicle are provided. One example method of fuelling a vehicle may include receiving a fuel in a fuel reservoir in the vehicle, and directing the fuel to one of a plurality of storage tanks based on a fuel type. In one example, the directing of fuel may include adjusting one or more fuelling valves positioned between the fuel reservoir and the plurality of storage tanks to vary a direction of fuel flow to the plurality of storage tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 8627799
    Abstract: Apparatus constituting part of an induction and fuel delivery system for a cylinder of a piston internal combustion engine comprising a small cyclone into which is tangentially discharged a flow of heated air to generate a sustained vortex of high rotational speed; a modulatable fuel injector delivering a flow of atomized fuel into said small cyclone wherein it underdoes flash evaporation and energetic mixing; a delivery duct connecting said small cyclone to the inlet tract of said cylinder wherein said vortex fuel-air mixture is mixed with heated induction air; and means to prevent overheating of said modulatable fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: David Littlewood Johnson
  • Patent number: 8630785
    Abstract: A fuel management system includes a pedal resistance determination module and a pedal resistance adjustment module. The pedal resistance determination module determines a desired accelerator pedal resistance based on at least one of engine and transmission operating conditions. The pedal resistance adjustment module adjusts a pedal resistance device based on the desired accelerator pedal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventors: Gerald J. Hysko, Jr., Christopher M. Noel, Alfonso G. Hysko
  • Patent number: 8630776
    Abstract: An engine is coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission. The hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member to generate an output torque in response to an operator torque request. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen, Scott J Thompson
  • Publication number: 20140012484
    Abstract: A method for fault diagnosis in a fuel injection system having first and second fuel injectors. The method includes initiating a current flow in the first and second fuel injectors. Further, a rise duration of the current flow to reach a threshold level is measured. The method further includes comparing the rise duration and a preset duration. The fuel injection system is controlled based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Love, Frank Lombardi, Daniel R. Puckett, Kiran S. Prakash, Aaron L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140012486
    Abstract: A method/control unit for detecting a voltage offset in a range of a voltage-lambda characteristic curve of a two-point lambda sensor in an engine exhaust gas duct as to a reference voltage-lambda characteristic curve of the two-point lambda sensor, which is part of a controlled system for adjusting an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine, a characteristic curve deviation of voltage-lambda characteristic curve to the reference characteristic curve being corrected at ?=1, so that a change in the air-fuel mixture composition toward ?=1 occurs, starting from a value pair to be checked on the reference characteristic curve, with a lambda and a voltage to be checked, the actual value of lambda being inferred from the change in the mixture composition until reaching ?=1. The method/control unit permit determining and compensating a voltage offset of a two-point lambda sensor conditional upon aging or manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael FEY
  • Publication number: 20140012485
    Abstract: A method for determining the opening point in time of a control valve having a coil drive of an indirectly driven fuel injector for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle may include: detecting the time curve of the current intensity of a current flowing through the coil drive, determining a current integral with respect to the detected current intensity as a function of the time and starting from a defined initial time, and determining a time at which the current integral reaches at least a predefined current integral reference value, wherein the determined time is the opening point in time of the control valve. A corresponding device and a computer program for determining the opening point in time of a control valve of an indirectly driven fuel injector are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Brandt, Christian Frankenberger
  • Patent number: 8626388
    Abstract: A sprung mass damping control system of a vehicle, which suppresses sprung mass vibration generated in a vehicle body by adjusting a driving control amount of a drive source (the second motor-generator), includes a spring vibration control amount calculating device that sets a sprung mass damping control amount for suppressing the sprung mass vibration, a drive source control device (a motor-generator control device) that executes sprung mass damping control by controlling the driving control amount of the drive source to realize the sprung mass damping control amount, and a sprung mass damping control amount adjusting apparatus (a sprung mass damping control amount responsiveness compensating portion) that adjusts the phase of a sprung mass damping control signal related to the sprung mass damping control amount according to the situation. A vehicle is provided with this sprung mass damping control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8626423
    Abstract: To provide a control device for an internal combustion engine that can optimally control a plasma ignition operation independent of fuel type. In a control device 30 of an internal combustion engine 20, which controls plasma ignition operation for causing volume ignition of air fuel mixture by plasma in a combustion chamber 10, a fuel type detection part 40 detects a type of fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber 10. According to the detected fuel type, a state of plasma or a state of air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 10 is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Imagineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8620561
