Speed, Acceleration, Deceleration Patents (Class 701/110)
  • Patent number: 7702448
    Abstract: A driving amount controller for reducing a response delay or erroneous deviation in control of a driving amount of a controlled system. The driving amount controller includes an ECU that increases an add-in amount to a duty ratio DUT of a control signal according to an increase in the speed variation ?DTHR of a target opening DTRH of the throttle valve 16 when the speed variation ?DTHR is positive. In addition, the ECU increases the add-in amount to the duty ratio DUT of the control signal according to a decrease in the speed variation ?DTHR when the speed variation ?DTHR is negative. A throttle valve on a vehicle is an example of the controlled system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Asada, Makoto Tsuyuguchi, Toru Takeda
  • Patent number: 7698052
    Abstract: In an engine rotation control device, a remote control operation device is provided with a remote control side ECU and an engine side ECU so that an outboard motor can be remotely controlled. The remote control side ECU and the engine side ECU periodically communicate a control signal. A gauge includes a slow-speed operation section that changes the engine rotational speed during slow-speed cruising. The slow-speed operation section outputs a change command signal to change the engine rotational speed, and a rotational speed change signal generated by a signal output section based on the change command signal is transmitted to the engine side ECU as a periodic control signal. A reset section of the remote control side ECU resets the rotational speed change signal to an initial state in response to a request from a reset request section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yamada, Masaru Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 7698049
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a power module, an air flow module, a torque estimation module, and an air control module. The power module determines a power-based torque based on a desired engine speed. The air flow module determines an air flow value based on the power-based torque. The torque estimation module estimates a desired torque based on the air flow value. The air control module selectively determines a throttle area based on the desired torque. A throttle valve is actuated based on the throttle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Ning Jin, Todd R. Shupe, Weixin Yan, Michael Livshiz, Klaus Pochner
  • Patent number: 7689341
    Abstract: One energy recovery system (30) that can decelerate the vehicle in response to a brake request stores recovered energy electrically in a battery bank (32). Another energy recovery system (36) stores recovered energy hydraulically in a high pressure accumulator (40). One system is given priority over the other when a brake request is issued. When the stored energies are reused to accelerate the vehicle, one form of stored energy is used before the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Stanton E. Miller
  • Patent number: 7689345
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a first factor calculating module that calculates a first factor based on intake cam position (ICAM), exhaust cam position (ECAM), engine speed (RPM) and first calibration factors. A second factor calculating module calculates a second factor based on ICAM, ECAM, RPM and second calibration factors. A residual gas fraction (RGF) estimating module estimates a RGF value based on the first factor adjusted for altitude and said second factor. A method comprises calculating a first factor based on intake cam position (ICAM), exhaust cam position (ECAM), engine speed (RPM) and first calibration factors; calculating a second factor based on ICAM, ECAM, RPM and second calibration factors; and estimating a residual gas fraction (RGF) value based on the first factor adjusted for altitude and said second factor. At least one engine operating parameter is adjusted based on the RGF value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Layne K. Wiggins, Jason Meyer, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 7684922
    Abstract: A cam sensor is provided in a position opposing one surface side of a cam driven sprocket in a valve timing control device. When the valve timing control device is in a high revolution state, a weight is pivoted by centrifugal force caused by the rotation. This allows a projection at the weight to be detected by the cam sensor. In this case, for each rotation of the valve timing control device, the projection of the weight passes the detectable position of the cam sensor and a pulse is generated in a cam signal to be transmitted from the cam sensor to an ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ishigami, Yoshitaka Nagai
  • Patent number: 7679529
    Abstract: A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Andrew W. Houck, Joseph A. Sikora, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: 7676318
    Abstract: A real-time, on board, diesel engine emissions estimation with an empirical, table-based approach that accounts for up to eight (8) input parameters, for optimum emissions estimation under steady state or transient engine operation. The method considers a steady state NOx model, steady state Particulate Matter model, transient NOx model and transient Particulate Matter models to populate a table in memory. The switch between steady state and transient models, real time emissions estimations is based on the rate of change of engine speed (RPM). If the rate of change of RPM exceeds a predetermined threshold, transient models for NOx and Particulate Matter are used to operate the engine and reduce emissions of NOx and Particulate Matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Christian Allain
  • Publication number: 20100044130
    Abstract: A method controls an overrun operation in a motor vehicle, wherein, in the presence of predetermined switch-off conditions, an overrun switch-off of the internal-combustion engine takes place by interrupting the fuel feed, and wherein, when a predetermined restoring speed is reached or fallen below, the fuel feed is resumed. Starting from an operating state with an activated overrun switch-off, the transmission line between the output of the engine and the input of the transmission device is monitored as to whether a torque difference is occurring which is greater than or equal to a predetermined limit torque. In such a case, the internal-combustion engine is driven by an electric machine coupled with the crankshaft of the internal-combustion engine such that a rotational speed of the internal-combustion engine is adjusted to be greater than or equal to the restoring speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joachim FROESCHL
