Cylinder deactivation for an internal combustion engine
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the number of cylinders and valves to operate in an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
- determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine.
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Abstract
A system and method to control engine valve operation during periods of cylinder deactivation of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled in a manner to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during cylinder deactivation periods of an internal combustion engine.
144 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for determining the number of cylinders and valves to operate in an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining the number of cylinders and valves to operate in an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinders;
selecting a first electrically actuated valve pattern based on said determined number of electrically actuated valves;
selecting a second electrically actuated valve pattern based on said determined number of electrically actuated valves; and
alternately operating said first electrically actuated valve pattern in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said selected cylinders and operating said second electrically actuated valve pattern during different cycles of said selected cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A control method for selecting and controlling cylinders and valves in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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a first mode of operation to select and deactivate a first number of cylinders, and to carry out combustion in the remaining cylinders with a first number of active valves; and
a second mode of operation to select and deactivate a second number of cylinders, and to carry out combustion in the remaining cylinders with a second number of active valves. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining the number of cylinders to operate in an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders to operate based on said operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in a first and a second group of cylinders located within said number of selected cylinders; and
operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said first and second group of cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine based on said determination. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for determining the number of cylinders to operate in an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of at least one of said electrically actuated valves;
determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders to operate based on said electrically actuated valve operating condition and said engine operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinder based on said number of cylinders; and
operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said selected cylinder during a cycle of said internal combustion engine based on said evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for determining the number of cylinders to operate in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of at least one catalyst brick located in an exhaust system of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said catalyst operating condition;
determining a number of valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
operating said number of valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for determining the number of cylinders to operate in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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determining a constituent storage capacity of at least one catalyst brick located in an exhaust system of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said constituent storage capacity;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for determining the number of cylinders to operate in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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determining an operating condition of at least one catalyst brick located in an exhaust system of said internal combustion engine;
selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said catalyst operating condition;
determining a number of valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
operating said number of valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, said storage medium comprising:
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instructions for determining an operating condition of said internal combustion engine;
instructions for selecting a number of cylinders in which to carry out combustion, based on said operating condition;
determining a number of electrically actuated valves to operate in said selected cylinders; and
instructions for operating said number of electrically actuated valves in said selected cylinders during a cycle of said internal combustion engine.
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52. A method for operating an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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operating the engine in a first mode with a first number of cylinders deactivated, and a first number of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders; and
operating the engine in a second mode with a second number of cylinders deactivated, and a second number of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders, where said first number of cylinders deactivated is different from said second number of cylinders deactivated, and said first number of valves operating is different from said second number of valves operating.
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53. A method for operating an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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operating the engine in a first mode with a first number of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders; and
operating the engine in a second mode with a second number of cylinders deactivated, and a second number of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders, where said first number of valves operating is different from said second number of valves operating. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A method for operating an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising:
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operating the engine in a first mode with a first number of cylinders deactivated, and a first configuration of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders; and
operating the engine in a second mode with a second number of cylinders deactivated, and a second configuration of valves operating to carry out combustion in active cylinders, and said first configuration of valves operating is different from said second configuration of valves operating. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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- 58. A method for operating an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising varying a number of deactivated cylinders and varying a number of active valves in active cylinders to regulate engine output during engine operation.
Specification