Starting, Warmup Patents (Class 701/113)
  • Patent number: 7885755
    Abstract: A fuel injection amount control apparatus controlling an amount of fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine is disclosed. An intake passage extends from the engine, and the intake passage is branched into a plurality of branch passages in an upstream section. The apparatus includes a plurality of intake air temperature sensors and an ECU. Each of the intake air temperature sensors is provided in one of the intake passages and detects an intake air temperature in the corresponding intake passage. The ECU selects an intake air temperature that most directly expresses the engine state or the environment from the intake air temperatures detected by the intake air temperature sensors. The ECU controls the amount of the fuel supplied to the engine by using the selected intake air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Satoshi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20110029221
    Abstract: One example method for an engine having an automatic stopping function in which the engine is automatically stopped when a predetermined engine stopping condition is satisfied, and then the engine is automatically restarted when a predetermined engine restarting condition is satisfied, includes the following: a first step for driving a motor so as to increase an engine rotating speed of the engine up to a predetermined rotating speed and maintain the engine rotating speed, in a case in which a predetermined first condition is satisfied when the engine rotating speed is below the predetermined rotating speed during automatic engine stopping; and a second step for restarting a fuel supply into the engine in a case in which a predetermined second condition is satisfied after the first step is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunitomo MINAMITANI, Katsumasa YOSHIDA, Seiyo HIRANO, Akitomo KUME, Hideki SANAI, Kazuya KOTANI
  • Patent number: 7877188
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine includes: a fuel amount detector; a smoothing calculation unit that calculates a smooth output value, which is obtained by smoothing an output value of the fuel amount detector in a temporal direction; a continuous low speed condition detection unit that detects a continuous low speed condition in which the vehicle speed remains in the low speed region continuously beyond a predetermined time period; a calculation processing unit that successively calculates a maximum value and a minimum value of the smooth output value; a reference setting unit that updates and stores a reference value in response to the engine stoppage and in accordance with the current minimum value calculated by the calculation processing unit; and a fuel supply determination unit that detects a fuel supply to the fuel tank during the continuous low speed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizuno, Naoya Okubo
  • Patent number: 7877191
    Abstract: A process for controlling supplying fuel for an internal combustion engine, employed when the engine is started, including: measuring at least one characteristic value of an engine speed representative of a richness of a fuel/oxidant supply mixture for the engine, comparing the measured characteristic value with a reference value so as to determine a value of the difference between these two values, and controlling the supply unit using a control signal emitted by a control unit (3) and dependent on the difference value. The process also includes an updating step of producing an updated reference value (21), when an aging threshold of the engine is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Thibault Kein
  • Patent number: 7873464
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a block heater determination module, an adjustment module, and an engine control module. The block heater determination module generates a block heater usage signal based on ambient temperature, measured engine coolant temperature, and a length of time of the engine being off prior to engine startup. The adjustment module generates a temperature signal based on the ambient temperature. The engine control module determines a desired fuel mass for fuel injection at engine startup based on the temperature signal when the block heater usage signal has a first state. The engine control module determines the desired fuel mass at engine startup based on the measured engine coolant temperature when the block heater usage signal has a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: Samuel Bryan Shartzer, Wajdi B. Hamama, Roberto De Paula, Jaehak Jung, Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen
  • Publication number: 20110005486
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for a vehicle system automatically stops an internal combustion engine of a vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied and automatically starts the automatically stopped internal combustion engine when a predetermined start condition is satisfied. A stop point detection unit detects a stop point, at which the vehicle possibly stops, while the vehicle travels based on map information stored in a map information storage unit. A traveling information control unit stores traveling information, which includes a state of the vehicle stopping at a stop point and a state of the vehicle passing by the stop point, in the traveling information storage unit. A stop determination unit determines whether to stop the internal combustion engine when the vehicle stops at a stop point based on the traveling information of the stop point stored in the traveling information storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110010080
