公开(公告)号：US20210189921A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：US17119313

申请日：2020-12-11

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Paul R. Van Heyningen

IPC: F01L13/00 ,  F02B75/20 ,  F01L1/24 ,  F01L1/18 ,  F01L1/047 ,  F01L1/46 ,  F02D41/00

Abstract: A control valve for a valve train in an internal combustion engine using four-way control logic for dynamic skip fire control of a pair of cylinders is described. A four cylinder engine can be controlled using two control valves, with each control valve controlling a pair of cylinders. Each control valve has four ports: one control port for each cylinder, a pressure inlet port, and a tank port. The control valve is used to activate or deactivate a cylinder's intake and/or exhaust valves.

公开(公告)号：US10968841B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-06

申请号：US16680030

申请日：2019-11-11

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Mohammad R. Pirjaberi ,  Adya S. Tripathi ,  Louis J. Serrano

IPC: F02D17/02 ,  F02D41/02 ,  F02D13/06 ,  F02D41/00 ,  F02D37/02 ,  F02D41/28

Abstract: Skip fire engine control using a first order sigma delta based firing controller is described. An engine controller determines a skip fire firing fraction and (as appropriate) associated engine settings that are suitable for delivering a requested output. The operational firing fraction is selected from a set of available firing fractions. The engine controller uses a first order sigma delta based converter to direct working cycle firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected firing fraction. The converter includes or functions substantially equivalent to a first order sigma delta converter and may be implemented any of: algorithmically using a processor; using digital, analog or hybrid components; using a lookup table; or using other appropriate techniques. In some embodiments firing decisions are made on a working cycle by working cycle basis. The described approach may be used in gasoline engines, diesel engines, turbocharged or supercharged engines, or others.

公开(公告)号：US20210071605A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US17064354

申请日：2020-10-06

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Louis J. SERRANO ,  Xin YUAN ,  John W. PARSELS ,  Mohammad R. PIRJABERI ,  Mark A. WILCUTTS ,  Masaki NAGASHIMA

IPC: F02D41/00 ,  F02D41/14 ,  F02D41/30 ,  B60W30/20

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.

公开(公告)号：US10900425B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16460491

申请日：2019-07-02

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Xin Yuan ,  Louis J. Serrano

IPC: F02D41/00 ,  F01N11/00 ,  F02D13/06 ,  F01N9/00 ,  F02D41/12

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conducting engine related diagnostics during cylinder cutoff (DCCO) operation of an engine are described. In one aspect, changes in the amount of oxygen in the exhaust system are monitored while the engine is operating in the DCCO mode. Changes in the oxygen level are then analyzed to determine various faults. Some of the faults that can be detected using this approach include cylinder deactivation faults and exhaust system leak faults. In another aspect, the rate of change of manifold pressure within the air intake manifold is monitored while operating the engine in a DCCO mode with the throttle closed. A fault indicative of potential air leakage into the air intake manifold is indicated when it is determined that the rate of change of the manifold pressure exceeds a designated threshold.

公开(公告)号：US20200232404A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-23

申请号：US16783495

申请日：2020-02-06

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Matthew A. YOUNKINS ,  Louis J. SERRANO

IPC: F02D41/00 ,  F02D41/04 ,  F02D13/06 ,  F02D13/02 ,  F02D17/02 ,  F02D41/10 ,  F02D41/12 ,  F02P5/145 ,  F01L1/047 ,  F02D41/26 ,  F02P5/15 ,  F02D11/02

Abstract: In various aspects, internal combustion engines, engine controllers and methods of controlling engines are described. The engine includes a camshaft and a two cylinder sets. Cylinders in the first are deactivatable and cylinders in the second set may be fired at high or low output levels. The air charge for each fired working cycle is set based on whether a high or low torque output is selected. In some implementations, the camshaft is axially shiftable between first and second positions. First cam lobes are configured to cause their associated cylinders to intake a large air charge during intake strokes that occur when the camshaft is in the first position. Second cam lobes for cylinders in the second set cause their associated cylinders to intake a smaller air charge when the camshaft is in the second position. Second cam lobes for cylinders in the first set deactivate their associated cylinders.

