IP Library Granted Patent US 8,108,112
Granted Patent B2
US 8,108,112 · App. 12/190,147 · Granted Jan 31, 2012

Engine control during coasting events

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,108,112
App. No.
12/190,147
Granted
Jan 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine control system comprises a coasting identification module, a throttle adjustment module, and a fuel adjustment module. The coasting identification module selectively identifies a coasting event. The throttle adjustment module increases an opening of a throttle valve during the coasting event. The fuel adjustment module decreases fuel provided to an engine during the coasting event.

Claims (36)

1. An engine control system comprising:

a coasting identification module that selectively identifies a coasting event based on an accelerator pedal position and a brake pedal position,

wherein an input shaft of a transmission is engaged with an output shaft of an engine during said coasting event;

a disable module that disables said coasting identification module when an output speed of a transmission is less than a predetermined speed;

a throttle adjustment module that increases an opening of a throttle valve during said coasting event; and

a fuel adjustment module that decreases fuel provided to said engine during said coasting event.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said throttle adjustment module opens said throttle valve to a wide open throttle (WOT) position during said coasting event.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said fuel adjustment module decreases said fuel based on at least one of intake air temperature (IAT) and mass airflow (MAF) during said coasting event.

4. The engine control system of claim 3 wherein said fuel is decreased based on an estimated amount of fuel required to maintain a temperature of a catalyst of a catalytic converter greater than a predetermined temperature.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said fuel adjustment module disables said fuel during said coasting event.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a spark timing adjustment module that retards spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing during said coasting event.

7. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein said predetermined spark timing is based on a maximum brake torque (MBT) spark timing.

8. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein said spark timing adjustment module disables said spark during said coasting event.

9. A method comprising:

selectively identifying a coasting event based on an accelerator pedal position and a brake pedal position,

wherein an input shaft of a transmission is engaged with an output shaft of an engine during said coasting event;

preventing said identification of said coasting event when an output speed of a transmission is less than a predetermined speed;

increasing an opening of a throttle valve during said coasting event; and

decreasing fuel provided to said engine during said coasting event.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said increasing said opening of said throttle valve comprises opening said throttle valve to a wide open throttle (WOT) position during said coasting event.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said fuel is decreased based on at least one of intake air temperature (IAT) and mass airflow (MAF) during said coasting event.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said fuel is decreased based on an estimated amount of fuel required to maintain a temperature of a catalyst of a catalytic converter greater than a predetermined temperature.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said decreasing said fuel provided during said coasting event comprises disabling said fuel.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising retarding spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing during said coasting event.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said predetermined spark timing is based on a maximum brake torque (MBT) spark timing.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising disabling spark during said coasting event.

17. An engine control system comprising:

a coasting identification module that selectively identifies a coasting event;

a throttle adjustment module that increases an opening of a throttle valve during said coasting event;

a fuel adjustment module that decreases fuel provided to an engine during said coasting event based on:

(i) at least one of intake air temperature (IAT) and mass airflow (MAF) during said coasting event; and

(ii) an estimated amount of fuel required to maintain a temperature of a catalyst of a catalytic converter greater than a predetermined temperature.

18. The engine control system of claim 17 wherein said throttle adjustment module opens said throttle valve to a wide open throttle (WOT) position during said coasting event.

19. The engine control system of claim 17 further comprising a spark timing adjustment module that retards spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing during said coasting event.

20. The engine control system of claim 19 wherein said predetermined spark timing is based on a maximum brake torque (MBT) spark timing.

21. The engine control system of claim 19 wherein said spark timing adjustment module disables said spark during said coasting event.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034384/0758 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0211 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0475 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
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 023155/0769 →
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 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0405 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2008
From: THOR, TODD J.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021374/0418 →