    Abstract: An internal combustion, compression ignition engine for use with a pressurized low viscosity fuel includes an engine power cylinder with its associated gas flow path, a valve system for opening fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path, and an engine management system (EMS). The engine management system is adapted to provide a pre-starting mode in which an open fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path is established in such a manner that any fuel present inside said engine power cylinder is prevented from reaching the fuel ignition temperature for the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Sergi Yudanov, Annika Carlsson
  • Patent number: 7869931
    Abstract: When an engine torque trace is set during acceleration or deceleration, the ratio of increase or decrease in the engine torque per unit time is restricted so that when the engine torque generated during acceleration or deceleration approaches an engine torque (balance torque) at which the engine is oriented upright with respect to the engine mount, the engine torque stays near the balance torque for a prescribed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Satou, Hitoshi Konno, Mamoru Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20110004396
    Abstract: An eco-run control device is provided. A control unit is configured to perform an eco-run control of stopping an engine on the basis of stop conditions and of restarting the engine on the basis of restart conditions. A starter driving unit is configured to drive a starter for restarting the engine. A test unit is configured to perform a failure test of the starter driving unit to determine whether the starter driving unit is out of order before the control unit stops the engine by the eco-run control. A nullifying unit is configured to nullify the failure test by the test unit when it is detected that a power supply voltage supplied to the starter driving unit drops below a predetermined value. A prohibiting unit is configured to prohibit the control unit from performing the eco-run control when the test unit determines that the starter driving unit is out of order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuhi YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7861683
    Abstract: After an engine automatic stop processing is started, a diagnosis of a starter is started at a time of t1 when an engine speed drops to a diagnosis starting speed. Before the engine speed drops to the lower limit speed at which an engine can be restarted without being cranked by the starter, the diagnosis of the starter is conducted. In the diagnosis of the starter, it is determined whether the starter is faulty based on a current passing through the starter when a relay is turned off to stop energization of the starter before the starter actually rotates after the relay is turned on. Thereby, a malfunction of the starter can be detected before the engine is automatically stopped. It is avoided to automatically stop the engine which is incapable of being automatically restarted due to the malfunction of the starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Saitoh, Eijirou Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100324804
    Abstract: A method for controlling a volume of an infotainment unit of a vehicle having an engine having a stop/start capability during operation of the vehicle includes the steps of obtaining information pertaining to a condition of the engine, and controlling the volume based at least in part upon the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: MIKE M. MC DONALD, WILLIAM C. ALBERTSON
  • Publication number: 20100324805
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) has a control arrangement (18) which regulates at least one control parameter for operating the engine (1). The control arrangement (18) includes a non-volatile memory (20) and a main memory (21). During operation of the engine (1), an operating value (xOperating) for the control parameter is continually stored in the non-volatile memory (20). When starting the engine (1), an initial value for the control parameter is determined. According to at least one criterion, a determination is made as to whether the operating value (xOperating) stored in the non-volatile memory (20) or a standard value (xStandard) is used as the initial value for the control parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Klaus Geyer
  • Patent number: 7856309
    Abstract: A cold-start control system for an internal combustion engine includes a heat estimation module, a torque request module and a propulsion torque determination module. The heat estimation module determines an exhaust system temperature and estimates heat required to heat an exhaust system to a predetermined temperature. The torque request module generates a torque request based on the estimated heat. The propulsion torque determination module determines a desired engine torque based on the torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher A Gillanders, John L. Lahti, Louis A. Avallone, Jon C. Miller, Robert C. Simon, Jr., Todd R. Shupe, Jaehak Jung, William R. Cawthorne, Leonard G. Wozniak
  • Publication number: 20100318283
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically start and/or stop a portable engine-driven power source. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes an engine-driven power source having an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a demand for air pressure from the compressor and a second signal indicative of no demand for air pressure from the compressor. The engine-driven power source also includes a controller configured to stop the engine in response to the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Ross Renner
