Traffic-sensitive engine control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An engine control system for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- an engine controller configured to determine an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and to direct the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range,wherein the engine operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of compression ratio, timing of commencement of fuel combustion, timing of fuel injection, timing of fuel introduction into an air-inlet stream, valve timing, fuel composition, air inlet temperature, air inlet pressure, number of operating cylinders, battery usage, battery charge, engine or drive-train usage of electrical energy, engine operating rate, and output torque; and
a compliance reporting unit configured to transmit a record of engine operating adjustments to a remote unit.
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Abstract
A method and engine control system for controlling a vehicle, including determining an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and directing the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range.
51 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An engine control system for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
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an engine controller configured to determine an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and to direct the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range, wherein the engine operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of compression ratio, timing of commencement of fuel combustion, timing of fuel injection, timing of fuel introduction into an air-inlet stream, valve timing, fuel composition, air inlet temperature, air inlet pressure, number of operating cylinders, battery usage, battery charge, engine or drive-train usage of electrical energy, engine operating rate, and output torque; and a compliance reporting unit configured to transmit a record of engine operating adjustments to a remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12)
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6. A method of controlling a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
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responsive to traffic conditions, determining an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter and directing the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range, wherein the engine operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of compression ratio, timing of commencement of fuel combustion, timing of fuel injection, timing of fuel introduction into an air-inlet stream, valve timing, fuel composition, air inlet temperature, air inlet pressure, number of operating cylinders, battery usage, battery charge, engine or drive-train usage of electrical energy, engine operating rate, and output torque; and transmitting a record of engine operating adjustments to a remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14)
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15. An engine control system for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
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an engine controller configured to determine an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and to a sensed exhaust parameter; and direct the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range, wherein the engine operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of compression ratio, timing of commencement of fuel combustion, timing of fuel injection, timing of fuel introduction into an air-inlet stream, valve timing, fuel composition, air inlet temperature, air inlet pressure, number of operating cylinders, battery usage, battery charge, engine or drive-train usage of electrical energy, engine operating rate, and output torque, and wherein the exhaust parameter is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas temperature, exhaust gas temperature profile, exhaust gas composition, exhaust gas back pressure, catalytic converter reactive area, exhaust gas flow path, catalyst selection, sequestration of at least one exhaust gas component, exhaust gas flow rate, exhaust particulates density, exhaust particulate composition, exhaust particulate size, concentration of exhaust components at a selected location in an exhaust flow path, coolant temperature, and inlet-exhaust thermal coupling.
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16. A method of controlling a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
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responsive to traffic conditions and to a sensed exhaust parameter, determining an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter and directing the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range, wherein the engine operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of compression ratio, timing of commencement of fuel combustion, timing of fuel injection, timing of fuel introduction into an air-inlet stream, valve timing, fuel composition, air inlet temperature, air inlet pressure, number of operating cylinders, battery usage, battery charge, engine or drive-train usage of electrical energy, engine operating rate, and output torque, and wherein the exhaust parameter is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas temperature, exhaust gas temperature profile, exhaust gas composition, exhaust gas back pressure, catalytic converter reactive area, exhaust gas flow path, catalyst selection, sequestration of at least one exhaust gas component, exhaust gas flow rate, exhaust particulates density, exhaust particulate composition, exhaust particulate size, concentration of exhaust components at a selected location in an exhaust flow path, coolant temperature, and inlet-exhaust thermal coupling.
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Specification