# US 10,371,083 B2 · Systems and methods for fuel control during cold starts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,083 B2 - Document ID: US10371083B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/713,446 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-13 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Scot A. Douglas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371083B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/3076: {with special conditions for selecting a mode of combustion, e.g. for starting, for diagnosing} - F02D 41/0027: {the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02)} - F02D 41/064: {at cold start (F02D41/067 takes precedence)} - F02D 41/402: {Multiple injections} - 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) ## Abstract A cold start control system for a vehicle having a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine includes a startup control module and a fuel actuator module. The startup control module sets a mode of operation to a cold start mode. In response to setting the mode to the cold start mode, the startup control module determines target combustion parameters and a predetermined amount of fuel, wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is less than an amount of fuel required to initiate a combustion stroke of the SIDI engine. The startup control module controls injection of the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking of the SIDI engine, based on the target combustion parameters. The fuel actuator module injects the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking, based on the target combustion parameters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cold start control system for a vehicle having a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine, comprising: a startup control module that sets a mode of operation to a cold start mode; in response to the setting of the mode to the cold start mode, determines target combustion parameters and a predetermined amount of fuel, wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is less than an amount of fuel required to initiate a combustion stroke of the SIDI engine; and controls injection of the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking of the SIDI engine, based on the target combustion parameters; and a fuel actuator module that injects the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking and while a spark plug of a cylinder is firing, based on the target combustion parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cold start control system of claim 1 wherein the fuel includes at least one of ethanol, methanol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane, and butane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cold start control system of claim 1 further comprising: a stratified combustion control module that, in response to the setting of the mode to the cold start mode, determines the target combustion parameters, wherein the target combustion parameters include a distribution of injection events that is determined based on a cranking speed and an engine coolant temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cold start control system of claim 1 further comprising: a mode setting module that sets the mode of operation to the cold start mode when an engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature during cranking. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cold start control system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined temperature is less than a flash point temperature of fuel within a fuel tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cold start control system of claim 4 further comprising: a parameter determination module that determines a percentage of ethanol in fuel within a fuel tank, and wherein the mode setting module sets the predetermined temperature based on the percentage of ethanol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cold start control system of claim 1 wherein the fuel actuator module injects the predetermined amount of fuel onto the spark plug. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cold start control system of claim 7 wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is injected over more than one injection event. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cold start control system of claim 8 wherein an amount of fuel injected during an injection event is determined based on an amount of fuel required for a normal cold start without stratified heating. ### Claim 10 A cold start control method for a vehicle having a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine, comprising: setting a mode of operation to a cold start mode; in response to the setting of the mode to the cold start mode, determining target combustion parameters and a predetermined amount of fuel, wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is less than an amount of fuel required to initiate a combustion stroke of the SIDI engine; controlling injection of the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking of the SIDI engine, based on the target combustion parameters; and injecting the predetermined amount of fuel, during cranking and while a spark plug of a cylinder is firing, based on the target combustion parameters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cold start control method of claim 10 wherein the fuel includes at least one of ethanol, methanol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane, and butane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cold start control method of claim 10 further comprising: in response to the setting of the mode to the cold start mode, determining the target combustion parameters, wherein the target combustion parameters include a distribution of injection events that is determined based on a cranking speed and an engine coolant temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The cold start control method of claim 10 further comprising: setting the mode of operation to the cold start mode when an engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature during cranking. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cold start control method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined temperature is less than a flash point temperature of fuel within a fuel tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The cold start control method of claim 13 further comprising: determining a percentage of ethanol in fuel within a fuel tank and setting the predetermined temperature based on the percentage of ethanol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The cold start control method of claim 10 wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is injected onto the spark plug. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cold start control method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined amount of fuel is injected over more than one injection event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cold start control method of claim 17 wherein an amount of fuel injected during an injection event is determined based on an amount of fuel required for a normal cold start without stratified heating.