Cold start emission strategy for hybrid vehicles

• US 7,778,767 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• 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: Ament, Frank, Santoso, Halim G
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro; Arnold
• Application Number:
  US11/950,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 701/113, 123/481, 123/179.16
• US Class Current: 701/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/08 the gearing being of friction type
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1506 with particular means during starting

Abstract

An engine control module includes an engine starting module that communicates with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors and that determines whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold. A warming module communicates with the M fuel injectors to inject fuel into N of M the fuel injectors when the manifold pressure is less than the manifold pressure threshold. N and M are integers and N is less than M.

Claims

1. An engine control module, comprising:

an engine starting module that communicates with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors, and that determines whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold; and

a warming module that communicates with said M fuel injectors to inject fuel with only N of said M fuel injectors when said manifold pressure is less than said manifold pressure threshold,

wherein N and M are integers greater than zero and N is less than M.

2. The engine control module of claim 1 wherein said warming module communicates with a plurality of spark plugs and determines whether a temperature of an exhaust system and said internal combustion engine is greater than or equal to a temperature threshold.

3. The engine control module of claim 1 wherein said electric motor operates said internal combustion engine between 600 and 900 RPM.

4. The engine control module of claim 1 wherein said engine starting module signals a throttle to stay closed while said electric motor operates said internal combustion engine.

5. The engine control module of claim 1 wherein said engine starting module determines whether said manifold pressure is less than or equal to said manifold pressure threshold based on at least one of a period of time and a manifold air pressure signal.

6. The engine control module of claim 2 wherein said warming module determines whether said temperature exceeds said temperature threshold based on at least one of a period of time and oxygen signals.

7. The engine control module of claim 2 wherein said warming module communicates with said plurality of spark plugs to spark at top dead center, and communicates with said N fuel injectors to target a lean air/fuel mixture.

8. The engine control module of claim 2 further comprising a catalyst heating module that communicates with said N fuel injectors to enrich fueling, that communicates with said plurality of spark plugs to retard spark timing, that determines that a catalyst is active after said exhaust system and said engine temperature exceeds said temperature threshold, and that commands said M fuel injectors to inject fuel after said catalyst is active.

9. The engine control module of claim 8 wherein said catalyst heating module determines that said catalyst is active based on at least one of a period of time and oxygen signals.

10. A method, comprising:

communicating with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors;

determining whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold; and

communicating with said M fuel injectors to inject fuel with only N of said M fuel injectors when said manifold pressure is less than said manifold pressure threshold,

wherein N and M are integers greater than zero and N is less than M.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

communicating with a plurality of spark plugs; and

determining whether a temperature of an exhaust system and said internal combustion engine is greater than or equal to a temperature threshold.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said electric motor operates said internal combustion engine between 600 and 900 RPM.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising signaling a throttle to stay closed while said electric motor operates said internal combustion engine.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein further comprising determining whether said manifold pressure is less than or equal to said manifold pressure threshold based on at least one of a period of time and a manifold air pressure signal.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether said temperature exceeds said temperature threshold based on at least one of a period of time and oxygen signals.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

communicating with said plurality of spark plugs to spark at top dead center; and

communicating with said N fuel injectors to target a lean air/fuel mixture.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

communicating with said N fuel injectors to enrich fueling;

communicating with said plurality of spark plugs to retard spark timing;

determining that a catalyst is active after said exhaust system and said engine temperature exceeds said temperature threshold; and

commanding said M fuel injectors to inject fuel after said catalyst is active.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining that said catalyst is active based on at least one of a period of time and oxygen signals.