Viscosity detection using starter motor
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
- cranking the engine during a start mode with an electric motor connected to a substantially constant source of electrical power;
inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and a cranking speed of the engine while being cranked by said electric motor during said start mode compared to a reference cranking speed; and
correcting an operating parameter of the engine based on said inferred engine oil viscosity.
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Abstract
Various methods for inferring oil viscosity and/or oil viscosity index in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one example, a new control method comprises cranking the engine during a start mode with an electric motor connected to a substantially constant source of electrical power, inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and speed of the engine while being cranked by the electric motor during the start mode, and correcting an operating parameter of the engine based on the inferred engine oil viscosity.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
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cranking the engine during a start mode with an electric motor connected to a substantially constant source of electrical power; inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and a cranking speed of the engine while being cranked by said electric motor during said start mode compared to a reference cranking speed; and correcting an operating parameter of the engine based on said inferred engine oil viscosity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
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cranking the engine during a start mode with an electric motor connected to a substantially constant source of electrical power; inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and speed of the engine while being cranked by said electric motor during said start mode; after at least two of said inferences, learning a viscosity index of said engine oil via performing a curve fit on a graph of said inferred engine oil viscosities and said temperatures; after performing said curve fit, if a most recently determined engine oil viscosity does not deviate from said curve fit by more than a threshold deviation, inferring the viscosity index of the most recently determined engine oil based on the curve fit; and correcting an engine operating parameter based on a current temperature of said engine oil and said learned viscosity index of said engine oil. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
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accelerating the engine during a start mode with an electric motor until the engine reaches a predetermined speed; inferring engine oil viscosity based at least on engine oil temperature and an amount of electrical power used by the electric motor for the engine to reach said predetermined speed during said start mode; and correcting an operating parameter of the engine based on said inferred oil viscosity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification