Controlling Timing Patents (Class 701/105)
  • Publication number: 20100241337
    Abstract: There is a control apparatus of an engine including a variable valve timing mechanism having a locking mechanism for locking a rotation phase of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft to a target for the engine starting. In a case where the rotation phase has not reached the target for the engine starting at the time of the engine starting, fuel injection to the engine is restricted from the commencement of the engine starting until an integrated value of valve opening frequencies reaches a threshold, and when the integrated value of the valve opening frequencies has reached the threshold, it is regarded that the rotation phase is locked to the target for the engine starting by a locking mechanism, and fuel supply to the engine is permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Satoru WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20100235071
    Abstract: A method for controlling fueling of an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine may include an intake manifold, one or more exhaust manifolds and a turbocharger coupled between the intake and exhaust manifolds. The method may comprise estimating an operating condition of the turbocharger, determining a maximum value of an operating parameter as a function of the estimated operating condition of the turbocharger, measuring a value of the operating parameter, determining an error value as a function of the maximum value of the first operating parameter and the measured value of the operating parameter, and limiting fuel supplied to the engine based on the error value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: David J. Reynolds, Zachary Schwab, Ralph Gutman
  • Publication number: 20100222989
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of banks; each having a cylinder provided to said banks comprising: an intake valve provided between said cylinder and an intake manifold a camshaft opening and closing said intake valve by means of mechanical power of said internal combustion engine; and a changing unit changing, according to an operating state of said internal combustion engine a phase angle of said camshaft said phase angle corresponding to a closing timing of said intake valve said banks differing from each other in most retarded phase angle changed by said changing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Taichi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20100222990
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the step of stopping power supply to an electric motor if a phase of an intake valve is in a first region between the most retarded angle and CA. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in the first region, the rotational speed of relative rotation between the output shaft of the electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in a second region between CA and the most advanced angle, the rotational speed of the relative rotation is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zenichiro Mashiki, Yasumichi Inoue, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Patent number: 7788018
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a common rail system together with individual accumulators. A rotational speed-control deviation (dn) is determined from a target rotational speed (nSL) that represents the set point for an outer control loop to control the rotational speed, as well as from an actual rotational speed (nIST). A target torque (MSL) is determined from the rotational speed-control deviation (dn) via a rotational speed controller as a master controller. A target injection duration (SD(SOLL)) is determined from the target torque (MSL). The target duration injection (SD(SOLL)) represents the set point for an inner control loop for controlling cylinder-specific injection duration. An injection duration deviation is determined from the target injection duration (SD(SOLL)) and from an actual injection duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Speetzen, Günther Schmidt, Albert Kloos, Andreas Kunz, Michael Willmann, Jörge Remele, Marc Hehle
  • Publication number: 20100217504
    Abstract: A valve overlap period is increased as a desired torque of an engine increases by advancing an opening timing of an intake valve at a rate greater than that of retarding a closing timing of an exhaust valve in a low engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively low (step S16). The valve overlap period is increased as the desired torque of the engine increases by retarding the closing timing of the exhaust valve at a rate greater than that of advancing the opening timing of the intake valve in a high engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively high (step S17). Accordingly, the drivability can be improved by obtaining the proper torque and the smooth torque curve in the wide driving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikihito FUJII, Kazuya YOKOTA, Naoyuki YAMAGATA, Kazuaki NARAHARA
  • Patent number: 7783409
    Abstract: A model-based estimation of mass airflow is provided which provides an accurate estimation of mass airflow without introducing undesirable time delays characteristic of filtered mass airflow signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Jyh-Shin Chen, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 7783413
    Abstract: A method may include commanding operation of an engine in a first lift mode. The engine may include a valve lifter system that selectively operates a valve member in the first lift mode and a second lift mode through engagement with a camshaft. A first duty cycle of a cam phaser oil control valve (OCV) may be determined to maintain a first camshaft position corresponding to the first lift mode. The camshaft position may be maintained by a cam phaser that is coupled to the camshaft and in communication with the cam phaser OCV. Engine operation may be commanded to the second lift mode and a second duty cycle of the cam phaser OCV may be determined to maintain a second camshaft position corresponding to the second lift mode. A valve lifter system failure may be diagnosed based on a difference between the first and second duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Patent number: 7783412
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the timing of an injection cycle relative to an operating cycle of a four-stroke engine (ECH, ADM, COMP, DET), the timing being possibly correct or wrong, the method including the step of operating the engine while modifying a first operating parameter of the engine adapted to bring about on the engine operating effects which are different depending on whether the timing is correct or wrong; it consists in simultaneously modifying a second operating parameter of the engine adapted to bring about on the engine operating mode effects which compensate the effects modifying the first operating parameter of the engine when the timing is correct, and which do not compensate the efforts modifying the first operating parameter of the engine when the timing is wrong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Damien Poignant, Pierrick Plouzennec
  • Patent number: 7783414
    Abstract: A circuit and method for correcting signal timing. The circuit and method generate a first signal with a first phase that is out of phase with a periodic object, generate a voltage signal that corresponds to the frequency of the first signal and generate a second signal based on the first signal and the voltage signal, the second signal having a second phase that is substantially in phase with the periodic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Moroso Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Carrado, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7778765
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus includes a computing unit that calculates a pulse width for a pulse signal which drives the valve of a fuel injector, based on the operational state of the internal combustion engine and fuel pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor. After a valve-opening command has turned on and a high valve-opening current has been supplied to open the fuel injector valve, a fuel injector driving signal waveform command unit discharges the current and supplies a small hold current Ih2 to maintain the injector's valve-open state. After the elapse of a predetermined rapid-discharge starting time from the turn-on of the valve-opening command, the fuel injector driving signal waveform command unit rapidly discharges the current until the hold current Ih2 has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Takao Miyake, Masahiro Sasaki, Takuya Mayuzumi
  • Publication number: 20100192878
    Abstract: The air hybrid engine with dual chamber cylinder with an air storage tank is an energy recovery unit from deceleration and breaking the vehicle and will perform as power management. During deceleration mode of a vehicle where the compressor chamber in the engine will recover energy by compressing the air and storing the compressed in a storage tank. During acceleration mode the engine will run in a mixed mode, conventional mode and air motor mode. The compressed air can also be used for starting the engine. The engine will operate in the “sweet spot” to optimize fuel consumption by using the lower chamber and or upper chamber in compression mode or an idle mode. The compressed air from the air storage tank can be used for other purposes such as air suspension and or to power pneumatic tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: REZ MUSTAFA
  • Patent number: 7769530
    Abstract: For an internal combustion engine with a common rail system including individual accumulators, a process for open- and closed-loop control is proposed, in which the individual accumulator pressure (pE) is detected within a measuring interval and stored, an absolute minimum value of the stored individual accumulator pressure (pE) is interpreted as the end of the main injection, and on the basis of the end of the main injection, a mathematical function is used to calculate a virtual starting time for the main injection. In the measuring interval after the end of the main injection, the individual accumulator pressure (pE) is filtered within a time window, a local minimum value of the filtered individual accumulator pressure is interpreted as the end of a post-injection, and a mathematical function is used to calculate a virtual start of the post-injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Hehle, Albert Kloos, Jörg Remele, Günther Schmidt, Ralf Speetzen, Michael Walder, Michael Willmann
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7769529
    Abstract: At the time of reference position learning, an operation amount of an actuator is set such that intake valve phase changes to a position of most retarded angle in a region where the amount of change in intake valve phase relative to the actuator operation amount is small (S110). When the intake valve phase reaches the position of most retarded angle and the change in the intake valve phase stops (YES at S140), it is determined that the intake valve phase has reached the position of most retarded angle as the reference phase, and learning is completed. Further, in response to completion of learning, power supply to the electric motor as the actuator is stopped. Consequently, it becomes possible to reduce power consumption and to protect the apparatus at the reference position learning for ensuring accuracy in detecting valve opening/closing timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Publication number: 20100191442
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an air intake pressurization device having an outlet from which air at a pressure substantially greater than ambient air pressure is expelled, an expansible combustion chamber into which air is received from the device outlet and from which exhaust gases are expelled, first and second intake valves and one or more exhaust valves, each valve having open and closed states. The combustion chamber is in periodic fluid communication with the device outlet through at least one of the first and second intake valves, and exhaust gases are expelled from the combustion chamber via the exhaust valve(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TURBO INNOVATION, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7765054
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine has the steps: (a) during an overrun phase of the internal combustion engine, activating an injector of a first combustion chamber for a predetermined activation time ?inj with a predetermined activation voltage Ui=1, (b) measuring a torque variation, (c) determining, from the torque variation, a fuel quantity mi=1 of the fuel injected by the injector during the activation time ?inj, (d) varying the activation voltage to a value Ui+1 which differs from Ui, (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) with further incrementation of i until i has reached a preset value N or the internal combustion engine is no longer in the overrun phase, and (f) determining an injector characteristic value of the injector of the first combustion chamber from the fuel quantities m1, m2, . . . , mN and the activation voltages U1, U2, . . . , UN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Publication number: 20100180844
    Abstract: A valve timing control device is provided with an electric motor (4) generating a magnetic retaining torque (Th) and a motor torque (Tm) in a motor shaft (102) based on a power supply. A power supply control system (6) controls the motor torque (Tm) by controlling the power supply supplied to the electric motor (4). A phase control mechanism (8) transmits a cam torque (Tca) that can alternate between a positive and a negative direction in response to rotation of a cam shaft, to the motor shaft (102) and controls a relative phase between the crank shaft and the cam shaft in accordance with a torque balance in the motor shaft (102). The power supply control system (6) eliminates the motor torque (Tm) that is balanced with the magnetic retaining torque (Th) and the cam torque (Tca) after a stop of the internal combustion engine (S105).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Uehama, Yasushi Morii
  • Publication number: 20100185381
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect combustion conditions using ion signals for use in a feedback control of a reciprocation engine is presented. The ion signals are used as a feedback signal to control EGR and diesel injection timing. The apparatus is an ignition system with a spark plug type of sensor. The ignition system is used to provide a cold start mechanism for diesel engines and start of combustion for spark ignition engines. The ignition is combined with ion sensing feedback that can control the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Ed VanDyne, Mark R. Woolston
  • Patent number: 7761222
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injected multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes establishing a flow shift compensation term by comparing a pre-flow shift value with a post-flow shift value. The pre-flow shift value is indicative of a pre-flow shift fueling signal duration linked with an engine test speed, and the post-flow shift value is indicative of a post-flow shift fueling signal duration linked with the engine test speed. The method further includes controlling an engine speed via outputting fueling signals from a digital engine speed governor to a plurality of fuel injectors of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Victoriano Ruiz
  • Patent number: 7761221
    Abstract: A variable valve controller for internal combustion engines and methods for operating the same. In the variable valve controller, and engine control unit (ECM) calculates a target value of a valve lift (VEL) for an intake valve and transmits it to a controller with a second control unit (VEL-C/U). The VEL-C/U controls the VEL on the basis of the VEL target value, detects a VEL actual value, and transmits it to the ECM. The ECM calculates a target value of a valve timing (VTC), and controls the VTC. Also, the ECM controls a limit value for the VTC target value in accordance with the VEL actual value. Fail-safe control is performed when an error occurs in a communication unit or a sensor. To reliably perform the control in a period from occurrence of an error to detection of the error, the limit value is set with calculation by offsetting a limit basic value set in accordance with the VEL actual value, by a displacement of the VEL within a time necessary for detecting the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Abe, Youichi Oshimi
  • Publication number: 20100168987
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine for motor vehicles, for example a petrol-fuelled engine or a gas-fuelled engine, is provided with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the intake valves. The system of variable actuation of the intake valves is governed by an electronic control unit that is programmed for performing at least once, at the start of the life of the engine, an activity of supervision of the functions of self-adaptive control of the air-fuel ratio. The supervision activity is based upon identification of a constant ratio between a delta in the value of the crank angle used by the electronic control unit and the error in the estimation of the air-fuel ratio by the electronic control unit when the system of actuation of the intake valves operates in late-opening mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Ferdinando DE CRISTOFORO, Fabio Garofalo, Eduardo Sepe, Domenico Tavella
