Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Gloabl Technologies, LLC

James Alfred Hilditch

Gopichandra Surnilla

Daniel Joseph Styles

Michael Howard Shelby

Chris Paul Glugla

Brad Alan Boyer

Imtiaz Ali

Todd Anthony Rumpsa

Michael Damian Czekala

Steven Wooldridge

Benjamin Richard Petersen

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Gregory McConville

Timothy Joseph Clark

John Eric Rollinger

Thomas George Leone

David Karl Bidner

Jianwen James Yi

Julia Helen Buckland

Stephen B Smith

Yan Wang

Stephen George Russ

Matthew John Gerhart

Lynn Aimee Chesney

Mehdi Abarham

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Joseph Norman Ulrey

Allan Roy Gale

Richard E Soltis

Mohannad Hakeem

Michael Mcquillen

Stanley Larue Bower

Vladimir V Kokotovic

Naginder Gogna

Jason Williams

Martin Brown

Jason Meyer

Adam Nathan Banker

Walter Joseph Ortmann

Daniel A Makled

William Charles Ruona

Amey Y Karnik

Robert Andrew Wade

Freeman Carter Gates

Keith Michael Plagens

Karen Elizabeth Maceroni

Gopichandra Sumilla

Christopher House

David G Hagner

Robert Ralph Iorio

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method selects one of a plurality of engine starting devices to start an engine based on durability metrics of each of the plurality of engine starting devices. In addition, engine starting device selection may be based on calibration parameters that are generated via a server that is external to the vehicle.

Methods and system for adaptively switching an engine starting device

Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.

Methods and systems for engine fuel and torque control

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a throttle based on an intake oxygen sensor output. In one example, a method may include adjusting a position of a throttle based on a dilution threshold and a total aircharge dilution level, the total dilution aircharge level based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. Additionally, spark timing may be adjusted based on the total aircharge dilution level.

Methods and systems for adjusting engine airflow based on output from an oxygen sensor

Methods and systems are provided for controlling LP-EGR flow in a variable displacement engine. In one example, a method may include providing a higher fixed LP-EGR percentage relative to a total intake air flow during a VDE mode, and providing a lower fixed EGR percentage relative to the total intake air flow during a non-VDE mode. Further, during a tip-out when operating in the VDE mode at a load below a threshold, transitioning out of the VDE mode after transitioning the LP-EGR from the higher fixed percentage to the lower fixed percentage.

Systems and methods for LP-EGR delivery in a variable displacement engine

Methods and systems are provided for expediting EGR purging in a hybrid vehicle during transient operations, such as tip-out to lower load conditions. In response to decreasing engine torque demand, engine fueling is disabled and a motor is used to spin the engine unfueled until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved. Alternatively, engine operation is maintained with EGR disabled until the desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, and the excess engine torque generated is stored in a system battery.

Method and system for improved dilution purging

Methods and systems are provided for determining changes in a flow area of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve for EGR flow estimates due to a change in temperature difference between a stem and body of the EGR valve. In one example, a method includes adjusting an EGR valve based on an estimate of EGR flow, the EGR flow estimated based on a pressure difference across the EGR valve and an adjusted valve flow area. The adjusted valve flow area may be based on the temperature difference between the stem and body of the EGR valve.

System and methods for operating an exhaust gas recirculation valve based on a temperature difference of the valve

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve based on a final EGR estimate. In one example, a method may include adjusting the EGR valve based on a final EGR flow estimate, the final EGR flow estimate based on a first EGR flow estimated with a differential pressure sensor across the EGR valve, a second EGR flow estimated with an intake oxygen sensor, and accuracy values of each of the first and second EGR flows. The accuracy value may be based on engine operating conditions during estimation of the first and second EGR flows.

System and methods for adjusting an exhaust gas recirculation valve based on multiple sensor outputs

Methods and systems are provided for estimating a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) flow based on outputs of an intake manifold oxygen sensor. For example, during engine operation when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and fuel canister purge are disabled, PCV flow may be estimated based on a difference between a first output of the sensor with boost enabled and a second output of the sensor with boost disabled. Then, during subsequent operation wherein EGR is enabled, PCV flow is enabled, and purge is disabled, a third output of the sensor may be adjusted based on the estimated PCV flow.

Methods and systems for PCV flow estimation with an intake oxygen sensor

Methods and systems are provided for estimating water storage in a charge air cooler (CAC). In one example, an amount of water accumulating in the CAC may be based on an output of an oxygen sensor positioned downstream of the CAC and ambient humidity. Further, engine actuators may be adjusted to purge condensate from the CAC and/or reduce condensate formation based on the amount of water inside the CAC.

Method for estimating charge air cooler condensation storage with an intake oxygen sensor

Methods and systems are provided for estimating an impact of PCV hydrocarbons on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include disabling EGR flow when the impact of PCV hydrocarbons on the output of the intake oxygen sensor is above a threshold. The impact of the PCV hydrocarbons on the output of the intake oxygen sensor may be based on a difference between the output of the intake oxygen sensor and a DPOV sensor when EGR is flow and a difference between the output of the intake oxygen sensor and expected blow-by when EGR is not flowing.

Methods and systems for adjusting EGR based on an impact of PCV hydrocarbons on an intake oxygen sensor

Methods and systems are provided for improving combustion stability, in particular during transient operations such as tip-out to lower load conditions, when EGR is being purged. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.

Method and system for improved dilution tolerance

Methods and systems are provided for determining changes in a flow area of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve for EGR flow estimates due to soot accumulation on the EGR valve. In one example, a method includes indicating soot accumulation on the EGR valve based on a difference in EGR flow estimated with an intake oxygen sensor and with a pressure sensor coupled across the EGR valve. The determination of the difference of the EGR flow estimates may occur when the engine is not boosted.

System and methods for diagnosing soot accumulation on an exhaust gas recirculation valve

Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock tolerance, in particular when rapidly ramping in LP-EGR from low levels of EGR. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection to compensate for the transport delay in EGR filling the intake system. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.

Method and system for knock control

Systems and methods for increasing EGR gas temperature for an engine that includes at least one dedicated EGR cylinder. The dedicated EGR cylinder may provide exhaust gas to engine cylinders and the exhaust gas does not include exhaust gases from cylinders other than the dedicated EGR cylinder. The dedicated EGR cylinder may allow the engine to operate at higher EGR dilution levels.

Systems and methods for dedicated EGR cylinder exhaust gas temperature control

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Canton, MI, United States of America

James Alfred Hilditch