  • Publication number: 20100318284
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for controlling injection of gaseous and liquid fuel to a cylinder during engine starting. Specifically, gaseous fuel is injected during or before an intake stroke of the cycle to form a well-mixed overall lean air-fuel mixture, and then liquid fuel is directly injected to the cylinder at least during one of a compression and expansion stroke of the engine cycle to form a rich air-fuel cloud near the spark plug, where a spark initiates combustion of the injected fuels. In one example, the rich cloud enables additional spark retard, and thus faster catalyst light-off, while maintain acceptable combustion stability of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7848875
    Abstract: A first ignition cylinder that performs ignition first is set based on an engine stop position in automatic start. Existence/nonexistence of a misfire in the first ignition cylinder is determined based on whether a difference ?Ne between engine rotation speed at a predetermined crank angle in an interval from timing immediately before the ignition to timing immediately after the ignition of the first ignition cylinder (e.g., at TDC of first ignition cylinder) and engine rotation speed at a predetermined crank angle before ignition of a second ignition cylinder (e.g., at TDC of second ignition cylinder) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined misfire determination threshold value Nef. When misfire time number of the first ignition cylinder exceeds a predetermined value, fuel supply to the first ignition cylinder is prohibited and the automatic start is started from the second ignition cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nakai
  • Patent number: 7848874
    Abstract: A fuel control system includes a pressure comparison module that generates a pressure control signal when a fuel supply pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure value, a temperature comparison module that generates a temperature control signal when a temperature of an engine is greater than a predetermined temperature value, and a pre-crank fuel module that selectively dispenses pre-crank fuel prior to cranking the engine based on the pressure control signal and the temperature control signal. A related fuel control method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventors: James D. Hay, Mark D. Carr, Jeffrey M. Hutmacher, Louis A. Avallone, Jon C. Miller
  • Publication number: 20100304926
    Abstract: A method for controlling restart of an engine in a hybrid electric powertrain includes stopping the vehicle and engine, initiating the restart, estimating time required to restart the engine after the restart is initiated, filling and stroking launch elements of a transmission, when the estimated time substantially equals a second estimated time required to fill and stroke said launch elements, and increasing the torque capacity of the launch elements to accelerate the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ihab S. Soliman, Ryan A. McGee
  • Publication number: 20100305820
    Abstract: A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes stopping the vehicle and holding the vehicle stationary, reducing engine speed, increasing a rate of reduction of engine speed, if engine speed is less than a reference speed when a desired restart of the engine is indicated, and initiating an engine restart when engine speed is substantially zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ryan A. McGee, Ihab S. Soliman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Publication number: 20100305800
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes commanding engine operation to transition from an engine-off state to an engine-on state. A control scheme detects engine firing based upon input speed, input torque and a change in the input torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen J. Lehmen, Kevin J. Smith, James B. Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20100305838
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided which is operative in an automatic engine stop mode to stop an engine automatically and in an engine restart mode to restart the engine automatically after the engine is stopped in the automatic engine stop mode so as to output a predetermined reference engine torque immediately after the engine is started. The vehicle control apparatus works to determine the travel performance of the vehicle required immediately after the engine has been restarted in the engine restart mode and control the torque outputted by the engine based on the determined travel performance so as to ensure the drivability of the vehicle after the engine is restarted automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori YAMAMURA, Kenji KAWAHARA
  • Patent number: 7844391
    Abstract: A control unit controls a start-up process of a vehicle power plant in a motor vehicle. In response to a start-up request, the control unit emits a start-up signal for initiating corresponding start-up measures for starting up the vehicle power plant. The control unit determines a time duration from the beginning of the start-up process up to the completion of a successful start-up process and sends a time duration dependent memory signal to the memory unit, which thereupon makes a time duration dependent memory entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volker Dietz
  • Publication number: 20100299053
