Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Tula Technology, Inc.

Nitish J Wagh

Randall S Beikmann

Louis Joseph Serrano

Mark A Shost

Xin Yuan

Vijay Srinivasan

Steven E Carlson

Li-Chun Chien

Eric J Defenderfer

Jinbiao Li

Mark A Gehringer

Daniel Robert Mandernack

In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.

Method and apparatus for determining optimum skip fire firing profile

A firing module determines a target number of activated cylinders of an engine based on a torque request and a present gear ratio of a transmission. A combination identification module, based on the torque request, identifies a combination including a possible number of activated cylinders and a possible transmission gear ratio, wherein at least one of: the possible number of activated cylinders is different than the target number of activated cylinders; and the possible transmission gear ratio is different than the present gear ratio of the transmission. A transitioning module, when a second fuel consumption for the possible number of activated cylinders and the possible transmission gear ratio is less than a first fuel consumption for the target number of activated cylinders and the present gear ratio, selectively: transitions the target number of activated cylinders to the possible number of activated cylinders; and transitions a target gear ratio of the transmission to the possible transmission gear ratio. An activation/deactivation module controls cylinder activation and deactivation based on the target number of activated cylinders.

Combination cylinder state and transmission gear control systems and methods

A system includes a cylinder control module that determines target numbers of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a period, determines, based on the target numbers and an engine speed, N predetermined sequences for controlling the cylinders of the engine during the period, determines whether a transition parameter is associated with at least one of the N predetermined subsequences and selectively adjusts at least one of the N predetermined subsequences based on the determination of whether a transition parameter is associated with at least two of the N predetermined sequences. The system further includes a cylinder actuator module that, during the period, controls the cylinders of the engine based on the N predetermined sequence and based on the at least one selectively adjusted predetermined sequences.

Firing pattern management for improved transient vibration in variable cylinder deactivation mode

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration level module and an engine operation control module. The vibration level module estimates a first level of vibration in a vehicle due to contact between tires of the vehicle and a road surface as the vehicle travels over the road surface. The vibration level module estimates a second level of vibration in the vehicle due to an engine in the vehicle. The engine operation control module selectively adjusts at least one of a speed of the engine and a load on the engine when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

System and method for adjusting engine speed and/or engine load to improve fuel economy without causing vehicle vibration that is perceivable by a vehicle occupant

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

Nitish J Wagh