    Abstract: A control for an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber of the engine, an ignition device for burning an air-fuel mixture containing the fuel injected from the fuel injection valve, and a variable cylinder management mechanism that is capable of changing the number of operating cylinders is provided. The control includes making a transition to an operating mode where the number of operating cylinders is decreased through the variable cylinder management mechanism. It is predicted based on an operating condition of the engine that an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust atmosphere of the engine becomes lean due to a stop of the fuel injection into one or more cylinders to be halted by the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Taro Endo, Takaaki Fukusako
  • Patent number: 8620562
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a variable valve system includes a variable valve timing mechanism that performs variable control of the valve timing of an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, a variable operation angle mechanism that performs variable control of the operation angle of the intake valve, and a control unit that performs drive control of the variable valve timing mechanism and the variable operation angle mechanism. The control unit sets an upper guard for the operation angle according to an actual value of the valve timing, and when a target value of the valve timing is a value on the retard side of a specified determining value, the control unit reinforces the upper guard compared with when the target value of the valve timing is not a value on the retard side of the specified determining value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Hayashi, Tokiji Ito, Fumito Takimoto
  • Patent number: 8620564
    Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine changes a fuel injection quantity of a predetermined target cylinder to detect an abnormality of an internal combustion engine based on values of rotational variations relating to the target cylinder detected before and after the change of the fuel injection quantity. The abnormality detection apparatus corrects the values of the rotational variations relating to the target cylinder detected before and after the change of the fuel injection quantity based on at least one of the number of revolutions of the engine and an engine load at a corresponding detection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Hakariya, Isao Nakajima, Yoshihisa Oda, Hitoshi Tanaka, Kiyotaka Kushihama, Shota Kitano, Kazuyuki Noda, Katsumi Adachi, Yuichi Kohara, Akihiro Katayama
  • Patent number: 8620565
    Abstract: A control system (36) for comparing engine speed data to an engine speed threshold above which the engine is considered to be running (40), for comparing engine temperature data to an engine temperature threshold (60), and once engine speed data has become greater than the engine speed threshold, for causing engine torque to be limited to an engine torque limit until the first to occur of: engine temperature data exceeding the engine temperature threshold, a first timer (44), started upon engine speed data having become greater than the engine speed threshold, having timed to a time that is a function of engine temperature data, and a second timer (54), started upon engine speed data having become greater than the engine speed threshold and engine oil pressure data having become greater than an engine oil pressure threshold, having timed to a time that is also a function of engine temperature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Kadolph
  • Patent number: 8620559
    Abstract: A system and a method for executing tasks for an internal combustion engine (14) has two control devices (1, 2), with the two control devices (1, 2) being provided in order to process the tasks independently of one another, with the first control device (1) having a first release signal and a first switchover signal, with the second control device having a second release signal and a second switchover signal, with, by exchanging the two release signals and the two switchover signals, it being defined that only one of the two control devices (1, 2) executes a defined task at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Jehle, Wolfgang Moser, Peter Russe
  • Publication number: 20130345947
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for conserving fuel used by an engine. In some embodiments a control module processes a user-provided input, as a first function, into a second function. The second function can be used to direct the engine with a directive output power. The directive output power may have regions equal to, greater than, and/or less than what the power output would be if the engine were controlled using the user-provided input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130345948
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine comprising a number of cylinders and wherein the air mass trapped in each cylinder is adjusted by means of a respective intake valve by means of an actuation device with variable opening law; the method includes determining the required total target torque to be delivered; determining a number of active cylinders and a number of inactive cylinders; determining the angle for controlling the intake valve of the number of active cylinders and of the number of inactive cylinders, respectively; and controlling the internal combustion engine as a function of the control angle of the intake valves of the number of active cylinders and of the number of inactive cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 8613263
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a first fuel is reformed into a gaseous fuel comprising H, CO, and CH4. The engine is operated by injecting the gaseous fuel and a second fuel to a cylinder of the engine in response to an available amount of gaseous fuel, engine speed and engine load. Further, an engine actuator may be adjusted to vary cylinder charge dilution in response to the available amount of gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael H. Shelby
  • Publication number: 20130338903
