ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MINIMIZING FUEL CONSUMPTION

• US 20110047980A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• 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: Roos, Bryan Nathaniel, Gonze, Eugene V., Santoso, Halim G., Spohn, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,458,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• 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 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/194 related to low temperature conditions, e.g. high viscosity of hydraulic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/06 Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.

Claims

1. An engine control system comprising:

a temperature control module that regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down; and

an engine disabling module that selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a torque control module that selectively initiates the start up of the engine when the desired torque is greater than the maximum torque output when the engine is shut down.

3. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the torque control module controls a first torque output by the engine and a second torque output by the electric motor based on the desired torque output after the start up.

4. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the engine disabling module shuts down the engine after the start up when the maximum torque output is greater than the desired torque output.

5. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the engine disabling module shuts down the engine when, after the start up, the second temperature is less than the second predetermined light-off temperature and the maximum torque output is greater than the desired torque output.

6. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the torque control module, after the start up, selects a warming strategy for the catalyst and controls the engine based on the warming strategy.

7. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein, after the start up, the torque control module provides a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture to a cylinder of the engine and retards a spark timing of the cylinder.

8. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein, after the start up, the torque control module provides a rich air/fuel mixture to a first cylinder of the engine and disables provision of fuel and spark to a second cylinder of the engine.

9. A hybrid vehicle system comprising:

the engine control system of claim 1;

the EHC; and

the passive catalyst.

10. A method comprising:

regulating a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down; and

selectively disabling start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising selectively initiating the start up of the engine when the desired torque is greater than the maximum torque output when the engine is shut down.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising controlling a first torque output by the engine and a second torque output by the electric motor based on the desired torque output after the start up.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising shutting down the engine after the start up when the maximum torque output is greater than the desired torque output.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising shutting down the engine when, after the start up, the second temperature is less than the second predetermined light-off temperature and the maximum torque output is greater than the desired torque output.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising, after the start up:

selecting a warming strategy for the catalyst; and

controlling the engine based on the warming strategy.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, after the start up:

providing a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture to a cylinder of the engine; and

retarding a spark timing of the cylinder.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising, after the start up:

providing a rich air/fuel mixture to a first cylinder of the engine; and

disabling provision of fuel and spark to a second cylinder of the engine.