Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

William Robert Dutcher

In Kwang Yoo

Woong-chul Yang

David Karl Trumpy

Chris Paul Glugla

Diana D Brehob

Christopher Paul Glugla

Yin Chen

Christopher Paul Glugia

Woong-Chul Yang

A method and system for operating an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operable in a plurality of compression ratio operating modes. The method includes determining a relationship between a base engine threshold load where the high compression and low compression provide substantially the same engine fuel consumption and engine speed. The determined nominal relationship is modified by a factor, such factor being a function of a condition under which such engine is operating, to obtain a modified relationship. The modified relationship is a function of engine speed and the condition has an effect on knock generation in such engine. The modified relationship and engine speed are used in selecting one of the plurality of compression ratio operating modes for the engine. A hysteresis load as a function of engine speed is determined and applied to the determined hysteresis load to the modified relationship to inhibit switching oscillations between a pair of the plurality of compression ratio operating modes.

Compression ratio mode selection logic for an internal combustion engine having discrete variable compression ratio control mechanism

A system and method for detecting an operating mode of an engine or engine component modulate a first engine parameter and analyze a change in a second engine parameter in response to modulating the first engine parameter to detect a current operating mode based on changes in at least one of the first and second engine parameters. In a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine embodiment, the system and method modify ignition timing of at least one cylinder until engine knock is detected and determine whether the cylinder is operating in the lower compression ratio mode or the higher compression ratio mode by comparing the ignition timing change required to cause engine knock to a corresponding threshold.

Engine control with operating mode detection

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Wayne, MI, United States of America

William Robert Dutcher