System and method for controlling ignition timing in an engine

• US 20040079332A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kotwicki, Allan Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 6,845,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/406.26
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/026 using an estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0062 Estimating, calculating or determining the internal EGR rate, amount or flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0072 Estimating, calculating or determining the EGR rate, amount or flow sensors in EGR systems F02M26/45
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1441 Plural sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1448 the characteristics being an exhaust gas pressure
• 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 5/1512 with particular means concerning an individual cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1516 with means relating to exhaust gas recirculation, e.g. turbo
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system and method for controlling ignition timing of an engine is provided. The method includes determining a change in a combustion temperature rise within an engine based on a change in at least one engine operating parameter. The method further includes adjusting the ignition timing of the engine based on the change of combustion temperature rise.

Claims

1. A method for controlling ignition timing of an engine, said engine having an engine cylinder, comprising:

determining a change in a combustion temperature rise within said engine based on a change in at least one engine operating parameter; and

,

adjusting said ignition timing of said engine based on said change of combustion temperature rise.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an exhaust gas recirculation rate of exhaust gases into an intake manifold communicating with said engine cylinder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an exhaust gas pressure downstream of said cylinder and upstream of an emission control device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an air-fuel ratio of said engine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of adjusting said ignition timing includes:

determining a base ignition value based on an engine operating condition;

determining an adjustment ignition value from said change of combustion temperature in said engine; and

,

determining a commanded ignition timing value based on said base ignition value and said adjustment ignition value.

6. A method for controlling ignition timing of an engine, said engine having a cylinder communicating with an emission control device, comprising:

determining a change in a combustion temperature rise within said engine based on an change in exhaust gas pressure upstream of said emission control device and a change in an air-fuel ratio in said cylinder; and

,

adjusting said ignition timing of said engine based on said change of combustion temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said change in combustion temperature rise in said engine is further determined from a change in an amount of exhaust gas recirculation into an intake manifold of said engine communicating with said cylinder.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of adjusting said ignition timing includes:

determining a base ignition value based on an engine operating condition;

determining an adjustment ignition value from said change of combustion temperature in said engine; and

,

determining a commanded ignition timing value based on said base ignition value and said adjustment ignition value.

9. A system for controlling ignition timing of an engine, said engine having an intake manifold communicating with an engine cylinder, comprising:

a first sensor generating a first signal indicative of an engine operating parameter; and

,

a controller operably coupled to said first sensor, said controller configured to determine a change in a combustion temperature rise within said engine based on a change in said engine operating parameter, said controller further configured to adjust said ignition timing of said engine based on said change of combustion temperature rise.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said first sensor comprises an air flow sensor disposed in said intake manifold and said engine operating parameter is an air flow rate.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said first sensor comprises an exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of said engine cylinder and said engine operating parameter is an air-fuel ratio.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said first sensor comprises a pressure sensor and said engine operating parameter is an exhaust gas pressure.

13. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for controlling ignition timing of an engine, said engine having an engine cylinder, said computer storage medium comprising;

code for determining a change in a combustion temperature rise within said engine based on a change in at least one engine operating parameter; and

,

code for adjusting said ignition timing of said engine based on said change of combustion temperature rise.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an exhaust gas recirculation rate of exhaust gases into an intake manifold communicating with said engine cylinder.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an exhaust gas pressure downstream of said cylinder and upstream of an emission control device.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein said engine operating parameter comprises an air-fuel ratio of said engine.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein said code for adjusting said ignition timing includes:

code for determining a base ignition value based on an engine operating condition;

code for determining an adjustment ignition value from said change of combustion temperature in said engine; and

,

code for determining a commanded ignition timing value based on said base ignition value and said adjustment ignition value.