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a starter, the starter includes a pinion shiftable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. The starter includes an actuator configured to shift the pinion from the disengagement position to the engagement position when energized, and a motor configured to rotate the pinion when energized. The system includes a control circuit, a first switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the actuator under control of the control circuit, and a second switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit. The first switch unit and the second switch unit are individually arranged. The second switch unit includes a first relay configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit, and a second relay configured to control activation of the first relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige OKUMOTO, Akira Kato, Takashi Senda
  • Publication number: 20100299049
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine is re-fired subsequent to a fuel cutoff event wherein fuel to all cylinders is cutoff. Re-firing the engine includes selectively firing individual cylinders during re-firing engine cycles exclusively at a predetermined fixed fuel mass until all cylinders have been fired at least once, whereafter subsequent firing of individual cylinders is not limited to the predetermined fixed fuel mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Hanho Yun
  • Publication number: 20100299052
    Abstract: Fuel systems and methods for cold environments which includes a fuel pump having at least one solenoid coil in an unlaminated magnetic circuit, the fuel pump being disposed in a fuel tank, and a pump drive and pulsing system, the pump drive providing pump actuation current to the solenoid coil and the pulsing system providing short current pulses to the solenoid coil to cause Eddy current losses in the unlaminated magnetic circuit. The method includes, before cranking the engine for starting the engine, providing short, successive current pulses to the solenoid coil to cause eddy current heating in the unlaminated circuit and heating of the fuel in and around the fuel pump, turning on the fuel pump to commence fuel flow to the engine, and cranking the engine for starting after the fuel pump has been turned on. Various features are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: STURMAN DIGITAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Publication number: 20100286895
    Abstract: A method for monitoring at least one glow plug of an internal combustion engine in which a time-dependent variable, which characterizes the current flowing through the at least one glow plug, is compared for fault recognition to at least one time-dependent minimum and/or maximum threshold value, and a fault is recognized if the time-dependent variable is greater and/or less than the minimum and/or maximum threshold value. The method is characterized in that the first derivative of the time-dependent variable is compared to the first derivative of the maximum threshold value and the second derivative of the time-dependent variable is compared to the second derivative of the maximum threshold value, and a fault is recognized if the first derivative of the time-dependent variable is less than the first derivative the maximum threshold value, and the second derivative of the time-dependent variable is less than the second derivative of the maximum threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Bauer, Rainer Moritz, Simon Schmittinger, Andreas Reissner
  • Patent number: 7826954
    Abstract: In a system for monitoring an output of a sensor for detecting an operating state of a gas turbine engine by comparing a value of an output of the sensor with a prescribed reference value, a calibration map for converting the output of the sensor into a variable that is normally used for controlling the engine is used for defining the reference value for determining the state of the sensor. Thereby, a fault of a sensor can be detected both accurately and promptly by using the existing resource without unduly complicating the control program. It is particularly desirable to monitor the output of the sensor by taking into account the current operating condition of the engine to improve the reliability in detecting a fault in the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Muramatsu, Yukinobu Sugitani
  • Patent number: 7826958
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method for recirculation of exhaust gases of a combustion engine. A return line extends from an exhaust line for engine exhaust gases to an inlet line for air to the combustion engine. An EGR valve in the exhaust line regulates the amount of exhaust gases led through the return line. A control unit controls the EGR valve. An EGR cooler cools the exhaust gases in the return line by means of a cooling system of the combustion engine. The control unit decides whether the coolant in the cooling system is at a too low a temperature and, if it is, controls the EGR valve so that a larger amount of exhaust gases is led through the return line with extra heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (Publ)
    Inventor: Hans Wikström
  • Publication number: 20100269776
    Abstract: An ECU in an automatic engine control device predicts a maximum discharging current to be supplied from a battery to a starter during a next restart of the engine based on a present voltage, an internal resistance value of the battery, and a starter total resistance value during automatic engine stop. The ECU further predicts a minimum voltage of the battery during a period until the next restart of the engine based on the present voltage, the present internal resistance value of the battery, and the predicted maximum discharging current. The ECU judges whether or not execution of the next restart of the engine during the automatic engine stop based on the predicted minimum voltage of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru MIZUNO
