Engine control

Details Engine control Engine control

1997-10-21

2001-04-17

Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)

Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control

Transmission control

Engine controlled by transmission

C477S111000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217480

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine control. More particularly, the present invention is an engine control in which one or more cylinders of the engine are disabled during one or more operating conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to use an electronic engine control to control various aspects of an internal combustion engine. As one example, engine controls are often used to control the ignition circuit which fires an ignition element corresponding to each cylinder of the engine. In such an arrangement, the engine control may be used to adjust the timing of the firing of the ignition element and thus advance or retard the ignition based on an operating condition of the engine.
Along these same lines, the engine control may be used to entirely prevent the firing of the ignition element of one or more cylinders or to so substantially adjust the timing of the firing to misfire one or more cylinders under certain operating conditions. This prevention of firing or substantial misfiring is generally referred to as cylinder disabling, since combustion does not occur in the cylinder at all or occurs at a time which is ineffective in powering the engine.
It has been proposed to use the cylinder disabling feature when the engine is idling. When the engine is idling, the firing of some but not all of the cylinders has the advantage that engine temperature is reduced since combustion is not occurring in one or more of the cylinders. When fuel is not supplied to the disabled cylinder(s), the fuel consumption rate of the engine is also advantageously decreased.
A significant disadvantage to such a cylinder disabling strategy is that the operator of the engine has no control over whether the control unit operates the engine in a disabling mode. In general, the control is arranged to operate the disabling mode anytime an indicator of engine idling is provided. In some instances, however, this indication may be provided when in fact the operator of the engine desires a high engine power output.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine control which employs a cylinder disabling mode at certain engine idle conditions, but which is arranged to prevent operation of the cylinder disabling mode during certain other conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an engine control for an engine. Preferably, the engine is of the internal combustion type and includes at least two cylinders or combustion chambers.
The engine control includes means for disabling at least one of the cylinders. In the preferred embodiment, the means for disabling is not activated until a predetermined condition is detected for a predetermined time. Preferably, the means for disabling is not activated unless an idle condition of the engine is detected for a predetermined time.
In still a further embodiment of the engine, the engine is operable in first and second states and the means for disabling may also be activated even if the predetermined time has not passed if the state of the engine has not changed. Preferably, this first and second states comprise a drive state of the engine relative to a water propulsion device.
In an alternate embodiment, the engine is arranged to power a water propulsion device of an outboard motor propelling a watercraft and the means for disabling is not activated unless the speed of the watercraft is below a predetermined speed.
Advantageously, the engine control of the present invention is arranged to operate the engine in a cylinder disabling mode only upon the occurrence of certain conditions. Thus, the disabling mode is not activated when, for example, the engine is enters an idle mode only for a short period of time.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.


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