  • Publication number: 20100049426
    Abstract: In a method for determining an uncontrolled acceleration of an internal combustion engine, a valve opening cross section is allocated to each load state of the internal combustion engine. In the event that a controller value is outside a limit range, an uncontrolled acceleration of the internal combustion engine is thereby detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 7664594
    Abstract: In a starting system of an internal combustion engine, an injector for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber and an ignition plug for igniting an air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber are provided, and a throttle device is provided in an intake pipe. During stopping of the engine, the starting system operates the throttle device to open a throttle valve to a predetermined throttle opening at a throttle opening speed that is set based on the intake pressure. Upon a start of the engine, the starting system actuates the injector to inject the fuel into a cylinder that is in the expansion stroke, and actuates the ignition plug to ignite the mixture in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Kojima
  • Publication number: 20100036574
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a required throttle position and operating a throttle in the required throttle position to attain a required engine speed for fuel cut acquisition is disclosed. A lock-up clutch may be engaged without a shock if a required engine speed is achieved that corresponds to a current transmission speed. Fuel economy may be increased by cutting fuel to the engine when a lock-up clutch is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Hopp
  • Patent number: 7657364
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for thermal management of an engine comprising a continuously variable transmission. The method includes an engine capability module storing a torque-speed map comprising a first region where the engine inefficiently regenerates an aftertreatment device, a second region where the engine efficiently regenerates the aftertreatment device, and a third region where the engine is not capable of regenerating the aftertreatment device. The method further includes an aftertreatment determination module determining a regeneration index, an operating conditions module determining an engine speed and an engine load, and a speed-load adjustment module adjusting a speed-load target. The method further includes the speed-load adjustment module adjusting the speed-load target to a preferred region along equal power curves of the torque-speed map based on the regeneration index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins IP. Inc
    Inventors: Linsong Guo, Timothy R. Frazier
  • Patent number: 7657365
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system corrects the amount of fuel injected by fuel injection valves toward an increased side when an acceleration state resulting from operation of a throttle occurs. A control unit includes a detector, an acceleration state determinor, and an acceleration corrector. When an increase in the detected value is a predetermined value or more within a first predetermined time period, the acceleration state determiner determines that a state is an acceleration state and inputs a signal inducing fuel-amount-increase correction to the acceleration corrector. When the state where an amount of change in the detected value reaches a predetermined value or more in an increasing or decreasing direction within a first predetermined time period continuously occurs a predetermined number of times or more before a second predetermined time period expires, determination of the acceleration state is stopped until a third predetermined time period passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Fukushima, Hayato Matsuda, Takashi Hashizume, Shigeru Saito
  • Patent number: 7653478
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine stop position in a hybrid electric vehicle having a motor capable of controlling engine speed is provided. The method includes: a) reducing the engine speed according to an first engine speed reduction rate using the motor in a state where fuel supplied to the engine is cut off; b) after the engine speed is reduced to first reference speed, adjusting an actual engine speed reduction rate according to second engine speed reduction rate using the motor, and monitoring a current crank position to count the number of times when the current crank position coincides with a given target engine stop position; and c) if the number of times is more than a predetermined number and if the actual engine speed is equal to or below second reference speed, stopping the engine using the motor when the current crank position coincides with the target engine stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Kug Park
  • Patent number: 7653476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for continuous operation of an internal-combustion engine (2), comprising at least an actuator connected to a working device of the engine, an electronic circuit board or card (3) comprising a programmable logic FPGA component, means (9, 10) for synchronizing the card according to the engine cycle, and a central processing unit (CPU). The invention comprises: generating, through the component, a plurality of actuator control pulses, the pulses being parameterizable in phase and in duration, being independent, linked with a single cylinder and synchronized by an angular reference point in the engine cycle for each cylinder; determining pulse parameters and assigning these parameters to the pulses by means of a computing program included in the CPU of the microcomputer at each physical output; and controlling at least one of the actuators by a logic output signal of the circuit board corresponding to at least one of the control pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Binh Kim To, Olivier Lejeune
