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US 10,947,946 B2Granted
Enhanced VDE knock control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorChris Paul Glugla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for adjusting ignition timing to one or more cylinders of a variable displacement engine responsive to a knock indication are described herein. In one particular example, during a partial cylinder mode, ignition timing to one or more cylinders may be adjusted responsive to a knock indication based on the number of cylinders deactivated; whereas during the full cylinder mode, ignition timing for all cylinders are adjusted responsive to a knock indication. Thereby, the systems and methods described allow a larger partial cylinder operating window that has a benefit of enhancing a vehicle's fuel economy.
Claims21
A method, comprising:
- receiving a first knock indication for a selected cylinder;
- operating in partial cylinder mode, determining partial cylinder operation is occurring, and receiving the first knock indication, and, responsive to the first knock indication being received and the determining partial cylinder operation is occurring, adjusting only a selected cylinder's ignition timing and maintaining ignition timing of remaining active cylinders;
- and
- operating in a full cylinder mode, determining full cylinder operation is occurring, and receiving the first knock indication, and, responsive to the first knock indication being received and the determining full cylinder operation is occurring, adjusting multiple cylinders' ignition timing.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- operating in a first mode with less active cylinders where a number of cylinders are deactivated, determining that operation in the first mode with less active cylinders is occurring, receiving a first knock indication comprising a knock sensor output exceeding a first threshold during the operation in the first mode with less active cylinders, and receiving a second knock indication comprising the knock sensor output exceeding the first threshold during the operation in the first mode with less active cylinders, and:
- responsive to receiving the first knock indication and responsive to determining that operation in the first mode with less active cylinders is occurring, adjusting ignition timing of only a subset of active cylinders, the subset of active cylinders being fewer than a number of active cylinders;
- and
- responsive to receiving the second knock indication and responsive to determining that operation in the first mode with less active cylinders is occurring, adjusting ignition timing of all active cylinders;
- and
- operating in a second mode with more active cylinders, determining that operation in the second mode with more active cylinders is occurring, and receiving a third knock indication comprising a knock sensor output exceeding a second threshold during the operation in the second mode with more active cylinders, and:
- responsive to receiving the third knock indication and responsive to determining that operation in the second mode with more active cylinders is occurring, adjusting multiple cylinders' ignition timing, wherein the first threshold is different from the second threshold.
4 more elements
A method for mitigating knock in a variable displacement engine, comprising:
- deactivating a first number of cylinders and maintaining a second number of cylinders active;
- and
- operating with the first number of cylinders deactivated and the second number of cylinders activated and during the operation with the first number of cylinders deactivated and the second number of cylinders activated:
- receiving a first knock indication with the first number of cylinders deactivated and determining operation with the first number of cylinders deactivated is occurring, and, responsive to receiving the first knock indication and determining operation with the first number of cylinders deactivated is occurring, retarding ignition timing by a first amount for a third number of cylinders, the third number less than the second number, wherein the third number is based on the first number;
- and
- receiving a second knock indication, following the first knock indication during a same cylinder deactivation event, with the first number of cylinders deactivated, and determining operation with the first number of cylinders deactivated is occurring, and, responsive to receiving the second knock indication and determining operation with the first number of cylinders deactivated is occurring, retarding ignition timing by a second amount for the second number of cylinders.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.