Dual active fuel management sequencing

• US 7,757,657 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Albertson, William C., Stabinsky, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Moulis; Thomas N
• Application Number:
  US12/235,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198.F, 123/481
• US Class Current: 123/198.00F
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system includes a cylinder selection module and a valve deactivation module. The cylinder selection module selects cylinders of an engine for active fuel management. The valve deactivation module deactivates intake valves of selected cylinders of the engine before deactivating exhaust valves of the selected cylinders when an engine speed of the engine is less than or equal to a predetermined speed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cylinder selection module that selects cylinders of an engine for active fuel management;

a valve deactivation module that deactivates intake valves of selected cylinders of said engine before deactivating exhaust valves of said selected cylinders when an engine speed of said engine is less than or equal to a predetermined speed,

a torque request monitoring module that monitors a requested torque; and

a valve activation module that activates said exhaust valves deactivated by said deactivation module before activating said intake valves deactivated by said deactivation module when said requested torque is greater than or equal to said predetermined torque and when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined speed includes a speed of 1200 revolutions-per-minute (RPM).

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the valve activation module activates said intake valves deactivated by said deactivation module before activating said exhaust valves deactivated by said deactivation module when said requested torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque and when said engine speed is less than or equal to said predetermined speed.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said valve deactivation module deactivates said exhaust valves before deactivating said intake valves when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an accelerator input module that measures a rate of change of an accelerator pedal and that outputs said requested torque based on said rate of change of said accelerator pedal.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a speed monitoring module that monitors said engine speed, that indicates when said engine speed is less than or equal to said predetermined speed, and that indicates when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a speed sensor that senses said engine speed.

8. A method comprising:

selecting cylinders of an engine for active fuel management;

deactivating intake valves of selected cylinders of said engine before deactivating exhaust valves of said selected cylinders when an engine speed of said engine is less than or equal to a predetermined speed;

monitoring a requested torque; and

activating deactivated ones of said exhaust valves before activating deactivated ones of said intake valves when said requested torque is greater than or equal to said predetermined torque and when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a speed of 1200 revolutions-per-minute (RPM) as said predetermined speed.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

activating deactivated ones of said intake valves before activating deactivated ones of said exhaust valves when said requested torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined torque and when said engine speed is less than or equal to said predetermined speed.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising deactivating said exhaust valves before deactivating said intake valves when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

measuring a rate of change of an accelerator pedal; and

outputting said requested torque based on said rate of change of said accelerator pedal.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sensing said engine speed;

monitoring said engine speed;

indicating when said engine speed is less than or equal to said predetermined speed; and

indicating when said engine speed is greater than said predetermined speed.