  • Patent number: 7747379
    Abstract: When engine rotation speed is increasing in a compression stroke injection mode, a control device determines that a crank angle at injection end timing of an injector deviates toward a delayed crank angle side and performs additional ignition at timing when (or immediately before or after) a crank angle at actual injection end timing of the injector of a present injection cylinder is reached. Thus, even when the crank angle at the injection end timing deviates toward the delayed crank angle side with respect to preset original ignition timing, a combustion state can be stabilized by performing the additional ignition at timing, at which a suitable stratified mixture gas is formed in a cylinder, through the execution of the additional ignition at the timing substantially the same as the actual injection end timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Kita
  • Publication number: 20100161201
    Abstract: A method to calibrate the fuel injection in at least one combustion chamber of a Diesel engine includes: a) recording the combustion noise power or amplitude in the combustion chamber over a piston position range [?1i;?2i], b) at the same time, recording the piston position during the same piston position range [?1i;?2i], c) determining from the preceding recordings for which piston position Kmin-i the measured combustion noise power passes through a minimum Pmin-i when the piston moves from position ?1i to position ?2i, d) adjusting the fuel injection according to the determined piston position Kmin-i.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Florent Giovaresco
  • Patent number: 7742869
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a cam phaser that introduces a cam phase angle ? between a camshaft intake lobe and an associated crankshaft. An engine control module communicates with the cam phaser to introduce the cam phase angle ? while an engine is being started. The cam phase angle ? is selected such that the camshaft intake lobe opens an intake valve during at least a portion of a compression stroke of a cylinder that is associated with the camshaft intake lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Jesse M. Gwidt, Stuart R. Smith, Michael J. Lucido, Scot A. Douglas, Kenneth J. Cinpinski
  • Patent number: 7739999
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to control combustion in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operating in a controlled auto-ignition mode with minimum combustion phasing error using a least amount of fuel reforming. This comprises monitoring combustion in each cylinder, and determining a target combustion phasing. Fuel delivery to each cylinder is selectively controlled effective to achieve the target combustion phasing, and, effective to achieve the target combustion phasing further comprises controlling the fuel delivery effective to equilibrate combustion phasing of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Jyh-Shin Chen, Chen-Fang Chang, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 7742868
    Abstract: A direct injection spark ignition multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode includes a direct fuel injection system, a spark ignition system and a controllable engine valve system. The air/fuel ratio in the exhaust gas feedstream and an intake mass air flow are measured and an actual air/fuel ratio is calculated based upon the intake mass air flow and engine fueling. Magnitude of a negative valve overlap period between an exhaust valve closing and an intake valve opening is adjusted based upon the measured mass air flow. Timing of pre-injection fueling is adjusted during the negative valve overlap period based upon the measured air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Publication number: 20100139591
    Abstract: A controller of a variable valve device is configured to, before starting an internal combustion engine, set an operation angle varying mechanism to control an intake valve of the engine to have such an operation angle as to retard a valve close timing of the intake valve relative to a piston bottom dead center; define a given period from a instruction time when an instruction signal is fed to the controller for starting the engine to a time when a combustion of air/fuel mixture is actually commenced in the engine; and when, in the given period, a temperature representing the temperature of the engine is lower than a predetermined temperature, reduce the operation angle of the intake valve so as to bring the valve close timing of the intake valve near to the piston bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Makoto NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 7730871
    Abstract: A direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine including a controller that controls a fuel injector to perform a plurality of fuel injections to inject a necessary amount of fuel during an intake stroke, or from an intake stroke to a first half of a compression stroke, when homogeneous combustion is to be performed. The fuel injection control sets an injection prohibition period, in which injection of the fuel is prohibited, to a middle of the intake stroke. The injection prohibition period is decreased as the engine speed and as the intake air pressure increase. In addition, the amount of fuel injected before the injection prohibition period is reduced, and the amount of fuel injected after the injection prohibition period is increased, as the engine speed decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumiaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 7729845
