# US 10,767,571 B2 · Methods and system for operating an engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,571 B2 - Document ID: US10767571B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/039,181 - Filed: 2018-07-18 - Published: 2020-01-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-18 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Christopher Paul Glugla; Imtiaz Ali; Lyth Alobiedat; Timothy Joseph Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767571B2 ## CPC - F02D 15/02: by alteration or displacement of piston stroke - F02B 75/045: {by means of a variable connecting rod length} - F02D 2200/101: Engine speed - F02D 2200/602: Pedal position - F02D 2700/03: Controlling by changing the compression ratio - 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) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) ## Abstract Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes a compression ratio linkage for adjusting engine compression ratio are described. The systems and methods provide different ways of changing a compression ratio of an engine based on forecast or anticipated engine operating conditions. In one example, the forecast or anticipated engine operating conditions may include a forecast or anticipated transmission gear shift. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine operating method, comprising: adjusting an engine's compression ratio via a controller responsive to present engine speed and engine load; forecasting a shifting of a transmission from a first gear to a second gear via the controller; and adjusting an engine's compression ratio via the controller responsive to an engine speed and engine load based on the forecasted shifting of the transmission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the engine's compression ratio is adjusted before the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, where adjusting the engine's compression ratio before the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear includes beginning to change the engine's compression ratio beginning at a time before the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear begins, the time being a time the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear begins minus a time for a compression ratio changing actuator to change the engine from its present compression ratio to a compression ratio based on engine speed and engine load after shifting the transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the first gear is a higher gear than the second gear so that the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear is a downshift. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the first gear is a lower gear than the second gear so that the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear is an upshift. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising delaying adjusting of the engine's compression ratio to a time immediately following the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 7 An engine operating method, comprising: adjusting an engine's compression ratio via a controller responsive to present engine speed and engine load; forecasting a shifting of a transmission from a first gear to a second gear while an accelerator pedal is being released or immediately after the accelerator pedal is released via the controller; and maintaining an engine's compression ratio from a time when the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear begins to a time when shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear ends via the controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, where the time when the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear begins is a time when an on-coming clutch begins to be applied. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, where the time when the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear ends is a time when an on-coming clutch is fully applied. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising changing the engine's compression ratio immediately following shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the first gear is a higher gear than the second gear so that the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear is a downshift. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, where the first gear is a lower gear than the second gear so that the shifting of the transmission from the first gear to the second gear is an upshift. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising shifting the transmission from the first gear to the second gear when engine speed and engine load equal engine speed and engine load of a transmission shift schedule curve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, where forecasting shifting of the transmission includes anticipating an engine accelerator pedal position and anticipating a vehicle speed. ### Claim 15 A vehicle system, comprising: an engine including a compression ratio adjustment linkage; an automatic transmission coupled to the engine; and a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to change the engine's compression ratio via the compression ratio adjustment linkage according to an increasing or decreasing accelerator pedal position and a forecast gear shifting of the automatic transmission from a first gear to a second gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to change the engine's compression ratio before shifting the automatic transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, where changing the engine's compression ratio includes decreasing the engine's compression ratio. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising additional instructions to change the engine's compression ratio immediately after shifting the automatic transmission from the first gear to the second gear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, where changing the engine's compression ratio includes increasing the engine's compression ratio. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, where forecasting the shifting of the transmission includes anticipating an accelerator pedal position and anticipating a vehicle speed.