# US 9,002,627 B2 · Method and system for improving engine starting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,002,627 B2 - Document ID: US9002627B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/227,670 - Filed: 2011-09-08 - Published: 2013-03-14 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Thomas G. Leone; Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Inventors: Thomas G. Leone; Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9002627B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/064: {at cold start (F02D41/067 takes precedence)} - F02D 29/02: peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers - F02D 41/0002: {Controlling intake air} - F02D 41/021: {Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine (conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18)} - F02D 41/062: {for starting (F02D41/061 takes precedence)} - F02D 41/065: {at hot start or restart (F02D41/067 takes precedence)} - F02B 2075/125: {Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber} - F02D 13/0215: {changing the valve timing only} - F02D 13/0265: {Negative valve overlap for temporarily storing residual gas in the cylinder} - F02D 2200/602: Pedal position - F02D 2250/18: Control of the engine output torque - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - 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) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An engine system and method for improving engine starting are disclosed. In one example, engine port throttles are adjusted differently during automatic and operator initiated engine starts. The system and method may improve engine torque control during an engine start. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of starting an engine, comprising: positioning an air inlet throttle for an engine start; during an operator directed engine start, positioning a port throttle in a first position, the port throttle positioned downstream of the air inlet throttle in an air intake system of the engine; and positioning the port throttle in a second position during an automatic engine start, the automatic engine start not requested directly by an operator, the port throttle opened further during the operator directed start than during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the first position of the port throttle during the automatic engine start before an engine idle speed is reached by the engine in response to an operator torque request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, where adjusting the first position of the port throttle includes increasing an opening amount of the port throttle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the port throttle in response to engine speed during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the port throttle in response to ambient barometric pressure during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 6 A method of starting an engine, comprising: positioning a first port throttle directing air to a first cylinder in a first position during an operator directed engine start; and positioning the first port throttle in a second position during an automatic engine start, the automatic engine start not an operator directed engine start, the first port throttle further positioned in response to a presently engaged gear ratio of a transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising adjusting an air inlet throttle positioned upstream of the first port throttle in response to intake manifold pressure during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where the first port throttle is opened a first opening amount for a first gear and where the first port throttle is opened a second opening amount for a second gear, the first gear a lower gear ratio than the second gear, the second opening amount greater than the first opening amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising positioning a second port throttle directing air to a second cylinder in a third position during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, where the first cylinder is a first cylinder to combust an air-fuel mixture from an engine stop, where the second cylinder is a subsequent cylinder to combust an air-fuel mixture from engine stop, and where the first port throttle is opened less than the second port throttle during a first combustion cycle of the engine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where the first port throttle is further positioned during the automatic engine start based on barometric pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising positioning the first port throttle in response to an operator torque request before the engine reaches an idle speed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising reducing an opening amount of the first port throttle in response to an operator brake request during the operator torque request. ### Claim 14 A system for controlling an engine, comprising: an engine air intake throttle located along an engine air intake passage; a first engine cylinder port throttle located along the engine air intake passage downstream of the engine air intake throttle; and a controller including instructions for adjusting a position of the first engine cylinder port throttle to a first position during an operator directed engine start, the controller also including instructions for adjusting the position of the first engine cylinder port throttle to a second position during an automatic engine start, the automatic engine start not directly requested via an operator, the controller including further instructions for adjusting the position of the first engine cylinder port throttle in response to a presently engaged transmission gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a second engine cylinder port throttle directing air to a different cylinder than the first engine cylinder port throttle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, including further controller instructions for adjusting a position of the second engine cylinder port throttle different from the position of the first engine cylinder port throttle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, where the controller includes further instructions for adjusting the first engine cylinder port throttle in response to engine speed during the automatic engine start. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, where the controller includes further instructions for opening the first engine cylinder port throttle further during the operator directed start than during the automatic engine start.