| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080202469 | Method and apparatus for controlling a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine - The invention comprises a method for controlling operation of a homogeneous charge combustion ignition engine operating in an auto-ignition mode. The method comprises determining a desired combustion phasing; and, controlling a mass flowrate of externally recirculated exhaust gas based upon an actual combustion phasing. A closed-loop control scheme is executed to control the mass flowrate of externally recirculated exhaust gas based upon a difference between the actual and the desired combustion phasing. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080221781 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION IN A HOMOGENEOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE - A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. The operation includes monitoring engine operation, and globally adapting fueling for all the cylinders based upon an engine intake mass air flow and an air/fuel ratio. The fueling for each cylinder is individually adapted based upon states of a combustion parameter for all the cylinders. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080243356 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FUEL REFORMING UNDER LOW-LOAD OPERATING CONDITIONS USING EXHAUST RECOMPRESSION IN A HOMOGENEOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE - 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. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080257306 | Method and apparatus for selecting a combustion mode for an internal combustion engine - A method for selecting a preferred combustion mode for an internal combustion engine operative in a plurality of combustion modes is described. The method includes selecting a combustion mode in terms of first and second engine parameters, and separating the engine operating region into zones defined by the first parameter. Each of the zones is further separated into sub-zones defined by the second parameter. A combustion mode is associated with each of the sub-zones. Operating states are determined for the first and second parameters. One of the zones is identified based upon the state for the first parameter. One of the sub-zones of the identified zone is identified based upon the state for the second parameter, along with a combustion mode associated with the identified sub-zone. The engine is controlled to the preferred combustion mode, depending upon hysteresis. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080264380 | Method and apparatus for controlling combustion mode transitions in an internal combustion engine - A method to control operation of an engine during a transition from a first to a second combustion mode is provided. The engine includes a controllable throttle valve, a variable valve actuation system for controlling openings and closings of intake and exhaust valves, and, an intake and an exhaust. Mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume to operate the engine in the second combustion mode and meet an operator torque request are determined. Current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume are determined. An opening position of the controllable throttle valve and the openings and the closings of the intake and exhaust valves are controlled during the transition to the second combustion mode based upon differences between the current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume, and, the mass airflow, the intake manifold pressure, and the cylinder volume. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080302319 | Method and apparatus for controlling transitions in an engine having multi-step valve lift - There is provided a method for controlling engine valves of an internal combustion engine adapted to selectively operate at one of a first open position and a second open position, including controlling engine operation during a transition from a first to a second combustion mode. The method comprises determining a desired engine airflow based upon an operator torque request. A cylinder intake volume is determined for the desired engine airflow when operating at the first open position. A control scheme is determined to control the engine valves to attain the cylinder intake volume for the desired engine airflow when operating at the second open position. The control scheme is executed and the engine valve is transitioned to the second open position when the cylinder intake volume to operate at the second open position is within a range of authority of the engine valves. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090048757 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR TRANSITIONING AMONG COMBUSTION MODES IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. Engine operation is monitored and program code is concurrently executed to operate the engine in a first combustion mode and in a second combustion mode. The engine is preferentially operated in the second combustion mode when the engine operation is within a predetermined area, and selectively operated in the first combustion mode based upon the monitored engine operation. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090048760 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION MODE TRANSITIONS IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. A method for controlling the engine includes commanding the engine operation to transition from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode. Engine valve operation is commanded to a desired valve overlap and valve overlap is monitored. Engine operation is changed to the second combustion mode when the engine valve overlap achieves a predetermined range or threshold. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090048761 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE INTAKE AIRFLOW - An internal combustion engine includes a controllable throttle and controllable engine valves and is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. An engine control method includes monitoring engine operation, determining a desired air flow, estimating a cylinder air charge, and estimating an intake air partial pressure. The throttle control device and engine valves are controlled based upon the intake air partial pressure and the cylinder air charge to achieve the desired air flow. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090048762 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CYLINDER CHARGE IN A HOMOGENEOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine includes a controllable throttle control device and controllable engine valves. A method for controlling the engine includes monitoring engine operation and an exhaust gas feedstream, and estimating a cylinder charge temperature based upon the monitored engine operation. Oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge is determined based upon the monitored exhaust gas feedstream, and preferred oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge and preferred cylinder charge temperature are determined. The engine valves are controlled based upon the preferred oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge, the preferred cylinder charge temperature, the oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge, and the estimated cylinder charge temperature. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090048765 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AN EGR VALVE IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in a spark ignition combustion mode and a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. An EGR valve operative to control flow of exhaust gas to an intake manifold is monitored, including commanding the EGR valve to a closed position and monitoring operation of the internal combustion engine. An intake manifold pressure due to a fresh air charge is estimated based upon the operation of the engine. The intake manifold pressure is measured, and the estimated intake manifold pressure is compared to the measured intake manifold pressure. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090109022 | Method and apparatus for providing in-vehicle fuel related information - A method for providing in-vehicle fuel-related information is disclosed. A geographic location of a vehicle is determined. A driving distance remaining for the vehicle is estimated based on a current fuel level and a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle. Fuel providers are located within a search area of the driving distance remaining for the vehicle, and one or more of the fuel providers are output. A travel cost for the vehicle may also be calculated. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090272363 | EXTENSION OF THE APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE INJECTION HCCI COMBUSTION STRATEGY FROM IDLE TO MEDIUM LOAD - A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes monitoring an engine operating state and selectively operating the engine in a multiple-injection, multiple-ignition combustion mode comprising three injection events based upon the engine operating state. The selective operation includes controlling a first injection during a recompression period of the combustion cycle, controlling a second injection event effective to establish a homogeneous fuel charge prior to a main combustion, and controlling a third injection late in the compression phase of the combustion cycle. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100242902 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION MODE TRANSITIONS IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine is operative in a spark ignition combustion mode and a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. Operating the engine includes commanding a transition from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode. A change in openings and closings of the intake and exhaust valves is commanded to a preferred duration of a negative valve overlap period corresponding to operating in the second combustion mode. Fuel injection parameters and spark ignition events are adjusted to effect operation in the second combustion mode only when a realized duration of the negative valve overlap period exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100299049 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR OPERATING A HOMOGENEOUS-CHARGE COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINE SUBSEQUENT TO A FUEL CUTOFF EVENT - 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. | 11-25-2010 |
