Internal combustion engine control for improved fuel efficiency
First Claim
1. An engine state controller for controlling an operational state of a variable displacement engine having a plurality of working chambers, wherein the variable displacement engine is capable of operating in a plurality of different operational states each corresponding to the use of a different number of the working chambers, the engine state controller including an engine state generator arranged to receive a signal indicative of the desired engine output and to output an engine state signal that indicates a desired operational state of the engine that corresponds to a designated number of operational working chambers to be used by the engine, wherein the engine state controller uses feedback indicative of working chamber firings in the determination of the engine state signal and wherein the engine is controlled to operate using the number of working chambers indicated by the engine state signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. In some aspects, methods and arrangements are described for operating an engine in a throttled skip fire mode. In other aspects, methods and arrangements are described for controlling the operational state of a variable displacement engine.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. An engine state controller for controlling an operational state of a variable displacement engine having a plurality of working chambers, wherein the variable displacement engine is capable of operating in a plurality of different operational states each corresponding to the use of a different number of the working chambers, the engine state controller including an engine state generator arranged to receive a signal indicative of the desired engine output and to output an engine state signal that indicates a desired operational state of the engine that corresponds to a designated number of operational working chambers to be used by the engine, wherein the engine state controller uses feedback indicative of working chamber firings in the determination of the engine state signal and wherein the engine is controlled to operate using the number of working chambers indicated by the engine state signal.
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7. An engine state controller for controlling an operational state of a variable displacement engine having a plurality of working chambers, wherein the variable displacement engine is capable of operating in a plurality of different operational states each corresponding to the use of a different number of the working chambers, the engine state controller comprising:
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a working chamber output calculator arranged to determine a relative proportion of output delivered by each working chamber firing relative to a reference output under current operating conditions of the engine; a firing fraction calculator arranged to receive a signal indicative of a desired output and to output a signal indicative of a desired firing fraction, wherein the desired firing fraction signal is based at least in part on results of the working chamber output calculator; and an engine state generator arranged to receive the signal indicative of the desired firing fraction and output an engine state signal that indicates a desired operational state of the engine that corresponds to a designated number of operational working chambers to be used by the engine, wherein the engine is controlled to operate using the number of working chambers indicated by the engine state signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling an operational state of a variable displacement engine having a plurality of working chambers, wherein the variable displacement engine is capable of operating in a plurality of different operational states each corresponding to the use of a different number of the working chambers, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal indicative of a desired output; determining a desired operational state suitable for delivering the desired output based at least in part on feedback control that includes feedback of working chamber firings; and running the engine in the desired operational state to deliver the desired output. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification