Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chris D Kapolnek

Ryan Abraham McGee

Paul Martin Niessen

Paul M Gartner

Kenneth James Miller

Carol Louise Okubo

Timothy A Coatesworth

Gregory L Ohl

David James Liller

Amit K Sanyal

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Douglas Raymond Martin

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Jonathan Andrew Butcher

Mark J Duty

Xiaoying Zhang

Mikhail Zarkhin

Erik Thomas Andersen

Waheed Alashe

Michael J Cari

Rajiv Saxena

A system and method for controlling a vehicle powertrain having an internal combustion engine include determining a difference between a desired engine torque and a current engine torque, adjusting the difference based on a stored torque offset corresponding to a current engine speed, and controlling the engine to produce a torque corresponding to the adjusted torque difference. The stored torque offset is adjusted when the engine is operating in a predetermined engine speed range based on a steady-state difference between the desired and current engine torque to reduce the steady-state difference to zero. The adjusted torque difference may be limited by a maximum-engine-torque-available parameter and a minimum-engine-torque-available parameter, which is based on an operating temperature, such as the engine coolant temperature. The system and method may also include controlling spark to rapidly reduce current engine torque to the adjusted torque difference value.

Torque-based powertrain control for vehicles

A method for selectively adjusting an amount of fuel to an engine in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an electric machine operatively connected to the engine and capable of controlling a speed of the engine. The method includes providing an amount of fuel to the engine based at least in part on a desired output of the engine, which is based at least in part on a driver input. The electric machine is commanded to control the engine speed based at least in part on the driver input. An output error of the engine is determined based at least in part on the command to the electric machine. The amount of fuel provided to the engine is adjusted when at least one predetermined condition is met, including the output error of the engine being greater than a predetermined amount.

Vehicle and method for operating an engine in a vehicle

A method for operating a vehicle to reduce exhaust emissions is provided. The vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery for operating the motor, and a catalyst for reducing exhaust gas emissions. The vehicle is operated in a first mode when at least one predetermined condition is met. The first mode includes providing at least some of the desired vehicle output power with the motor. The engine is operated to quickly increase the temperature of the catalyst when the output power from the battery is within a first predetermined range. When the output power of the battery is outside the first predetermined range, the operation of the engine is adjusted to drive battery operation into the first predetermined range. When the at least one predetermined condition is not met, the vehicle is operated in a second mode based at least partly on driver demand and battery requirements.

Vehicle and method for operating a vehicle to reduce exhaust emissions

A method for controlling fuel injection during engine startup in a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a power source, an electrical machine, and a control module. The method includes the steps of driving the engine with the electrical machine, determining whether the engine is at a target state, selecting a cylinder for fuel injection, calculating an amount of fuel to provide to the cylinder, injecting the amount of fuel, and repeating the selecting, calculating, and injecting steps for another cylinder for a predetermined number of iterations.

Method for controlling engine fuel injection in a hybrid electric vehicle

A vehicle and method are provided that determine a misfire torque limit for an engine in the vehicle. The vehicle includes an electric machine operable to provide torque to the engine. The method includes commanding the engine to operate at a predetermined torque and a predetermined speed, thereby putting the engine in an idle state. An output torque of the engine is then determined while the engine is in the idle state. A torque offset, defined as the difference between the torque command and the determined engine output torque, is also determined. The misfire torque limit for the engine is then determined based at least in part on the torque offset.

A method and system for controlling fuel mass during transient engine conditions is based on an open loop transient fuel compensation algorithm so as to provide transient fuel compensations that address drivability requirements associated with the acceleration mode and deceleration mode of engine operation as well as the ease of the calibration during engine cranking mode.

Method and system for controlling fuel delivery during transient engine conditions

A method is provided for determining the barometric pressure external to an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pressure value indicative of an absolute pressure in the intake manifold of the engine; (b) providing a mass airflow value of the airflow into the engine; (c) characterizing a pressure drop across the intake system based on the mass airflow value; and (d) determining a barometric pressure based on the pressure value and the pressure drop, such that the pressure drop is indicative of the pressure differential between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the intake manifold. Furthermore, the determination of the barometric pressure may be triggered when the throttle blade reaches a predetermined throttle threshold position which is a function of the rotational speed of the engine.

Method of determining barometric pressure for use in an internal combustion engine

A method is provided for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing the engine with a plurality of fuel injectors, each including an electromechanical mechanism for receiving fuel under pressure via a fuel supply system and for injecting a measured amount of fuel into the engine in response to a command signal whose duration is indicative of the amount of fuel to be injected. The command signal is determined based upon a measured throttle position, engine speed and engine load. A resistance of a solenoid coil of the electromechanical mechanism is then calculated and the command signal is adjusted by incrementing or decrementing the command signal to compensate for variations in the measured resistance of the solenoid coil of electromechanical mechanism due to temperature variations.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Chris D Kapolnek