IP Library Granted Patent US 7,856,304
Granted Patent B2
US 7,856,304 · App. 11/769,797 · Granted Dec 21, 2010

Engine torque control

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,856,304
App. No.
11/769,797
Granted
Dec 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of achieving a desired torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship and determining a second APC value based on a second APC relationship. An APC error is determined based on the second APC value. Operation of the engine is regulated based on the first APC value when the APC error is greater than a threshold error. Operation of the engine based on the second APC value when the APC error is not greater than the threshold error.

Claims (38)

1. A method of achieving a desired torque output of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

determining a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship;

determining a second APC value based on a second APC relationship;

calculating an APC error based on said second APC value;

regulating operation of said engine based on said first APC value when said APC error is greater than a threshold error; and

regulating operation of said engine based on said second APC value when said APC error is not greater than said threshold error.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a torque request, wherein each of said first and second APC values is determined based on said torque request.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said APC error is further determined based on said first APC value.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating a desired mass air flow (MAF) based on one of said first APC value and said second APC value.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising calculating a desired throttle area based on said desired MAF, wherein engine operation is regulated based on said desired throttle area.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second APC relationships is determined based on an APC-based torque model of said engine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first APC relationship is between said first APC value and a torque request that is generated based on an accelerator position.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second APC relationship is based on at least one of the first relationship and a mass air flow sensor signal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said regulating operation of said engine when said APC error is greater than said threshold error is independent of said second APC value, and

wherein said regulating operation of said engine when said APC error is not greater than said threshold error is based on said first APC value.

10. An engine control system for regulating a torque output of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a first module that determines a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship;

a second module that determines a second APC value based on a second APC relationship;

a third module that calculates an APC error based on said second APC value;

a fourth module that regulates operation of said engine based on said first APC value when said APC error is greater than a threshold error, and that regulates operation of said engine based on said second APC value when said APC error is not greater than said threshold error.

11. The engine control system of claim 10 further comprising a fifth module that determines a torque request, wherein each of said first and second APC values is determined based on said torque request.

12. The engine control system of claim 10 wherein said APC error is further determined based on said first APC value.

13. The engine control system of claim 10 further comprising a fifth module that calculates a desired mass air flow (MAF) based on one of said first APC value and said second APC value.

14. The engine control system of claim 13 wherein said fifth module calculates a desired throttle area based on said desired MAF, wherein engine operation is regulated based on said desired throttle area.

15. The engine control system of claim 10 wherein each of said first and second APC relationships is determined based on an APC-based torque model of said engine.

16. A method of regulating a torque output of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

providing an air-per-cylinder (APC) based torque model of said engine;

determining a first APC relationship using said APC-based torque model;

determining a second APC relationship, different from said first APC relationship, using said APC-based torque model;

calculating a first APC value based on said first APC relationship;

calculating a second APC value based on said second APC relationship;

calculating an APC error based on said second APC value;

regulating operation of said engine based on said first APC value when said APC error is greater than a threshold error; and

regulating operation of said engine based on said second APC value when said APC error is not greater than said threshold error.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining a torque request, wherein each of said first and second APC values is determined based on said torque request.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said APC error is further determined based on said first APC value.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising calculating a desired mass air flow (MAF) based on one of said first APC value and said second APC value.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising calculating a desired throttle area based on said desired MAF, wherein engine operation is regulated based on said desired throttle area.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0946 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0140 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2007
From: LIVSHIZ, MICHAEL; KAISER, JEFFREY M.; WHITNEY, CHRISTOPHER E.; JACOBS, JOHN A.; JESS, RICHARD B.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
Reel/Frame 019558/0108 →