Vibration-based NVH control during idle operation of an automobile powertrain

• US 7,174,879 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Surnilla, Gopichandra, Smith, Stephen B., Makki, Imad, Chol, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/352,069
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 123/434, 123/435, 123/339.1, 123/339.11, 123/406.11, 123/406.16, 123/406.21, 123/406.29, 123/406.37
• US Class Current: 123/406.21
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/002 controlling air supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/027 using knock sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1508 with particular means during idling
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/152 dependent on pinking detecting or indicating knocks in internal-combustion engines G01L23/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system and method of operating a vehicle powertrain that employs active control to reduce NVH, particularly during idle. The method includes selectively operating the powertrain in at least a non-idle condition and an idle condition; receiving vibration signals from a sensor disposed on an internal combustion engine; controlling spark timing of the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the sensor; and during the idle condition, modifying a speed and/or a load of the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the sensor.

Claims

1. A method of operating a powertrain of a vehicle, comprising:

selectively operating the powertrain of the vehicle in at least a non-idle condition and an idle condition, the powertrain including an internal combustion engine;

receiving vibration signals from a knock sensor disposed on the internal combustion engine;

controlling spark timing of the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor; and

during the idle condition, modifying at least one of the following operating conditions of the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor;

a speed of the internal combustion engine; and

a load of the internal combustion engine.

2. The method of claim 1, where the method includes modifying the speed of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) threshold has been exceeded.

3. The method of claim 2, where the method includes increasing the speed of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

4. The method of claim 2, where the method includes decreasing the speed of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

5. The method of claim 2, where the method includes modifying the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

6. The method of claim 1, where the method includes modifying the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) threshold has been exceeded.

7. The method of claim 6, where the method includes increasing the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

8. The method of claim 7, where increasing the load of the internal combustion engine includes operating a hybrid propulsion system of the powertrain in a generator mode.

9. The method of claim 6, where the method includes decreasing the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if vibration signals received from the knock sensor indicate the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

10. The method of claim 9, where increasing the load of the internal combustion engine includes operating a hybrid propulsion system of the powertrain in a motor mode.

20. The vehicle powertrain of claim 4, the controller being further configured to modify a load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor.

21. The vehicle powertrain of claim 20, further comprising a hybrid propulsion system, the controller being further configured to increase the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition, based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor, by causing the hybrid propulsion system to operate in a generator mode.

22. The vehicle powertrain of claim 20, further comprising a hybrid propulsion system, the controller being further configured to decrease the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition, based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor, by causing the hybrid propulsion system to operate in a motor mode.

11. A method of operating a powertrain of a vehicle, comprising:

operating the powertrain in an idle condition, the powertrain including an internal combustion engine,

receiving vibration signals during the idle condition from a vibration sensor disposed on the internal combustion engine;

determining whether the vibration signals indicate that a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) threshold has been exceeded; and

if the NVH threshold has been exceeded, modifying at least one of the following operating conditions of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition;

a speed of the internal combustion engine; and

a load of the internal combustion engine.

12. The method of claim 11, where the vibration sensor is a knock sensor configured to control spark timing of the internal combustion engine.

13. The method of claim 12, where the method includes increasing the speed of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

14. The method of claim 12, where the method includes decreasing the speed of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

15. The method of claim 12, where the method includes increasing the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

16. The method of claim 15, where increasing the load of the internal combustion engine includes operating a hybrid propulsion system of the powertrain in a generator mode.

17. The method of claim 12, where the method includes decreasing the load of the internal combustion engine during the idle condition if the NVH threshold has been exceeded.

18. The method of claim 17, where decreasing the load of the internal combustion engine includes operating a hybrid propulsion system of the powertrain in a motor mode.

19. A vehicle powertrain, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a knock sensor disposed on the internal combustion engine; and

a controller operatively coupled with the internal combustion engine and the knock sensor, the controller being configured to;

perform spark control for the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor; and

during an idle condition of the vehicle powertrain, modify a speed of the internal combustion engine based on vibration signals received from the knock sensor.