Spark ignition to homogenous charge compression ignition transition control systems and methods

• US 8,776,737 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bayer, Ethan E., Rajagopalan, Sai S. V., Guralp, Orgun A., Kang, Jun-Mo, Najt, Paul M., Kang, Hanho
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US13/344,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 123/295, 123/305, 123/406.23, 123/406.35, 123/436, 123/90.15, 123345-348
• US Class Current: 123/90.15
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 11/02 convertible from fuel-air mixture compression to air compression or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes a mode control module and a valve control module. The mode control module selectively sets an ignition mode for an engine to one of a spark ignition (SI) mode and a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode. In response to the ignition mode transitioning from the SI mode to the HCCI mode during a first engine cycle, the valve control module operates an exhaust valve in a high lift mode during a second engine cycle, operates an intake valve in a low lift mode during the second engine cycle, and operates the exhaust and intake valves in the low lift mode during a third engine cycle. The first engine cycle is before the second engine cycle, and the second engine cycle is before the third engine cycle.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a mode control module that selectively sets an ignition mode for an engine to one of a spark ignition (SI) mode and a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode; and

a valve control module that, in response to the ignition mode transitioning from the SI mode to the HCCI mode during a first engine cycle, operates an exhaust valve in a high lift mode during a second engine cycle, operates an intake valve in a low lift mode during the second engine cycle, and operates the exhaust and intake valves in the low lift mode during a third engine cycle,

wherein the first engine cycle is before the second engine cycle, and the second engine cycle is before the third engine cycle.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a spark control module that selectively provides spark during the first engine cycle and that disables spark during the third engine cycle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the spark control module selectively provides spark during the second engine cycle.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the spark control module disables spark during the second engine cycle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third engine cycles are consecutive engine cycles.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein, during at least one additional engine cycle that occurs between the second and third engine cycles, the valve control module operates the exhaust valve in the high lift mode and operates the intake valve in the low lift mode.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve control module operates the intake and exhaust valves in the high lift mode during the first engine cycle.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an engine load module that determines an engine load,

wherein the mode control module selectively sets the ignition mode based on the engine load.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the mode control module selectively sets the ignition mode to the SI mode when the engine load is greater than a predetermined engine load and selectively sets the ignition mode to the HCCI mode when the engine load is less than the predetermined engine load.

10. A method for a vehicle, comprising:

selectively setting an ignition mode for an engine to one of a spark ignition (SI) mode and a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode; and

in response to the ignition mode transitioning from the SI mode to the HCCI mode during a first engine cycle;

operating an exhaust valve in a high lift mode during a second engine cycle;

operating an intake valve in a low lift mode during the second engine cycle; and

operating the exhaust and intake valves in the low lift mode during a third engine cycle,

wherein the first engine cycle is before the second engine cycle, and the second engine cycle is before the third engine cycle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

selectively providing spark during the first engine cycle; and

disabling spark during the third engine cycle.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively providing spark during the second engine cycle.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising disabling spark during the second engine cycle.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third engine cycles are consecutive engine cycles.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising, during at least one additional engine cycle that occurs between the second and third engine cycles:

operating the exhaust valve in the high lift mode; and

operating the intake valve in the low lift mode.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising operating the intake and exhaust valves in the high lift mode during the first engine cycle.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining an engine load; and

selectively setting the ignition mode based on the engine load.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

selectively setting the ignition mode to the SI mode when the engine load is greater than a predetermined engine load; and

selectively setting the ignition mode to the HCCI mode when the engine load is less than the predetermined engine load.