IP Library Granted Patent US 8,316,818
Granted Patent B2
US 8,316,818 · App. 12/493,554 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

HCCI mode switching control system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,316,818
App. No.
12/493,554
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter.

Claims (26)

1. A method of controlling an engine comprising:

commanding engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode;

entering a stratified charge operation in response to commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode;

discontinuing the stratified charge operation; and

operating the engine in the second HCCI mode after discontinuing the stratified charge operation.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode comprises commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode in response to an increase in engine load.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first HCCI mode comprises a low load HCCI mode.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the second HCCI mode comprises a second load higher than the low load.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first HCCI mode corresponds to a first fuel injected quantity and first engine speed range.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the second HCCI mode corresponds to a second fuel quantity and the first engine speed range.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, in the first HCCI mode, injecting fuel at a first predetermined time prior to a spark event, wherein entering the stratified charge operation comprises injection of fuel at a second predetermined time less than the first predetermined time prior to the spark event.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein discontinuing the stratified charge operation comprises discontinuing the stratified charge operation after a predetermined time.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein discontinuing the stratified charge operation comprises discontinuing the stratified charge operation until cam timing reaches a desired threshold.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising changing engine control from the second HCCI mode to a third HCCI mode in response to an increase in engine load.

11. A control system for an engine comprising:

a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode; and

a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter.

12. A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein the transition module commands engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode in response to an increase in engine load.

13. A control system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a mixed mode HCCI module that operates the engine in the first HCCI mode under a low engine load.

14. A control system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a lean or stoichiometric HCCI module that operates the engine in the second HCCI mode after the first HCCI mode under an engine load higher than the low engine load.

15. A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first HCCI mode corresponds to a first injected fuel quantity and a first engine speed range.

16. A control system as recited in claim 15 wherein the second HCCI mode corresponds to a second injected fuel quantity and the first engine speed range.

17. A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein, in the first HCCI mode, the fuel delivery module controls injection at a first predetermined time prior to a spark event and wherein, in the stratified charge operation mode, the fuel delivery module injects fuel at a second predetermined time less than the first predetermined time prior to the spark event.

18. A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein the transition module discontinues the stratified charge operation after a predetermined time.

19. A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein the transition module discontinues the stratified charge operation until cam timing reaches a desired threshold.

20. A control system as recited in claim 11 further comprising an HCCI mode control module that changes engine control from the second HCCI mode to a third HCCI mode in response to an increase in engine load.

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 30, 2009
From: RAMAPPAN, VIJAY; KAFARNIK, PETER; KANG, JUN-MO
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022893/0686 →