System and method for determining engine knock

• US 10,385,790 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Glugla, Chris Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US16/102,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20180363578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 701103-105, 701111, 12340611, 12340612, 12340623, 12340624, 12340626, 12340634
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/045 combined with electronic control of other engine functions, e.g. fuel injection in general F02D37/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/152 dependent on pinking detecting or indicating knocks in internal-combustion engines G01L23/22
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1528 for turbocompressed engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting and controlling knock in an engine are presented. In one example, engine knock sensors are selected based on whether or not certain cylinders are activated and combusting air and fuel or deactivated and not combusting air and fuel. Output of selected knock sensors is the basis for adjusting engine spark timing.

Claims

1. A vehicle system, comprising:

an engine including one or more cylinder poppet valve deactivating mechanisms and a knock sensor; and

a controller including non-transitory executable instructions, which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to select a knock reference value from a first knock reference value and a second knock reference value, divide an integrated output of the knock sensor by the first knock reference value to provide an engine knock indication during a first condition, divide the integrated output of the knock sensor by the second knock reference value to provide the engine knock indication during a second condition, and adjust engine spark timing in response to the engine knock indication.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, where the second condition is the first knock reference value greater than a threshold value.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising additional instructions to divide the integrated output of the knock sensor by the second knock reference value in response to deactivating one or more valves of a cylinder.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising additional instructions to divide the integrated output of the knock sensor by a third knock reference value in response to deactivating fuel flow to a cylinder and flowing air through the cylinder.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising instructions to filter output of the knock sensor to provide the first knock reference value.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising additional instructions to save the first knock reference value to memory in response to deactivating one or more cylinders of the engine.