  • Patent number: 7822534
    Abstract: A fuel supply device (30) for an engine (1) pressurizes the fuel drawn up from a fuel tank (31) by the low-pressure fuel pump (32) and stores it in a delivery pipe (34), and injects the fuel stored in the delivery pipe (34) from an injector (35). The fuel supply device (30) includes a return passageway (50) connecting the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31), and a relief valve (51) that is provided on the return passageway (50) and that is capable of being switched between an open state for connecting the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31) in communication and a closed state for shutting off the delivery pipe (34) and the fuel tank (31) from each other in communication. An ECU (60) switches the relief valve (51) to the open state and operates the low-pressure fuel pump (32), if a predetermined stop condition for stopping the engine (1) is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuji Matsubara
  • Patent number: 7822536
    Abstract: In a speed transition period from when an internal combustion engine is started to when an engine speed settles down to a certain speed, a compression top dead center of a cylinder first operating is set as a reference crank angle and compression top dead centers of the cylinders arriving successively after said reference crank angle in the speed transition period are set as judgment use crank angles. Reference crank angle advancing times are detected and stored in advance, wherein the reference crank angle advancing times are crank angle advancing times when a reference fuel is used, and the crank angle advancing times are times required for the crank angle to advance from the reference crank angle to the judgment use crank angles. The actual crank angle advancing times are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Sata, Koichi Ueda
  • Publication number: 20100256893
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion watercraft includes a hull, an engine, a jet propulsion device, a fuel injection apparatus, an exhaust channel, and an engine control unit. The engine is installed in the hull and includes a combustion chamber arranged to combust fuel therein, an exhaust port arranged to discharge exhaust gas after the combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber, an exhaust valve arranged to open and close the exhaust port, an intake port arranged for flow of air and the fuel into the combustion chamber, and an intake valve arranged to open and close the intake port. With the engine, an overlap period in which the exhaust port and the intake port are opened simultaneously during driving, occurs. The jet propulsion device is arranged to be driven by the engine to suck in water from around the hull and then jet the water. The fuel injection apparatus is arranged to inject the fuel into the intake port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimasa KINOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20100256896
    Abstract: An engine-starting device for stopping the engine after satisfaction of an idling-stop condition during idling of a vehicle, starting rotation of a starter-motor upon satisfaction of a starter-motor rotation start condition, and causing a pinion gear to mesh with a ring gear upon satisfaction of a pinion gear meshing condition, includes the ring gear to be connected to a crank shaft, the pinion gear for transmitting the starter-motor rotation, a plunger for causing the pinion gear to mesh with the ring gear, and a starter control section for instructing energization of the starter-motor, in which the starter-motor is energized to be rotated upon the satisfaction of the starter-motor rotation start condition prior to clearing of the idling-stop condition in response to a restart request, and the pinion gear is caused to mesh with the ring gear by the plunger upon the satisfaction of the pinion gear meshing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki KITANO, Masahiko KURISHIGE, Akihiko IMAGI, Daisuke MIZUNO, Koichiro KAMEI, Kazuhiro ODAHARA, Naohito KANEDA
  • Publication number: 20100256897
    Abstract: Even when, due to an abnormal decrease in the battery voltage, an engine control apparatus is inoperative, an engine can safely be started. Based on gearshift lever selection position information generated by a gearshift sensor (109A), a first detection circuit (194) generates a first detection signal PS1 when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position or in the parking position; a microprocessor (110A) is provided with a second detection means that generated a second detection signal PS2 when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position or in the parking position. Even when, due to an abnormal decrease in the voltage of a vehicle battery, the microprocessor (110A) is inoperative, by ascertaining through the first detection signal PS1 that the vehicle is in a state of not being driven, the engine can be started by means of a starting switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michihiro TAKATA, Masaharu Yuhara, Yuji Zushi
  • Patent number: 7809491
