Internal combustion engine controller, and control system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine operatively coupled to an automatic transmission and including a plurality of cylinders, the engine controller in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, the automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism, the engine controller configured to:
- determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine; and
communicate to at least one of the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, each of the plurality of gear configurations corresponding to a range of operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders,wherein the engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations to a second gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations requires a positive torque from the internal combustion engine when the at least one cylinder is deactivated, and the engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration and the positive torque are completed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine operatively coupled to an automatic transmission and including a plurality of cylinders, the engine controller in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, the automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism, the engine controller configured to:
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determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine; and communicate to at least one of the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, each of the plurality of gear configurations corresponding to a range of operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations to a second gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations requires a positive torque from the internal combustion engine when the at least one cylinder is deactivated, and the engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration and the positive torque are completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising:
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controlling by an engine controller, an automatic transmission operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to initiate a shift from a first gear configuration of a plurality of gear configurations to a second gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations; before the shift by the automatic transmission from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration is completed, controlling by the engine controller the internal combustion engine to initiate production of a positive torque; before the shift by the automatic transmission from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration is completed and the internal combustion engine produces the positive torque, controlling by the engine controller a displacement adjusting mechanism operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to activate at least one deactivated cylinder of the plurality of cylinders; and shifting by the automatic transmission from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration while the internal combustion engine produces the positive torque. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control system for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders and being operatively coupled to an automatic transmission comprising a plurality of gear configurations, the control system comprising:
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an engine controller in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, the automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, the engine controller configured to; determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine; and communicate with at least one of the automatic transmission to shift to one of the plurality of gear configurations and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate the at least one cylinder, wherein the engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations to a second gear configuration of the plurality of gear configurations requires a positive torque from the internal combustion engine when at least one of the plurality of cylinders are deactivated, the engine controller signals the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift from the first gear configuration to the second gear configuration and the positive torque are completed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification