IP Library Granted Patent US 8,215,288
Granted Patent B2
US 8,215,288 · App. 12/485,313 · Granted Jul 10, 2012

Control system and method for controlling an engine in response to detecting an out of range pressure signal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,215,288
App. No.
12/485,313
Filed
Jun 16, 2009
Granted
Jul 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Examiner
KWON, JOHN
Art Unit
3747
USPC
701/103
Abstract

A method and control module for operating an engine that includes a pressure range determination module that determines a pressure value for a pressure sensor in a fuel rail is out of range. A fuel rail pressure estimate module that determines a predicted pressure value. An engine control module that operates the engine using the predicted pressure value.

Claims (38)

1. A method comprising:

determining a pressure value for a pressure sensor in a fuel rail,

determining when the pressure value is outside of a predetermined range;

determining a predicted pressure value; and

altering an operating parameter of an engine based on the predicted pressure value when the pressure value is outside of the predetermined range.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the pressure value comprises:

determining a first pressure value and a second pressure value after the first pressure value.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the pressure value is outside of the predetermined range comprises:

determining the second pressure value is outside of the predetermined range.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the predicted pressure value comprises:

determining the predicted pressure value based on the first pressure value.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a predicted pressure value comprises:

determining the predicted pressure value based on the first pressure value and an amount of fuel injected since one of the pressure value and the second pressure value was determined.

6. A method of claim 2 wherein determining the predicted pressure value comprises:

determining the predicted pressure value based on the first pressure value, a fuel rail volume and an amount of fuel injected.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the predicted pressure value comprises:

determining the predicted pressure value based on the first pressure value and a fuel tank pressure.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the predicted pressure value comprises:

determining the predicted pressure value based on the first pressure value, a fuel rail volume, an amount of fuel injected one of the pressure value and the second pressure value was determined and a fuel tank pressure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the engine using the predicted pressure value comprises:

operating the engine with a limited engine speed based on the predicted pressure value.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the engine using the predicted pressure value comprises:

operating the engine with a limited engine torque based on the predicted pressure value.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the engine using the predicted pressure value is performed until a low pressure fuel pump pressure is reached within a fuel rail.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling a high pressure pump after determining that the pressure value is outside of the predetermined range.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an indicator when operating the engine based on the predicted pressure value.

14. A control module comprising:

a pressure range determination module that determines a pressure value for a pressure sensor in a fuel rail is outside of a predetermined range;

a fuel rail pressure estimate module that determines a predicted pressure value; and

an engine control module that operates an engine based on the predicted pressure value when the pressure value is outside of the predetermined range.

15. The control module of claim 14 wherein pressure range determination module determines a second pressure value after the first pressure value.

16. The control module of claim 14 wherein the predicted pressure value is based on the first pressure value.

17. The control module of claim 14 wherein the predicted pressure value is based on the first pressure value and an amount of fuel injected since one of the pressure value and the second pressure value was determined.

18. The control module of claim 14 wherein the engine control module operates the engine using the predicted pressure value with at least one of a limited engine speed or a limited engine torque based on the predicted pressure value.

19. The control module of claim 14 wherein the engine control module operates the engine using the predicted pressure value until a low pressure fuel pump pressure is reached within a fuel rail.

20. A system comprising:

a high pressure pump; and

the control module of claim 14 that disables the high pressure pump after determining the pressure value is out of range.

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 23, 2009
From: MILLER, JON C.; GWIDT, JESSE M.; LUCIDO, MICHAEL J.; KOTSONAS, MICHAEL N.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022861/0219 →