Engine Controller Retarding Fuel Injection Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing controllers for internal combustion engines face delays in restarting combustion in deactivated cylinders, leading to delayed resumption of normal operation and potential overheating of exhaust purifying devices due to prolonged oxygen supply during the deactivating process.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a retarding process that changes fuel injection modes to single-shot injection for the first fuel injection in deactivated cylinders, retarding the fuel injection start timing compared to multi-shot injection, and terminating the deactivating process when catalyst or filter temperatures exceed specified levels to prevent overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multi-shot injection is used to restart fuel supply in deactivated cylinders, then fuel can be supplied in multiple pulses, but the fuel injection start timing is delayed and combustion cannot be restarted immediately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel supply amountVSAvoidcombustion restart timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fuel injection process into single-shot injection for the restarted cylinder and multi-shot injection for other cylinders. By separating the injection strategy based on cylinder status (restarted vs. continuing operation), the system achieves immediate combustion restart in deactivated cylinders while maintaining efficient multi-shot injection in other cylinders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different fuel injection modes to different cylinders based on their operational status. The deactivated cylinder receives single-shot injection with retarded timing to enable immediate restart, while other cylinders continue with multi-shot injection. This localized differentiation optimizes both combustion restart speed and overall engine efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If deactivating process is terminated early to restart combustion, then normal operation resumes quickly, but catalyst or filter may overheat due to prolonged oxygen supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenormal operation resumptionVSAvoidcatalyst or filter temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary temperature monitoring of the catalyst and filter during the deactivating process. By detecting temperature changes in advance and terminating the deactivating process when temperatures approach dangerous levels, the system prevents overheating while maximizing the benefits of early combustion restart.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the controller continuously monitors exhaust gas temperature and adjusts the deactivating process duration accordingly. When temperature sensors detect that catalyst or filter temperatures exceed safe thresholds, the system automatically terminates the deactivating process to prevent overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of time

If single-shot injection with retarded timing is used in deactivated cylinders, then fuel injection start timing aligns with combustion stroke, but fuel injection duration is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel injection timing alignmentVSAvoidfuel injection duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the fuel injection timing and duration based on the specific needs of restarted cylinders. By using single-shot injection with retarded timing that aligns with the combustion stroke, the system optimizes combustion restart while accepting reduced injection duration as a necessary trade-off for immediate operational resumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for quicker resumption of normal combustion operation in all cylinders while preventing overheating of exhaust purifying devices by optimizing fuel injection timing and reducing oxygen supply duration.

Implementation Method 1

the oxidization in the catalyst is expedited to increase the temperature of the catalyst

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

combustion is restarted in a combustion stroke subsequent to one cycle in the deactivated cylinder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS12110835B2Controller and control method for internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may execute multi-shot injection and single-shot injection and execute a deactivating process that stops supplying fuel to at least one of cylinders and supplies fuel to the remaining cylinders. The controller is configured to execute, when terminating the deactivating process to restart supplying fuel to a deactivated cylinder in which supply of fuel is stopped, a retarding process that executes a first fuel injection through the single-shot injection and retards a fuel injection start timing as compared to when executing the multi-shot injection.