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device that prevents a misfire is provided. The fuel injection control device comprises: target injection amount determination means 3 for determining a target injection amount of each fuel injection, so that the amount of fuel to be supplied to a cylinder in one combustion cycle is supplied in a plurality of fuel injections; and fuel injection correction amount determination means 4 for determining a fuel correction amount of one combustion cycle, wherein the fuel injection correction amount determination means 4 distributes the correction amount among each fuel injection in accordance with the ratio of a target injection amount of each fuel injection in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Takuro Iwashita, Takashi Haseyama, Yoshinobu Watanabe, Naofumi Ochi, Kenji Hagio, Tatsuo Mashiko
  • Publication number: 20100131180
    Abstract: A stop-time target phase setting unit sets a target phase CAr for an intake valve to a target phase, which is used when an engine is stopped, in response to issuance of an engine stop command. An engine stop control unit generates a series of control commands for an engine stop process in response to issuance of the engine stop command. A motoring command unit generates a first MG control command for rotating the engine using a motor for a predetermined period Tm that is counted by a timer in response to issuance of the engine stop command. Thus, the engine idles even after fuel combustion stops. In this way, the period in which the valve phase can be changed by a VVT mechanism is increased. As a result, a valve phase when the engine stops is reliably brought to the target phase that is suitable for next engine starting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayoshi Hattori, Tsukasa Abe
  • Patent number: 7725242
    Abstract: Tooth portions are formed at unit angles on a rotor connected with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A toothless portion is formed on the rotor by irregularly changing the regular arrangement of the tooth portions. A controller of the engine estimates times necessary for rotation of unit angles of an arbitrary angular range of 50° CA including the toothless portion and a pair of tooth portions adjacent to the toothless portion by using times necessary for rotation of unit angles of a different angular range of 50° CA distant from the arbitrary angular range by 180° CA. Thus, the controller can maintain high controllability of the engine even when there occurs a range where the time necessary for the rotation of the crankshaft is not sensed appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichirou Nakata, Kouji Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7721693
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the rotational angle position of the camshaft (3) of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft (5) is provided. The crankshaft (5) is drivingly connected to the camshaft (3) via an adjusting drive (1), which is embodied as a triple-shaft gear mechanism, having a crankshaft-fixed drive shaft, a camshaft-fixed output shaft, and an adjustment shaft drivingly connected to an electric motor (4). A stop element is connected to the drive shaft and a counter-stop element is connected to the camshaft (3). The crankshaft rotational angle measuring signal and a position signal for the rotational angle of the adjusting shaft are detected during the starting step of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Minh Nam Nguyen, Heiko Dell, Holger Stork
  • Patent number: 7725243
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to reduce an HC generated in a so-called fast idle period in which an engine and a catalyst are warmed up, stabilize a combustion and achieve an early activation of the catalyst, at a cold starting time of a cylinder injection type engine. In a control apparatus controlling a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine directly feeding a fuel into a combustion chamber by a fuel injection apparatus attached to a portion near an intake valve, the control apparatus controls the fuel injection apparatus so as to carry out an intake stroke injection, makes a lift amount of an intake valve smaller than a lift amount at a time of a high load, and controls such that an opening timing of the intake valve comes closer to an intake stroke side near an intake top dead center, in a fast idle period of the cylinder injection type internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Natsui, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Yusuke Kihara
  • Publication number: 20100122690
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, when a fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold P_a, the value opening time duration of a injector is increased to a value larger than its normal value, such control as to stop fuel injection from the injector is inhibited, the low pressure fuel pump is stopped, thus quickly lowering the fuel pressure. After the fuel pressure is lowered, the valve opening time duration of the injector is returned to the normal value, and a discharge quantity of the low pressure fuel pump is changed on the basis of a difference between the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit and a target fuel pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao MIYAKE, Masahiro Toyohara, Tomohiro Ohisa, Yoshikazu Ishii
  • Patent number: 7720594