公开(公告)号：US10662883B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-26

申请号：US15487127

申请日：2017-04-13

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Mark A. Shost ,  Matthew A. Younkins

IPC: F02D41/00 ,  F02D17/02 ,  F02B75/20 ,  F01L13/00 ,  F01L1/14 ,  F02D13/06 ,  F02B75/18 ,  F01L1/18 ,  F01L1/34

Abstract: Internal combustion engine having cam actuated valves that can be controlled to facilitate the use of different air charge levels in different cylinders or sets of cylinders are described. In one aspect a first set of cylinders is operated in a skip fire manner in which the corresponding cylinders are deactivated during skipped working cycles. Cam actuated intake valves associated with a second set of cylinders are operated differently so that the air charge in the cylinders in the second set is different than the air charge in fired cylinders subject to the skip fire control. According to another aspect, an engine having cam actuated intake valves is operated in a dynamic firing level modulation mode. During the dynamic firing level modulation operation, the cam actuated intake valves are controlled in at least two different manners to such that different cylinder working cycles have different air charges.

公开(公告)号：US20200025050A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-23

申请号：US16576972

申请日：2019-09-20

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shikui Kevin CHEN ,  Matthew A. YOUNKINS ,  Louis J. SERRANO

IPC: F01N3/20 ,  F01N3/08 ,  F02D41/00 ,  F01N11/00 ,  F01N3/021 ,  F02D41/40 ,  F01N13/00

Abstract: A skip fire engine controller and method of control is described wherein during transitions from a first firing density to a second firing density, a firing density and a pumping density are separately set so as to balance the conflicting demands of (a) torque control, (b) Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH), (c) air flow through the engine and (d) air-fuel ratio.

公开(公告)号：US10408140B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-10

申请号：US15847481

申请日：2017-12-19

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Xin Yuan ,  Louis J. Serrano

IPC: F02D41/00 ,  F01N11/00 ,  F02D13/06 ,  F01N9/00 ,  F02D41/12

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for transitioning an engine between a deceleration cylinder cutoff (DCCO) state and an operational state are described. In one aspect, transitions from DCCO may begin with reactivating cylinders to pump air to reduce the pressure in the intake manifold prior to firing any cylinders. The number of pumping cycles, if any, is based on intake manifold absolute pressure (MAP).

公开(公告)号：US20190263382A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-29

申请号：US16283404

申请日：2019-02-22

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John W. PARSELS ,  Matthew A. YOUNKINS

IPC: B60W20/15 ,  F16H7/08 ,  B60W10/06 ,  B60W10/08 ,  B60W20/40 ,  B60W30/20 ,  B60K6/26 ,  B60K6/48

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for mitigating powertrain and accessory torsional oscillation through electric motor/generator control are described. In one aspect, working chamber air charge and crank position are determined prior to starting an engine. During the engine startup period, an electric motor/generator supplies a smoothing torque to at least partially cancel engine torque variations.

公开(公告)号：US20190184959A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US15874656

申请日：2018-01-18

Applicant: Tula Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Yongyan CAO ,  Ying REN ,  Louis J. SERRANO ,  Robert Scott BAILEY ,  Ram SUBRAMANIAN

IPC: B60W10/06 ,  F02D41/14 ,  G06K9/00 ,  F02D41/00 ,  F02D35/02 ,  B60W30/188 ,  B60W30/20 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: B60W10/06 ,  B60W30/1882 ,  B60W30/20 ,  B60W2710/0666 ,  F02D35/02 ,  F02D41/0087 ,  F02D41/1497 ,  F02D41/1498 ,  F02D2200/101 ,  F02D2200/701 ,  F02D2200/702 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G06K9/00362

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improving the fuel efficiency of autonomous vehicles by operating either (1) at a first effective engine displacement that takes into account noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) when the vehicle is occupied or (2) at a second effective engine displacement, without concern for occupant NVH, when the vehicle is not occupied. The second effective engine displacement is typically more fuel efficient than the first effective engine displacement, but result in a higher level of NVH compared to the first effective engine displacement.