Control systems and methods for newly assembled engines

• US 8,146,569 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Zumbaugh, Michael C., Miller, Jon C., Gibson, Robert C., Carr, Mark D., Lucido, Michael J., Kotsonas, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAJMUDDIN, RAZA NEHAL
• Application Number:
  US12/505,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 123/457, 123/458, 123/179.16, 123/179.17, 123/179.18, 123/491, 701101-106, 701/113, 701/115
• US Class Current: 123/491
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3836 Controlling the fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1506 with particular means during starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a combustion control module and an engine startup module. The combustion control module selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value. The engine startup module, when the counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls the EQR during an engine running period based on the fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period. The counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after the engine is assembled.

Claims

1. An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a combustion control module that selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value; and

a engine startup module that, when said counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to said engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls said EQR during an engine running period based on said fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period,

wherein said counter value is set to said predetermined final value after said engine is started for a first time after said engine is assembled.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said engine startup module decreases said EQR as said fuel rail pressure increases during said engine cranking period.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said engine startup module decreases said EQR as said fuel rail pressure increases during said engine running period.

4. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said engine startup module decreases said EQR as said engine runtime period increases.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a catalyst diagnostic module that selectively commands adjustment of said EQR for performance of a catalyst diagnostic,

wherein said engine startup module disables said catalyst diagnostic module when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a catalyst lightoff module that selectively commands injection of fuel into a cylinder of said engine in two or more separate fuel injections during a combustion cycle to warm a catalyst to a predetermined lightoff temperature,

wherein said engine startup module disables said catalyst lightoff module when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

7. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a rail pressure module that selectively controls said fuel rail pressure based on a predetermined startup pressure,

wherein said engine startup module adjusts said fuel rail pressure to a predetermined purging pressure that is greater than said predetermined startup pressure when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

8. The engine control system of claim 7 wherein said rail pressure module decreases said fuel rail pressure to said predetermined startup pressure after said fuel rail pressure reaches said predetermined purging pressure.

9. The engine control system of claim 7 wherein said engine startup module controls said EQR based on said fuel rail pressure and said engine runtime period during said engine running period until said engine runtime period exceeds a predetermined period.

10. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said combustion control module maintains said spark timing and said airflow while said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

11. An engine control method for a vehicle, comprising:

selectively controlling a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value; and

when said counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controlling an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to said engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controlling said EQR during an engine running period based on said fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period,

wherein said counter value is set to said predetermined final value after said engine is started for a first time after said engine is assembled.

12. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising decreasing said EQR as said fuel rail pressure increases during said engine cranking period.

13. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising decreasing said EQR as said fuel rail pressure increases during said engine running period.

14. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising decreasing said EQR as said engine runtime period increases.

15. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively commanding adjustment of said EQR for performance of a catalyst diagnostic; and

disabling said commanding when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

16. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively commanding injection of fuel into a cylinder of said engine in two or more separate fuel injections during a combustion cycle to warm a catalyst to a predetermined lightoff temperature; and

disabling said commanding when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

17. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively controlling said fuel rail pressure based on a predetermined startup pressure; and

adjusting said fuel rail pressure to a predetermined purging pressure that is greater than said predetermined startup pressure when said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.

18. The engine control method of claim 17 further comprising decreasing said fuel rail pressure to said predetermined startup pressure after said fuel rail pressure reaches said predetermined purging pressure.

19. The engine control method of claim 17 further comprising controlling said EQR based on said fuel rail pressure and said engine runtime period during said engine running period until said engine runtime period exceeds a predetermined period.

20. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising maintaining said spark timing and said airflow while said counter value is said one of greater than and less than said predetermined final value.