SELECTIVE CYLINDER DISABLEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110295489A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ma, Qi, Shafto, Robert Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0812 Particle filter loading
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1506 with particular means during starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes a mode control module and an actuator control module. The mode control module selectively initiates an engine startup event when an engine startup command is generated. The actuator control module cranks an engine during the engine startup event, provides fuel to a first cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked, and selectively disables fuel to a second cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked. The second cylinder is after the first cylinder in a firing order.

Claims

1. An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle, comprising:

a mode control module that selectively initiates an engine startup event when an engine startup command is generated; and

an actuator control module that cranks an engine during the engine startup event, that provides fuel to a first cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked, and that selectively disables fuel to a second cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked,

wherein the second cylinder is after the first cylinder in a firing order.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the actuator control module selects one of a plurality of cylinders of the engine as a current cylinder when the engine startup command is generated and selects another one of the plurality of cylinders as the first cylinder.

3. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the actuator control module selects the current cylinder based on a crankshaft position measured by a crankshaft position sensor.

4. The engine control system of claim 2 wherein the actuator control module selects an N-th one of the plurality of cylinders that is after the current cylinder in the firing order as the first cylinder,

wherein N is an integer greater than zero.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the actuator control module determines whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on a driver torque request.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the actuator control module determines whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on a driver torque request and at least one engine operating parameter.

7. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the actuator control module determines whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on an accelerator pedal position (APP) measured by an APP sensor and at least one engine operating parameter.

8. The engine control system of claim 7 wherein the actuator control module prevents the disablement of fuel to the second cylinder and provides fuel to the second cylinder when the APP is greater than a predetermined APP.

9. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising an auto-stop/start module that selectively shuts down the engine during a key cycle and that selectively generates the engine startup command during the key cycle.

10. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the actuator control module selectively disables fuel to a third cylinder of the engine before an engine speed reaches a predetermined idle speed,

wherein the third cylinder is after the second cylinder in the firing order.

11. An engine control method for an auto-stop/start vehicle, comprising:

selectively initiating an engine startup event when an engine startup command is generated;

cranking an engine during the engine startup event;

providing fuel to a first cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked; and

selectively disabling fuel to a second cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked,

wherein the second cylinder is after the first cylinder in a firing order.

12. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of cylinders of the engine as a current cylinder when the engine startup command is generated; and

selecting another one of the plurality of cylinders as the first cylinder.

13. The engine control method of claim 12 further comprising selecting the current cylinder based on a crankshaft position measured by a crankshaft position sensor.

14. The engine control method of claim 12 further comprising selecting an N-th one of the plurality of cylinders that is after the current cylinder in the firing order as the first cylinder,

wherein N is an integer greater than zero.

15. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on a driver torque request.

16. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on a driver torque request and at least one engine operating parameter.

17. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising determining whether to disable fuel to the second cylinder based on an accelerator pedal position (APP) measured by an APP sensor and at least one engine operating parameter.

18. The engine control method of claim 17 further comprising:

preventing the disablement of fuel to the second cylinder; and

providing fuel to the second cylinder when the APP is greater than a predetermined APP.

19. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively shutting down the engine during a key cycle; and

selectively generating the engine startup command during the key cycle.

20. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising selectively disabling fuel to a third cylinder of the engine before an engine speed reaches a predetermined idle speed,

wherein the third cylinder is after the second cylinder in the firing order.