Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gary Arthur Nichols

Daniel Lee McKay

Donald D Stoltman

Robert Charles Simon, Jr

Joseph M Tolkacz

Christopher Harold Knieper

Keith Allen Confer

Gregory E Labus

Martin M&uuml;ller

William Joseph Bolander

Myron Harold Bell

Carelton Williams Guillaume

Stephen D Matteson

Franz A Lieder

James D Yegerlehner

Roger Allen Clark

An electronic throttle control system and method for detecting a throttle plate obstruction when the ignition key is on and the engine is either not running or running, and for clearing the throttle plate obstruction before a fault setting is set by the ECU.

Method for sensing and clearing throttle plate obstruction

An electronic throttle control system and method which prevents obstructions from forming around a throttle plate during engine soak.

ETC control system and method

A method for throttle progression control to minimize tip-in noise of an internal combustion engine by allowing the engine to receive only the required air for the commanded engine acceleration. The method comprises the steps of a) providing an electronically controlled throttle body and valve, b) providing an electronic control module, c) determining the engine air flow required to satisfy a desired engine acceleration, d) providing an input to the electronic control module corresponding to the engine air flow required, e) programming the electronic control module to limit the inflow of air during engine acceleration to match the engine air flow required for achieving said desired engine acceleration, and f) actuating the throttle body and valve to provide the limited air flow through the throttle body during the desired engine acceleration.

Method and apparatus for minimizing engine air tip-in noise

A system ( ) for controllably disabling cylinders in an internal combustion engine ( ) includes a throttle ( ) controlling air flow to an intake manifold ( ), a number of cylinder deactivation devices ( ) and an engine controller ( ) controlling fueling ( ), ignition timing ( ) and throttle position ( ). The controller ( ) is operable to activate only the minimum number of cylinders required to achieve a desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value, open the throttle ( ) to a computed throttle position, control ignition timing sufficiently to drive the current value of the engine/vehicle operating parameter to the desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value, and to then control the flow area of the throttle ( ) while also controlling ignition timing to maintain the current value of the engine/vehicle operating parameter near the desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value. The engine/vehicle operating parameter may be engine output torque, engine speed or vehicle speed.

System for controllably disabling cylinders in an internal combustion engine

An exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) system is provided for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. The EGR system includes an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a passageway connected in flow communication between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold, and an EGR valve interposed in the passageway for controlling re-circulation of exhaust gas into the intake manifold. In addition, an emissions control device (e.g., a catalytic converter) for reducing exhaust emissions in the gas flowing into the intake manifold is connected in flow communication with the EGR valve.

Exhaust gas re-circulation system with an integrated catalytic converter

An improved engine torque management control that coordinates engine throttle, spark and EGR under predefined highly throttled conditions so as to maximize the fuel economy improvement of EGR without degrading engine performance. Under the predefined conditions, EGR is increased to a level that maximizes the fuel economy improvement without causing combustion instability, and the throttle position and spark timing are controlled to compensate for the anticipated torque loss while increasing volumetric efficiency and reducing pumping losses. During idle and steady state cruising operation, EGR is increased, and engine throttle position is controlled to regulate the estimated engine output torque in accordance with the driver requested output torque. During transient torque increases, throttle control alone is used to regulate the output torque, while in transient torque decreases, the throttle position is maintained and spark timing is used to regulate the output torque.

Engine torque management method with high dilution EGR control

Internal combustion engine air/fuel ratio control responsive to low voltage operating conditions of an electrical system maintains stable, precise air/fuel ratio conditions under electrical system fault conditions affecting operation of fuel control components including fuel pumps, fuel injectors, and drivers therefor. Electrical system operating voltage is monitored and when a voltage drop below a voltage threshold associated with reliable engine cylinder air/fuel ratio control is diagnosed, the air/fuel ratio smoothly transitions to a reduced engine performance operating mode which, at least for high engine output power requests, limits fueling and airflow to the engine cylinders to a level that may be accurately, reliably supported by the fuel control system components under their reduced electric drive signals. The reduced performance operating mode is maintained while the fault condition persists.

Internal combustion engine control

An adaptive electronic throttle control system for internal combustion engine intake air rate control selectively adapts the responsiveness of the intake air rate control to maintain synchronism with other engine control systems including fuel control and dilution control systems according to the responsiveness of such other control systems and, as indicated by current engine operating conditions, according to the need to maintain synchronism to minimize emissions and maximize performance and stability.

Adaptive electronic throttle control

Control of engine speed responsive to a deviation in engine speed away from a target speed is applied selectively under closed-loop airflow control operating conditions, such as idle and coastdown operating conditions in response to analysis of a cause of an engine intake airflow deviation away from a modeled airflow. If airflow deviations are determined to have resulted from variation in internal engine friction away from a nominal friction level, the control is applied. If airflow deviations are determined to have resulted from change in internal engine airflow restriction, such as due to contaminant build-up over a period of engine use, then the control is not applied under closed-loop airflow control operating conditions to avoid overcompensating for such deviations.

Resolution of redundant displacement sensor information to form a displacement value in an automotive electronic throttle control system provides for a varying contribution by each of a plurality of redundant sensors to the formation of the displacement value in accord with diagnosed variations in the fault status of the sensors. The number and type of fault conditions attributed to a specific sensor of the plurality over an analysis period are used to determine the relative degree by which that sensor will contribute to the displacement value formation. As an increasing number of fault conditions are attributed to a sensor, the relative degree of contribution of that sensor will gradually decrease. When severe fault conditions are attributed to a sensor, the relative degree of contribution of that sensor will rapidly decrease.

Fault tolerant displacement determination method

An idle air control system diagnostic for an internal combustion engine which utilizes RPM, engine timing and intake airflow measurements to detect the presence of idle RPM faults and eliminate or verify the idle air control system as the fault source. Engine idle RPM is measured and compared with a commanded idle RPM, and if within a predetermined range, an idle RPM fault exists and one of two additional tests (non-intrusive and intrusive) is conducted to determine whether the idle air control system is the source of the fault. In the non-intrusive test, intake airflow is measured and compared to a predetermined intake airflow value, and if not within a predetermined range, the idle air control system is determined to be the fault source. In the intrusive test, variations in intake airflow (or intake manifold pressure) are measured in response to variations in the movement of the engine throttle-bypass airway pintle. If no intake airflow variations are detected, the idle air control system is determined to be the fault source.

Idle air control system diagnostic

A fuel injection system has an electronic module mounted directly on a fuel body portion of the fuel injection system for cooling by fuel flow through the fuel body. The electronic module energizes a fuel pump to circulate fuel through the fuel body, even when the engine is not operating, if the temperature within the module exceeds a selected level.

Fuel injection system

A system for providing the fuel requirements of an engine based on an estimated value of the temperature of the intake region of the engine.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Gary Arthur Nichols