    Abstract: A fuel injector control method comprises determining a required separation time between a termination of an on signal associated with a first injection event and an initiation of an on signal associated with a second injection event. The method comprises calculating an overlap time between the separation time and the time to charge the piezoelectric stack to a first level; dividing the overlap time into first and second time periods as a function of the charge and discharge currents; applying the charge current to the piezoelectric stack for a charge time; and applying the discharge current to the piezoelectric stack for a discharge time so as to discharge the stack to a second level, wherein the discharge time is calculated on the basis of the second time period of the overlap time. Thus, first and second injection events are merged in a pulse mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Walsh, Martin A. P. Sykes, Peter G. Griffin
  • Patent number: 7720593
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a multiple cylinder direct injection internal combustion engine include injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke at high engine speeds and loads to reduce the effect of intake airflow on the injection spray and improve fuel-air mixture homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen James Yi, Steven Todd Wooldridge, George Carver Davis
  • Publication number: 20100121558
    Abstract: A supercharged diesel engine is equipped with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the intake valves of the engine. The cam that controls each intake valve has an additional lobe for causing an additional opening of the intake valve, during the expansion and exhaust strokes, so as to provide an exhaust-gas recirculation directly inside the engine. The aforesaid additional lobe has its descending stretch radiused to the main lobe with a stretch corresponding to a non-zero lift of the valve in such a way that the profile of the lift of the valve has a portion corresponding to a substantially non-zero value of the lift that radiuses the descending stretch of the profile of the additional lift to the ascending stretch of the profile of the main lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Luca Gentile, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Publication number: 20100121557
    Abstract: A supercharged diesel engine is equipped with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the intake valves of the engine. The cam that controls each intake valve has an additional lobe for causing an additional opening of the intake valve, during the exhaust stroke, so as to provide an exhaust-gas recirculation directly inside the engine. Said additional lobe is shaped in such a way as to give rise to a profile of the additional lift of the valve as the crank angle varies with a boot conformation, including an initial stretch with a gentler slope extending from a point of zero lift corresponding to the expansion stroke in the engine cylinder. The engine is moreover equipped with a duct for exhaust-gas recirculation of the long-route type, which picks up the gases from a point of the exhaust duct set downstream of the catalytic converter and of the particulate trap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Gianluca Canino, Luca Gentile, Davide Peci, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Patent number: 7715974
    Abstract: A method for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine operating with alternating intake valves is presented. According to the method, engine air-fuel ratio can be adjusted by changing valve timings or fuel during a cylinder cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Gang Song
  • Publication number: 20100108027
    Abstract: In a variable valve actuation system of an internal combustion engine employing a variable valve actuator capable of variably adjusting at least intake valve closure timing depending on engine operating conditions, a processor of a control unit is programmed to phase-advance the intake valve closure timing to a predetermined timing value after a piston top dead center position and before a piston bottom dead center position on intake stroke during at least one of an engine starting period and an engine stopping period. The variable valve actuator includes a biasing device by which the intake valve closure timing is permanently biased toward the predetermined timing value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto NAKAMURA, Seinosuke Hara
  • Publication number: 20100114459
    Abstract: In a method for controlling fuel injection by means of injectors in a multicylinder internal combustion engine, the injectors are controlled sequentially according to control data for opening and closing in injection processes, wherein for each cylinder in an operating cycle a certain injection segment is defined, during which injection is possible. For the cylinders, a plurality of injection processes are performed per injection segment, the duration and temporal position for these injection processes are defined in the operating cycle, and in a conflict correction step a shift, or suppression, is performed of at least partially overlapping, and therefore conflicting, injection processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Joachim Engelmann, Joao Graciano, Diego Valero-Bertrand
  • Publication number: 20100114458
    Abstract: The present application relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. It is an object of the present application to prevent an excessive reaction of a throttle valve when the opening of the throttle valve is controlled on the basis of a plurality of required torques. The control apparatus includes: required torque consolidation means for calculating an after-consolidation required torque first torque control means which causes an actual torque to follow variation of the after-consolidation required torque by changing the opening of the throttle valve in accordance with the variation of the after-consolidation required torque; and second torque control means which fixes the opening of the throttle valve and causes the actual torque to follow variation of the after-consolidation required torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7707831
