# US 2019/0170076 A1 · Engine torque reserve techniques for optimizing drag racing transient response

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- Number: US 2019/0170076 A1
- Document ID: US20190170076A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/829,334
- Filed: 2017-12-01
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01
- Assignees: Fca US LLC
- Inventors: James M. Wilder; Christopher E. Pueppke; Joseph M. Johnson; Ibrahim Alkeilani; Anwar Alkeilani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170076A1

## CPC

- F02D 41/10: for acceleration
- B60W 30/18027: {Drive off, accelerating from standstill}
- F02D 11/105: {characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque}
- F02D 41/0002: {Controlling intake air}
- F02D 41/0087: {Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123)}
- F02M 35/10163: {having air intakes specially adapted to selectively deliver naturally aspirated fluid or supercharged fluid}
- F16H 63/50: Signals to an engine or motor
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- F02D 2250/22: by keeping a torque reserve, i.e. with temporarily reduced drive train or engine efficiency
- 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)
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F16H: GEARING
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A control system and method for controlling vehicle launch includes receiving a request to enable a launch control feature of a traction control system of the vehicle, the launch control feature being configured to improve torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle; and in response to receiving the enable request for the launch control feature, generating a torque reserve at the engine by (i) increasing airflow into the engine to a level greater than a level for achieving a torque request for the engine and (ii) deactivating a predetermined set of cylinders of the engine by disabling their respective fuel injectors; detecting an intent of the driver to launch the vehicle; and in response to detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle, releasing the torque reserve to increase a torque output of the engine based on the engine torque request.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control system for controlling launch of a vehicle, the control system comprising:
an input device configured to receive a request to enable a launch control feature of a traction control system of the vehicle, the launch control feature being configured to improve torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle; and
a controller configured to:
in response to receiving the enable request for the launch control feature, generate a torque reserve at the engine by:
(i) increasing airflow into the engine to a level greater than a level for achieving a torque request for the engine, and
(ii) deactivating a predetermined set of cylinders of the engine by disabling their respective fuel injectors;
detect an intent of the driver to launch the vehicle; and
in response to detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle, release the torque reserve to increase a torque output of the engine based on the engine torque request.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined set of cylinders are selected based on a firing order of the cylinders of the engine such that operating the engine with the predetermined set of cylinders deactivated (i) increases noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) of the engine and (ii) modifies an exhaust note of an exhaust system of the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increase the airflow into the engine to the level greater than the level for achieving the engine torque request by:
further opening a throttle valve of the engine; and
closing a bypass valve of a supercharger of the engine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to release the torque reserve by:
enabling the disabled fuel injectors to reactivate the predetermined set of cylinders; and
controlling the airflow into the engine based on the engine torque request.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The control system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to release the torque reserve according to a predetermined curve that is calibrated for minimized tire slippage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle based on a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1, wherein the input device is configured to receive the launch control feature request upon the vehicle transitioning to a drag mode during which a transbrake feature maintains the vehicle at a complete stop without the driver applying a brake pedal of the vehicle.

### Claim 8

A method of controlling launch of a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller of the vehicle and from an input device of the vehicle, a request to enable a launch control feature of a traction control system of the vehicle, the launch control feature being configured to improve torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle; and
in response to receiving the enable request for the launch control feature:
generating, by the controller, a torque reserve at the engine by:
(i) increasing airflow into the engine to a level greater than a level for achieving a torque request of the engine, and
(ii) deactivating a predetermined set of cylinders of the engine by disabling their respective fuel injectors;
detecting, by the controller, an intent of the driver to haunch the vehicle; and
in response to detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle, releasing, by the controller, the torque reserve to increase a torque output of the engine based on the engine torque request.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined set of cylinders are selected based on a firing order of the cylinders of the engine such that operating the engine with the predetermined set of cylinders deactivated (i) increases noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) of the engine and (ii) modifies an exhaust note of an exhaust system of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein increasing the airflow into the engine to the level greater than the level for achieving the engine torque request comprises:
further opening, by the controller, a throttle valve of the engine; and
closing, by the controller, a bypass valve of a supercharger of the engine.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein releasing the torque reserve comprises:
enabling, by the controller, the disabled fuel injectors to reactivate the predetermined set of cylinders; and
controlling, by the controller, the airflow into the engine based on the engine torque request.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein releasing the torque reserve is performed according to a predetermined curve that is calibrated for minimized tire slippage.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the intent of the driver to launch the vehicle is performed based on a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the input device is configured to receive the launch control feature request upon the vehicle transitioning to a drag mode during which a transbrake feature maintains the vehicle at a complete stop without the driver applying a brake pedal of the vehicle.