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STRATEGY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DEACTIVATION AND REACTIVATION OF CYLINDERS OF A VARIABLEDISPLACEMENT ENGINE

  • US 20030172900A1
  • Filed: 03/12/2002
  • Published: 09/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a variable displacement, multiple-cylinder, four-stroke cycle, spark-controlled, fuel injected internal combustion engine, the engine having at least one variable displacement cylinder and one non-variable displacement cylinder, each cylinder having a piston, an exhaust valve and at least one air intake valve, a camshaft driven actuator for the intake valve for the variable displacement cylinder, a camshaft driven actuator for the exhaust valve for the variable displacement cylinder, a camshaft driven actuator for the exhaust valve for the non-variable displacement cylinder, and a throttle-controlled air induction system for the cylinders, the method comprising the steps of:

  • effecting a transition between a first operating mode in which both the variable displacement cylinder and the non-variable displacement cylinder are active and a second operating mode in which only the non-variable displacement cylinder is active;

    retarding timing of the intake valve closing event for the variable displacement cylinder and the intake valve opening event for the variable displacement cylinder so that the events are approximately equidistant from a top-dead-center position of the piston during the transition, whereby net friction and air pumping losses are minimized;

    increasing throttle opening to increase torque of the non-variable displacement cylinder;

    advancing camshaft timing to increase torque for the non-variable displacement cylinder during the transition while simultaneously retarding camshaft timing and spark timing to reduce torque for the variable displacement cylinder; and

    deactivating the exhaust valve, fuel injector and spark for the variable displacement cylinder during a deactivation region of the transition, the deactivation occurring during one full cycle of the engine, the torque increase and the torque decrease during the transition occurring during a torque control region of the transition in advance of the deactivation.

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