    Abstract: A method for controlling boost pressure in an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes a boost pressure control device, which is used to control the boost pressure in an internal combustion engine. The boost pressure control device includes a bypass unit, preferably in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine. The bypass unit includes an actuating device which enables the bypass unit when a predetermined actuating device setpoint value is reached. An adapted value is established as the correction value (pwgad) as a function of preset and/or detected internal combustion engine parameters (rlsol, nmot). The adapted value is used to adapt the setpoint value for the actuating device, which is specified as a function of the operating point, for a predetermined control deviation between a boost pressure actual value and a boost pressure setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Audi, AG
    Inventors: Jorg Ballauf, Siegmar Lampe, Daniel Beese, Holger Braun
  • Patent number: 7706957
    Abstract: In an apparatus, an actual fuel spray characteristic obtaining unit obtains, based on an operation of a learning fuel injection instructing unit in a learning mode, an actual fuel spray characteristic of an injector relative to a variable of a target interval period within at least one section in a usable range therefor. A phase difference calculating unit calculates a phase difference between a reference fuel spray characteristic and the obtained actual fuel spray characteristic. A phase correcting unit shifts the reference fuel spray characteristic by the calculated phase difference such that the reference fuel spray characteristic is corrected to approach the obtained actual fuel spray characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Minoru Imai, Kouji Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20100100304
    Abstract: An ECU controls to inject a small amount of fuel in an expansion/exhaust stroke under constraint of the minimum fuel injection capability of an injector at the time of warming-up of a catalyst. The ECU controls injection of fuel in expansion/exhaust strokes (expansion/exhaust stroke injection) at the time of warming-up of a catalyst. Fuel injection control is performed so that when temperature of the catalyst becomes higher than a predetermined temperature, fuel injection in the expansion/exhaust strokes is performed for a period of a predetermined ratio in a selected cycle period. The expansion/exhaust stroke injection is not performed in the other period. By effectively utilizing oxygen absorbed on the catalyst, while suppressing slip HC, the activation time of the catalyst can be shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Ikue Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 7698051
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a plant (engine) 10 having an input u, there are provided with applying device (vibration signal) 100 for applying a component p that changes at a predetermined cycle to the plant, parameter calculating device (Washout Filter) 102 for calculating a parameter h based on an output y of the plant, integrating device (finite interval integrator) 104 for integrating a value j obtained by multiplying the calculated parameter h by the applied component p in an interval of integral multiple of a cycle of the component p, and input calculating devices (infinite interval integrator 106a, multiplier 106b, adder 106c) for calculating the input u based on the integrated value g obtained by the integration. Owing to this configuration, it becomes possible to provide a system that can optimize the output y, while preventing the resonance of the control system while, thereby enabling to control the output of the plant to the extremum point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20100083936
    Abstract: A control module for a vehicle includes a time recording module that stores timestamps that correspond to each of N teeth of a target wheel of the vehicle in memory. N is an integer. A position module generates M angular positions based on the timestamps. M is an integer greater than one. Each of the M angular positions corresponds to a space between adjacent ones of the N teeth. A position estimator determines position of the target wheel based on the M positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit, David S. Mathews, Michael R. Grimes
  • Publication number: 20100088010
    Abstract: A method and control system for controlling an engine includes an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration determining module determining an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration. An engine parameter adjustment module adjusts an engine parameter in response to the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Michael R. Grimes, Nicholas John Kalweit, David S. Mathews
  • Patent number: 7693644
    Abstract: Injectors each having a piezo actuator are assigned to cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A regulator device is configured for furnishing a cylinder-specific controlled variable and a command variable to a controller whose primary manipulated variable is a variable representing an electrical power supplied to the piezo actuator during a control cycle. A manipulated variable splitting unit is provided whose input variable is a regulator-determined regulator value of the primary manipulated variable and is configured for determining a total value of the primary manipulated variable according to the regulator value. It is also configured for splitting the total value into a primary value of the primary manipulated variable and into a secondary value of a secondary manipulated variable according to a lower and/or upper threshold value of the total value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Reza Aliakbarzadeh, Dirk Joachimsmeyer