Vehicle control method

Details Vehicle control method Vehicle control method

1999-10-18

2001-06-26

Solis, Erick (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Engine speed regulator

Having condition responsive means with engine being part of...

C123S399000, C123S090150

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250283

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention relates to vehicle control, wherein the vehicle is powered by an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To give a driver good drive feel, an engine is typically sized relative to vehicle weight using design parameters of other components, such as, for example, torque converters, transmission gear ratios, and manifold volume. In particular, manifold volume plays an important role in drive feel since when a driver requests and increase in wheel torque, conventional stoichiometric engine controls cannot instantly provide this wheel torque since these conventional engine control systems control engine torque primarily through control of a throttle. Thus, the engine must be somewhat oversized so that the driver has acceptable vehicle launch performance despite delays due to manifold volume, where vehicle launch refers primarily to operating pedal engagement at low vehicle speeds.
The inventors herein have recognized a disadvantage with the above approach. In particular, when an engine is somewhat oversized, fuel economy decreases due to excess weight of the somewhat oversized engine. Prior approaches for increasing an engine power to weight ratio, such as supercharges, still suffer from disadvantages due to torque increase delays, and therefore cannot improve initial vehicle launch feel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide more rapid increase in engine power during certain driving conditions than heretofore possible.
The above object is achieved and disadvantages of prior approaches overcome by a method for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, comprising: generating a signal representing a request from a driver; and in response to said signal, adjusting both the inlet control device and outlet control device to improve drive feel.
By using both the inlet and outlet control device to rapidly increase flow into the cylinder faster than possible by using the inlet control device alone, it is possible to equip a vehicle with a somewhat smaller engine than with prior art approaches. In other words, by using the method of the present invention, a smaller engine can be made to produce engine torque faster than a larger engine, thereby giving the operator acceptable vehicle launch. Thus, the driver experiences improved drive feel even though the engine has not been somewhat oversized. Then, during other steady state operating conditions, the smaller engine achieves improved fuel economy.
An advantage of the above aspect of the invention is improved fuel economy.
Another advantage of the above aspect of the invention is improved drive performance.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by the reader of this specification.


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