| 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 |
| 20080221774 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A PARAMETER FOR NORMALIZED INSTANTANEOUS HEAT RELEASE IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Operation of an internal combustion engine selectively operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode is monitored. The engine is equipped with a pressure sensing device operative to monitor in-cylinder pressure. An analog signal output from the pressure sensing device is monitored during a combustion cycle. A peak cylinder pressure and a corresponding crank angle are detected and captured during the combustion cycle. A state for a combustion parameter for the cylinder for the combustion cycle is determined based upon the peak cylinder pressure and the corresponding crank angle. | 09-11-2008 |
| 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 |
| 20080264360 | Method and apparatus for enabling control of fuel injection for an engine operating in an auto-ignition mode - There is provided a method and a control scheme to control an internal combustion engine operating in an auto-ignition mode by selectively activating a control scheme for controlling fuel injector operation based upon engine combustion parameters, e.g., IMEP or NMEP. The method comprises operating the engine in the auto-ignition combustion mode, and monitoring combustion in each of the cylinders. The fuel correction is selectively enabled only when either one of a partial burn and a misfire of a cylinder charge in one of the cylinders has been detected. | 10-30-2008 |
| 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 |
| 20080264382 | Method and apparatus for determining a combustion parameter for an internal combustion engine - There is provided a method to determine a combustion parameter for an internal combustion engine. The method comprises monitoring cylinder pressure and crank angle during a combustion cycle, and determining a peak cylinder pressure, a crank angle location of the peak cylinder pressure, and a cylinder pressure at a closing of an intake valve. A combustion parameter is calculated based upon the peak cylinder pressure, the cylinder pressure at the closing of the intake valve for the combustion cycle, the crank angle location of the peak cylinder pressure, the cylinder volume at the location of the peak cylinder pressure, and the cylinder volume at the closing of the intake valve for the combustion cycle. The combustion parameter correlates to an instantaneous heat release of a cylinder charge for the combustion cycle. | 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 |
| 20090272362 | LIGHT LOAD AND IDLE HCCI COMBUSTION CONTROL BY FUEL PRESSURE MODIFICATION - A method for controlling a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition capable engine, operating with spray-guided spark ignition stratified combustion at low load, includes monitoring a speed of the engine, monitoring a load of the engine, determining a desired fuel pressure based upon the speed of the engine and the load of the engine, and utilizing the desired fuel pressure to control fuel injection into the engine, wherein the desired fuel pressure is calibrated to the speed and the load based upon increased stability of the engine at lower fuel pressures and lower soot emissions from the engine at higher fuel pressures. | 11-05-2009 |
| 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 |
| 20090319159 | ACTIVE COMBUSTION CONTROL BASED ON RINGING INDEX FOR REDUCING HOMOGENOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION (HCCI) COMBUSTION NOISE - An engine control system comprises a ringing index (RI) determination module and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module. The RI determination module determines at least one RI based on at least one pressure in at least one cylinder. The EGR control module actuates an EGR valve based on the RI. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100037858 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR A HOMOGENEOUS-CHARGE COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINE - A method for operating a multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine responsive to a low load demand includes monitoring an engine state associated with combustion for each cylinder during each combustion cycle during low load operation, determining a combustion stability index for each cylinder based upon the monitored engine state associated with combustion for the respective cylinder, and individually adjusting an initiation of a spark discharge relative to an end of a fuel injection event for each cylinder based upon the combustion stability index determined for the respective cylinder. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100162991 | HCCI COMBUSTION MODING STATE CONTROL FOR FUEL ECONOMY AND SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS - A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operating zone boundary module determining a first HCCI operating boundary and a fuel rate module determining a first fuel rate from an operator input. The system also includes a switch module modifying the first HCCI operating boundary to a modified boundary in response to a measured mass airflow, cam positions and the first HCCI operating boundary. The system also includes a combustion control module operating the engine in a spark ignited mode when a second fuel rate request is outside the modified boundary. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100222985 | METHODOLOGY FOR EXTENDING THE HIGH LOAD LIMIT OF HCCI OPERATION BY ADJUSTING INJECTION TIMING AND SPARK TIMING - A method for operating an internal combustion engine including extended operation in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode at high loads includes operating the engine in the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode including spark-assisted ignition, monitoring an engine load, monitoring an engine speed, determining the engine to be in a high ringing range based upon the engine load and the engine speed, and when the engine load is in the high ringing range, operating the engine in a reduced ringing mode. The reduced ringing mode includes modulating a fuel injection timing according to a calibrated maximum combustion chamber cooling fuel injection timing, determining a preferred combustion phasing value, and modulating a spark timing based upon the modulated fuel injection timing and the preferred combustion phasing value. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100241341 | OPERATING STRATEGY FOR HCCI COMBUSTION DURING ENGINE WARM-UP - 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. | 09-23-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100274464 | CLOSED-LOOP ADAPTATION OF HOMOGENOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION OPERATING ZONE BASED ON RINGING INDEX - An engine control system comprises a ringing index (RI) determination module, a fueling threshold determination module, and a combustion mode determination module. The ringing index (RI) determination module determines an RI value of a cylinder of an engine and compares the RI value and a predetermined RI threshold. The fueling threshold determination module determines a fueling threshold and adjusts the fueling threshold based on the comparison of the RI value and the RI threshold. The combustion mode determination module selects a combustion mode for the engine based on a comparison of a current fueling rate and the fueling threshold. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100274465 | HCCI MODE SWITCHING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter. | 10-28-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20110132318 | HCCI MODE SWITCHING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A control system and method for operating an engine includes a threshold determination module that determines a plurality of combustion mode thresholds based on the engine speed and engine temperature. The control module also includes a transition module that compares the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds and changes a combustion mode of the engine in response to comparing the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110146637 | EGR CONTROL IN HCCI ENGINES - An internal combustion engine operates in an unthrottled condition during HCCI operation while preferred combustion phasing is determined. An EGR mass flow rate is commanded to correspond with the preferred combustion phasing. The EGR valve is controlled to achieve commanded EGR mass flow rate. Position of the throttle valve is controlled to achieve commanded EGR mass flow rate when the commanded EGR mass flow rate exceeds control authority of the EGR valve. | 06-23-2011 |
