IP Library Granted Patent US 8,311,721
Granted Patent B2
US 8,311,721 · App. 12/334,778 · Granted Nov 13, 2012

Reserve torque for lean equivalence ratio requests

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,311,721
App. No.
12/334,778
Granted
Nov 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reserve torque system comprises a first module and a reserve torque module. The first module generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR. The reserve torque module creates a reserve torque between when the first signal is generated and when the EQR is transitioned to the lean EQR.

Claims (37)

1. A reserve torque system comprising:

a first module that generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR; and

a reserve torque module that creates a reserve torque between when said first signal is generated and when said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

2. The reserve torque system of claim 1 further comprising an actuation module that increases at least one engine airflow parameter and retards spark timing before said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

3. The reserve torque system of claim 2 wherein said actuation module maintains said at least one engine airflow parameter until said EQR is transitioned from said lean EQR to a second non-lean EQR.

4. The reserve torque system of claim 3 wherein said first module transitions said EQR from said non-lean EQR to a rich EQR during a first period and transitions said EQR from said rich EQR to said lean EQR during a second period that is after said first period,

wherein said non-lean EQR is a stoichiometric EQR, and

wherein said actuation module increases said at least one engine airflow parameter before said first period and maintains said at least one engine airflow parameter until said EQR is transitioned from said lean EQR to said second non-lean EQR.

5. The reserve torque system of claim 4 wherein said actuation module retards said spark timing when said at least one engine airflow parameter increases and further retards said spark timing while said EQR transitions from said non-lean EQR to said rich EQR.

6. The reserve torque system of claim 1 wherein said first module generates a second signal based on said lean EQR, and

wherein said reserve torque module creates said reserve torque based on said second signal.

7. The reserve torque system of claim 1 wherein said first module transitions said EQR to said lean EQR after said reserve torque is created.

8. The reserve torque system of claim 1 wherein said first module transitions said EQR to said lean EQR a predetermined period after said first signal is generated.

9. The reserve torque system of claim 1 wherein said first module selectively diagnoses a fault in a catalyst associated with said engine after said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

10. The reserve torque system of claim 9 wherein said first module selectively diagnoses said fault based on a change in oxygen of exhaust gas measured after said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

11. A method comprising:

generating a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR; and

creating a reserve torque between when said first signal is generated and when said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

increasing at least one engine airflow parameter before said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR; and

retarding spark timing before said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising maintaining said at least one engine airflow parameter until said EQR is transitioned from said lean EQR to a second non-lean EQR.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transitioning said EQR from said non-lean EQR to a rich EQR during a first period, wherein said non-lean EQR is a stoichiometric EQR;

transitioning said EQR from said rich EQR to said lean EQR during a second period that is after said first period;

increasing said at least one engine airflow parameter before said first period; and

maintaining said at least one engine airflow parameter until said EQR is transitioned from said lean EQR to said second non-lean EQR.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

retarding said spark timing as said at least one engine airflow parameter increases; and

further retarding said spark timing as said EQR transitions from said non-lean EQR to said rich EQR.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a second signal based on said lean EQR; and

creating said reserve torque based on said second signal.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising transitioning said EQR to said lean EQR after said reserve torque is created.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising transitioning said EQR to said lean EQR a predetermined period after said first signal is generated.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively diagnosing a fault in a catalyst associated with said engine after said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising selectively diagnosing said fault based on a change in oxygen of exhaust gas measured after said EQR is transitioned to said lean EQR.

Assignments (12)
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 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
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 Dec 15, 2008
From: WHITNEY, CHRISTOPHER E.; GENSLAK, ROBERT J.; STUTEVILLE, EDWARD; WILLIAMS, CHERYL A.; SIMON, ROBERT C., JR.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021979/0185 →