Granted Patent B2

US 12,448,931 · App. 18/171,417 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Garrett Parker Munson (Milford, MI); Adam C. McJunkin (Ann Arbor, MI)

Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

F02D41/1454F02D41/0235F02D41/08F02D41/1439F02D2200/04F02D2200/1002F02D2200/501

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A vehicle comprising:

one or more processors disposed within the vehicle and configured to:

select an air/fuel ratio for an engine of the vehicle, wherein the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio;

select a torque request for the engine;

determine a load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the selected air/fuel ratio; and

determine a first output to a throttle actuator based on the load request for the engine,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the selected air/fuel ratio exceeds a threshold maximum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold maximum; and

if the selected air/fuel ratio is less than a threshold minimum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold minimum.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a second output to a spark actuator based on the load request for the engine.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine a third output to a variable valve timing (VVT) actuator based on the load request for the engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein selecting the air/fuel ratio is based at least in part on a sensor reading from an air/fuel sensor located downstream of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the air/fuel ratio is selected to improve performance of the catalytic converter by affecting a ratio of oxygen and hydrocarbons stored within a catalyst of the catalytic converter.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein affecting the ratio of oxygen and hydrocarbons stored within the catalyst includes driving the ratio closer to a stoichiometric ratio.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the engine is at idle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, if blocking criteria are not met, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the blocking criteria include whether a speed of the vehicle is below a threshold value.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the blocking criteria include whether the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a previously selected air/fuel ratio.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein determining the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the selected air/fuel ratio prevents a dip or surge in engine speed when the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a previously selected air/fuel ratio.

12. A method comprising:

with one or more processors disposed within a vehicle:

selecting an air/fuel ratio for an engine of the vehicle, wherein the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio;

selecting a torque request for the engine;

determining a load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the selected air/fuel ratio; and

determining, based on the load request for the engine, at least one of a first output to a throttle actuator, a second output to a spark actuator, or a third output to a variable valve timing (VVT) actuator;

if the selected air/fuel ratio exceeds a threshold maximum, determining the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold maximum; and

if the selected air/fuel ratio is less than a threshold minimum, determining the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold minimum.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein selecting the air/fuel ratio is based at least in part on a sensor reading from an air/fuel sensor located downstream of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle, and

wherein the air/fuel ratio is selected to improve performance of the catalytic converter by affecting a ratio of oxygen and hydrocarbons stored within a catalyst of the catalytic converter by driving the ratio closer to a stoichiometric ratio.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: if blocking criteria are not met, determining the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the blocking criteria include whether a speed of vehicle is below a threshold value.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the blocking criteria include whether the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a previously selected air/fuel ratio.

17. A system comprising:

a vehicle;

one or more processors disposed within the vehicle and configured to, if an engine of the vehicle is at idle:

select an air/fuel ratio for the engine of based at least in part on a sensor reading from an air/fuel sensor located downstream of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle, wherein the selected air/fuel ratio is different from a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio;

select a torque request for the engine;

if the selected air/fuel ratio exceeds a threshold maximum, determine a load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold maximum;

if the selected air/fuel ratio is less than a threshold minimum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold minimum;

if the selected air/fuel ratio is between the threshold minimum and the threshold maximum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the selected air/fuel ratio; and

determine, based on the load request for the engine, at least one of a first output to a throttle actuator, a second output to a spark actuator, or a third output to a variable valve timing (VVT) actuator.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the selected air/fuel ratio exceeds a threshold maximum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold maximum; and

if the selected air/fuel ratio is less than a threshold minimum, determine the load request for the engine based on at least the torque request and the threshold minimum.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (13)