Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – With indicator or control of power plant
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-30
2002-08-27
Dolinar, Andrew M. (Department: 3747)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
With indicator or control of power plant
C123S350000, C123S362000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442471
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a drive train management function of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and the invention more particularly relates to a control system for a drive train which reduces emissions.
In present-day motor vehicles, especially motor vehicles with direct injection engines, such as diesel engines, an increase in engine speed is achieved through a continuous increase in the quantity of fuel injected. During the increase, the feedback effect of the transmission on the engine speed generally is not taken into account.
A disadvantage of the customary methods for regulating fuel injection quantity is that, during acceleration, regions with poor pollutant emission characteristics can be traversed, which can lead to the emissions behavior of the drive train and thus the motor vehicle being poor. This applies in particular to the start-up behavior of a motor vehicle.
An object of the present invention is to create a method and a device that improve the emissions behavior of a drive train.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for operating a drive train having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission, where the internal combustion engine is capable of being operated using a controllable torque buildup. The torque buildup is controlled during acceleration of the internal combustion engine to avoid regions of torque and engine speed that correspond to high emissions in the emissions performance graph.
In case of the internal combustion engine that is a fuel injection engine, it is advantageous to control torque buildup by controlling the fuel injection for a selected range of engine speed. In this regard, the injection quantity of fuel can be limited to selected values as a function of the engine speed.
Moreover, the injection quantity can be limited as a function of at least one of the following: the oil, water and engine temperature, and transmission temperature. The temperature function can take the form of a factor that is multiplied by selected values of fuel injection quantity for a specific engine speed. In a preferred embodiment, the factor is a number between zero and one.
According to the invention, there is provided a system for controlling a drive train for reduced emissions. An operator activated torque control provides a signal representing desired acceleration, a sensor provides a signal representing engine speed, and a processor, which is responsive to the desired acceleration signal and engine speed signal, is programmed to provide an output torque control signal. The processor is programmed to provide output torque control signal values that avoid regions of torque and engine speed corresponding to high emissions operation of the engine. Preferably the torque control signal regulates the injection of fuel.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appending claims
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Abstract of Japan 61-6453; M-484 Jun. 3, 1986, vol. 10.
Baker & Botts LLP
Dolinar Andrew M.
Volkswagen AG
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