System for transmitting signals between an engine control unit and a valve control unit

• US 7,277,789 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gibson, Alex, Kolmanovsky, Ilya, Moorhead, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/428,945
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 701/101, 701/103, 701/104, 701/111, 701/112, 701/114, 701/115, 123/321, 123/345, 123/347, 123/90.15
• US Class Current: 701/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/20 Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system for communicating information between a first controller and a second controller is presented. The system is designed to improve and increase the robustness data transferred between two controllers.

Claims

1. A system for transferring information between a first controller and an second controller, the system comprising:

an engine having a plurality of cylinders, combustion occurring in said cylinders in a predetermined order;

a plurality of communication channels between a first controller and a second controller;

each channel of said plurality of communication channels carrying data associated with at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder; and

said first cylinder and said second cylinder separated in said predetermined order by at least another cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first controller is a valve controller and wherein said second controller is an engine controller.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said separation is greater than one cylinder in said predetermined order.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication channels are transmitted over electrical conductors, optical signal carriers, or are broadcast through air.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is an indication to inhibit spark in said first cylinder or said second cylinder.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined order is a firing order of said engine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine is a four, five, six, eight, ten, or twelve cylinder engine.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said valve controller adjusts the operation of electrically actuated valves.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and said second cylinder are separated by two cylinders.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is used to control the valve timing of said first cylinder and said second cylinder.

11. A system for transferring information between a first valve controller, a second valve controller, and an engine controller, the system comprising:

an engine having a plurality of cylinders, combustion occurring in said cylinders in a predetermined order;

at least a first communication channel between a first valve controller and an engine controller;

at least a second communication channel between a second valve controller and said engine controller;

each channel of said first communication channel carrying data associated with at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder;

each channel of said second communication channel carrying data associated with at least a third cylinder and a fourth cylinder;

said first cylinder and said second cylinder separated in said predetermined order by at least another cylinder; and

said third cylinder and said fourth cylinder separated in said predetermined order by at least another cylinder.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first communication channel and said second communication channel are electrical conductors, optical signal carriers, or transmitted channels.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said data is an indication to inhibit spark in said first cylinder or said second cylinder.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined order is a firing order of said engine.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said engine is a four, five, six, eight, ten, or twelve cylinder engine.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said first valve controller and said second valve controller adjust the operation of electrically actuated valves.

17. A method for transferring information between a valve controller and an engine controller, the system comprising:

transferring valve control data from a first cylinder and a second cylinder of an engine having a plurality of cylinders, combustion occurring in said plurality of cylinders in a predetermined order;

said data transferred over a communication channel between a valve controller and an engine controller; and

said first cylinder and said second cylinder separated in said predetermined order by at least another cylinder.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said data is transferred from the valve controller to the engine controller.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said data is transferred from the engine controller to the valve controller.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined order is a firing order.

21. A system for transferring information between a valve controller and an engine controller, the system comprising:

an engine having a plurality of cylinders, combustion occurring in said cylinders in a predetermined order;

a plurality of communication channels between a valve controller and an engine controller;

at least one channel of said plurality of communication channels carrying data associated with a group of cylinders; and

cylinders in said group separated from other cylinders in said group by at least another cylinder according to said predetermined order.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said predetermined order is the firing order of said engine.