    Abstract: A control scheme is disclosed for performing both an adaption routine and carbon canister purging. In adaption, parameters for estimating air-fuel ratio from flow sensors and actuators are adjusted against an air-fuel ratio under closed-loop control using an EGO sensor. The two processes cannot run simultaneously. In vehicles in which the engine is operating from the time of key on until key off, the adaption occurs shortly after starting and then periodically thereafter. In vehicles in which the engine is turned on and off frequently such as with HEVs, the adaption routine may be run every time the engine is turned on, which is more frequent than necessary and doesn't allow enough time for purging. According to the disclosed control scheme, the time since last adaption and time in adaption is saved when the engine is turned off so that the adaption routine is conducted only when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Bevan, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, David Allen Clemens
  • Patent number: 7809494
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus for controlling the amount of the air flowing into each cylinder in accordance with the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder at the time of starting the engine is disclosed. Further, at the engine starting time, the target amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is calculated and/or the amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is controlled, based on the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder. The amount of the fuel remaining in the neighborhood of the engine intake port or in the intake pipe is calculated by being separated into a balanced liquid film amount and unbalanced liquid film amount. Based on the unbalanced liquid film amount, the injection fuel amount is corrected so that the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder is controlled with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20100250105
    Abstract: A 720-degree motor stage storage means for holding the result of stroke discrimination for the engine E also in the period for carrying out an idle stop control is provided. At the time of restarting the engine E from an idle stop state, a new stroke discriminating processing is not conducted, but the result of stroke discrimination stored in the 720-degree motor stage storage means is used, to thereby drive a fuel injection system and an ignition device. A stage decision unit for allocating a period of two revolutions of a crankshaft to 720-degree motor stages based on the result of stroke discrimination, a fuel injection and ignition stage correlation table having predetermined correlations of 720-degree motor stages with fuel injection stages and ignition stages, and restarting time motor stage conversion means for conversion of a 720-degree motor stage into a fuel injection stage and an ignition stage, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiya NAGATSUYU, Toshifumi OSAWA, Katsuhiro UTSUGI
  • Publication number: 20100241341
    Abstract: An engine operating in a spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition mode during warm-up cycle is controlled using settings determined by interpolating between cold engine temperature settings fully warmed-up engine temperature settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Hanho Yun, Nicole Wermuth, Paul M. Najt, Jun-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 7801672
    Abstract: A pressure reducing valve is provided for reducing fuel pressure in a high-pressure fuel system, which supplies high-pressure fuel from a high-pressure pump to an injector, after an engine stops. An ECU detects or estimates an engine stop position when the engine stops and sets after-stop target fuel pressure in accordance with the detected or estimated engine stop position. The ECU controls a valve opening action of the pressure reducing valve to reduce the fuel pressure in the high-pressure fuel system to the after-stop target fuel pressure after the engine stops. In the control, the ECU sets the after-stop target fuel pressure to be lower as a piston position of a cylinder in a compression stroke at the engine stop position is closer to a top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kuniaki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20100229815
    Abstract: In a system installed in a vehicle, an automatic stop of an engine is carried out when an engine automatic stop condition is met during the vehicle being decelerated. The automatically stopped engine is restarted when an engine restart condition is met before the vehicle is stopped. A vehicle speed obtaining unit obtains a vehicle speed, and a threshold determining unit determines a threshold based on a predetermined-timing value of the vehicle speed. The predetermined-timing value is obtained at a predetermined timing when or after the engine restart condition is met. The threshold is used to determine whether to enable a next automatic stop of the engine. A stop enabling unit enables the next automatic stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle obtained after the engine restart condition is met is equal to or higher than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi SENDA, Kenji KAWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20100224141
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine operable with a mixed fuel composed of alcohol and gasoline and excellent in fuel efficiency and durability. A separator separates the mixed fuel, which is composed of gasoline and ethanol, into high-concentration ethanol and high-concentration gasoline. A reforming fuel supply device supplies the high-concentration ethanol, as a reforming fuel, into an exhaust gas removed through a branch pipe. A fuel reforming catalyst supported in a reforming chamber within a heat exchanger works to cause a reforming reaction between the high-concentration ethanol and exhaust gas and generate a reformed gas that contains H2 and CO. The reformed gas is supplied into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine via a reformed gas conduit pipe. The separated high-concentration ethanol and high-concentration gasoline are remixed by a mixer and supplied from a fuel injection device to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100228466