  • Publication number: 20100017096
    Abstract: In one example, a method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting dilution in the combustion chamber of the engine to reduce surge in response to the vehicle acceleration. The dilution may be adjusted by adjusting cam timing, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 7650222
    Abstract: An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which is improved load responsivity of the engine in transient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7650223
    Abstract: An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which load responsivity of the engine is improved while maintaining air fuel ratio control and stable control is performed when fuel gas of different calorific value is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7650224
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in a combustion engine. The method includes a shift detection module determining an out of gear (OOG) indicator for a manual transmission. The method further includes an engine speed module determining an engine speed target based on at least one operating condition of the engine. The method continues with a load determination module determining an engine load target in response to the OOG indicator and an engine acceleration module determining a desired net torque based on the engine speed target and the engine load target. Finally, the method concludes with an emissions module determining a minimum fuel target based on the desired net torque and an actuation module generating a fueling signal to engage an engine fueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc
    Inventors: Morgan Andrea, Adrian Dale, Jeffrey A. Matthew, Vivek A. Sujan
  • Patent number: 7647160
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine which is designed to determine an instantaneous engine speed in a cycle of, for example, 30° CA of the engine to learn an actual injection quantity that is the quantity of fuel actually sprayed from a fuel injector. The system filters the instantaneous engine speed using a band-pass filter to extract a cyclic component which varies in synchronism with an engine operating cycle to produce an engine speed change which has arisen from the spraying of fuel into the engine from which unwanted noise components are removed and uses it to determine the actual injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Sugiyama, Koji Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20100004848
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide a Fuel Saver Speed Control (FSSC) system that facilitates vehicle speed control while maximizing fuel economy. For instance, when the vehicle traverses an uphill section of the road, the Fuel Saver Speed Control reduces the vehicle's fuel consumption by controllably reducing engine power output within the boundaries of activated FSSC settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Horton Transou, JR.
  • Patent number: 7643929
    Abstract: A torque adaptation system is provided. The system includes: a torque error estimator module that estimates a torque error based on an error propagation model and a plurality of torque model parameters; and an adapt torque module that adapts a model torque based on the torque error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Stroh
  • Patent number: 7638959
    Abstract: A motor control is provided with both open loop and closed loop controllers. The open loop and closed loop controllers provide commutation signals back to gate drives for an inverter, wherein the commutation signals utilize sinusoidal signals in open loop control, and utilize six step commutation in closed loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Matthew L. Wilhide, Vijay K. Maddali
  • Patent number: 7637245
    Abstract: In a system, an actuator is linked to a valve rotatably installed in a passage through which gas flows. The actuator changes torque to be applied to the valve so as to adjust a rotational position of the valve based on a deviation between a current position and a target position. In the system, a first storing unit stores therein a first threshold. The first threshold is defined in a variation range within which a torque parameter is variable depending on change in the torque to be applied to the valve. The first threshold allows whether there is a possibility that an operation of the actuator is unstable. If the torque parameter substantially shifts either to or through the first threshold in the variation range, a restricting unit restricts variation in the torque parameter with the gas-flow being substantially kept through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Katsuno, Hiroshi Haraguchi, Eiji Takemoto, Tatsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 7630824
    Abstract: A requested injection time InjT necessary for a fuel injector to inject a fuel per one combustion cycle is computed in response to a position of an accelerator manipulated by a driver, an injectable time InjMax per one combustion cycle is computed on the basis of an engine speed, and whether or not the requested injection time InjT is larger than the injectable time InjMax is determined. Then, when it is positively determined that the requested injection time InjT is larger than the injectable time InjMax, it is estimated that an alternate fuel (for example an alcohol fuel) other than a regular fuel (for example gasoline) is blended with a fuel in a fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 7630821
    Abstract: An intake pressure sensor is provided in an intake manifold of a first cylinder. During steady operation, intake quantities of respective cylinders are sensed with an airflow meter provided in an intake pipe of an engine, and the intake quantity of the first cylinder is compared with the intake quantities of the other cylinders to obtain intake pressure variation correction coefficients of the other cylinders. Also, average intake pressure of the first cylinder is corrected with the intake pressure variation correction coefficients to calculate average intake pressures of the other cylinders. During transient operation, estimation intake pressure is anticipated from a target opening degree of an intake throttle valve with the use of a physics model. Intake quantities of the respective cylinders are calculated with the use of the estimation intake pressure and the intake pressure variation correction coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamashita, Hideki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090299613
    Abstract: The engine speed control system for a work vehicle has a foot accelerator controller for carrying out foot accelerator control based on a pedal sensor, a hand accelerator controller for carrying out hand accelerator control based on a lever sensor, a manually operated input device, storage means for storing a predetermined engine speed, and a constant rotation controller for carrying out constant rotation control in which the engine speed stored in the storage means is used as the target rotational speed on the basis of an input to the input device. The constant rotation control is carried out when the input device has been operated in the case that the engine speed that corresponds to the output of the lever sensor is greater than an idling speed, and the constant rotation control is terminated when the input device is operated in the case that the engine speed that corresponds to the output of the lever sensor is equal to or less than the idling speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Nishi, Nobuyuki Okabe, Kenji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7627418
    Abstract: A vehicle system, comprising of an engine with a first cylinder and a second cylinder operating with different engine torques, a motor coupled to said engine capable of absorbing torque and providing torque, and a controller for varying torque of said motor to compensate for said torque difference so that a total engine and motor torque operates with increased balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Pallett, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 7627417
    Abstract: The invention provides a technology that enables to control response delay of the supercharger in a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine under acceleration. When the variable compression ratio internal combustion engine is under acceleration, the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine is set to a compression ratio lower than a basic compression ratio that is so determined in accordance with the running condition of the internal combustion engine to realize a predetermined heat efficiency while suppressing knocking, thereby raising the exhaust gas pressure and shortening the response time of the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Akihisa, Eiichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 7617039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine. With reference to FIG. 1, fuel is supplied to charge air using an injector (116) which in each operation delivers a set amount of fuel. The amount of fuel supplied to the charge air in each engine cycle is controlled by how many times the injector (116) operates in each cycle. A desired fuel demand is calculated as a number of operations of the injector per cycle, calculated to at least one decimal place. The desired fuel demand is rounded to a near integer to provide an output fuel demand for the injector as a number of operations of the injector for the next operating cycle in varying operating conditions of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Scion-Sprays Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen, Paul Bartholomew Ravenhill, Steven Barraclough, Benjamin David Smither, Timothy Guy Drake
  • Patent number: 7610139
    Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure detection device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of detecting an in-cylinder pressure accurately without being adversely affected by changes in the atmospheric pressure even when the atmospheric pressure changes. An in-cylinder pressure sensor detects pressure within a cylinder as a detected in-cylinder pressure. An ECU estimates pressure generated in the cylinder during a non-combustion period as a motoring pressure. An atmospheric pressure sensor detects an atmospheric pressure (PA). The ECU corrects the motoring pressure according to the atmospheric pressure and identifies correction parameters such that the difference between the detected in-cylinder pressure detected during a compression stroke of the engine and the corrected motoring pressure becomes minimum, and corrects the detected in-cylinder pressure by the identified correction parameters, to thereby calculate an in-cylinder pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahide Mizuno, Shusuke Akazaki, Hiroyuki Sugiura, Mitsuo Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7606652
    Abstract: A control system and method of regulating operation of an engine includes a minimum torque module that determines a torque request based upon at least two of measured revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine, a barometric pressure, and a coolant temperature of the engine. A first engine air module can determine a first desired engine air value based upon predetermined actuator values and a torque value based upon the torque request. The predetermined actuator values can include a predetermined RPM of the engine. A throttle area module can determine a desired throttle area based upon the first desired engine air value and the predetermined RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Michael Livshiz, Christopher E. Whitney
  • Patent number: 7599780
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a first torque request module that generates a first torque request, a second torque request module that generates a second torque request, a torque arbitration module, an arbitration feedback module, and a torque control module. The torque arbitration module selects one of the first and second torque requests and outputs an arbitrated torque based on the selected one of the first and second torque requests. The arbitration feedback module reports a status signal to the first torque request module. The status signal has a first value when the first torque request is the selected one of the first and second torque requests. The torque control module controls an engine to produce the arbitrated torque. The power source includes an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Robert C. Simon, Jr., Leonard G. Wozniak, Richard B. Jess, Meera Raja
  • Patent number: 7588013
    Abstract: When a command to stop an engine is issued, it is determined whether a current state is a speed reduction enabled state where an intake valve phase is brought into a phase region, in which speed reduction ratio is high, by the time the engine is stopped if an engine speed reduction control according to a predetermined speed reduction pattern is started at the present moment. If it is determined the current state is not the speed reduction enabled state, starting of the engine speed reduction control is not permitted, or the engine speed reduction control is restricted by reducing the deceleration, and then an intake valve phase control is executed. Thus, a required length of time before the engine is stopped is ensured, namely, a required length of period in which the intake valve phase is changed is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto
  • Publication number: 20090227420
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a first module and a cylinder deactivation module. The first module selectively adjusts torque output by an engine based on a vehicle torque request that is greater than a driver torque request. The cylinder deactivation module selectively deactivates a cylinder of the engine when a difference between an estimated maximum torque output of the engine and the driver torque request is greater than a predetermined maximum torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, Andrew W. Baur
  • Patent number: 7587268
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of ensuring excellent fuel economy of the engine and enhancing the responsiveness of the output of the engine when acceleration is demanded. The control system calculates a lift control input for controlling a variable valve lift mechanism, based on a cam phase of a variable cam phase mechanism, and calculates a demanded acceleration indicative of the degree of acceleration demanded of the engine. Further, the control system calculates a value of phase control input for controlling the variable cam phase mechanism with priority to the engine output, and calculates a value of the same with priority to fuel economy of the engine, and selects between the values of phase control input, based on the demanded acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tagami, Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 7587269
    Abstract: In response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal in requirement of catalyst deterioration control with a catalyst deterioration control flag Fc set equal to 1, the braking control of the invention controls the operation of a motor to make a rotation speed Ne of an engine approach to a target rotation speed Ne* in a state of continued combustion (firing) of the engine (steps S180 and S190). Such control ensures a quick decrease of the rotation speed Ne of the engine to the target rotation speed Ne*, thus effectively reducing the wasteful fuel consumption due to the continued operation of the engine at a high rotation speed and enhancing the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Kamichi, Akihiro Kimura, Daigo Ando, Koichiro Muta
  • Publication number: 20090211229
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in a combustion engine. The method includes a shift detection module determining an out of gear (OOG) indicator for a manual transmission. The method further includes an engine speed module determining an engine speed target based on at least one operating condition of the engine. The method continues with a load determination module determining an engine load target in response to the OOG indicator and an engine acceleration module determining a desired net torque based on the engine speed target and the engine load target. Finally, the method concludes with an emissions module determining a minimum fuel target based on the desired net torque and an actuation module generating a fueling signal to engage an engine fueling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Morgan Andreae, Adrian Dale, Jeffrey A. Matthews, Vivek A. Sujan
  • Publication number: 20090204308
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for configuring operations of an engine control module. In one implementation, a method is provided. According to the method, configuration parameters defining an operational range of an engine are received. Furthermore, data specifying performance requirements of the engine is received from the engine control module. The method determines whether the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Adnan A. Manan, Mark R. Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20090199814
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the operation of an engine-driven machine to avoid engine under-speeding entails converting a received speed or torque command into a power command. When an engine under-speed condition is sensed, the system performs underspeed correction in the power domain before converting the underspeed processed power command back into the units of the original domain. The converted underspeed processed power command is issued to the transmission or other component to alleviate the engine under-speeding condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Hoff, Frank A. DeMarco, Thomas M. Sopko, Michael Barngrover, Brian D. Kuras
  • Patent number: 7571711
    Abstract: When a throttle is fully open, a maximum torque set value is corrected based on the ratio between the maximum air volume set value under fully-open throttle conditions and the actual maximum air volume detected by an intake air volume meter such as an air flow sensor. Based on the corrected maximum torque set value, both the relation between the degree of accelerator opening and target torque and the relation between the target torque (target air volume) and the degree target throttle opening are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sato, Shinji Nakagawa, Hiromu Kakuya, Toshimichi Minowa, Mamoru Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20090198438
