SKIP FIRE ENGINE CONTROL
First Claim
1. An engine controller arranged to control working chamber firings in an engine, the engine controller comprising:
- a firing fraction calculator arranged to determine a reference firing fraction suitable for delivering a desired engine output at a reference working chamber firing output;
an engine settings controller arranged to set selected engine settings, wherein the selected engine settings affect the output of the working chamber firings and are not constrained to cause actual working chamber firing outputs to equal the reference working chamber firing output;
a firing fraction adjuster arranged to determine an adjusted firing fraction that scales the reference firing fraction appropriately such that the engine will deliver the desired engine output at the current engine settings even when the actual working chamber firing outputs do not equal the reference working chamber firing output; and
a firing controller arranged to direct working chamber firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the adjusted firing fraction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of skip fire engine controllers and control techniques are described. In some preferred embodiments, a skip fire engine controller is provided that includes a firing fraction calculator, an engine settings controller, a firing fraction adjuster and a firing controller. The firing fraction calculator determines a reference firing fraction indicative of a firing fraction suitable for delivering a desired engine output at a reference working chamber firing output. The engine settings controller is arranged to set selected engine settings. The firing fraction adjuster determines an adjusted firing fraction that scales the reference firing fraction appropriately such that the engine will deliver the desired engine output at the current engine settings even when the actual working chamber firing outputs do not equal the reference working chamber firing output. The firing controller direct workings chamber firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the adjusted firing fraction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An engine controller arranged to control working chamber firings in an engine, the engine controller comprising:
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a firing fraction calculator arranged to determine a reference firing fraction suitable for delivering a desired engine output at a reference working chamber firing output; an engine settings controller arranged to set selected engine settings, wherein the selected engine settings affect the output of the working chamber firings and are not constrained to cause actual working chamber firing outputs to equal the reference working chamber firing output; a firing fraction adjuster arranged to determine an adjusted firing fraction that scales the reference firing fraction appropriately such that the engine will deliver the desired engine output at the current engine settings even when the actual working chamber firing outputs do not equal the reference working chamber firing output; and a firing controller arranged to direct working chamber firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the adjusted firing fraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of working chambers, each working chamber being generally arranged to operate in a succession of working cycles, the method comprising:
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determining a reference firing fraction indicative of a firing fraction suitable for delivering a desired engine output at a reference working chamber firing output; setting selected engine settings that affect the torque output of the working chamber firings; determining an adjusted firing fraction based at least in part upon the reference firing fraction, wherein the selected engine settings are set and the adjusted firing fraction is determined such that an actual engine output substantially matches the desired engine output even when the actual working chamber firing outputs do not equal the reference working chamber firing output; and firing the working chambers in a skip fire firing sequence that delivers the adjusted firing fraction, wherein the skip fire firing fraction skips the firing of selected skipped working cycles and fires selected active working cycles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of managing a transition of an engine between an all cylinder always firing operational mode and a skip fire operating mode, the method comprising:
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gradually transitioning the throttle from a initial throttle position associated with the all cylinder always firing operational mode and a second throttle position associated with the skip fire operational mode; and altering the firing fraction in a manner that corresponds to changes in the throttle position during the gradual transition such that an actual engine output substantially matches the desired engine output. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of managing a transition of an engine between an all cylinder always firing operational mode and a skip fire operating mode, the method comprising:
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gradually transitioning the throttle from a initial throttle position associated with the all cylinder always firing operational mode and a second throttle position associated with the skip fire operational mode; and altering the firing fraction in a manner that corresponds to changes in the throttle position during the gradual transition such that an actual engine output substantially matches the desired engine output. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification