Air induction control system for variable displacement internal combustion engine

A system for controlling the airflow entering the intake manifold of a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a manually controllable accelerator pedal, said system comprising:

• a position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator pedal and for generating a pedal position signal indicating such position;
• an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed;
• engine cylinder operator means for deactivating and reactivating each of said cylinders;
• an electronically controlled throttle valve positioned in the intake manifold of the engine, so as to control the amount of air entering the engine cylinders;
• and
• a processor connected with said cylinder operator means and with said throttle valve, with said processor comprising:
• means for receiving said pedal position and engine speed signals;
• means for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated and for commanding the cylinder operator means to activate the selected number of cylinders;
• means for selecting an operating position for the throttle valve, based on the values of the engine speed signal as well as upon the value of a transfer function of the accelerator position signal, and upon the number of activated cylinders, such that the changes in the torque output of the engine which accompany changes in the position of the accelerator pedal remain substantially unaltered when the number of activated cylinders changes;
• and
• means for selecting the operating gear for a transmission connected with the engine, such that gear speed selection is based at least in part upon the value of the accelerator position signal transfer function.

A system for controlling the air entering the intake manifold of a multicylinder variable displacement internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle having a manually controllable accelerator pedal, said system comprising:

• a position sensor for determining the operating position of the accelerator pedal and for generating a pedal position signal indicating such position;
• an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine and for generating an engine speed signal indicating such speed;
• engine cylinder operator means for deactivating and reactivating each of said cylinders;
• an electronically controlled throttle valve positioned in the intake manifold of the engine, so as to control the amount of air entering the engine cylinders;
• and
• a processor connected with said cylinder operator means and with said throttle valve, with said processor comprising:
• means for receiving said pedal position and engine speed signals;
• means for selecting the number of cylinders to be operated and for commanding the cylinder operator means to activate the selected number of cylinders;
• and
• means for selecting an operating position for the throttle valve, based on the values of the pedal position and engine speed signals, as well as upon the number of activated cylinders.