Engine Cylinder Assignment via Pre-calculated Speed Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control strategies for internal combustion engines face inefficiencies and unpredictability in managing engine transients due to real-time processing requirements and complex handling of actuation delays, leading to suboptimal combustion processes and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A control system where a programming delay is pre-defined based solely on engine speed, allowing for deterministic assignment of new operating conditions to cylinders without real-time processing, simplifying the control strategy and ensuring consistent, excellent combustion processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time processing is used to manage engine transients, then the engine can respond to operating variations, but the control system becomes complex and unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing actuation delays for different operating conditions in a lookup table. Instead of performing complex real-time calculations, the system retrieves pre-computed delay values based on current engine speed and requested operating mode, significantly simplifying the control system while maintaining fast response.
2Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate modes are used for valve and injector actuation, then the engine can transition between operating modes, but combustion processes become suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates the exact actuation delays required for optimal combustion in each operating mode and stores them in advance. When a mode transition is requested, the system directly applies the pre-computed delay values, ensuring optimal combustion parameters are maintained throughout the transition without requiring intermediate suboptimal modes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If programming delay is calculated in real-time, then the control system can adapt to changing conditions, but processing time increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates programming delays for multiple operating conditions and stores them in a lookup table structured by engine speed. During operation, the system simply retrieves the appropriate delay value based on current speed and requested mode, eliminating real-time calculation complexity and ensuring consistent, reliable control responses.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex real-time feedback controls are used, then the engine can optimize performance, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex real-time feedback control algorithms with pre-computed lookup tables that contain optimized actuation delays. This approach maintains high combustion optimization levels while dramatically reducing computational requirements and control system complexity, leading to lower production costs and easier manufacturing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Internal combustion engine with variable actuation of the valves providing electronic control means which, when the engine is subject to an operating variation request from a first operating condition to a second operating condition, are adapted to select a cylinder to which to assign said second operating condition based on a determined programming delay only as a function of the engine speed.