    Abstract: In an engine ECU (60), a threshold line LS1 and a threshold line LS2 are set as threshold lines used when stopping of an engine is prohibited based on a coolant temperature Tw. The threshold line LS1 is set to ensure a predetermined heating capacity. The threshold value on the threshold line LS2 is higher than the threshold value on the threshold line LS1. When the vehicle is moving, the threshold line LS2 is selected to prohibit/permit stopping of the engine. This increases the amount of heat stored in an engine coolant. When the vehicle is stopped, the threshold line LS1 is selected to prohibit/permit stopping of the engine. This decreases the frequency of starting the engine in the stopped vehicle, while maintaining the predetermined heating capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 7568339
    Abstract: An exemplary controller for a variable geometry compressor includes one or more inputs for receiving engine operating information and for receiving a signal representative of geometry of a variable geometry compressor and control logic to call for actuation of an actuator based at least in part on the engine operating information received by the one or more inputs and to call for actuation of the actuator based at least in part on the signal received by the one or more inputs whereby actuation of actuator causes a change in geometry of a variable geometry compressor. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillipe Noelle, Nicolas Vazeille
  • Publication number: 20090178647
    Abstract: A fuel feeding mechanism of a vehicle with an acceleration pedal position sensor includes an electronic control unit, and a throttle; the throttle is equipped with a feedback signal device, and the feedback signal device is connected to the electronic control unit; the throttle includes a pivotal shaft; a throttle position sensor is connected to the pivotal shaft of the throttle; a signal source is connected to the throttle position sensor as well as the feedback signal device of the throttle; furthermore, an accelerator pedal position sensor is connected to the electronic control unit to interfere in and change a signal of the throttle together with the throttle position sensor, thus helping to advance the time of the vehicle shifting gears and reduce fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Chun-Chih Wang
  • Patent number: 7552712
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing machine performance using speed shaping in a machine having an engine and a drivetrain implementing engine underspeed module receives a throttle command requesting an increase in engine speed and transmits the throttle command to the engine. If the requested increase exceeds a predetermined function, the predetermined function is forwarded to the engine underspeed module as a speed standard. The engine underspeed module determines whether the actual engine speed attained by the engine is less than the speed standard by more than a predetermined gap value and, if so, reduces the power required by the drivetrain to avoid lugging of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Barngrover, Thomas M. Sopko, Brian D. Kuras, Brian D. Hoff
  • Patent number: 7546197
    Abstract: A driving force control device can set driving force characteristics which conform to tastes of drivers using one vehicle thus giving the easy-to-drive feeling to the drivers. An E/G13ECU possesses three modes 1 to 3 as control modes and selects one mode from these modes based on a manipulation input using a mode selection switch. Further, any one of the mode out of these modes 1 to 3 is preset in the E/G13ECU as a temporary changeover mode, and the E/G13ECU changes over a mode selected by the mode selection switch and the preset temporary changeover mode alternatively by the temporary changeover switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Masuda, Kenichi Yamamoto, Kenji Hijikata, Satoshi Satomura, Atsushi Atake, Kouji Kaneda, Tatsuru Fukuda, Minoru Yuki, Masayuki Ushiki, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Masahito Motoi, Naoki Shibata, Hiroshi Ogiwara, Katsumasa Igarashi, Junzo Shinozuka, Akihisa Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090143195
    Abstract: A rapid acceleration control apparatus has a rapid acceleration prime mover rotational speed control section and a rapid acceleration start clutch capacity control section. The rapid acceleration prime mover rotational speed control section executes a rapid acceleration start prime mover rotational speed control that control a rotational speed of the prime mover to a target rotational speed required to achieve the rapid acceleration start when a rapid acceleration start condition exists in which both an accelerator and a brake are simultaneously operated while the vehicle is stopped. The rapid acceleration start clutch capacity control section executes a rapid acceleration start clutch capacity control that decreases a connection capacity of the clutch during the rapid acceleration start prime mover rotational speed control executed by the rapid acceleration prime mover rotational speed control section to suppress heating of the clutch due to the rapid acceleration start primer mover rotational speed control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shusaku KATAKURA, Kazuhiro TANIAI, Masami MURAYAMA, Yoshinobu KAWAMOTO, Youhei MIZUTA
  • Publication number: 20090143961
    Abstract: A control method of a road vehicle; the control method includes the steps of: detecting the position of an accelerator control which is displaced along a predetermined stroke; using the position of the accelerator control to control the generation of a torque generated by the engine of the road vehicle so that the torque is generated according to the position of the accelerator control; detecting the current driver's ability by means of a driving ability recognition device; and limiting the generation of torque according to the current driver's ability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: MAGNETI MARELLI POWERTRAIN S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Maria Gaviani, Walter Nesci, Roberto Dalla
  • Patent number: 7542841
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an internal combustion engine in which a combustion chamber quantity characterizing the combustion process is ascertained on the basis of input quantities. This takes place using a polytropic exponent. The polytropic exponent is ascertained on the basis of performance characteristics of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Khaled Ben Yahia, Dara Torkzadeh, Katharina Michalik, Anton Siemens