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which intake and exhaust valve timing is varied to improve cold-start performance and emissions and to increase cylinder-out temperatures under certain operating conditions. Valve timing is controlled to modify in-cylinder conditions to enhance certain physical and chemical processes. Valve timing is preferably determined based on measurement and calculation of engine operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: TRITEL, LLC
    Inventors: Jack A. EKCHIAN, Berj A. TERZIAN
  • Publication number: 20100222992
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed, including a startup switch electrically connected to the ECU. Actuation of the startup switch causes a signal to be sent to the ECU indicative of a desired operation of the vehicle. A display device is disposed forwardly of the seat for displaying information to the rider. Actuation of a confirmation switch causes a confirmation signal to be sent to the ECU indicative of a display of information to a rider. Upon actuation of the startup switch, the ECU prevents the vehicle from moving until information is displayed by the display device and the confirmation signal is received by the ECU. A method of operating a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Leblanc
  • Publication number: 20100212981
    Abstract: A system and control module for controlling an electrically heated catalyst includes a remote start module generating a remote start signal, a catalyst control module controlling the electrically heated catalyst based on the remote start signal and an engine control module starting the engine after preheating and/or when required by the vehicle to honor a request as defined in this document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brain Spohn, Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Publication number: 20100217493
    Abstract: In an idle stop system for an engine mounted in a vehicle, when it is determined predetermined stop conditions are met, the engine is automatically stopped. During the engine stop, when it is determined that predetermined restart conditions are met, the engine is automatically restarted. Further, it is determined whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the restart of the engine. When it is determined that the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the clutch mechanism is controlled into the connection thereof at and after a time instant when it is determined that the predetermined period of time has elapsed. Hence, the connected state of the clutch mechanism is realized after a controlled delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki TOMURA, Takashi SENDA
  • Patent number: 7779810
    Abstract: A fuel injection method for internal combustion engines with gasoline direct fuel injection systems comprises receiving a crankshaft position signal from a crankshaft position sensor. A position of a crankshaft is determined from the crankshaft position signal. Fuel is commanded at a first rate when the position of the crankshaft is within a first selectable range during a combustion cycle of an engine cylinder and fuel is commanded at a second rate when the position of the crankshaft is within a second selectable range during the combustion cycle of the engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, David P. Sczomak, Michael J. Lucido, James R. Reeder, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100211298
    Abstract: A method for starting a vehicle engine includes determining a throttle angle command output based on a throttle adjustment parameter. The throttle angle command output may be further adjusted based on a learned compensation adder and may be based on a number of vehicle engine starts. A throttle angle corresponding to the throttle angle command output is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Khang Thanh Hong, William David Treharne, Tobias John Pallett, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20100206257
    Abstract: In a method for starting an internal combustion engine, immediately before a predetermined idling speed is reached for the first time, a rate of injection of fuel into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is reduced for at least one cycle of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ruben Van den Bergh
  • Publication number: 20100211299
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising during at least a run-up in engine speed of engine starting, adjusting intake valve timing of an electrically actuated valve of a cylinder to provide a desired air amount in said cylinder, based on at least an operating condition of said engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7778767
    Abstract: An engine control module includes an engine starting module that communicates with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors and that determines whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold. A warming module communicates with the M fuel injectors to inject fuel into N of M the fuel injectors when the manifold pressure is less than the manifold pressure threshold. N and M are integers and N is less than M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Frank Ament