# US 10,309,333 B2 · Control apparatus and method for after-treatment system regeneration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,333 B2 - Document ID: US10309333B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/721,245 - Filed: 2017-09-29 - Published: 2019-04-04 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-29 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Giorgio Nati; Paolo Olmo; Nicola Pio Sacco; Davide Gessaroli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309333B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/28: Interface circuits - F02D 9/105: {having a throttle position sensor (detection of actuation F02D11/106)} - F02D 41/027: {to purge or regenerate the exhaust gas treating apparatus} - F02D 41/0275: {the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a NOx trap or adsorbent} - F02D 41/1401: {characterised by the control or regulation method (F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence)} - F02D 41/1456: {with sensor output signal being linear or quasi-linear with the concentration of oxygen} - F02D 41/405: {with post injections} - F02D 41/18: by measuring intake air flow - F02D 2041/1415: {using a state feedback or a state space representation} - F02D 2041/288: {for performing a transformation into the frequency domain, e.g. Fourier transformation} - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method and apparatus is provided for regenerating an after-treatment device associated with an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. A lambda error control provides a lambda error signal based upon a measured lambda value and a predetermined lambda value indicative of rich operation. An after-injection map provides an after-injection preset based upon a speed and a torque of the internal combustion engine. A main injection map provides a torque-making main injection preset based upon the speed of the internal combustion engine and the torque of the internal combustion engine. A controller is configured to provide an after-injection quantity signal based upon the after-injection preset, the lambda error signal and a main injection quantity signal based upon the main injection preset and the lambda error signal such that the measured lambda value is maintained within a regeneration range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine of a vehicle to provide regeneration of an after-treatment device associated with an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, the control apparatus comprising: a lambda error control configured to provide a lambda error signal based upon a measured lambda value and a predetermined lambda value, the predetermined lambda value being indicative of rich operation; an after-injection map configured to provide an after-injection preset based upon a speed of the internal combustion engine and a torque of the internal combustion engine; a main injection map configured to provide a torque making main injection preset based upon the speed of the internal combustion engine and the torque of the internal combustion engine; a controller configured to provide an after-injection quantity signal based upon the after-injection preset and the lambda error signal and a main injection quantity signal based upon the main injection preset and the lambda error signal; and wherein, the after-injection quantity signal and the main injection quantity signal are such that the measured lambda value is maintained within a regeneration range. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined lambda value is greater than 0.80. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regeneration range comprises a rich operation range. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the after-injection quantity signal based upon a throttle position value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the main injection quantity signal based upon a throttle position value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, the controller comprising an after-injection transform configured to provide a transformed lambda error signal based upon the transformed lambda error signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control apparatus of claim 6, the after-injection transform being a proportional-integral transform. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, the controller comprising a main injection transform configured to provide a transformed lambda error signal based upon the transformed lambda error value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control apparatus of claim 8, the main injection transform being a proportional-integral transform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, the controller comprising an after-injection transform configured to provide a first transformed lambda error signal from the lambda error signal and a main injection transform configured to provide a second transformed lambda error signal from the lambda error signal different than the first transformed lambda error signal, the after-injection quantity signal being based upon the first transformed lambda error signal and the main injection error quantity being based upon the second transformed lambda error signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control apparatus of claim 10, the after-injection transform being a first proportional-integral transform and the main injection transform being a second proportional-integral controller different than the first proportional-integral transform. ### Claim 12 A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system associated with the internal combustion engine, an after-treatment device disposed in the exhaust system, and a control apparatus comprising: a lambda error control configured to provide a lambda error signal based upon a measured lambda value and a predetermined lambda value, the predetermined lambda value being indicative of rich operation; an after-injection map configured to provide an after-injection preset based upon a speed of the internal combustion engine and a torque of the internal combustion engine; a main injection map configured to provide a torque making main injection preset based upon the speed of the internal combustion engine and the torque of the internal combustion engine; a controller configured to provide an after-injection quantity signal based upon the after-injection preset and the lambda error signal and a main injection quantity signal based upon the main injection preset and the lambda error signal; and wherein, the after-injection quantity signal and the main injection quantity signal are such that the measured lambda value is maintained within a regeneration range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the predetermined lambda value is greater than 0. 80. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, a throttle being associated with the internal combustion engine, and wherein the controller is further configured to provide each of the after-injection quantity signal and the main injection quantity signal based upon a position of the throttle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, the controller comprising an after-injection transform configured to provide a first transformed lambda error signal and a main injection transform configured to provide a second transformed lambda error signal different than the first transformed lambda error signal, the after-injection quantity signal being based upon the first transformed lambda error signal and the main injection error quantity being based upon the second transformed error signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The control apparatus of claim 15, the after-injection transform being a first proportional-integral transform and the main injection transform being a second proportional-integral controller different than the first proportional-integral transform. ### Claim 17 A method of regenerating an after-treatment device associated with an exhaust system of a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: determining a lambda error based upon a measured lambda value and a predetermined lambda value, the predetermined lambda value being indicative of rich operation; providing an after-injection quantity signal based upon the after-injection preset value and the lambda error and a main injection quantity signal based upon the main injection preset and the lambda error; and wherein, the after-injection quantity signal and the main injection quantity signal are such that the measured lambda value is maintained within a regeneration range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the measured lambda value is maintained at or above 0.80. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising providing each of the after-injection quantity signal and the main injection quantity signal based upon a throttle position signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising transforming the lambda error to provide a first transformed lambda error and a second transformed lambda error, and wherein, providing an after-injection quantity signal comprises providing an after-injection quantity signal based upon the after-injection preset value and the first transformed lambda error, and providing a main injection quantity signal comprises providing a main injection quantity signal based upon the main injection preset and the second transformed lambda error.