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine using gaseous fuel is described. In one example, engine operation is adjusted responsive to a temperature of air entering an engine and a resultant temperature of a gaseous fuel injected to the engine. The system and method may improve engine air-fuel control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130338904
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of the present invention determines whether or not a lean request has occurred, based on a comparison between a value correlating with an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor disposed downstream of the catalyst (downstream air-fuel ratio sensor output correlating value) and a predetermined lean request determining value, and determines whether or not a rich request has occurred, based on a comparison between the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor output correlating value and a predetermined rich request determining value. Further, the air-fuel ratio control apparatus calculates a total amount of oxygen (released oxygen amount) released from the catalyst in the rich request occurring period, and calculates an integrated value (present stored oxygen amount) of oxygen stored in the catalyst after a start of the lean request occurring period which follows the rich request occurring period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota Onoe, Takahiko Fujiwara, Makoto Tomimatsu, Junichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8612117
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for application to a waste heat reuse system that recovers and reuses engine waste heat, and for controlling the amount of waste heat based on a requested heat amount of a heat utilization request. In the apparatus, an overlap angle between a valve-opening period of an intake valve and that of an exhaust valve of the engine is controlled based on an engine driving condition. Ignition timing of the engine is controlled to fall on maximum-efficient timing that minimizes fuel consumption in a current engine driving condition. When a requested heat amount cannot be satisfied, overlap-increase control is performed to increase an overlap angle, and ignition advance control is performed to advance ignition timing with reference to a maximum-efficient timing that corresponds to the increased overlap angle. Waste heat amount of the engine is controlled with the overlap-increase control and the ignition advance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Senda, Mitsuo Hara, Hiroaki Takeishi, Daisuke Nakanishi, Hisashi Iida
  • Patent number: 8612116
    Abstract: A target TH opening degree change amount calculating unit 26 calculates a change amount of a target throttle opening degree ?THCMD. In accordance with whether or not the change amount of the target throttle opening degree ?THCMD is not less than a predetermined control start threshold, a collision prevention process determining unit 27 determines whether a throttle grip 21 has been operated to rapidly close. When the rapid closing operation of the throttle grip 21 is detected, a change-amount basic value calculating unit 28 calculates a change-amount basic value of the target throttle opening degree. A correction term calculating unit 29 inputs to a multiplying unit 30 a correction term for correcting the change-amount basic value. The multiplying unit 30 multiplies the change-amount basic value by the correction term, and outputs a change amount of the target throttle opening degree thus calculated. The correction term can be set, for example, to have a value not more than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Yukihiro Asada
  • Patent number: 8612118
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine, including, adjusting a target load, which lies below a full load; operating at least one cylinder in a first cylinder group with a first load, which is reduced with respect to the target load; operating at least one cylinder in a second cylinder group with a second load, which is increased with respect to the target load; selecting the first and second loads such that a resulting load is the target load; and selecting the first and second loads such that at least one environmental parameter value is improved, wherein the environmental parameters include at least one of a fuel consumption, a nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas, and a particle content in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Elsäβer
  • Patent number: 8612119
    Abstract: An engine is fueled with a fuel blend of diesel and bidiesel fuel. A feed forward fuel control term is provided corresponding to a 100 percent diesel fuel blend and a feedback fuel control term corrects for lambda deviations resulting in a final fuel control term. During regeneration of a lean Nox trap, the feed forward fuel control term is adapted with a factor as a function of the feed forward fuel control term and the final fuel control term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara
  • Publication number: 20130332048
    Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injection valve can control the time to inject fuel and the amount of fuel to be injected in response to a control signal independently from the operating condition of an engine unlike a traditional mechanical fuel injection valve. The electronically controlled fuel injection valve employs a control method for fuel injection that increases the force of lifting up a cutoff needle of an injection controller by delivering high-pressure fuel to a lower pressure chamber via a control needle, thereby rapidly controlling fuel injection, has a simple structure making it easy to assemble, replace and precisely machine parts, and has a simple flow path structure which facilitates fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Dong-Hun Kim, Seung-Hyup Ryu, Tae-Hyung Park
  • Publication number: 20130332049
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling at least one of a fuel supply and an air supply to an internal combustion engine (1), in a fuel supply section thereof, such that an A/F-ratio is adjusted automatically to a desired level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Mikael Larsson
  • Patent number: 8606487
