IP Library Granted Patent US 8,352,156
Granted Patent B2
US 8,352,156 · App. 12/578,085 · Granted Jan 8, 2013

System and method for controlling engine components during cylinder deactivation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,352,156
App. No.
12/578,085
Granted
Jan 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine control system includes a power supply module, a measurement module, and a calibration module. The power supply module disables power supplied to N components of an engine when M cylinders of the engine are deactivated, wherein M and N are integers greater than or equal to one. The measurement module measures outputs of the N engine components. The calibration module calibrates the measurement module based on unpowered measurements from one or more of the N engine components during a period after the power supplied to the N components is disabled.

Claims (31)

1. An engine control system comprising:

a power supply module that disables power supplied to N components of an engine when M cylinders of the engine are deactivated; and

a calibration module that calibrates a measurement module based on unpowered measurements from one or more of the N engine components during a period after the power supplied to the N components is disabled,

wherein M and N are integers greater than or equal to one.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein M equals a total number of cylinders in the engine.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a measurement module that includes L measurement circuits, wherein each of the L measurement circuits is connected to and configured to measure output of one or more of the N engine components, and wherein L is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N.

4. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration module calibrates the measurement module a predetermined period after the M cylinders of the engine are deactivated.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein wiring diagnostics for the N components are performed when the M cylinders are activated, and wherein wiring diagnostics for the N components are disabled when the M cylinders are deactivated.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cylinder deactivation module that deactivates the M cylinders by controlling at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders, respectively, and fuel supplied to the M cylinders.

7. The engine control system of claim 6 , wherein the number of deactivated cylinders is based on a driver torque request.

8. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the N components include at least one of engine sensors and actuators.

9. The engine control system of claim 8 , wherein the engine sensors include a mass air flow sensor, a knock sensor, a fuel composition sensor, a cylinder pressure sensor, an intake manifold pressure sensor, and a barometric pressure sensor.

10. The engine control system of claim 8 , wherein the engine actuators include oxygen sensor heaters, active engine mounts, an exhaust gas recirculation valve, and fuel pumps.

11. A method, comprising:

disabling power supplied to N components of an engine when M cylinders of the engine are deactivated; and

calibrating a measurement module based on unpowered measurements from one or more of the N engine components during a period after the power supplied to the N components is disabled,

wherein M and N are integers greater than or equal to one.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein M equals a total number of cylinders in the engine.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the measurement module includes L measurement circuits that are each connected to and configured to measure output of one or more of the N engine components, wherein L is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

calibrating the measurement module a predetermined period after the M cylinders of the engine are deactivated.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

performing wiring diagnostics for the N components when the M cylinders are activated, wherein wiring diagnostics for the N components are disabled when the M cylinders are deactivated.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

deactivating the M cylinders by controlling at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders, respectively, and fuel supplied to the M cylinders.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the number of deactivated cylinders is based on a driver torque request.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the N components include at least one of engine sensors and actuators.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the engine sensors include a mass air flow sensor, a knock sensor, a fuel composition sensor, a cylinder pressure sensor, an intake manifold pressure sensor, and a barometric pressure sensor.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the engine actuators include oxygen sensor heaters, active engine mounts, an exhaust gas recirculation valve, and fuel pumps.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0001 →
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 025246/0234 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2009
From: MC DONALD, MIKE M.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023400/0253 →