IP Library Granted Patent US 7,918,212
Granted Patent B2
US 7,918,212 · App. 12/478,159 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Method and control system for controlling an engine function based on crankshaft acceleration

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,918,212
App. No.
12/478,159
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and control system for controlling an engine includes an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration determining module determining an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration. An engine parameter adjustment module adjusts an engine parameter in response to the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration.

Claims (26)

1. A method of operating an engine comprising:

determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location; and

adjusting an engine parameter in response an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration peak location until the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration peak location is changed.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location comprises determining the crankshaft acceleration peak location from a crankshaft position sensor.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the crankshaft position sensor comprises a toothed wheel and wherein determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location comprises determining the crankshaft acceleration peak location over an angular range of a crankshaft corresponding to one tooth in the toothed wheel.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the crankshaft position sensor comprises a toothed wheel and wherein determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location comprises determining the crankshaft acceleration peak location over an angular range of a crankshaft corresponding to less than about ten degrees.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein adjusting an engine parameter comprises adjusting an engine spark timing.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein adjusting an engine parameter comprises adjusting a fuel injection timing.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein adjusting an engine parameter comprises adjusting combustion phasing.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein adjusting an engine parameter comprises adjusting combustion phasing so that the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration peak is between about 20 to about 30 degrees after top dead center.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein adjusting an engine parameter comprises adjusting combustion phasing so that a peak is between about 24 degrees after top dead center.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location comprises determining the crankshaft acceleration peak location for each cylinder of the engine, and wherein adjusting an engine parameter in response to crankshaft acceleration peak location comprises adjusting an engine parameter in response to crankshaft acceleration peak location for each cylinder of the engine.

11. A method of operating an engine comprising:

determining an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration; and

adjusting dilution in response to the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising determining a coefficient of variation of the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration from a plurality of engine cycles, and wherein adjusting comprises adjusting dilution for each of the engine cycles.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein adjusting comprises adjusting dilution in response to comparing the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration to a coefficient of variation.

14. A control module comprising:

a crankshaft acceleration peak location determination module determining a crankshaft acceleration peak location; and

an engine parameter adjustment module adjusting an engine parameter in response to the crankshaft acceleration peak location until the crankshaft acceleration peak location is changed.

15. A control module as recited in claim 1 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts engine spark.

16. A control module as recited in claim 1 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts fuel injection.

17. A control module as recited in claim 1 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts combustion phasing.

18. A control module as recited in claim 1 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts combustion phasing to between about 20 to about 30 degrees after top dead center.

19. A control module as recited in claim 1 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts dilution.

20. A control module as recited in claim 19 wherein the engine parameter adjustment module adjusts dilution in response to a coefficient of variation.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023201/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2009
From: VERDEJO, JULIAN R.; GRIMES, MICHAEL R.; KALWEIT, NICHOLAS JOHN; MATHEWS, DAVID S.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022780/0735 →