Cylinder deactivation control system
First Claim
1. A controller comprising a processor and a memory for a vehicle including an engine with a plurality of cylinders, the controller programmed to:
- determine an occupancy status of the vehicle based on received sensor data, wherein the occupancy status is one of a front-seat-occupied status, a back-seat-only-occupied status, and an unoccupied status;
select a set of active cylinders from the plurality of cylinders based on the occupancy status, wherein a set of active cylinders for the unoccupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status; and
the set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the front-seat-occupied status; and
activate the set of active cylinders and deactivate a remainder of the plurality of cylinders.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A controller comprising a processor and a memory for a vehicle including an engine with a plurality of cylinders, the controller programmed to:
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determine an occupancy status of the vehicle based on received sensor data, wherein the occupancy status is one of a front-seat-occupied status, a back-seat-only-occupied status, and an unoccupied status; select a set of active cylinders from the plurality of cylinders based on the occupancy status, wherein a set of active cylinders for the unoccupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status; and
the set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the front-seat-occupied status; andactivate the set of active cylinders and deactivate a remainder of the plurality of cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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4. A method of controlling a vehicle including an engine with a plurality of cylinders comprising:
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detecting an occupancy status of the vehicle, wherein the occupancy status is one of a front-seat-occupied status, a back-seat-only-occupied status, and an unoccupied status; selecting a set of active cylinders from the plurality of cylinders based on the occupancy status, wherein a set of active cylinders for the unoccupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status; and
the set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the front-seat-occupied status; andactivating the set of active cylinders and deactivating a remainder of the plurality of cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A vehicle comprising:
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an engine including a plurality of cylinders; a controller in communication with the engine; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the engine; and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the driver seat, of the passenger seat, and of the back seat and in communication with the controller;
whereinthe controller is programmed to receive occupancy data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status of the vehicle based on the occupancy data, wherein the occupancy status is one of a front-seat-occupied status, a back-seat-only-occupied status, and an unoccupied status, select a set of active cylinders from the plurality of cylinders based on the occupancy status, wherein a set of active cylinders for the unoccupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status; and
the set of active cylinders for the back-seat-only-occupied status is no greater than, and for at least some vehicle conditions smaller than, a set of active cylinders for the front-seat-occupied status, andactivate the set of active cylinders and deactivate a remainder of the plurality of cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification