# US 8,788,182 B2 · Engine speed based valvetrain control systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,182 B2 - Document ID: US8788182B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/226,759 - Filed: 2011-09-07 - Published: 2013-03-07 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-07 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Mike M. McDonald - Inventors: Mike M. McDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788182B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/0087: {Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123)} - F02D 13/06: Cutting-out cylinders - F02D 13/04: using engine as brake - F02D 41/123: {the fuel injection being cut-off} - F02D 2041/0012: {with selective deactivation of cylinders} - F02D 2041/0265: {to decrease temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus} - F02D 2200/101: Engine speed - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system for a vehicle includes a trigger module, a fuel control module, and a cylinder control module. The trigger module generates a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed. The first predetermined speed is greater than zero. The fuel control module cuts off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger. The cylinder control module selectively disables opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a vehicle, comprising: a trigger module that generates a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed, wherein the first predetermined speed is greater than zero; a fuel control module that cuts off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger; and a cylinder control module that selectively disables opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the cylinder control module disables opening of the intake and exhaust valves of one of the cylinders starting at a time between an intake stroke of a combustion cycle of the one of the cylinders and an exhaust stroke of the combustion cycle of the one of the cylinders. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the cylinder control module enables opening of the intake and exhaust valves of a first one of the cylinders when the engine speed is less than a second predetermined speed, and wherein the second predetermined speed is less than the first predetermined speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the cylinder control module enables opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders starting at a time between an intake stroke of a first combustion cycle of the first one of the cylinders and an exhaust stroke of the first combustion cycle of the first one of the cylinders. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the fuel control module starts providing fuel to the cylinder during a second combustion cycle that follows the first combustion cycle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein, at least a predetermined period after opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders is enabled, enables the intake and exhaust valves of a second one of the cylinders when the engine speed is less than the second predetermined speed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the predetermined period is at least two combustion cycles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein, at least a predetermined period after opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders is enabled, the fuel control module cuts off fuel to the engine when the engine speed is greater than a third predetermined speed, and wherein the third predetermined speed is greater than the first predetermined speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the cylinder control module enables opening of the exhaust valves of the cylinders based on a predetermined lift when the engine speed is greater than the third predetermined speed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein, when the engine speed is greater than the third predetermined speed, the cylinder control module enables opening of an exhaust valve of a second one of the cylinders when a volume within the second one of the cylinders is increasing and disables opening of the exhaust valve when the volume within the second one of the cylinders is decreasing. ### Claim 11 A method for a vehicle, comprising: generating a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed, wherein the first predetermined speed is greater than zero; cutting off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger; and selectively disabling opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising disabling opening of the intake and exhaust valves of one of the cylinders starting at a time between an intake stroke of a combustion cycle of the one of the cylinders and an exhaust stroke of the combustion cycle of the one of the cylinders. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising enabling opening of the intake and exhaust valves of a first one of the cylinders when the engine speed is less than a second predetermined speed, wherein the second predetermined speed is less than the first predetermined speed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising enabling opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders starting at a time between an intake stroke of a first combustion cycle of the first one of the cylinders and an exhaust stroke of the first combustion cycle of the first one of the cylinders. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising starting providing fuel to the cylinder during a second combustion cycle that follows the first combustion cycle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising, at least a predetermined period after opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders is enabled, enabling the intake and exhaust valves of a second one of the cylinders when the engine speed is less than the second predetermined speed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined period is at least two combustion cycles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising, at least a predetermined period after opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the first one of the cylinders is enabled, cutting off fuel to the engine when the engine speed is greater than a third predetermined speed, wherein the third predetermined speed is greater than the first predetermined speed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising enabling opening of the exhaust valves of the cylinders based on a predetermined lift when the engine speed is greater than the third predetermined speed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising, when the engine speed is greater than the third predetermined speed: enabling opening of an exhaust valve of a second one of the cylinders when a volume within the second one of the cylinders is increasing; and disabling opening of the exhaust valve when the volume within the second one of the cylinders is decreasing.