Apparatus and methods for performing variable displacement control for a vehicular engine
First Claim
1. A variable displacement controller for use with a vehicular engine that includes multiple cylinder assemblies, the controller including a processor for performing various operations, comprising:
- receiving data indicative of ambient temperature;
receiving data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed;
determining an engine torque value based on the received data indicative of engine speed;
determining a normal torque limit based on the data indicative of vehicle speed if the ambient temperature is greater than or substantially equal to a predetermined threshold temperature;
determining a cold torque limit based on the data indicative of vehicle speed if the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined threshold temperature, wherein a vehicle speed associated with a given torque limit value of the cold torque limit is greater than a vehicle speed associated with the given torque limit value of the normal torque limit;
comparing the determined engine torque value to the determined torque limit; and
selectively activating/deactivating at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies based on the comparison between the engine torque value and the torque limit, such that the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is deactivated if the engine torque value is less than the torque limit, and the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is activated if the engine torque value is greater than or equal to the torque limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments are directed to a variable displacement controller for use with a vehicular engine. The controller can receive data indicative of ambient temperature and data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed. The controller can determine engine torque value based on the engine speed, and determine a torque limit based on the ambient temperature and at least one of the determined engine torque value and the data indicative of vehicle speed. The controller can compare the engine torque value to the torque limit, and selectively activate/deactivate an engine cylinder based on the comparison between the engine torque value and the torque limit, such that the engine cylinder is deactivated if the engine torque value is less than the torque limit, and the engine cylinder is activated if the engine torque value is greater than or equal to the torque limit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable displacement controller for use with a vehicular engine that includes multiple cylinder assemblies, the controller including a processor for performing various operations, comprising:
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receiving data indicative of ambient temperature; receiving data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed; determining an engine torque value based on the received data indicative of engine speed; determining a normal torque limit based on the data indicative of vehicle speed if the ambient temperature is greater than or substantially equal to a predetermined threshold temperature; determining a cold torque limit based on the data indicative of vehicle speed if the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined threshold temperature, wherein a vehicle speed associated with a given torque limit value of the cold torque limit is greater than a vehicle speed associated with the given torque limit value of the normal torque limit; comparing the determined engine torque value to the determined torque limit; and selectively activating/deactivating at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies based on the comparison between the engine torque value and the torque limit, such that the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is deactivated if the engine torque value is less than the torque limit, and the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is activated if the engine torque value is greater than or equal to the torque limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A variable displacement system, comprising:
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a vehicle engine including multiple cylinder assemblies; a temperature sensor that obtains data indicative of ambient air temperature; a speed sensor that obtains data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed; and a variable displacement controller that includes a processor for performing at least the following operations; receiving the data indicative of ambient temperature and the data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed; selecting one of a current ambient temperature and a previous ambient temperature based on at least one thermal soak condition; determining an engine torque value based on the received data indicative of engine speed; determining a torque limit based on the selected one of the current ambient temperature and the previous ambient temperature, and on the data indicative of vehicle speed; comparing the determined engine torque value to the determined torque limit; and selectively activating/deactivating at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies based on the comparison between the engine torque value and the torque limit, such that the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is deactivated if the engine torque value is less than the torque limit, and the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is activated if the engine torque value is greater than or equal to the torque limit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of performing variable displacement for a vehicular engine that includes multiple cylinder assemblies, the method comprising:
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receiving data indicative of ambient temperature; receiving data indicative of at least one of engine speed and vehicle speed; determining an engine torque value based on the received data indicative of engine speed; selecting one of a current ambient temperature and a previous ambient temperature based on at least one thermal soak condition; determining a torque limit based on the selected one of the current ambient temperature and the previous ambient temperature, and at least one of the data indicative of the engine speed and the data indicative of vehicle speed; comparing the determined engine torque value to the determined torque limit; and selectively activating/deactivating at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies based on the comparison between the engine torque value and the torque limit, such that the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is deactivated if the engine torque value is less than the torque limit, and the at least one of the engine cylinder assemblies is activated if the engine torque value is greater than or equal to the torque limit.
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Specification