Vehicle control system

• US 7,367,316 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Russell, John D., Kotwicki, Allan J., Rutkowski, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/867,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 123/429, 123/432, 123/434, 123/435, 123/445, 123/406.23, 123/399, 123/345, 123/347, 123/348, 123/376
• US Class Current: 123/429
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/18 Rocking arms or levers
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/3442 using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/041 Camshafts position or phase sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/042 Crankshafts position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/002 by simultaneous control of throttle and variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0402 the parameter being determined by using a model of the engine intake or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/003 for idle speed control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, the outlet control device including an electronic throttle, the engine also having an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising of generating a signal representing a request from a driver, determining a desired torque based on said request in response to said signal and to improve drive feel, adjusting the outlet control device based on said desired torque, adjusting throttle position based on an operating parameter and injecting fuel into the engine based on a signal from the sensor to maintain average air/fuel at stoichiometry.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, the outlet control device including an electronic throttle, the engine also having an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising:

generating a signal representing a request from a driver;

determining a desired torque based on said request;

in response to said signal and to improve drive feel, adjusting the outlet control device based on said desired torque;

adjusting throttle position based on an operating parameter; and

injecting fuel into the engine based on a signal from the sensor to maintain average air/fuel at stoichiometry.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor is located upstream of a three-way catalyst.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the engine is a v-type dual bank engine.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said injecting fuel further comprises directly injecting fuel into the cylinder during the intake stroke so that a substantially homogeneous air/fuel mixture is formed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the outlet control device includes variable valve lift.

6. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the outlet control device including variable valve lift, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, the inlet control device including an electronically controlled throttle, said computer storage medium comprising;

code for generating a signal representing a request from a driver;

code for determining a desired torque based on said request;

code for, in response to said signal and to improve drive feel,

adjusting the outlet control device based on said desired torque;

adjusting throttle position based on an operating parameter; and

code for directly injecting fuel into the engine based on a signal from the sensor to maintain average air/fuel at stoichiometry.