IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,729,639
Granted Patent B2
US 12,729,639 · App. 19/066,781 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

System and method for controlling a cold light off catalyst

Inventors: William P Attard (Auburn Hills, MI); Jeongyong Choi (Auburn Hills, MI); Michael Barkey (Auburn Hills, MI)
Assignee: FCA US LLC
F01N3/2053F01N3/28F01N3/0234F01N3/0878F01N13/087F01N2410/02F01N2410/06F01N2550/06F01N2550/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,729,639
App. No.
19/066,781
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system for a vehicle powertrain having a normally aspirated engine includes an advanced device, a main catalyst, a cold light off catalyst (CLOC), a CLOC valve and a controller. The advanced device is positioned in an exhaust of the normally aspirated engine. The main catalyst positioned in the exhaust downstream of the advanced device. The CLOC is positioned in a bypass passage around the advanced device. The CLOC valve selectively routes exhaust flow from the normally aspirated engine between advanced device and the CLOC. The controller is configured to: determine a temperature of a main catalyst; determine, based on a temperature of the main catalyst being less than a temperature threshold, a first engine torque request; and command, based on the first engine torque request being less than a first torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in a CLOC mode.

Claims (33)

1 . A control system for a vehicle powertrain having a normally aspirated engine, the system comprising:

an advanced device positioned in an exhaust of the normally aspirated engine;

a main catalyst positioned in the exhaust downstream of the advanced device;

a cold light off catalyst (CLOC) positioned in a bypass passage around the advanced device;

a CLOC valve that selectively routes exhaust flow from the normally aspirated engine between advanced device and the CLOC; and

a controller configured to:

determine a temperature of a main catalyst;

determine, based on a temperature of the main catalyst being less than a temperature threshold, a first engine torque request;

command, based on the first engine torque request being less than a first torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in a CLOC mode;

operate the CLOC valve in a normal mode based on a temperature of the main catalyst not being less than a temperature threshold, the normal mode corresponding to routing exhaust gas through the advanced device and to the main catalyst;

determine, based on the first engine torque request not being less than a first torque threshold, whether the torque request is greater than a second torque threshold; and

command, based on the torque request being greater than the second torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in the normal mode.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

operate, based on the power request not being greater than the second torque threshold, the CLOC valve in a partial CLOC mode.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the advanced device comprises a waste heat recovery system.

4 . The control system of claim 3 , wherein the waste heat recovery system includes a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the advanced device comprises an advanced boosting system.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the advanced device comprises a thermal recovery system.

7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first torque threshold is indicative of a throttle input of less than 25% of a maximum torque request.

8 . A method of controlling a vehicle powertrain having a normally aspirated engine, the powertrain having an advanced device positioned in an exhaust of the normally aspirated engine, a main catalyst positioned in the exhaust downstream of the advanced device, a cold light off catalyst (CLOC) positioned in a bypass passage around the advanced device, a CLOC valve that selectively routes exhaust flow from the normally aspirated engine between advanced device and the CLOC, and a controller, the method comprising:

determining a temperature of a main catalyst;

determining, based on a temperature of the main catalyst being less than a temperature threshold, a first engine torque request;

commanding, based on the first engine torque request being less than a first torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in a CLOC mode;

operating the CLOC valve in a normal mode based on a temperature of the main catalyst not being less than a temperature threshold, the normal mode corresponding to routing exhaust gas through the advanced device and to the main catalyst

determining, based on the first engine torque request not being less than a first torque threshold, whether the torque request is greater than a second torque threshold; and

commanding, based on the torque request being greater than the second torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in the normal mode.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

operating, based on the power request not being greater than the second torque threshold, the CLOC valve in a partial CLOC mode.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the advanced device comprises a waste heat recovery system.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the waste heat recovery system includes a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the advanced device comprises an advanced boosting system.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the advanced device comprises a thermal recovery system.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first torque threshold is indicative of a throttle input of less than 25% of a maximum torque request.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2026
From: ATTARD, WILLIAM P.; CHOI, JEONGYONG; BARKEY, MICHAEL
To: FCA US LLC
Reel/Frame 075335/0095 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260258742A1 · Sep 3, 2026
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