Variable displacement engine starting control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristopher Paul Glugla, John Ottavio Michelini, Michael Flory
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for controlling a variable displacement engine during cranking and starting include a hybrid operating mode to allow intake/exhaust valve operation while preventing fuel delivery and/or spark to at least one of the subsequently deactivated cylinders or bank of cylinders during cranking and starting. The system and method provide advantages to starting the engine relative to either pure variable displacement mode or full activation mode.
Claims12
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the method comprising:
- actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves while deactivating fueling and spark for the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting of the internal combustion engine.
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the method comprising:
- monitoring operating parameters to determine whether to start the engine in a hybrid operating mode;
- actuating valves for the variable displacement mode cylinders while preventing fuel and spark during cranking and/or starting to reduce cranking effort and/or increase cranking speed during starting in the hybrid operating mode;
- and
- deactivating the valves for the variable displacement mode cylinders after determining the engine has started, to operate the engine in the variable displacement mode.
A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with associated intake and exhaust valves, at least some of which are selectively operable in a variable displacement mode in which the intake and/or exhaust valves are deactivated, the computer readable storage medium comprising:
- instructions for actuating the associated intake and exhaust valves while deactivating fueling and spark for the variable displacement mode cylinders during starting of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.