VARIABLE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT DELAY WITH HYBRID START-STOP

• US 20090150055A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Jeffrey M., Albertson, William C., Hicks, James B., Pitsch, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/105
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control system for a hybrid vehicle including an engine with cylinder deactivation comprises an engine time off module that determines an engine time off value. A re-purge determining module estimates a re-purge time required to purge a hydraulic control system of the engine of air before initiating cylinder deactivation. The re-purge time is estimated based on the engine time off value and an engine temperature.

Claims

1. A control system for a hybrid vehicle including an engine with cylinder deactivation, comprising:

an engine time off module that determines an engine time off value; and

a re-purge determining module that estimates a re-purge time to purge a hydraulic control system of said engine of air before initiating cylinder deactivation, wherein said re-purge time is estimated based on said engine time off value and an engine temperature.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a crankshaft rotating time module that determines a crankshaft rotating time that is based on a period after said engine is restarted.

3. The control system of claim 2 further comprising a hybrid and cylinder deactivation control module that selectively enables said cylinder deactivation based on said crankshaft rotating time and said re-purge time.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said hybrid and cylinder deactivation control module enables said cylinder deactivation after said crankshaft rotating time is greater than said re-purge time.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein said re-purge determining module includes a lookup table.

6. A method for operating a hybrid vehicle including an engine with cylinder deactivation, comprising:

determining an engine time off value; and

estimating a re-purge time to purge a hydraulic control system of said engine of air before initiating cylinder deactivation,

wherein said re-purge time is estimated based on said engine time off value and an engine temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a crankshaft rotating time that is based on a period after said engine is restarted.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising selectively enabling said cylinder deactivation based on said crankshaft rotating time and said re-purge time.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising enabling said cylinder deactivation after said crankshaft rotating time is greater than said re-purge time.