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to enable a torque as required to be realized without being influenced by an operation state of an IN-VVT, which is a variable valve timing mechanism which changes a valve timing of an intake valve. For this purpose, a control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention stores data that defines a relationship between an air quantity and a torque in an MBT in association with the operation state of the IN-VVT, and calculates a target air quantity for realizing a required torque based on the data. The control device calculates an actual air quantity which is actually realized by an operation of a throttle when operating the throttle to realize the target air quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Takagi, Hiromitu Seo, Eiichiro Kido, Takamitsu Mizutani, Hirokazu Ando
  • Patent number: 8606486
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a density determination module and a mass air flow (MAF) determination module. The density determination module determines a density of air in an induction system of the engine based on a temperature of the air, a pressure of the air, and a relative humidity of the air. The MAF determination module, based on the determined density of the air, a velocity of the air, and a cross-sectional area of the induction system, determines a MAF through the induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventors: Bryant G. Hammond, Layne K. Wiggins, Jan Andrzej Gatowski
  • Publication number: 20130325294
    Abstract: A method for operating a controller for a position transducer system, of a throttle valve position transducer in an engine system having an internal combustion engine, the control being performed to obtain a manipulated variable for triggering an actuating drive of the position transducer system, the control being performed by initially applying a transfer function to a system deviation to obtain an adapted system deviation and subsequently applying a transfer function to the adapted system deviation to obtain the manipulated variable, the transfer function being a function which indicates a deviation of a model of a nominal position transducer system having predefined nominal parameters from the model of the position transducer system to be controlled, an adaptation of the control process being performed by adapting the transfer function, in that the parameters of the model of the position transducer system to be controlled are adapted, in particular in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexandre Wagner, Ralf Buehrle
  • Publication number: 20130325293
    Abstract: A machine includes at least one torque consuming device drivingly coupled with an internal combustion engine. An electronic controller is in communication with the engine and the torque consuming device, and is configured to receive a load request and determine a current operating state of the engine. The electronic controller simulates transition of the engine from the current operating state to a requested operating state according to a plurality of different load application pathways. An engine response characteristic for each of the different load application pathways is determined, and the electronic controller selects one of the different load application pathways based on the engine response characteristic. The engine is then transitioned from the current operating state to the requested operating state according to the selected load application pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Evan Earl Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8600646
    Abstract: In a method for regulating an air/fuel ratio, and in a method for recognizing a fuel quality, a lambda sensor is provided in the exhaust of the internal combustion engine, wherein after fueling of the tank the second adaption value is first adjusted due to a deviation of the lambda signal from the target signal occurring such that the lambda signal oscillates again about the target value, wherein the second adaption value is determined as a function of the current adaption value and as a function of the currently determined quality of the fuel. In a method for recognizing a fuel quality, particularly of a mixture ratio of two types of fuel, the lambda signal of the lambda sensor is analyzed for recognizing the quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Haft, Paul Rodatz
  • Patent number: 8600643
    Abstract: A suspension control system for a vehicle includes a pressure increasing module and a compressor control module. In response to a startup of the vehicle, the pressure increasing module: selectively sets a pressure increase signal to a first state when an air pressure within air bags of a suspension system is less than a predetermined pressure; and selectively sets the pressure increase signal to a second state when the air pressure is greater than the predetermined pressure. In response to the startup of the vehicle, the compressor control module: operates an air compressor of the suspension system when the pressure increase signal is in the first state; and disables operation of the air compressor when the pressure increase signal is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Brian A. MacFarlane, Steven A. Opiteck
  • Patent number: 8600645
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having at least one manifold, a throttle, and a crank wheel, includes a pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the at least one manifold, a throttle position sensor to measure a position of the throttle of the engine, a revolution sensor to measure a rate of rotation of the crank wheel of the engine, a processor in communication with each of the pressure sensor, the throttle position sensor, and the revolution sensor to receive an input signal, analyze the input signal based upon an instruction set, and generate a control signal in response to analysis of the input signal, wherein the input signal is representative of at least one of the pressure, the throttle position, and the rate of rotation, and an engine system in communication with the processor and responsive to the control signal to control a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Raymond Culbertson, Eric Bender