Engine control to compensate for fueling dynamics

• US 7,111,593 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lewis, Donald J., Michelini, John Ottavio, Kolmanovsky, Ilya V., Song, Gang
• Primary Examiner(s): Solis, Erick R.
• Application Number:
  US10/768,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 123/64, 123/673, 123/674, 123/698, 123/198.F
• US Class Current: 123/64
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2136 Two opposed springs for intermediate resting position of the armature
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/16 Indirect injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/047 Taking into account fuel evaporation or wall wetting; special correction after fuel cut-off F02D41/126
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method for calculating transient fuel wall wetting characteristics of an operating engine is described. The method accounts for cylinder valve deactivation of cylinders in the engine in calculating the dynamic fueling compensation. In one example, fuel vaporization effects from fuel puddles in deactivated cylinders is considered when calculating the fueling compensation for active cylinders.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine having a plurality of cylinders, wherein at least one cylinder is capable of being mechanically deactivated, the method comprising:

adjusting fuel injection amounts injected into active cylinders of the engine based on whether said at least one cylinder is mechanically deactivated;

wherein said adjusting is at least based on a migration of fuel between said at least one mechanically deactivated cylinder and an active cylinder of the engine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mechanical deactivation of the cylinder is performed by deactivating an electrically actuated intake valve.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting of fuel injection amounts injected into active cylinders is performed during deactivation of said one mechanically deactivated cylinder.

4. An article of manufacture comprising:

a sensor for measuring an exhaust gas oxygen amount; and

a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for controlling fuel injection in an internal combustion engine having fuel injectors coupled in intake ports thereof, said computer storage medium comprising;

code for operating the engine in at least two modes including an active mode where the intake valves are operating and injected fuel and air are combusted in a cylinder of the engine, and a deactivated mode where valves of the cylinder are deactivated;

code for adjusting a fuel injection amount to the cylinder based on said sensor and a dynamic fueling compensation value determined based on the cylinder mode; and

code for operating the engine in a third mode where the cylinder operates in a greater than four stroke cycle.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein said code for adjusting fuel injection calculated said dynamic fueling compensation on an individual cylinder basis.

6. The article of claim 4 wherein said code for adjusting said fuel injection amount further adjusts said fuel injection amount based on transitions between said first and second mode.

7. The article of claim 4 wherein the engine deactivated valves in the cylinder via an electrically actuated intake valve.